England's Best Hotels
The problem with hotels is that they go in and out of fashion. What might be considered best this year will be dismissed by critics in 12 months time as 'so last year'.
The trick to finding England's best is to clearly understand your criteria. Is old better than new or visa versa? Is food quality important or will you be going out to eat? Is location more important than photo opportunities. Does it need to be close to an airport? There again, how close is too close?
The star rating system of one to five stars is usually an excellent indicator of quality. The only exception is England's bed and breakfast accomodation. B&B owners award themselves high star ratings sometimes without any justification. However, hotels cannot do this and so if it says four or five star you can generally be assured of quality.
The point is that there is no real best hotel that works for everyone.
So, having explained that I am happy to give you my personal top ten hotels, (in no particular order).
Top Ten Hotels in England
1) Cliveden, Berkshire
The best five star hotel with character within 20 mins drive of Heathrow airport, but a million miles from the hustle and bustle of international travel.
2) The Angel at Burford
The quinticential country pub hotel. Perfect in every way.
3) The Randolph Hotel, Oxford
Classy hotel for a classy city.
4)The Royal Crescent and The Bath House – Relais & Châteaux, Bath
The hotel is lovely, and with its own hot air balloon, you get to see a view of this magnificent city that is second to none. Worth every penny.
5)The Ickworth Hotel, Little Saxham
A country house in Norfolk that delivers on ambience by the bucketload.
6)The Olde Bell, Hurley on Thames
The Olde Bell is very, very old and has charm in huge quantities. Few people who walk beneath the massive and ancient oak beams fail to fall for its charms. I know I love it. Perfectly located for after dinner riverside walks, the Bell has a deserved reputation for good beer and wine and very fine food.
7)Blakes Hotel, London
"Modern decadence" is the phrase that gets bandied around with regard to Blakes.All rooms are uniquely and individually styled in this South Kensington boutique hotel.
8)The Covent Garden Hotel, Soho, London
You couldn't really get more central than this. perfectly located, perfectly decorated and exceptional levels of service
9)The Sanderson
Ever stayed in a modern art installation. Not a traditional hotel, but a P. Stark experience of the highest quality. Ubercool London experience.
10)St James
A gentlemen's club with a long and noble heritage reborn as a great hotel. The St. James' has its own haute-cuisine restaurant, but being in the heart of mayfair there are plenty of other fine dining opportunities in the area.
If none of these are to your taste, the solution is to search for hotels using a trusted provider such as laterooms.com
They have an amazing tool that allows you to refine your search according to loads of criteria. Basically you can answer all those questions I asked earlier and find 'your' version of England's best hotel.
Alternatively choose a guide for the area you are staying in. They are available in local bookshops and branches of W.H. Smiths.