The loveliest Christmas hotels for a festive UK getaway
Fancy spending the big day away from home this year? Check into these wonderful Christmas hotels
The festive period might still be a few months away, but we all know how quickly the most wonderful time of year can creep up on us... And let's be honest, it's never too soon to start thinking about Christmas – especially if you're an early-bird who is looking to get their plans sorted with plenty of time.
So, for anyone who is raring to go, and ready to get into the festive spirit right now, our pick of the best Christmas hotels in the UK is here to give you all the inspiration you could possibly need.
Something to think about a little early before all the good festive getaways get booked up, Britain's loveliest Christmas hotels offer the perfect answer to a cosy Christmas away from home.
Tired of slogging away in the kitchen, and all the pressure of hosting family and friends? Well, checking into a festive hotel relieves you of all those duties and ensures you can make the most of this wonderful time of year.
Perfect for anyone – whether you're spending the holidays as a couple, with the children and grandchildren, or solo – the UK's best Christmas hotels will ensure you have a memorable celebration to round off 2024.
You can tuck into festive afternoon teas with mince pies, listen to carol singers as you sip on champagne and enjoy long strolls in the grounds of some of the most beautiful hotels – ideal for walking off the turkey that you didn't spend hours fretting over. Talk about the ultimate Christmas present!
From the Lake District's Linthwaite House with Windermere views and a harpist to get you into the festive spirit, to the Cotswolds' atmospheric (and dog-friendly) Lygon Arms, where you can have a very cosy Christmas, check out the best Christmas hotels for 2024.
Cowley Manor Experimental, Cotswolds
When it comes to Christmas hotels, it would be hard to beat a 17th-century manor house surrounded by pretty Cotswolds countryside, 55 acres of natural lakes and enchanting woodland. All this – and much more – awaits at Cowley Manor Experimental, the trendy country pad from the much-loved Experimental Group.
For Christmas 2024 getaways, the hotel is running a special package that includes a three-night stay in a room with your very own Christmas tree. You'll also get to enjoy breakfast each morning, a three-course dinner on Christmas Eve cooked by acclaimed chef Jackson Boxer, a five-course Christmas Day lunch with champagne and a dinner buffet. On top of all that feasting, there will be a special gift for all guests, endless entertainment and some other surprises along the way.
The Gallivant, East Sussex
If you've always dreamed of spending Christmas by the sea, The Gallivant in Rye should be high on your list this year. Imagine spending the festive season taking invigorating walks along Camber Sands beach, then coming home for a hot toddy in front of a roaring log fire before tucking into a delicious festive feast.
From 24th to 27th December, The Gallivant's Christmas House Party will take place, featuring everything from welcome mince pies and tea to indulgent champagne-fuelled meals – starting with a glorious Christmas Day breakfast. This will be followed by three-course Christmas lunch, cake and tea, and all the board games and merriment you could hope for. Boxing Day is another treat – start it with a sea swim and yoga or a much-needed lie in and hearty brunch.
The Cavendish, Peak District
If you're after a Christmas full of log fires, crisp winter walks through a National Park and a variety of magical activities, The Cavendish might just be the place for you. The hotel has recently undergone a major refurbishment by interior designer Nicola Harding, so everything is fresh and fabulous.
Its position on the Chatsworth Estate makes it even more festive, with the splendid Chatsworth House transformed with 20,000 baubles across 48 Christmas trees. Complimentary access to the house and garden is granted to guests booking the Christmas at The Cavendish package, which also includes a three-night stay and an array of festive feasts lovingly created using produce from the magnificent estate.
The Cottage in the Wood Malvern, Worcestershire
More a hotel on a hill than a cottage in the woods, The Cottage in the Wood Malvern is an idyllic four-star retreat above the spa town of Malvern. Its 1919 restaurant has received three AA Rosettes and a mention in the Michelin Guide, so you can expect delicious food as well as dramatic views and deep, restorative sleep here.
For Christmas 2024, there's a three-night package on offer– and it's a foodie's idea of heaven. It begins on Christmas Eve with a festive cocktail and dinner in 1919, followed by a Buck's Fizz breakfast and five-course lunch on the day itself. For Boxing Day, guests can expect live jazz, mince pies and yet another wonderful dinner.
The Tempus, Northumberland
For a Christmas filled with character, head to The Tempus on the magnificent 700-acre Charlton Hall Estate in Northumberland. This unique hotel has 33 creatively designed bedrooms filled with charming eccentricities and located in what was once a series of 18th century stone barns.
The Ultimate Christmas Experience will give guests a festive break filled with Northern hospitality and festive cheer, running from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day. You'll be welcomed with a festive drink followed by afternoon tea in the Orangery, with a cocktail and dinner that evening. On Christmas Day, expect a boozy breakfast, before fizz, canapés and an indulgent Christmas Day lunch created by Head Chef Alistair Weightman. Topping it all off, there's Boxing Day brunch and a late checkout.
The Grove, Hertfordshire
In 300 acres of Hertfordshire countryside, The Grove is an English staycation classic and a haven of tranquility – despite the fact that it's located a mere 18 miles from London. When Christmas rolls around, the hotel transforms into a winter hideaway festooned with twinkling lights and fairytale bows.
This year, guests are invited to celebrate with a three-night stay from Christmas Eve to 27th December, with each day beginning with either breakfast in bed or at one of The Grove's gorgeous restaurants. There will also be complimentary access to Sequoia Spa and a range of arts and crafts activities for little ones, plus an appearance from Father Christmas himself. It's the perfect festive family getaway.
Cliveden House, Berkshire
Could it get more classically luxurious than Christmas at Cliveden? This rightfully adored hotel in Berkshire has hosted some legendary parties over its decadent history, and this legacy fills every Christmas with an infectious celebratory spirit. Expect dazzling displays of twinkling lights adorning the exterior, as well as the huge tree that springs up in the grand lobby each year, complete with the promising glow of wrapped presents underneath.
For 2024, guests can join from Christmas Eve until 27th December for an expertly curated stay filled with delicious dishes, flowing Laurent-Perrier Champagne and cosy nights in one of the hotel's plush bedrooms and suites. For larger groups, there's also the beautiful three-bedroom Spring Cottage in the gorgeous grounds.
Four Seasons Hampshire, Hampshire
For Christmas 2024, Four Seasons Hampshire is certainly pushing the festive boat out. To bring a taste of the Swiss Alps to the English countryside, the hotel's ski lodge restaurant Off Piste will make a return, serving mountain favourites including cheese fondue and bratwurst. There will also be a Christmas market, featuring wildlife sculptures donated by The Sculpture Park and a vintage car display.
As for those staying here over the main event, expect traditional Christmas Day lunch and a family-style Boxing Day feast, all cooked up with executive chef Talha Barkin’s love for local produce. Other highlights include themed 'Festivi-Teas', family pantomime performances and, for some welcome escapism, a supremely relaxing Christmas spa special offering.
The Lygon Arms, Cotswolds
With its cosy corners, roaring log fires and historical gravitas, The Lygon Arms offers the perfect nostalgia of Christmas. A festive break here affords you with a relaxing base just moments from Broadway's Christmas market, while the hotel itself boasts endless mulled wine, Christmas Eve entertainment in the form of carol singers and gifts for all – dogs included. This is by far one of the cosiest Christmas hotels in the UK, so secure your stay while you still can.
Rockliffe Hall, Durham
As one of the finest hotels in the North, bordered by the dramatic North York Moors and scenic Yorkshire Dales, Rockliffe Hall offers a particularly scenic spot to spend Christmas feasting on fabulous food and cosying up by the fire.
Each year, the hotel goes all out with its festive package, that includes afternoon tea complete with mulled wine and carol singers, winter pampering in the spa, a five-course Christmas Day lunch and a visit from Father Christmas on the big day, with gifts for children plus champagne for the adults.
Castle Hotel Windsor, Berkshire
Have a royal Christmas in Windsor at the finest boutique hotel in town, the Castle Hotel Windsor. Here, you can have breakfast with Father Christmas himself, enjoy elaborate feasts including a four-course Christmas Day Lunch, and relax with family and friends for leisurely evenings of mince pies and festive drinks.
You'll want to take a stroll through the town’s inviting streets to soak up the festive atmosphere, too. This perfect Christmas hotel is also just a short walk from a plethora of wide, open spaces including the famous Long Walk, Windsor Great Park, Savill Garden and the River Thames.
Linthwaite House Hotel, Lake District
Head for the Lake District this Christmas and you can enjoy an intimate experience at the 36-room boutique Linthwaite House Hotel. Beautifully located on a hilltop overlooking Windermere and with 14 acres of gardens and private woodland grounds, you'll have plenty of space to walk off that turkey.
Over the festive period, you can expect specially designed menus at the award-winning Henrock restaurant (part of the Simon Rogan Group) as well as entertainment in the form of board games, festive quizzes, and drinks receptions with music at the Bar & Conservatory. Exact details of the legendary Christmas Lunch have not been released yet, but if last year's Baked Alaska flamed tableside and traditional Christmas pudding are anything to go by, you'll be in for a treat.
Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa, West Sussex
Set in 30 private acres of gardens and parkland, you'll have plenty of space to walk off the mince pies at Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa. The charming Christmas hotel transforms into a festive wonderland, with crackling log fires, sweet treats and mulled wine aplenty as it welcomes guests for its annual, three-night Christmas spectacle.
Christmas Eve afternoon tea, Midnight Mass at quaint local churches, and four-poster beds to climb into create the most marvellous atmosphere for a festive break. You can also enjoy a Christmas morning stroll on Climping Beach, a traditional festive feast with local Sussex wines, and roaring fires for toasting marshmallows on Boxing Day. Not to mention full use of the spa and pool for an extra luxurious touch.
Crathorne Hall Hotel, North Yorkshire
Crathorne Hall Hotel invites guests to make the most of the festive season by relaxing in the luxury hotel, that's located in the charming town of Yarm. Dating back to 1906, this lovely Christmas hotel boasts captivating views of the Leven Valley on the edge of the Yorkshire Moors, and has hosted multiple prime ministers and royal family members over the years.
The Christmas offering for 2024 is still being finalised, but past years have featured indulgent, multi-course Christmas lunches with a champagne and canapé reception and all the traditional trimmings, as well as a big, Boxing Day feast. Plus, of course, plenty of time spent with loved ones in idyllic surroundings.
The Vineyard, Berkshire
Head for Newbury where you can enjoy a wine-filled Christmas at The Vineyard, that each year puts on a two-day festive extravaganza. You can expect an abundance of surprises from the very beginning, with a toast of champagne when you arrive and your very own Christmas tree in your room.
Christmas Eve usually entails a wine masterclass and delectable three-course dinner accompanied by local carollers who infuse the air with holiday cheer – while Christmas Day is for festive breakfast, present opening, as well as an exquisite five-course lunch, sumptuous evening buffet and finally, a delicious breakfast on Boxing Day morning. Stay tuned for exact details of The Vineyard's 2024 Christmas offering.
The Angel Hotel, Monmouthshire
With numerous awards under its belt, The Angel knows a thing or two about hospitality. This stylish, family-run hotel in Abergavenny welcomes guests with open arms – and plenty more – for a fabulous and fun-filled Christmas break.
The hotel really comes alive during the Christmas period, in past years putting on everything from Santa sleigh rides and festive fondue evenings to special afternoon teas featuring turkey and cranberry sandwiches and mince pies. Not to mention the Christmas Day and Christmas Eve menus that are perfect for enjoying with family and friends, with plenty of mulled wine and mince pies to go round. No doubt 2024's offering will be just as epic.
St Enodoc Hotel, Cornwall
Head for Rock when the shoreline is sprinkled with festive magic and, across the water, the lights of Padstow twinkle back. You can soak up the Christmas cheer at St Enodoc, with its fires crackling and Christmas trees shimmering under beautiful decorations.
Freshly baked mince pies, deep sofas for relaxing by the fire and Christmas carols at the beach make it well worth the trip to Cornwall. There's also a Christmas Day swim (for the brave!), leisurely breakfasts in bed, gifts for every guest, a glamorous Christmas Eve gala dinner, and Christmas Day lunch that shows off all the best local produce.
The Bath Priory, Somerset
Whether you choose to stay for three nights or four, a Christmas break at The Bath Priory is a real treat. Champagne receptions, fire-side cream tea on Christmas Eve and Midnight Mass at the impressive Bath Abbey are all part of the celebrations, while mince pies and mulled wine are served throughout.
Guests receive a special gift from the hotel on Christmas morning and a five-course festive lunch is served, followed by an evening buffet for those who still have some stomach space left. On Boxing Day, you can explore the city of Bath on a guided walking tour before the indulgence begins again, with a five-course Gala dinner and paired wines.
The Connaught, London
Have a luxurious Christmas city break in London with a stay at the five-star Connaught Hotel. Famous for its vast Christmas tree with more than 25,000 light bulbs, which lights up Mount Street every year, this place oozes festive cheer.
In the past, the elegant hotel has treated guests staying over the festive period to stockings, Christmas Eve carols, horse-drawn carriage rides through Mayfair and much more. No doubt its 2024 offering will be even more spectacular, and is certain to feature cosy vibes, roaring fires aplenty, and an elevated festive lunch to put even your best at-home efforts to shame.
Belmond Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons, Oxfordshire
One of the country’s most cherished manor houses, Belmond Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons is the place for a foodie-filled Christmas break with a difference. From its beautiful gardens and orchards to postcard-perfect architecture that's even prettier when it snows, you'll have a thoroughly good time at Raymond Blanc's luxury hotel.
Over the festive period, there are wreath-making workshops, wine tastings, cookery demonstrations and epic Christmas carol concerts, as well as a six-course Christmas Eve dinner with live musicians, and a delicious Christmas Day lunch. Each bedroom has its own tree and Christmas decorations, too.
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