The best seaside and beach hotels in the UK (2024)

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The adults-only Scarlet hotel in Cornwall provides a serene boutique bolthole in a spectacular setting on the cliff edge overlooking Mawgan Porth Beach. In this low-rise, glass-fronted space, 37 thoughtfully designed guest rooms, all with outdoor space and a sea view, are joined by a terraced restaurant and bar serving seasonal, sustainable food and the hotel’s destination spa featuring a natural outdoor pool, sauna cabin and cliff-top hot tubs. The merging of indoor and outdoor space features throughout, including in the large light-filled relaxation lounge, which overlooks the natural pool and ocean. From here, Newquay is just a 15-minute drive away.

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From£290

per night

A property now globally known for hosting the G7 summit in 2021, this family-run hotel stands out first for its idyllic location right on the shore of the golden Blue Flag beach it takes its name from. The South West Coastal Path and Carbis Bay train station are both close by and art-filled St Ives is just a few bays away. Inside this 19th-century hotel designed by Cornish architect Silvanus Trevail, also featuring a modern extension, highlights include ocean-view guest rooms, the Ugly Butterfly restaurant by renowned chef Adam Handling, Carbis Bay Deli on the beachfront promenade, a beach club, contemporary orangery restaurant and C Bay Spa.

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From£325

per night

This seaside-chic beach hotel draws attention for its appealing location on the East Sussex coast, close to the town of Rye and right by Camber Sands and its famous dunes, as well as its destination restaurant and stylish interiors that draw inspiration from New York’s Hamptons. Open to hotel guests and members only, the hotel’s restaurant pairs dishes highlighting produce from the surrounding land and sea with a focus on English wines. Bedrooms ranging from Snug Cabin to Large Hampton and Luxury Garden come with luxury amenities and homely touches. The Bamford Cabin then provides the serene coastal garden setting for spa treatments.

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From£294

per night

It’s the far-reaching ocean views that people find most spellbinding at this restaurant with rooms on Cornwall’s dramatic Pentire Headland. By staying here, you’re just moments from the coastal path leading east to Fistral Beach and west to the tip of Pentire Head and dunes of Crantock Beach. Here, what started as a single-storey café-restaurant is now a hotel and dining destination featuring 11 stylish guest rooms on a new upper floor and an additional six-room block that’s built right on the cliff edge under the restaurant’s grassy terrace. Stay in a room or suite with ocean or headland views and dine in the breezy coastal-inspired, sea-view restaurant celebrating the best of Cornish ingredients.

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From£236

per night

The popular Devonshire resort town of Salcombe is the appealing setting for this contemporary waterside hotel known for its seafood restaurant, roof terrace, buzzy co*cktail bar and stylish spa. There’s even a private cinema. The hotel sits directly on the South West Coastal Path and is within easy reach of several pretty beaches that are ideal for swimming. Splashes of nautical kitsch add to the character of this modern hotel’s light-filled interiors, which of particular note encompass the glass-sided, yacht-style Jetty Seafood Grill & Bar and pampering HarSPA where cabanas and Breton-striped loungers line the inviting lap pool.

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From£195

per night

Blakeney Hotel has a long history of hosting guests on the quayside of Blakeney village on the exceptionally picturesque North Norfolk coast. The heritage-rich hideaway, which celebrated its 100th year in 2022, provides a comfortable base for exploring this idyllic stretch of coast and setting out for seal-watching boat trips from Blakeney Point. The classic, cosy lounges feature touches of nautical décor and a number of its 60 contemporary but homely guest rooms come with a terrace, estuary view or access to the garden. Family rooms are also available. The hotel’s restaurant serves classic British plates showcasing locally sourced ingredients.

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From£174

per night

In Brighton, highlights on the hotel scene include the stylish Artist Residence, which is made to feel like a cosy boho club pairing retro furnishings with vibrant colours and, as the name suggests, lots of artwork. The hotel spans two townhouses at the top of Regency Square, just moments from the waterfront and in a site that commands sea views. Art fills the 25 bedrooms, which stay in keeping with the hotel’s overall bohemian spirit also seen in property’s buzzy social venue, Blake’s Bistro & Bar, where breakfasts are also served.

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From£196

per night

Spanning six acres of headland, The Atlantic Hotel comes with sweeping views of the picture-postcard St Ouen’s Bay. These grounds border Le Moye Golf Course and it’s just a short walk to the beach, which is popular with surfers. Inside this 1970s building, timeless elegance exudes from the public areas and local art lines the walls. The outdoor pool looks out to sea and there’s a warm indoor pool with whirlpool bath at The Palm Club. Stay in one of 50 rooms offering views over the Atlantic Ocean or neighbouring golf course and sample the dishes of chef Will Holland in the fine dining Ocean Restaurant. The hotel is family-friendly, with interconnecting rooms available, and time can be spent exploring the area on eBikes.

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From£359

per night

The Godolphin sits almost in the shadow of St Michael’s Mount, giving guests of this hotel exceptional views of the significant landmark. Its impressive location, however, isn’t the only reason to check into this inn in West Cornwall. Tropical influence runs throughout the boutique hotel’s public spaces where a blue, white and yellow colour scheme is complemented by rattan furnishings, monkey-print wallpaper and palm tree etchings. The 10 rooms pair more neutral tones with high-end touches. A focal point of the hotel is Shutters Restaurant where floor to ceiling windows make the most of this hotel’s beach and St Michael’s Mount views. A beach bar and terrace is open in the warmer months.

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From£100

per night

Watergate Bay Hotel sits on a two-mile stretch of golden surfing beach. In fact, it’s the only hotel to inhabit this expansive stretch of picturesque coastline. Adding even more appeal, this beachfront location places the property within easy reach of major local attractions including Newquay, Padstow and The Eden Project. In style, the hotel takes on a ski resort on the beach theme with an overall laid-back feel. Floor to ceiling windows make this hotel’s ocean views the focus of even its interiors. Coastal inspired rooms, including beach lofts, join inviting public areas including three distinct dining venues, a swimming pool, sauna and surf school.

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From£210

per night

St Mawes’ small harbour is the attractive setting for this stylish Edwardian waterfront inn where inviting corners like the lounge, bar and terrace overlook the sea. An eclectic collection of objets d’art dot each cosy but modern space, while plush bedrooms, including Grand Seaview Rooms, pair a colour scheme of neutrals and blues with splashes of starfish orange and coral red. Cornish sea-to-table cuisine is the focus of the hotel’s restaurant, The Reef Knot, which also stands out for its terrace overlooking the water. Water sports, such as surfing, kayaking and sailing, are all catered for.

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From£340

per night

The Pier occupies a modernised 1860-built listed building, which the owner of hotel group Milsom bought in 1978 after visiting Jimmy’s Harbourside restaurant in Boston, on the waterfront of Harwich. The contemporary boutique hotel has been sensitively updated in more recent times to now encompass 14 bedrooms, which are divided between the main building and historic pub next door, along with a contemporary upstairs restaurant and the downstairs Navyard Bar. The restaurant, which emphasises local seafood, spills out onto a wrought-iron balcony and the bar has an impressive gin library.

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From£190

per night

A part of Olga Polizzi’s small collection of stylish hotels, Hotel Tresanton is a Positano-meets-Cornwall, cosy-but-chic seaside escape that places you at the far end of the village of St Mawes on the Roseland Peninsula. The hotel, which used to be a yachting club, consists of a collection of houses and cottages dotted across hill-side that’s surrounded by subtropical plantings. Cornish art and distinctive design details, like stingray-shaped wall lights, add character to the timeless interiors. Here, of the 31 bedrooms, 29 overlook St Anthony’s Head and many have terraces. Local produce is showcased in the all-day restaurant and the hotel’s beach club is located across the road.

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From£375

per night

Laidback seaside charm emanates from this New England-style seafront inn overlooking Babbacombe beach in Devon. Eight sea-view bedrooms occupy the floors above the stone inn at the heart of this property and modern beach huts and suites lead away from here. A highlight of the hotel is its glass-fronted modern spa, which comes with an array of wellness facilities including a waterfall hydrotherapy pool, steam room, sauna and experience shower. Pub classics, made from seasonal local ingredients, feature on the menu of this inn where dishes are served in the cosy bar, conservatory, out on the terrace or at the elevated Captain’s Table.

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From£395

per night

The Reading Rooms hotel is found on Hawley Square, just a stone’s throw from Margate’s sandy beach and the old town. Three bedrooms each span a floor of the Grade II listed townhouse, with an extensive à la carte breakfast served in the privacy of these rooms. The owners, Louise and Liam, who bought this 18th-century site in 2007, are then on hand to share their insider tips on where to eat and what to do during your time in the area. The design of the interiors reflects the owners’ background in music, graphics and architectural design. Expect pared-back grandeur with touches of industrial and French shabby chic.

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From£160

per night

This country house hotel by the sea attracts a loyal following for its prime position on the Roseland peninsula, with panoramic views over Carne Bay, along with its excellent service and sense of timelessness. The art collection of the original founder decorates the walls of the hotel’s quintessential country house interiors featuring tartan carpets and floral and bird of paradise print wallpaper. The hotel’s 40 homely bedrooms, some with balconies and most with sea views, are joined by inviting public areas including The Dining Room featuring a French-inflected menu, nautical-inspired Quarterdeck for more casual meals, indoor and outdoor pools, a steam room, sauna and hot tub.

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From£395

per night

The distinctive Midland in Morecambe was built in the Streamline Moderne style of Art Deco in the 1930s. This restored architectural site sits on a headland in Morecambe Bay estuary, across from the former Morecambe Promenade railway station. Inside this three-storey curved building, the lobby and a cantilever spiral staircase takes up a central circular tower. From here, curved red-carpeted corridors lead to the hotel’s 44 rooms, which are decorated in pastel pinks, mauves and blues, with splashes of scarlet. The hotel’s main restaurant, the Sun Terrace, runs down the main façade of this site, with floor-to-ceiling windows making the most of its bay views.

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From£175

per night

One of the most captivating seaside hotels in the UK is this Art Deco retreat, found just a few hundred metres from Bigbury-on-Sea on the privately owned Burgh Island, which is accessible by foot at low tide. Noel Coward and Agatha Christie count among the famous names to have previously been here. The service and facilities are as remarkable as the exceptional location. Black tie dinners are served in the hotel’s Grand Ballroom, where ballroom dancing is also hosted, and the hotel’s 25 lavish guest rooms are joined by leisure facilities including the tidal seawater Mermaid Pool, a tennis court, croquet lawn and helipad.

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From£670

per night

Hell Bay Hotel sits on the western shores of the tiny, rugged island of Bryher in the isolated Isles of Scilly. Cliffs, sheltered bays and windswept moorland make up this island’s dramatic landscape, with turquoise waters lapping white sand shores in the east. This relaxed hotel provides a beachside retreat for getting to know the picturesque island. Originally a small farm, before being converted into a pub, the hotel now consists of a highly commended restaurant, bar and 25 suites, along with leisure facilities including a pool, treatment shed, sauna and Jacuzzi. A New England and the Caribbean meets Cornwall style runs throughout.

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From£135

per night

Standing proudly on Eastbourne's western promenade, this five-star hotel, referred to as the ‘white palace’, pairs a prime seafront location with plenty of palatial character. Over the years, former guests have included prominent names such as Charlie Chaplin and Winston Churchill. In addition to its 152 rooms and suites, the hotel houses the formal Mirabelle Restaurant, less formal Garden Grill, the Great Hall for afternoon tea and a lounge, terrace and co*cktail bar, as well as spa with indoor pool. Staying here means you’re just moments from Eastbourne’s pebble beach and a five-minute walk from sites including the Victorian Winter Gardens.

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From£199

per night

What began as a pop-up of renowned Soho dining spot L’Escargot is now an established restaurant with rooms in the Suffolk coastal town of Aldeburgh. The boutique property, which opened to hotel guests as well as diners in 2022, is close to the beach and at the centre of town with a prime position on the high street. Both visitors to Aldeburgh and locals flock to this seafront site for its lauded restaurant, sea-view roof terrace and creative co*cktail bar. The restaurant’s menus bring together the seasonal ingredients of local producers. Each of the six bedrooms comes with its own unique design.

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From£200

per night

The Pig on the Beach is considered one of the best coastal hotels in the UK for food lovers in particular. Tucked into the scenic Jurassic Coast, this outpost of the popular Pig hotel group transforms a 16th-century manor house high above the chalk cliffs of Studland. Warm, nostalgic interiors, which are in keeping with the group’s signature style, are the setting for a sea-view conservatory restaurant, a cosy bar, collection of 28 individually styled rooms, and two shepherd’s huts for spa treatments. The hotel attracts many visitors for the restaurant alone, which is known for its 25-mile menu showcasing the best local produce.

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From£305

per night

The Millbrook Inn is set on a tidal creek in the village of South Pool. From here it’s a short drive from some of South Devon’s finest beaches including Beesands and Blackpool Sands. This restaurant with accommodation in two new cottages takes over a 15th-century site distinguished by original details like its flagstone floors, beamed walls and Inglenook fireplace. The renowned restaurant, featuring an outside grill in the summer months, has a regularly changing menu highlighting meat from the family farm, fresh fish and seafood, and their own organic vegetables. These dishes are served alongside organic and biodynamic wines, the ales and beers of local breweries and spirits from both near and far.

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From£75

per night

In its position above the seaside town of Fowey, the grand yet unimposing Fowey Hall commands views over the Fowey Estuary and English Channel beyond. A steep walk takes you down to the water and you can catch the ferry from here to the coastal village of Polruan. Ready Money Cove is also nearby. This sand coloured Victorian building, which is said to have been the inspiration for Kenneth Grahame’s Toad Hall, welcomes you inside with laidback interiors pairing heritage and modern touches. The hotel is family-friendly, with facilities including tennis courts, a zipline and indoor and outdoor pools, and there’s a small spa as well as two restaurants.

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From£340

per night

Counted among the best sea view hotels in the UK, Saunton Sands Hotel sits atop the cliffs overlooking the three-mile stretch of golden beach Saunton attracts attention for, along with the vast dune system of Braunton Burrows and part of the North Devon Unesco Biosphere Reserve. The 1930s-built hotel is Art Deco in style, reflecting its history, but with more recent additions to the facilities like a modern spa. Guests gather in the main restaurant, at the casual terrace lounge or Beachside Grill and make use of the indoor and outdoor pools, spa and family-friendly facilities including a crèche.

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From£323

per night

Brighton’s 1864-built grand dame seafront hotel houses a collection of Art Deco-inspired bedrooms, decorated with nautical touches and 20s-style furniture, alongside the British restaurant Cyan, the art-filled Victoria Bar & Lounge for co*cktails and the Victoria Terrace serving the hotel’s award-winning afternoon tea overlooking the seafront. Behind the Victorian-Italianate façade, Art Deco touches pair well with the fresh modern feel that’s been brought into these historic interiors. Some of the sea view rooms and suites come with a balcony. The hotel has several interconnecting rooms for families and the property is also dog-friendly.

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From£250

per night

The striking blue Harbourmaster Hotel sits right on the harbourfront of the charming seaside village of Aberaeron in Cardigan Bay. Just 13 bedrooms span the three historic harbour buildings of this boutique hotel. Guests can opt for one of the hotel’s seven original sea- or harbour-view rooms, which occupy the former Harbourmaster’s residence, or one of four spacious warehouse converted rooms. A self-catering cottage is also just metres from the main building. Hearty breakfasts and local-produce-led lunches and dinners, featuring Cardigan Bay shellfish among other Welsh ingredients, are served in the harbour-facing bistro.

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From£167

per night

On visiting the charming coastal town of Llandudno, set apart by its sweeping bay and Victorian-era architecture, stay just inland from here at the grand Bodysgallen Hall and Spa. The heritage-rich country manor lies within over 200 acres of parkland, which commands views over the surrounding mountains and sea. Inside, expect an oak-panelled hall, library and dark-wood drawing room, beautifully tiled fireplaces, and a collection of rooms and suites decorated in keeping with the same theme. Dine on imaginative dishes incorporating local ingredients, including the coastline's seafood, at the restaurant and take a dip in the pool of the spa.

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From£600

per night

From its position at the heart of the village of Penally in Wales, this Strawberry Gothic house hotel is a 30-minute stroll down to the seaside town of Tenby and its beach. The renovated 18th-century house is decorated with furniture found by the hotel owners in antique stores and French markets and Persian rugs adorn the floors. The hotel has 11 distinct bedrooms, including some that can be interconnected, along with a conservatory, cosy bar and Rhosyn Restaurant serving breakfast, evening meals and afternoon tea. The local staff happily share their tips on where to go in the area.

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From£330

per night

Looking out across the harbour to the beach at Saundersfoot and the cliffs beyond, this scenically set hotel in the southeastern fringes of Pembrokeshire National Park is within easy reach of picturesque coastal spots including seaside resort, Tenby. The property has evolved over the years from a traditional seaside hotel into a more modern retreat with open-plan spaces, contemporary décor in a palette of blues and whites, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Guests come here for enticing facilities including the Cliff Restaurant affording views across the bay and harbour, a hydrotherapy infinity pool and one of Wales’ best spas.

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From£300

per night

An 1850s-built seaside villa provides the setting for this stylish boutique hotel, which is located off the main shopping street of the Victorian seaside resort, Llandudno on the North Wales coast. Design led interiors, incorporating items sourced from European design fairs, encompass a series of individually styled rooms across three categories. The dining room, which is decorated with a huge black and white photograph of Llandudno promenade, serves breakfast and occasionally hosts pop-up dining events. There is an honesty bar lounge and the staff will recommend the best places to eat in the area.

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From£179

per night

Sandy beaches and the popular seaside town of North Berwick are within easy reach of this grand Edwardian hotel just outside the East Lothian golfing town of Gullane. The hotel overlooks the Firth of Forth and is positioned right by the Muirfield championship golf course. In this Lutyens-designed Arts and Crafts house, 23 individually decorated bedrooms join the first Chez Roux restaurant in Scotland, a panelled library and drawing room, a garden room and terrace. Outdoor activities include tennis, croquet, clay pigeon shooting and cycling, and there’s a walled garden that’s attributed to Gertrude Jekyll within the grounds.

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From£360

per night

The remote Machrie hotel sits right on the spectacular seven-mile beach on the island of Islay in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides. Low-key contemporary luxe style runs throughout both the older and more modern buildings of this exceptionally scenically placed hotel, which encompasses an 18-hole golf course overlooking the beach and sea. Inside, the panoramic property then consists of a collection of simple, chic rooms, suites and lodges, a light-filled restaurant and bar offering dishes highlighting Scottish produce, and additional lifestyle facilities including a gym and sauna.

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From£175

per night

Surely one of the best sea view hotels in the UK, Knockinaam Lodge has its own private beach looking out across the Irish Sea in its position near Portpatrick on the Dumfries and Galloway coast of Scotland. Wooded hills run away from this beach, which is at the end of the lodge’s verdant garden. Just 10 rooms and suites occupy this timeless space alongside a drawing room, bar, intimate restaurant and beachfront covered terrace. The highly rated restaurant offers a daily changing four- or five-course menu presenting the best of local, seasonal Scottish produce.

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From£350

per night

In Northern Ireland, the 1898-opened Slieve Donard Hotel stands out as one of the finest seafront properties for a weekend stay. The turreted Scottish Baronial-style house is grand and homely, with fireplaces all throughout the property, and it is scenically set in six acres of grounds, right on the beach, with the Royal County Down golf course on one side and the resort town of Newcastle on the other. Views take in the bay and mountains behind. While staying in the Victorian themed rooms, guests can drink and dine at four restaurants and bars and retreat to the expansive spa home to a pool, sauna and hot tub with sea and mountain views.

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From£189

per night