8 comfortable UK hotels perfect for a cosy short break

8 comfortable UK hotels perfect for a cosy short break

Dark nights, cold weather, and incessant rain can make this time of year particularly miserable. While it’s perhaps no surprise that many people seek a bit of winter sun, thanks to continued Covid uncertainty, getting away for a break is still tricky. Thankfully, the UK is home to some of the best cosy and comfortable hotels in the world. If you want to relax in front of a roaring fire, fill yourself with hot and hearty food, and sink into a sofa with a glass of something indulgent, there are dozens of options. To help you choose, here are eight of Britain’s cosiest hotels, perfect for a weekend away from it all.

1. Summer Lodge Hotel, Dorset

Located within Thomas Hardy’s enchanting village of Evershot in west Dorset, the Summer Lodge Hotel is surrounded by beautiful countryside. Once you’ve relaxed in the hotel’s superb spa, enjoy a traditional Dorset afternoon tea in the drawing room or conservatory. A pre-dinner drink in the dimly lit Whisky Bar is a great way to kick off your evening, before renowned sommelier Eric Zwiebel offers the finest suggestion of wine to accompany your meal. There’s even a turndown service including cosy hot water bottles tucked in your bed to warm cold toes!

2. Dormy House, Cotswolds

If you’re looking for a cosy and relaxing break, you can’t go far wrong choosing a venue that calls itself “the hotel that hugs”. Nestled above Broadway in the Cotswolds, this converted 17th century farmhouse offers cosy corners, log fires, and delicious food. The spa is outstanding, with a lavender sauna, infinity pool, and salt-infusion steam room. Then, at the end of a long day doing nothing, you can enjoy dinner – with strictly seasonal ingredients – in one of the hotel’s three restaurants.

3. The Newt, Somerset

The Telegraph calls this “one of the most exceptional country house hotels Britain has seen.” The food and drink are a key reason to choose this hotel. Sip tea in the library in the afternoon, then enjoy seasonal dining inspired by the land, locality, and history. Chef Ben Champkin invites you to feast on estate vegetables, the choicest cuts of meat from the estate’s drying room and day boat fish from the Dorset coast. The house or tasting menus are even paired with fine ciders recommended by the team. There’s also an outstanding spa, which includes a sauna, salt steam room and beautiful pool leading to a heated outdoor hydrotherapy pool.

4. Hotel Endsleigh, Devon

With no traffic or aircraft noise, and no light pollution, it’s little wonder that the Duke of Bedford, who owned a third of Devon, chose this spot for his hunting and fishing lodge. Now a superb boutique hotel set in Grade-I listed gardens, the venue is part managed by Alex Polizzi, better known as TV’s The Hotel Inspector. Situated on the border between Devon and Cornwall in the Tamar Valley, relax in the grand hall with a fire crackling in an enormous grate, kick back on a plump sofa in one of the two homely drawing rooms, or wrap up warm and go for a stroll in the 100-acre gardens that sweep down towards the River Tamar.

5. The Stafford, London

For more than a century the Stafford has welcomed guests to this quiet corner of St James’s. This five-star hotel is the ultimate in stylish luxury and is the perfect location to enjoy a relaxing break in the capital. The American Bar is one of the West End’s best places for a cocktail while, under the direction of celebrated Michelin-starred chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen, the Game Bird restaurant puts an indulgent spin on classic dishes.

6. The Pig at Bridge Place, Kent

Less than an hour by train from central London, this historic Grade-II listed house is tucked away just outside the historic village of Bridge, three miles south of Canterbury. It houses lots of period features, including large fireplaces, secret stairways, panelled rooms and endless nooks and crannies. Hospitality is at the top of the agenda – exactly what you’d expect from Kent’s foremost rock’n’roll venue of the 60s and 70s – and you’ll always find a cosy bar or seating area. Food comes from the kitchen garden and the local area. The gardener and forager grow and find the food before the chef then creates the menu.

7. The Felin Fach Griffin, Wales

This traditional traveller’s inn boasts delicious food and comfortable rooms, in breathtaking scenery between the Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountains. An open fire connects the library and the bar, while the tack room also has its own fire for groups of 8 to 12. Dinner is sourced from local produce, with a focus on delicious, hearty food. Rooms are carefully designed to help you relax, with Roberts radios, fresh flowers, home-made biscuits, toiletries from Bramley Products, local art and photography and warm, Welsh blankets.

8. Fischer’s Baslow Hall, Derbyshire

Baslow Hall is a beautiful, 100-year-old Grade-II listed manor house set within the beautiful Derbyshire countryside. While you may think it more appropriate for a summer stay to explore the Peak District, it’s a lovely place for a cosy break. Grab an aperitif and relax in the charming lounge where you’ll find a homely log fire blazing throughout the winter months. Baslow Hall has held a Michelin star continuously since 1994, thanks to food that is beautifully presented and brilliantly executed. Head chef, Nathan Wall, and sommelier, Matthew Davison, have crafted a menu that pairs perfectly with the hand-picked selection of wines on offer.