21 of the best hotels for a UK spring break
Before long, the first day of spring will finally be here. Flowers will bloom, the evenings will lengthen and, who knows, your winter coat might even go back in the cupboard. If the prospect of all that has you itching to get out in the great outdoors, then you're in the right place. We've put together a list of our favourite hotels for a UK break in spring, all conveniently sorted by region.
Stated prices are intended as a guide only.
Lake District
Lodore Falls Hotel
Where: Keswick, Cumbria
Why: This family-owned hotel overlooking Derwentwater has an indoor pool and sauna, an AA-Rosette-awarded restaurant and a waterfall right in the grounds. There’s also an outdoor hot tub and free bike hire, both of which come into their own in the (hopefully) warmer weather.
Price: from £139 per night
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Laura Ashley the Belsfield
Where: Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria
Why: This listed Victorian property reopened in July 2014 after a multimillion-pound refurbishment and collaboration with Laura Ashley. There's an indoor pool, a stylish cocktail bar, two restaurants and, as you can see, spectacular views over Windermere.
Price: from £162 per night (inc Travelzoo-exclusive extras)
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The Ryebeck
Where: Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria
Why: A former Edwardian gentlemen's residence set in five acres of landscaped grounds with sweeping views of Windermere. There’s also a 2-AA-Rosette restaurant on site, and Bowness and Ambleside are just up the road. Rooms have lake or garden views.
Price: from £150 per night (inc Travelzoo-exclusive extras)
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Wordsworth Hotel & Spa
Where: Grasmere, Cumbria
Why: The village of Grasmere is about as idyllic a spot as you’ll find to usher in the spring months. This hotel is named after the poet William Wordsworth and sits next to another famous institution – the Grasmere Gingerbread Shop. The northern tip of Lake Windermere is a 15-minute drive from the hotel.
Price: from £160 per night (inc Travelzoo-exclusive extras)
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If you're thinking of heading to the Lakes, check out our interactive guide to the area: 101 Things to do in the Lake District.
Peak District
Old Hall Hotel
Where: Buxton, Derbyshire
Why: Looking for a Peak District escape? You could scarcely do better – this hotel, built in 1573, is reckoned to be the oldest in England. Mary Queen of Scots stayed here while under house arrest in the 16th century. The location is special; opposite the Pavilion Gardens park and within easy driving distance of Chatsworth.
Price: from £131 per night
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Whitley Hall Hotel
Where: Sheffield, Yorkshire
Why: This 16th-century ivy-covered mansion is steeped in history: Mary Queen of Scots (yep, her again) stayed here. There are 20 acres of landscaped grounds to explore, and the Peak District just beyond. In warm weather, guests can eat in the gardens overlooking the lake.
Price: from £85 per night
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Devon & Cornwall
The Lugger
Where: Portloe, Cornwall
Why: A smuggler's inn turned boutique hotel in the village of Portloe (just next to Truro), with a chic seaside feel. The South West Coast Path passes through the village (guests can borrow wellies and umbrellas from the hotel); we recommend the walk around Nare Head to Carne Beach's sheltered south-facing sands.
Price: from £128 per night (inc Travelzoo-exclusive extras)
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Bedruthan Hotel & Spa
Where: Mawgan Porth, Cornwall
Why: The Bedruthan is regularly namechecked as one of the country’s top family-friendly properties. As well as award-winning restaurants and a spa with ocean views, it has an Ofsted-registered kids' club, a ball pool and assault courses. If the weather is warm, you could hit the waves; The Surf Club Cornwall is based at the hotel.
Price: from £149 per night
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Pentire Hotel
Where: Newquay, Cornwall
Why: The Pentire sits on a headland between Fistral Beach and the picturesque Gannel estuary. The South-West Coast Path is a 4-minute walk away, making this an ideal base from which to explore the local area on foot. The Lost Gardens of Heligan and Eden Project are around 40 minutes' drive.
Price: from £63 per night (inc Travelzoo-exclusive extras)
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Bovey Castle
Where: North Bovey, Devon
Why: This baronial pile on Dartmoor has a stately but intimate feel, with elegant art-deco furnishings. There are two restaurants (a fine-dining option and a brasserie) and free activities including croquet and tennis. Kids are well catered for too - you can even have LEGO delivered to the room.
Price: from £175 per night (inc Travelzoo-exclusive extras)
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Wales
Chateau Rhianfa
Where: Anglesey, Wales
Why: The Grade-II-listed Chateau Rhianfa is a fairytale property overlooking the Menai Strait from the island of Anglesey. Its design was inspired by 16th-century castles of the Loire Valley. It has four acres of grounds to explore and its own private jetty and beach. There's a hot tub, sauna, gym and tennis court on site.
Price: from £200 per night (inc Travelzoo-exclusive extras)
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Penmaenuchaf Hall Hotel
Where: Dolgellau, Wales
Why: Spring in Snowdonia National Park is a special time and this hotel, at the area’s very heart, is a great place to experience it. Coed y Brenin Forest Park, a 10-minute drive away, is home to a number of mountain bike and hiking trails. Fishermen can go after sea trout in the River Mawddach.
Price: from £135 per night (inc Travelzoo-exclusive extras)
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London
The Milestone Hotel
Where: Kensington, London
Why: This 5-star property is renowned for its exceptional service. The location makes it a winner for a spring getaway too – Hyde Park is just over the road, while Knightsbridge, Kensington Palace and the Royal Albert Hall are just a short walk away. Kids' bonus: free colouring books and behind-the-scenes tours.
Price: from £283 per night (inc Travelzoo-exclusive extras)
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Chessington Safari Hotel
Where: Chessington, Surrey
Why: This hotel is just south of London in Surrey, if we’re being picky, but certainly warrants inclusion here. Checking in here puts you just a short walk from Chessington World of Adventures Resort. Plus, guests get early-rider priority before 10am, among other perks.
Price: from £200 per night for a Family Room
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The Grand at Trafalgar Square
Where: Trafalgar Square, London
Why: London locations don’t get much better than this; The Grand overlooks Trafalgar Square and is within walking distance of galleries, museums and the shops of the West End. The perfect base from which to explore the capital this spring.
Price: from £183 per night
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South Coast
Rylstone Manor Hotel
Where: Shanklin, Isle of Wight
Why: The small-but-perfectly-formed Rylstone Manor Hotel stands on a cliff above Sandown Bay on the Isle of Wight. Take in sea views from the gardens, head to the beach (directly below the hotel) or venture out to explore miles of unspoilt coast and countryside.
Price: from £135 per night
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Haven Hotel
Where: Sandbanks, Dorset
Why: The Haven is at the tip of the Sandbanks peninsula, overlooking a Blue Flag beach. It has an outdoor pool with beach views, tennis courts and an award-winning restaurant. A chain ferry docks in front of the hotel, and goes to Shell Bay on the Isle of Purbeck. The 95-mile long Jurassic Coast is a short drive away.
Price: from £130 per night
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Pebble Beach
Where: New Milton, Hampshire
Why: The clifftop Pebble Beach has views of the Isle of Wight and is well placed for exploring the local area – the New Forest is a 10-minute drive and the pretty seaside town of Lymington is 20. There's an AA-Rosette restaurant with views from the terrace and a deli next door.
Price: from £90 per night
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The Hope Anchor Hotel & Restaurant
Where: Rye, East Sussex
Why: The Hope Anchor’s location - at the top of a hill, overlooking Rye's cobblestone streets – is hard to beat. Three miles outside of Rye is Camber Sands, a popular spot with kite-surfers and a great place for walk in the spring sunshine.
Price: from £80 per night
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Scotland
Trigony House Hotel
Where: Thornhill, Dumfries & Galloway
Why: An award-winning Edwardian former shooting lodge in the pretty Nith Valley, Dumfries and Galloway. Stately home Drumlanrig Castle, where you can go on walks, go cycling and off-road mountain biking, is a short drive away. Light, airy rooms have views of the gardens or woodlands.
Price: from £120 per night (inc Travelzoo-exclusive extras)
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Carberry Tower
Where: Musselburgh, East Lothian
Why: This fairytale castle, 20 minutes' drive from Edinburgh, is where Mary Queen of Scots (that’s her third appearance on this list) surrendered in the 16th century. If you want to get even closer to royalty, you could stay in the room used by Queen Elizabeth II during her visit in the 1960s.
Price: from £99 per night (inc Travelzoo-exclusive extras)
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