Hotel reviews

Looking for the perfect cosy UK countryside getaway this winter? This charming Cotswolds hotel ticks all the boxes, we discovered

Visit Calcot & Spa around this time of year and the first thing you’ll notice upon pulling up is the fragrant smell of log fires. Just outside the honey-coloured town of Tetbury – the Cotswolds’ second largest, and where you’ll find Highgrove House, the private home of King Charles and Queen Camilla – Calcot is the ultimate countryside retreat.

The main house was built in the 17th and 18th century, but records show that one barn dates back to 1311, with dwellings here even as far back as Roman times. Now it’s a luxury spa hotel filled with cosy corners and a keen focus on sustainability; they burn logs made from coffee grounds and old newspapers, a tree is planted every time towels are reused, and they’ve eliminated single-use plastics.

Rooms are comfy and spacious – the tray of complimentary drinks and snacks is a nice touch (including the butteriest homemade shortbread), and I had one of the best night’s sleep in ages in the giant squishy bed.

Dinner can be taken in the elegant Brasserie restaurant (be sure to save room for one of the delicious desserts) or in The Hive, a pub-like space serving more casual bites, and which is better for kids.

In fact, the whole hotel is incredibly family-friendly, while still being a relaxing retreat for those travelling without children (a tricky balance to get right). There are dedicated hours for families in the pool and at The Hive, baby monitors are available to hire, and kids get four hours of free childcare in the nanny-run Playbarn when staying between Sunday and Thursday.

The spa at Calcot

A huge barn-style building a few steps from the main building, Calcot Spa features a light and airy café, indoor pool for lengths, sauna, steam room and snooze-inducing relaxation rooms.

The highlight, however, is undoubtedly the outdoor hydropool by yet another aromatic log fire, which somehow never feels overcrowded. Try to pay it a visit at the end of the day (the spa’s open until 9pm), as it becomes even more magical in the dark.

Top treatment at Calcot & Spa

Six months pregnant at the time, I went for the spa’s New Life New Mum Massage, which started with a back massage lying on each side (I appreciated the long sausage-shaped pregnancy pillow to hug), before turning over onto my back to work on my feet, legs and arms. While the lower back needs to be treated gently when pregnant, I was thrilled to still feel the knots in my neck being expertly loosened. The combination of vanilla-y scent of macadamia nut oil and my therapist’s soothing voice had me nearly nodding off.

What else is there to do at Calcot & Spa?

Calcot is, quite rightly, very proud of its rewilding programme across its 220-acre grounds, which includes wildflower meadows, beehives and a herd of fluffy Belted Galloway cows to graze the fields. Explore it all on the 3km nature trail; comfy Le Chameau wellies are available to borrow by the back door if it’s muddy underfoot.

How much does it cost to stay at Calcot & Spa?

Rooms at Calcot & Spa start from £344 per night.

ONE of London’s most unique hotels, the Courthouse Hotel is one for history buffs who love some of the city’s darker residents.

Here is everything you need to know about staying there.

Where is the Courthouse Hotel?

This historic hotel is right in the middle of trendy Shoreditch.

It is minutes from the hotel’s famous steps is the pulse of east London’s nightlife scene, with pop-up food stalls, music venues, restaurants and bars. 

You are also just five minutes from Old Street Underground station and can walk easily to Spitalfields Market, the city of London and Columbia Road Flower Market.

What is the hotel like?

The hotel is housed in a Grade II Baroque building, which was once the Old Street Magistrates Court and Police Station. 

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The listed building held some high-profile cases such as the London mobsters, the Kray Twins and author of “1984” George Orwell.

Since undergoing a recent multi million conversion of the historical building with a newly built extension, the hotel features 86 guest rooms and 42 suites.

What are the rooms like?

The hotel’s modern interior is a contrast to its colourful backstory. 

The recently renovated bedrooms are mega-stylish, with art-deco touches and elegant fittings. 

The enormous bathrooms with double walk-in showers are a huge plus. 

Plus, as well as very comfortable beds, almost all rooms have fantastic views over the east London skyline. 

Rooms start from £165 a night.

What can you eat and drink there?

The hotel has a range of places to grab a bite or you can sit at the bar and enjoy a stylish cocktail. 

The Jailhouse Bar is set within the former Police Station of the Old Street Magistrates Court – the very same place the Krays once stood trial. 

There is also a restaurant, aptly named Judge and Jury, which is set in a dramatic former courtroom with panelled walls that serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea. 

It’s fair to say I ate better than the former defendants of this courthouse, with a steak salad and chips and a large glass of red.

There was also a great cocktail menu, making it a great spot to start your night out in Shoreditch, perched at the dramatic bar with an Old Fashioned in hand.

Although, I’m guessing if the Krays were drinking here back in the day, it would more likely have been a pint of stout and a bag of crisps.

By night, the Upper 5th Shoreditch bar has a rooftop terrace and a panoramic view of the skyline. 

What else is there at the hotel?

Believe it or not, the hotel has a 196-seat cinema inside it, as well as an indoor swimming pool and a two-lane bowling alley. 

There is also a serene spa, which is a sanctuary away from the busy city. 

Is the hotel family friendly?

Yes, there is the Hoxton Family Suite which sleeps four people.

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Is the hotel accessible?

In regards to accessibility, the hotel entrance has wheelchair access, and the lift connects to all floors. 

The hotel also has six accessible rooms.

This New York hotel may be only three years old, but it has already made a name for itself as the hipster haven of the Lower East Side. It’s a celebrity favourite and after spending two nights there, I can see exactly why.

While girls’ trips are all about fun activities, chaotic nights out and days lounging on the beach, topping up your tan, or browsing shopping streets across the world, having a good base to rest your head after a long day of gallivanting has never been more important.

That’s why, on my most recent trip to New York, I made sure my best friend and I treated ourselves to a luxurious stay at the Nine Orchard hotel in Chinatown, just one subway stop away from Brooklyn, for a stay that will keep us rejuvenated between each busy day.

Online, the Nine Orchard hotel looks like an upgraded home away from home, with cosy furnishings, speakers in rooms, Brooklyn style windows perfect for people watching and tiled bathrooms you would only see on a Pinterest board. In person, it gave no less.

Upon checking in, my friend and I counted our lucky stars. We were warmly greeted in true New York fashion (no matter what people say, in my experience, the New Yorkers are far friendlier than your average Londoner, sorry!) and told us our stay included a £115 room tab to spend on the goodies left in our minibar, and a free breakfast at the connected Corner Bar restaurant which served a plate of the best French Toast I’ve ever had.

Every detail, from the speakers in the room which play a selection of calm and soothing jazz to your own music via Bluetooth, to the three showers to choose from in the bathroom that’s bigger than my UK bedroom.

Choice was the luxury we were awarded at Nine Orchard, and it’s no wonder celebrities enjoy the hotel too, having stayed during the CFDA Fashion Awards, we saw our fair share of stars ducking out of the hotel reception and bundled into Black SUVs one evening.

We also had our choice of lounge areas to relax in come evening, one room which had a grand fireplace, ideal for a late night reading session or the Swan room, an elegant space for a cocktail with a vaulted ceiling, luxurious booths, and pink Tennessee marble walls.

The Swan Room, with its vaulted ceiling, is a nod to the hotel building’s former use.

The Nine Orchard hotel was once a bank, which in some way adds to the opulent, old-world setting of the place. It’s a landmark of the iconic Lower East Side, having been awarded its status in 2009, and offered a view of the downtown skyline that would make any traveller want to emigrate in a heartbeat.

Nine Orchard may have opened its doors only in 2022, but it has quickly become Downtown New York’s go-to hipster hideaway, so much so that it earned a spot on Expedia’s 2026 Hotels of the Year list for its character and cultural edge.

Whether you’re planning a stylish weekend with friends or a romantic escape, this is a stay I’d recommend without hesitation.

Prices start from from £594.

Escape to the Dolomite mountains in northern Italy this winter for stunning scenery and rooms with a view at this striking treehouse spa hotel

There’s certainly something magical about being in the mountains at this time of year, and if you’re looking for an upmarket alpine escape, Brixen in Italy’s Dolomites region ticks all the boxes.

South Tyrol’s oldest town, Brixen – also known as Bressanone – is a popular destination for domestic and international holidaymakers alike, who come for skiing in the winter and walking in the summer. With German as the locals’ first language, the region feels much more Austrian than Italian. It was, in fact, part of Austria-Hungary until the end of the First World War.

If you’re lucky enough to have snow when you visit, Brixen will look like a scene from a snowglobe, with medieval churches, traditional Christmas markets and a festive light and music show held throughout the small town.

Brixen is easily accessible from Bolzano, Innsbruck, Venice and Verona airports, but if the flights work for you, do try to fly via SkyAlps, South Tyrol’s very own airline, direct from London to Bolzano. The journey is a delight, and you’ll feel like you’ve gone back to a golden age of aviation as you board the little propeller plane, which carries no more than 76 passengers. Drinks and snacks (many of which are local to the region) are complimentary, and you get to enjoy stunning views of the mountains as you fly over them.

My Arbor hotel

The My Arbor hotel, a few kilometres uphill from Brixen, has the wow factor as soon as you pull up to it. Perched on the side of a mountain, half of the hotel is raised up on what look like impossibly spindly stilts, as if the architect sketched a design for a treehouse after watching War Of The Worlds . The result is modern yet also completely in tune with the surrounding nature.

The ‘tree hotel’ theme continues as you step through the front door, with huge trunks hanging from the ceiling of the spacious lobby, leading onto a terrace that opens out onto views of the valley below.

The bedrooms are wood-panelled too, in a contemporary chalet-style design. The highlight is the huge daybed in the windows of the rooms, putting you right among the treetops as you lounge with your morning coffee, watching the clouds clear off the mountains in the distance. For total luxury, you can stay in one of three Treetop Suites, which have private terraces and their own whirlpool hot tubs.

The spa at My Arbor

The Spa Arboris is the star of the show at My Arbor, with two entire floors dedicated to wellness, and it’s clearly popular with guests. The first floor allows clothing and has a large indoor/outdoor pool, sauna and plenty of beds. But if you want to embrace German spa culture and leave your swimsuit and your inhibitions behind, then head down to the ‘textile-free’ floor (no one is looking, trust us), where you’ll find lots more saunas, steam rooms and an outdoor hydropool. It’s down here where ‘sauna infusions’ take place four times a day too, involving intense heat, powerful music and essential oils.

Outside, cosy heated ‘cuddle nests’ can also be booked for two-hour periods, filled with snuggly blankets and uninterrupted views.

My Arbor

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From about £225 per person, per night

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A striking treehouse-style hotel in Italy’s beautiful South Tyrol, with stunning views, seven-course dinners and a world class spa.

The food at My Arbor

Most guests at My Arbor stay half-board, and you certainly won’t go hungry here. Dinner consists of a seven-course menu with a changing theme every night, alongside buffet salads, cheese boards and desserts. To accompany it is a huge wine list that the helpful staff are only too happy to advise on. Impressively, our waiter expertly talked us through the 600-bottle offering in English, his third language.

At breakfast you’ll find a selection of all the usual continental favourites – breads, meats, cheeses and pastries – as well as healthier options such as kefir water, freshly squeezed blueberry juice and different flavours of porridge every day.

What to do around My Arbor

The Plose ski resort and cable car is nearby, but locals tell us it’s not one of the Dolomites’ major ski destinations. Instead, most visitors come for the walking, with dozens of picturesque, well-signposted trails around the area. We visited earlier in the year, so our hiking routes felt like scenes straight out of The Sound Of Music , taking us past wildflower meadows, bleating baby goats, ancient churches and trickling streams. We don’t think it gets any more idyllic than that.

How much does it cost to stay at My Arbor?

Rooms at My Arbor start from about £225 per person, per night. SkyAlps operates flights from London Gatwick to Bolzano three times a week, from around £140 each way. Children under two travel free of charge.

ONE of Canary Wharf’s trendiest hotels – and one of the few actually within the London district itself – is Tribe.

Here is everything you need to know from what the rooms are like to what you can do nearby.

Where is Tribe Canary Wharf?

Overlooking Canary Wharf’s dock, Tribe is a five-minute walk from the tube station.

The hotel was created by two Perth design fans, who have since opened 18 Tribe hotels around the world.

Aiming to be for the “modern travellers as an affordable luxury,” Tribe Canary Wharf is surrounded by some of the city’s most popular chain restaurants like Patty & Bun and Dishoom.

What is the hotel like?

The hotel is modern and stylish, with edgy graphic design and chrome gold lighting in the bedrooms.

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It’s in a prime spot in London and the cool interiors separate it from older, more traditional hotels.

What is there to do there?

Guests can pay for a day pass to the Third Space gym, one of the swankiest ones in London.

Costing £20, it includes access to all of the facilities including the gym, pool, sauna and spa.

The hotel also has a beautiful lobby area which is popular with co-workers, thanks to the number of desks and plugs.

Otherwise just outside is GoBoat if you fancy a ride around Canary Wharf’s canals, while many of London’s main tourist attractions are a short tube ride away.

Being the festive season, you can even find Canary Wharf’s ice rink popping up this month.

What are the rooms like at Tribe Canary Wharf?

The rooms have trimmed some of the frills to keep the hotel affordable for travellers – so don’t expect dressing gowns or slippers.

But the 320 rooms have everything you need, including complimentary toiletries, USB ports by the bed plus tea and coffee making facilities.

They range from Tribe Essential – the most compact – to Tribe Extra.

The huge windows in each room with views over Canary Wharf make them feel larger than they actually are.

Everything you need to know about the hotel from what is on offer to check out times are access by the TV.

What is there to eat and drink at the hotel?

The district might have all the food joints you could want, but the hotel’s Feels Like June restaurant offers a unique take on California dining.

The All Day Menu has everything from delicious Chicken Katsu Sandos to delicious rib eye steaks. Vegetarians don’t worry as there are lots of meat-free options too.

I also loved my Miami Vice – a concoction of gin, elderflower and melon sorbet.

(Make sure to grab a cocktail between 5pm and 7pm for their Happy Hour deal of two for £15).

Check out the live events at the hotel as there are sometimes live DJ sets.

It’s also a great spot for breakfast, so you can indulge in avocado on toast or a superfood smoothie bowl before checkout.

Remember to visit the 24-hour Grab & Go station near reception, which has pre-packaged meals, snacks and a coffee station.

How much is Tribe Canary Wharf?

Rooms start from £100 a night. Click here to book.

Is Tribe Canary Wharf family friendly?

The hotel is not really suited to kids but families can request a cot for children under 5.

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Is there access for guests with disabilities?

Yes, there are 16 accessible rooms and there is lift access.

Looking for a place to stay? For more hotel inspiration click here.

We got to experience the delights of Hotel Indigo London Clerkenwell, having recently opened its doors, boasting a traditional British pub dubbed an ‘icon’ and a gorgeous 1930s themed bar

Finding a hotel in London, be it for business or leisure, can feel like a daunting task. There’s a catalogue of establishments promising a restful night to rest our heads after a busy day in the capital. However, there’s one that stands out.

Nestled in the heart of London’s design district and just a short distance from some of the city’s hotspots is the newly opened Hotel Indigo London Clerkenwell by IHG. The four-star boutique hotel sits in a welcoming neighbourhood, dubbed “one of London’s most creative postcodes”, which allowed us to comfortably slot into the lifestyle of locals during a weekend stay.

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It’s perfectly positioned to explore central London, including Barbican Centre, Little Italy and St. Paul’s Cathedral, being just a short walk away. If we needed to venture further into the city, Barbican underground tube station is just a five-minute walk from the hotel – that’s if we could tear ourselves away from our room.

Before we even reached our twin bedroom, we were impressed by the glowing clocks that were fixed outside every bedroom door, displaying the room number in time, and decorating the hotel halls. Once we stepped inside our room, we were welcomed into a chic retreat designed with sleek interiors, smart features, and a refined aesthetic that was as stylish as it was comfortable.

Plush twin beds with crisp white linens and a velvet forest green headboard anchored the room, while smart lighting, including a nifty reading light and an automatic light for the bathroom, along with built-in amenities, made our stay even more effortless. We made use of the espresso machine found in every room and the gorgeous Urban Apothecary London bathroom amenities.

There were subtle notes of baby pink and mustard yellow that complemented the green hues perfectly, while oak wood furnishings with touches of gold added to the room’s sophistication and style. Other delicate touches include the old-fashioned style phone and the ambient circle light above the beds – we felt tucked away from the bustling capital inside our little haven.

When it came to food, we were spoilt for choice and found that there was absolutely no need to dine out anywhere else during our stay, with their restaurant, Wilderness Kitchen, pub, Hat & Feathers and Sabini Bar all under one roof. Because we know, choosing somewhere to dine in London is another minefield to navigate.

We started our evening with a pre-dinner drink in the hotel’s luxurious cocktail bar, Sabini Bar, which is themed around Charles Sabini, a notorious gangster who operated in London’s Clerkenwell during the 1920s and 30s. We opted for a spiced margarita, exquisitely made by cocktail attender Ope, and sat on one of the plush velvet seats in their cosy and elegant nook of the bar.

This area of the bar featured a dramatic red curtain covering half the floor-to-ceiling windows, a large partisan-style rug over wooden floors and a dazzling orange-hued chandelier that hung above. While we can only dream of our own house being this lavish, it offered a sense of relaxed comfort with a boujee edge.

For dinner, we dined in their gorgeous Wilderness Kitchen with table booths decorated in greenery and stylish rattan chairs. Served by the friendly food & beverage supervisor, Amal, we started with the garlic chilli prawns with ginger, before indulging in a 100Z ribeye medium-rare steak served with chunky chips and peppercorn sauce.

After gazing upon the dessert menu, we couldn’t resist the warming and lightly rich chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream. It was all washed down with a refreshing glass of Pinot Grigio Rosé.

Another highlight of the hotel’s food and beverage options is the Grade II listed Hat & Feathers pub, which is accessible directly from the hotel or via a main entrance outside. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy classic British pub dishes, local and international beers, in a cosy and traditional London pub, which is marked as “a Clerkenwell icon”.

For breakfast, we returned to the Wilderness Kitchen for a selection of continental options and poached eggs and avocado from their main menu. There were plenty of fresh juices on offer, along with coffees to help kickstart the day!

To book your stay at Hotel Indigo London Clerkenwell, or for more details, visit their website here.

We checked in to this stylish new hotel in west London and discovered stunning interiors, a tranquil garden and innovative drinks at the bar

A few minutes’ walk away from bustling Earls Court Road, past quiet cobbled mews, is Templeton Garden, chic European hotel group Miiro’s latest opening, and arguably London’s most stylish new hotel.

A former townhouse, its grand white-pillared entrance opens up into what looks like an interiors Pinterest board brought to life, an elegant colour palette of creams, beiges and rusts, with a light and airy lounge area leading onto a beautiful private garden out the back – a rare find in central London – with a terrace for taking lunch or drinks.

Stay between 17 November-24 December and get access to the hotel’s Ribbon Room, a Santa’s grotto stocked with beautiful papers and ribbons to wrap your finds from your Christmas shopping expedition like a pro, accompanied by a hot buttered Brugal cider, from Sprout, the hotel’s bar.

The rooms at Templeton Garden

The complimentary colour palette continues to the 156 bedrooms, which our Junior Suite was elegant and understated with soft plaster-pink walls and lots of fabric textures, and immediately made us want to redecorate ours at home. A pop of colour comes from the dark red tiled shower space in the bathroom, complete with marble bath, vintage-style brass fittings and Le Labo Santal 33 products. Sleeping here under the canopy bed feels special yet still homely – a tricky balance to get right.

The food and drink at Templeton Garden

Evenings at Templeton Garden begin with a drink at Sprout, lined with hand-painted wallpaper and low velvet seats arranged around lamp-lit tables, with a stunning gold oak leaf light fitting overhead.

The most interesting thing about this bar, however, is the drinks list. The Market Stall Menu features innovative cocktail creations using ingredients commonly found in the back of your cupboard, such as a Marmitini, Red Onion Manhattan and Anchovy Gimlet. The Specials Menu, meanwhile, uses seasonal fruit and vegetables, and changes regularly depending on what’s available.

Templeton Garden

From £290 per night

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Book here

A stylish new hideaway in London’s Earl’s Court.

We opted for the Sweet Pea Spritz, made, we were told, by separating the peas from their pods, roasting the pods, blending them both back together to make a cordial, then mixing them with vodka and sparkling wine. Fresh and slightly sweet, it was like nothing we’d ever tried before, and completely delicious.

It was then on to dinner at Pippin’s restaurant, where the focus is again on seasonal ingredients with lots of fresh herbs from the garden. The spring vegetable salad was a colourful plate of crunchy pickled veg and leaves atop a tangy cheddar emulsion, while for mains, the catch of the day was a delicious crispy-skinned stone bass paired with a herby, zingy chimichurri.

How much does it cost to stay at Templeton Garden?

Rooms at Templeton Garden start from £290 per night.