Just opened: UK's newest hotels to book for 2026

An old grand dame restored to its best, a literary hideaway in the heart of the city, a country retreat designed to escape the ordinary — these accommodations across the UK represent the best of a thriving hotel scene welcoming exciting new arrivals each year. Whether you want to immerse yourself in country living, explore a storied coastline or upgrade your next city break experience, these new hotels are where you should stay in 2026.

Hyll Hotel, Gloucestershire

Sitting at the end of a long driveway, with far-reaching views over the surrounding fields, Hyll Hotel is set in a 15th-century manor house typical of the Cotswolds — all honeyed stone and mullion windows. There’s nothing typical about a stay here though. There are three snug lounges filled with squishy sofas, artworks and coffee-table books, with staff ever ready to throw another log on the fire or bring you a Martini. The restaurant and rooms are more modern, with an earthy colour palette and soft lighting. Standout dishes on the menu include a signature brie and apple-butter tart, and it’s worth delaying the journey home for the Sunday lunch. A final nice touch: each room comes with a novel specially chosen by a local bookshop, giving you another excuse to stay indoors and relax. Rooms from £210, B&B.

Louma Country Hotel, Dorset

Arriving at this converted farmhouse, sheltered by the rolling hills of the Jurassic Coast, is like stepping into a postcard of pastoral perfection. Guests wake up to views of vineyards stretching towards the sea, spend the day exploring the grounds, from farm and garden tours to wine tastings, and wrap up the evening by crackling firepits. Accommodation ranges from homely, pastel-hued rooms in the main house to timber stables and even shepherd’s huts, while the small but perfectly formed Wellness Barn is excellent for a swim and sauna session. The attentive staff deserve a special mention, as does the food — especially the Sunday roast — cooked using mostly Louma-grown produce. Rooms from £638, based on two adults sharing, full board.

The Hoxton, Edinburgh

The Hoxton’s Scottish debut has brought the group’s social ethos to the capital’s cool West End. The hotel is spread across multiple townhouses in a residential street, setting the scene for a stay that’s all about local life. A petite gift shop stocks locally made souvenirs like whisky-infused tea from PekoeTea, while a rotating exhibition area displays works by Edinburgh-based artists. For more neighbourhood haunts, turn to the ‘tips board’ by the entrance, where guests share their favourite finds; if you’d rather stay in, there’s a five-seat cinema with daily screenings curated by the arthouse buffs at Cinetopia. The key cards have also been designed by a Scottish illustrator — the rooms they open bear all the hallmarks of The Hoxton’s playful design, from conch-shaped upholstered headboards to pastel fringed armchairs. Doubles from £136.

The Alfriston, South Downs

Draw the curtains open after your first night at this former coaching inn and views of the Cuckmere River valley will bid you good morning. Then, peel yourself away from the room — a medley of pastel colours and bold patterns — and descend to the Orangery, where a belly-busting buffet breakfast awaits. The plan for the rest of the day? The South Downs Way practically passes by the front door, so there’s superb walking all the way down to Cuckmere Haven and the Seven Sisters (do grab a pair of The Alfriston’s own welly boots). The heated outdoor pool and petite spa are equally inviting, while the nearby Rathfinny Wine Estate tempts with its bubbly in the afternoon. Don’t skip on venturing into Alfriston village, a collection of higgledy-piggledy medieval houses, cosy pubs and superb boutique shops. Rooms from £120, B&B.

Fulham Pier Hotel, London

There are two sides to Fulham Pier. On one, London’s oldest football stadium is the amphitheatre for the plot twists of the Premier League; on the other, all thoughts of the score drift away on the Thames. What was once Fulham FC’s riverfront west stand is now a waterside boardwalk, food hall, private members’ club and more, with the elevated boutique hotel securing the prize views over the river. Each of its 13 rooms is individually styled, with a natural colour palette of wood and marble, floor-to-ceiling windows, Diptyque toiletries and high-tech touches like Japanese heated toilets. There’s no bar or restaurant inside the hotel itself. Instead, the moody Flo Bar and Brasserie Constance can be found in the wider development. Here, the likes of roasted venison with green peppercorns and coronation chicken pâté en croûte sit on a menu of modern British dishes expertly spearheaded by leading chef Adam Byatt. Doubles from £270.

Dunluce Lodge, Northern Ireland

A few things can make a stay memorable: the surrounding landscape and attractions, the interiors and facilities, or the staff and service. For this all-suite address on Northern Ireland’s rugged Atlantic coast, it’s an easy hat-trick. Surrounded by fragrant pines, it overlooks the undulating grounds of a golf course, while the Causeway Coastal Route whisks visitors to the Giant’s Causeway. Any stress melts away with a massage at the compact spa, and the restaurant dishes out a modern British menu with decidedly local touches, like chicken liver parfait with stout soda bread and kelp butter. The suites are generously sized, with parquet flooring, luxurious linens on super king beds and a larder with complimentary snacks and drinks. Suites from £295, B&B.

Ruby Stella, London

On a quiet street in Clerkenwell, Ruby Stella is a well-connected base for a short stay in the capital. Feather quills and poetry books hang as decor in the rooms — a nod to Charles Dickens, who used the neighbourhood as inspiration in many of his works — while marbled artworks in shared spaces reference the world of publishing. The social heart of the hotel is the industrial-chic bar and lounge where a scattering of velvet armchairs and leather sofas make for an inviting spot to linger over a cocktail with a book in hand. Literature aside, self-check-in means keys are in hand in under a minute, while compact rooms are carefully designed for comfort, with cosy beds, blackout curtains and solid soundproofing. Each floor has a communal galley stocked with hot drinks, irons and a vending machine offering complimentary essentials alongside paid refreshments — thoughtful touches that make this a fuss-free choice for city exploration. Rooms from £138, B&B.

The Grand Brighton, Brighton

Originally built in 1864, The Grand is still the city’s main seaside landmark and this year its Victorian style has been brought back to its best thanks to a major renovation project. Step into the lobby and you’ll notice excess in every detail: high ceilings with decorative reliefs, ornate chandeliers, and staircases with custom-made wrought-iron railings. Upstairs, the updated rooms are modern yet keep to the hotel’s historic feel. More than a third of the 205 bedrooms have direct sea views, and some have freestanding baths. An exciting new feature is the spa, opened in collaboration with Swiss skincare brand L Raphael — scheduled entry times allow for a relaxed visit, be it in the height of summer or during quiet winter months. Rooms from £104.