Why book room in a boring hotel when you could stay somewhere with a bit more personality on a trip across the pond?
From art and design hotels to renovated railway carriages, go ahead and indulge in a quirky retreat. Here are 10 of the most unusual hotels in the U.K.
Art Residence, Brighton
With one location in Brighton and another in Penzance, Art Residence is a creative artists’ abode that combines modern art and traditional hospitality. Each room has been individually designed by a different artist, making every stay a unique experience.
Qbic, London
Bringing hipster chic to London is a new concept hotel called Qbic. A creative and affordable yet unabashedly trendy design hotel, Qbic is located in the heart of Shoreditch (go figure). The hotel boasts the winning combination of off-beat décor and social conscience, with a local community initiative, Food Cycle, serving up sustenance to hotel guests.
YOTEL, Gatwick Airport
With locations at Gatwick and Heathrow, YOTEL does airport hotel like you’ve never experienced before. Rooms are designed to appear like airplane cabins (in a good way), while hotel staff function as your cabin crew, ready to assist 24/7.
The Old Railway Station, West Sussex
An old fashioned yet sophisticated choice, The Old Railway Station appeals to the secret train fanatic in you, with guest bedrooms designed to fit into original, charming Pullman railway carriages and two more located in the station house.
La Rosa Gypsy Camp, Whitby
La Rosa Gypsy Camp is a low impact, environmentally conscious campsite hotel in the wild landscape of the Yorkshire Moors. Formed using 100 percent reclaimed materials, this caravan of plush gypsy wagons is fun, friendly and unapologetically kitsch.
Cley Windmill, Norfolk
This historic windmill hotel is a must for anyone wanting a peaceful and dreamy retreat. Retaining the old charm and comfort of the original décor, the hotel will have you feeling far away, absorbed by the vast expanse of reeds and salt marshes that surround the property.
Vintage Vacations, Isle of Wight
Falling somewhere between a scout hall and a retro Airstream caravan, it’s easy to see why Vintage Vacations is recognized as one of the most unique glamping operators in the U.K. Watch this space as their list of sites continues to grow – they’re building an empire.
The Bell Inn, East Sussex
From the traditional country pub exterior of The Bell Inn, you’d never guess the weird and wonderful details that are hidden within. Silver birches in the bedrooms, nonsensical quotations on the walls and tubas in the bathroom: You’d be forgiven for thinking you’d fallen down the rabbit hole.
Livingstone Lodge, Kent
Africa arrived in the U.K. with the start of the Livingstone Lodge in Kent. Voted the U.K.’s best tourism experience in 2012, this place is certainly unique: Just don’t be surprised when you wake up to find zebras grazing on the lawn outside your window.
The Lighthouse, Llandudno, Wales
Constructed in 1862, this historic lighthouse contains only three bedrooms and makes for a remarkably intimate hotel experience. The Principal Suite features an imposing four-poster bed, while the Telegraph and Lamp rooms both benefit from 280-degree panoramic sea views.
(Main image: © Art Residence Penzance)
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…whose Paris guide cover all the best hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs, sights, shops and spas
