The word ‘boutique’ often gets overused when it comes to hotels, but with a mix of opulence and fashionable design, contemporary gadgetry and history these boutique hotels are a joy to behold. There’s always something to catch your eye in these magic places, from the art to the bespoke furniture. Here are the Good Hotel Guide’s Editor’s Choice selections for best boutique hotels.
2018 Editor's Choice Boutique Hotels
Editor’s Choice Boutique Hotels
No. 1 Pery Square
Limerick
Once a youth hostel, this hotel at the corner of a late Georgian terrace has definitely waved away any thoughts of backpackers' basics, swapping them for boutique chic.
Drakes
Brighton
Indulge in a Pornstar Martini in the sea-facing cocktail bar at this stuccoed, bow-fronted Georgian seafront hotel, for this is Brighton, after all – hip, tolerant and fun.
The Queensberry
Bath
There’s a huge sense of fun at this stylish hotel, whose logo is Vanity Fair’s caricature of the 9th Marquess of Queensberry, Oscar Wilde’s Nemesis.
Prestonfield
Edinburgh
With peacocks in the garden, kilt-wearing staff, fire-warmed sitting rooms and antiques at every turn, this 17th-century country house is an indulgent experience.
Bank House
King's Lynn
Occupying a splendid Georgian merchant’s house and one-time bank on a square by the Great Ouse, this hotel deserves to be restored to main entry status, by all accounts.
Number Thirty Eight Clifton
Bristol
‘Our favourite stop-over when travelling to Cornwall’, this twin-bayed Georgian merchant’s house B&B sits atop one of Bristol’s highest hills, with panoramic views.
2 Blackburne Terrace
Liverpool
Art-filled interiors and home comforts make for a soothing ambience at this elegant Georgian townhouse B&B on a cobbled drive in Liverpool's cultural quarter.
Chapel House
Penzance
Gorgeous interiors and a friendly, informal ambience are a winning combination at Susan Stuart’s beautiful B&B, where every bedroom has a sea view, and breakfast is quite special.
Brocco on the Park
Sheffield
Behind the solid exterior of an Edwardian park-side villa lies a Scandi-chic boutique hotel and popular drop-in restaurant.
2017 Editor's Choice Boutique Hotels
Editor’s Choice Boutique Hotels
Old Parsonage Hotel
Oxford
‘A stone’s throw from everything Oxford has to offer’, Jeremy Mogford’s second hotel (see the Old Bank) impressed our inspectors with its ‘peaceful, classy vibe’.
The Queensberry
Bath
There’s a huge sense of fun at this stylish hotel, whose logo is Vanity Fair’s caricature of the 9th Marquess of Queensberry, Oscar Wilde’s Nemesis.
The Rookery
London
Hip eateries and bars have supplanted hovels and bawdy houses in this once-notorious area, but behind the 18th-century facade of three shop-houses Georgian London lives on.
Number Thirty Eight Clifton
Bristol
‘Our favourite stop-over when travelling to Cornwall’, this twin-bayed Georgian merchant’s house B&B sits atop one of Bristol’s highest hills, with panoramic views.
Artist Residence Brighton
Brighton
Bohemian Brighton is artfully encapsulated in this Regency townhouse with its cool vibe, quirky furnishings and neighbourhood café-bar.
2016 Editor's Choice Boutique Hotels
Editor’s Choice Boutique Hotels
Jesmond Dene House
Newcastle upon Tyne
In a historic rural park, just ten minutes’ drive from the city centre, this Arts and Crafts mansion impresses with its grand interiors, bold design features and first-rate modern British cooking.
Hart’s Hotel
Nottingham
A sleek, modern hotel on the ramparts of what remains of medieval Nottingham Castle, Hart’s is where your home is when you want to escape the bustling city.
Old Bank Hotel
Oxford
Jeremy Mogford’s conversion of the old Barclays Bank gets credit from a Guide insider for its 'brilliant location, right in the city centre'.
The Grazing Goat
London
Close to West End shops and theatres, this pub-with-rooms has a relaxed vibe, a pavement terrace, stripped-back chic, a restaurant serving modern dishes alongside classics, comfortable bedrooms over three floors.