Warming fires, wintry walks, steamy spas - here's where to go for a cosy winter break
With the shorter days and cooler temperatures, winter is the ideal time to hole up somewhere warm and cosy - but why not do it in style at a luxury hotel on a chic winter break in the UK?
There’s nothing more inviting than sitting in front of a crackling fire on a cold winter’s night, so we've selected the very best places where you can snuggle up in cosy surroundings on a winter break in the UK.
Perfect for a relaxing seasonal escape, these hotels from Oxfordshire to Pembrokeshire know how to do winter right.
So, go on. Get cosy in your winter woollies and head to these magical spots with family and friends or whisk a loved one away for some fireside romance while the snow (hopefully) falls outside. Or, thinking of travelling solo? You'll love the nearby walks and curling up with a good book at these locations, too. And if it's a cottage you're after, you'll want to browse our roundup of adorable stays straight out of The Holiday.
Artist Residence Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire
This charming hotel, surrounded by farmland in the Oxfordshire countryside, features rooms with a rustic and colourful décor, alongside a traditional rural pub, dining room and large terrace garden. The design also includes high beamed ceilings and freestanding bath tubs, and its various inglenook fireplaces are perfect for keeping your toes and hands toasty. Stylish log burners are available in the Stable Suite and Barn Suite, too.
The 16th-century thatched inn has three bedrooms in some of the farm’s former outbuildings, and you can also book the shepherd’s hut at the bottom of the garden.
The Bath Priory, Somerset
Overlooking four acres of idyllic grounds, this impressive Georgian country house consists of rooms with period features, a three AA Rosette restaurant and a lavish spa by Provençal brand L’Occitane (the only one in the UK, no less). If you're feeling the chills, you can warm up in the indoor heated swimming pool, sauna and steam pod or make yourself comfortable in front of the homely fireplace in your junior suite.
When you’re ready to venture out, the centre of Bath is just a short stroll away and if you’re still nippy, simply detour to the city’s famous Roman baths to take the healing waters.
Cliveden House, Berkshire
This grand mansion, now a member of the Relais & Châteaux collection, has been home to dukes, earls, viscounts and even a prince, with each of its rooms named after a figure from the house’s past and the room furnishings tailored to their characters. If that’s not enough to entice you, Meghan Markle spent the night before she married Prince Harry here.
Treat yourself to a cosy evening in and lounge about by the fireplace in your room, or sizzle in the sauna and hot tub in Cliveden's elegant spa. It's also a paradise for winter walks, thanks to its impressive National Trust location, giving you acres of gardens and woodlands to explore.
Pen-Y-Dyffryn Hotel, Shropshire
This tranquil Georgian rectory, situated on the Shropshire and Welsh border hills, makes for an unforgettable winter break in the UK. The family-owned hotel has an acclaimed restaurant and some of the rooms have private hot tubs.
Nearby towns include Shrewsbury and Chester, or you can visit Powis Castle or Attingham Hall. Also within a short drive is Bodnant Gardens, which has 80 acres of formal gardens and woodland to explore. After a day out discovering the scenic surroundings, revel in the glowing embers of a log fire at the hotel, curled up with a book or a board game from its collection.
The Acorn Inn, Dorset
Nestled among the hills of Dorset, this unique inn has a rustic decor, with wooden beams, oak-panelling and flagstone floors. In the lounge, there’s a calming fireplace, along with rows of books to enjoy in front of the entrancing flames. It's also perfectly located for embarking on a wintry walk, with the impossibly idyllic village of Evershot nearby.
The 16th-century inn is an ideal choice for literary pilgrims, since it featured in Thomas Hardy’s novel, Tess of the d’Urbervilles. Just down the road, sister property Summer Lodge has more dining options and a spa.
The Grove of Narberth, Pembrokeshire
This delightful country house in one of the finest hotels in Wales, with the Preseli Hills on its Pembrokeshire doorstep. The manor has spacious rooms in the main house, historic cottages set throughout in the grounds, beautiful gardens and both a brasserie and a fine-dining restaurant, where guests can dine on local produce (including some that’s travelled as far as the garden).
It’s pet-friendly too, so it’s the perfect winter break for taking your dog along, with plenty of glorious countryside rambles you’ll all enjoy.
Buxton Crescent, Derbyshire
This honey-hued crescent house is a special treat for a winter escape, where you’ll enjoy modern luxury in a historic building. Buxton Crescent is a smart boutique hotel with a multi-level spa and wellness centre, which makes full use of the natural hot spring waters nearby.
A stay at the Buxton Crescent is the perfect opportunity to sleep in a magnificent heritage building, with superior service and amenities. You’ll also be perfectly located to explore the beauty of the nearby Peak District National Park.
Cameron House, Loch Lomond
With views over the romantically peaceful Loch Lomond, bespoke tartan weaved into the interior design, and various restaurants and bars to choose from, Cameron House is an enchanting Scottish getaway. It’s perfect for the colder months, when the surrounding mountains (which include Ben Lomond, visible from the spa’s outdoor hot tub) sparkle with frost.
You might choose to take an invigorating winter walk, after which you can warm up in the exceptional spa, or perhaps curl up with a wee dram in the red velvet chairs of the hotel’s own cinema.
Rudding Park, Harrogate
Surrounded by 300 acres of pristinely landscaped gardens and leafy woodland, Rudding Park is a gorgeous location for a wintry getaway. This luxury hotel is close to the upmarket Victorian spa town of Harrogate, so you can soak in some arts and culture or indulge in a little retail therapy.
At Rudding Park you can enjoy its destination spa, two restaurants, a kitchen garden, and a private cinema. Request a woodland-facing room for a truly private feel and tranquil views.
Buckland Manor, Worcestershire
This exceptionally pretty hotel offers a quintessential Cotswold stay. You’ll find Buckland Manor in Broadway, one of the most charming villages in the region, with spectacular walks from the doorstep to help you work up an appetite for the hearty English dishes that await in the hotel restaurant.
In the evenings, keep warm and snug in one of the hotel’s lounges, where fine antiques and rich fabrics contribute to the relaxed yet luxurious atmosphere.
Gleneagles, Perthshire
If you’re not one to shy away from the bracing cold come winter, head to Gleneagles in Perthshire, where you can try your hand at outdoorsy pursuits such as falconry, off-roading and zip-lining before retreating inside in search of a cosy fireplace or warming wee dram in the cosy Century Bar. Also on hand to ensure peak cosiness are the spa, which has a heated pool, full thermal suite and treatments by Tata Harper and Dr Barbara Sturm.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite in the fresh air, dine at Scotland’s only restaurant to hold two Michelin stars, Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles, or enjoy hearty British fare at the Strathearn.
Palé Hall, Snowdonia
You might not fancy scaling Snowdonia, but you can admire its snow-tipped summit from afar with a stay at Palé Hall, one of the grandest country piles in Wales. The Victorian mansion has turrets and towers and period details such as antiques, wood panelling and domed ceilings. Along with the grand rooms in the main house, the estate has four secluded suites in the grounds.
The national park is on your doorstep, or you can ride the mountain railway if a hike sounds like too much effort. It’s in the peaceful Dee Valley, with lawns and woods that lead down to a river.
Bailiffscourt, West Sussex
Everything about this coastal bolthole is quintessentially cosy. It’s a labyrinth of Mediaeval-style nooks and crannies, with roaring fires and flagstone floors dotted with candles that flicker in storm lanterns.
Juxtaposing the historic hotel is a thoroughly modern spa, giving you the best of both worlds. Head there at twilight, retreat from bitter weather and warm up in the sauna, swim a few lengths in the indoor pool when it’s dark outside, then snuggle up in a supersoft spa robe. Bliss.
Saltmoore, North Yorkshire
If your version of cosy isn’t of the wood-beamed-and-velvet variety, Saltmoore might be your ideal escape. The brand-new rooms have luxury linens for snuggling up in and a plush feel, providing a stylish retreat from the wild North Sea and adventures across the moors.
Book a stay this winter, and you’ll be one of the first guests through the doors of this North Yorkshire hotel, which has been renovated from top to bottom and is ready to welcome guests from November 2024 and the start of the cosy season. Make time for the luxury spa (the salt scrub could be precisely what your neglected winter skin is crying out for), then head to the brasserie for classically comforting pies, followed by sticky toffee pudding with lashings of salted caramel sauce and clotted cream.
St Petroc’s Bistro, Cornwall
We love Cornwall in the winter—it’s quieter and delightfully atmospheric, bringing a whole other character to this beautiful county. It’s a brilliant time for windswept seaside walks and exploring gorgeous towns like Padstow without the crowds before sheltering inside from the chilly winds.
Although you get a few minutes more daylight in Cornwall than in other parts of the UK in winter, you’ll still want somewhere comfy to relax during the long winter evenings. St Petroc’s Bistro is a restaurant with rooms, making it ideal when you don’t want to venture back out into the night air. It’s a small 17th-century coaching inn with oodles of character, and the restaurant serves local seafood and an excellent selection of wine. Choose the Generous Deluxe Room to get plenty of space, a four-poster bed, and a beautiful marble fireplace.
Avington Lakes, Hampshire
For the perfect winter break that combines both town and country, book a stay at Avington Lakes in Hampshire. The estate is just outside of Winchester, so you’ll be able to visit the city for some shopping and to see its cathedral, but also be able to enjoy the outdoor pursuits of a rural escape. These include, for the especially hardy, wild swimming in the river (but don’t worry: the cosy cabins are the perfect spot to warm up in afterwards). The estate also offers some of the best trout fishing in the country, and you can also borrow bicycles to cycle around the scenic neighbouring countryside.
An especially pretty cycling route is over to the village of Easton, where you’ll be rewarded for your efforts with a hearty meal at the Chestnut Horse, a recently refurbished pub owned by the estate, which is also home to a manor once owned by Charles II and Henry VIII.
Grantley Hall, North Yorkshire
One good thing about the nights drawing in is the potential for a cosy winter break – who cares if it’s raining if you’re snug inside next to a fire? And an idyllic spot with high hygge levels in North Yorkshire is Grantley Hall, on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. After a stroll down to the ruins of Fountain Abbey, head back to the hotel for afternoon tea or a trip to the well-equipped Three Graces Spa, which has a colonnaded indoor-outdoor pool, ice baths, an outdoor sauna and even a cryotherapy chamber.
There are lots of restaurants to try, too, from local chef Shaun Rankin’s Michelin-starred namesake spot to the Asian-fusion Eighty Eight.
Gilpin, the Lake District
Now that the summer crowds have dispersed, the Lake District is ideal for a winter break in the UK and you’ll have its charming towns and beautiful waters almost to yourself. At Gilpin, a Relais & Chateaux property near Windermere, guests can dine on Michelin-starred meals at Source and delicious curries at Gilpin Spice.
Helpfully for returning ramblers, the spa is the star of the show, so you’ll be able to book in for a soothing massage post-fell walk. Even better, there are entire spa suites, with hot tubs and saunas you can enjoy in the privacy of your own room.
You Might Also Like
