The hotel with the mostest

March 15, 2007 5:32 AM

Where's a really, really nice hotel in England to stay at for a weekend?

I'm thinking of a weekend away somewhere in England with little miss thoughtless, and am wondering whether any of you good fellows had a suggestion of where we could stay?

What I'm looking for is a hotel somewhere 'nice' that's a really special hotel for you. So, not necessarily 5-star luxury, but it's just really pleasant and with that extra something that makes you think fondly of it. We're in Leeds, and it needs to be driveable for the weekend, so the north of England or the midlands/north Wales are probably practical limitations. Wouldn't want to go above £150 a night, though places above that are probably not the kind of place I'm looking for anyway.

As an example, our default hotel is the Waterhead near Ambleside, which is special for its mahusive beds and complimentary local gingerbread, as well as its general beauty and genial relaxedness (and memories of good times, for us). This sort of thing isn't obvious from a website.

I know that it's a generic type of question, but any suggestions you may have would be gratefully received. Ta!

posted by thoughtless to travel & transportation (13 comments total)

I'd recommend a luxurious guest house in Sheffield called the Quarry House. It's a four-diamond extablishment. Fantastic beds, very friendly owners and truly marvellous organic breakfasts. Website is http://www.quarryhouse.org.uk/. Situated right next to woods and walks on the edge of the Peak District

Sheffield might be a bit close for you if you're from Leeds. Or you're looking for something more up-scale.
posted by sdevans at 6:54 AM on March 15, 2007

I spent a wonderful night at the Low Wood Hotel in Windermere just a few weeks ago. It's not far from Ambleside - actually, it's about a 3 minute drive from Ambleside, and we had a really good time wandering around there and getting a meal. But the Low Wood was lovely - nice people, fantastic atmosphere (really relaxed pub area, beautiful breakfast room with a view of Lake Windermere for all of the tables), and our room was beautifully done. Best of all, since it's the off-season they're running amazing specials, and we got our room for 50% off normal rates. You can check their current specials against your available dates and likely get a similar deal.

Very - very - good memories here.
posted by AthenaPolias at 7:18 AM on March 15, 2007

Special for its what beds?
posted by theredpen at 7:28 AM on March 15, 2007

Mahusive. = Mass(huge)ive
posted by Phanx at 7:55 AM on March 15, 2007

Mahusive. They really are very much larger than any other bed I've ever slept in - quite a bit wider than they are long. An ideal place to sit and share some gingerbread.

(Thanks for the suggestions, btw, sdevans and AthenaPolias - they both look like exactly what I was after.)
posted by thoughtless at 7:57 AM on March 15, 2007

If you're open to something other than a hotel...

We've stayed a couple of times at Farfield Farm just outside Hope in the Peak District. The self-catering cottages are beautiful - very well renovated and nicely furnished. The owners are friendly and helpful. You're right on footpaths if you want to walk. Good pubs in Hope are just a short walk away. You have the option of bringing food to do your own meals.

I think they mainly do week-long bookings, but we have stayed there for shorter terms. I think it just depends on the season and how busy they are.
posted by valleys at 8:11 AM on March 15, 2007

Sharrow Bay in the lake district (on Ullswater) is one of the best. The prices seem to start at 175 pounds but that includes dinner in the Michelin starred restaurant. And the surroundings are really beautiful.
posted by cushie at 8:18 AM on March 15, 2007

You might check out the options from the National Trust -- they buy historial buildings then convert them into places that people can have holidays in to cover the cost of maintenance. If you're looking for service it won't be right, but otherwise might be a lovely getaway choice.
posted by ukdanae at 10:29 AM on March 15, 2007

I love this place. It's reasonably priced, the food is superb and it's an amazing historic building.
posted by essexjan at 12:20 PM on March 15, 2007

Some great places to look at, thankyou.
posted by thoughtless at 2:14 AM on March 16, 2007

I stayed in The Abbey hotel in Malvern. It's a very quaint and beautiful place, and the town is full of little shops and pubs. I was also very taken with the Malvern Hills, which loom over the town and are great for hiking on. I think it'd be a great place to spend a weekend with little miss thoughtless.
posted by Caper's Ghost at 6:49 AM on March 16, 2007

thoughtless, be sure to post back and tell us where you ended up!
posted by AthenaPolias at 1:36 PM on March 19, 2007

Okay, I will.

After much indecisive faffing, we eventually stayed at the Bath Arms near Longleat, lured by the safari park, and had a fantastic weekend of hanging around with the animals (no car parts lost to monkeys, hourah), lazing in the surprising sunshine, and playing rummikub in the hotel bar while drinking probably too much of the local cloudy flat cider.

Highly recommended. It's times like those I wish I had an official seal of approval to hand out, like the queen.
posted by thoughtless at 2:37 AM on October 5, 2007