THE BEST LUXURY TOWNHOUSE HOTELS IN THE UK

Emma Love

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Often the key to a successful city hotel break is staying right in the heart of the action. A well-located hotel from where you can set out on foot to explore your surroundings and discover the blockbuster attractions without the faff of public transport. But that doesn’t mean compromising on style. The best boutique townhouse hotels come with buzzy restaurants, rooftop bars with incredible views, secret gardens and sanctuary-like spas. From Windsor to York and London, here’s our pick of where to check-in.

The Grand York, York

A short stroll across the River Ouse from the top attractions, this central luxury townhouse hotel has views of York Minster and the historic city walls from its best rooms (categories range from classic to grand heritage suites, with original Edwardian features). There are two restaurants, both overseen by executive head chef Kevin Bonello (he was previously at Michelin-starred De Mondion in Malta). Choose from modern British food cooked in the open kitchen at The Rise or the fine dining Legacy restaurant where the three tasting menus nod to York’s history: Stone represents the Romans, Water the Vikings and Steel, the city’s links to the metal industry. If all this leaves you feeling inspired to get into the kitchen, sign up for classes at the onsite cookery school – perhaps a half day making artisan bread, Thai curry or shellfish recipes. And, for those feeling weary after a day exploring, the spa in the former vault has a pool, steam room and sauna.

Lime Tree Hotel, London

This Georgian townhouse hotel somehow feels like a secret hideaway despite being in the heart of village-like Belgravia, with its independent bakeries, restaurants, and boutiques. Upstairs, there are 26 rooms (including some for solo travellers), all prettily furnished: wood-panelled walls in restful stone shades, abstract patterned wallpapers and geometric print cushions on the bed. Thanks to the grade II-listed building, many also have high ceilings, open fireplaces, and original cornicing. Downstairs is a walled garden, sitting room and a café-style restaurant, The Buttery which serves breakfast, brunch and lunch (perhaps start the day with a spinach and bacon brioche or tuck into warm beetroot salad and wild mushrooms on toast for lunch). Must-visit London sights such as Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey, plus shopping on the King’s Road and the museums of South Kensington, are all within easy walking distance.

The Castle Hotel, Windsor

Dating back to the 1600s, this is the most historic hotel in Windsor and its location – opposite Windsor Guildhall – means that attractions such as Windsor Castle and St. George’s Chapel are only a few minutes’ walk away. Rooms and suites combine elegant period features (such as original fireplaces) with a calming colour palette and contemporary furnishings (velvet sofas, statement chandeliers). The Leaf restaurant is the place for Sunday roasts and supper, with dishes on the menu including venison pie, butter chicken and winter vegetable Wellington. Afternoon Tea (freshly baked scones, raspberry rose madeleines) features loose-leaf teas from royal warrant holder Darvilles of Windsor while beers are from the local Windsor & Eton Brewery. Legoland Windsor and Ascot Racecourse are both also a short drive away.

Gleneagles Townhouse, Edinburgh

Housed in the restored former headquarters of the British Linen Bank on the stylish St Andrew Square, this boutique townhouse hotel and members’ club is the younger sibling of the original Gleneagles in Perthshire. At its heart – and perhaps where the building’s history is felt most intensely – is the all-day restaurant The Spence (meaning larder), located in the old banking hall featuring a soaring cupola, marble columns, and an Art Deco bar. A section of the menu is dedicated to Scottish seafood, while the dessert trolley, offering delights such as baked baileys cheesecake and malt, orange, and whisky choux buns, is legendary. Equally noteworthy is Lamplighters, the rooftop cocktail bar, which boasts sensational views of the city, along with the wellness space in the old bank vault, which includes a yoga studio, gym, cryotherapy suite, and infrared sauna (book in for Dr. Barbara Sturm face treatments and Tata Harper body and face therapies). The 33 rooms at Gleneagles Townhouse range from Nooks, charming attic spaces with wooden floors and antique rugs overlooking the rooftops, to high-ceilinged Masters.

Beaverbrook Town House, Chelsea

Spread across two restored Georgian townhouses overlooking the leafy Cadogan Gardens in Chelsea, this sister hotel to Beaverbrook in Surrey features 14 suites, designed by Nicola Harding (the designer behind the rooms at Beaverbrook’s Garden House). Each suite is named after a London theatre and is adorned with framed programmes and vintage posters of past productions on the walls, bold colour palettes, printed textiles, and some include modern four-posters and fringed velvet sofas, along with glossy-tiled bathrooms. All the social action takes place on the ground floor, first in the Art Deco-inspired Sir Frank’s Bar (named after Beaverbrook’s creative director Sir Frank Lowe, who curated the mini gallery of artworks on the stairs), which boasts leather booths and glass tables with Japanese matchbox cover collages underneath. Beyond that is The Fuji Grill Japanese restaurant, where it’s worth splashing out on the 12-course sushi tasting omakase menu served at the counter. Additionally, a stay here provides exclusive access to Cadogan Gardens for afternoon tennis matches and picnics.