Townhouse retreats: 10 chic town and city hotels in the UK

The Eastbury Hotel, Sherborne, Dorset

An ideal weekend retreat, the Eastbury was originally designed as an 18th-century “gentleman’s residence”, and now houses 27 individually styled bedrooms, with designs inspired by the herbs, flowers and trees in the hotel’s award-winning walled garden. The garden is also home to the hotel’s spa, which boasts an outdoor hot tub as well as two treatment rooms. Upmarket dinners come with live music on Friday and Saturday nights, while the Pod, a glass sphere in the garden seating up to four, is ideal for a special occasion.
Doubles from £235 B&B, theeastburyhotel.co.uk

Paskins Town House, Brighton

Set just 10 minutes’ walk from Brighton’s buzzing heart in a quiet conservation area, Paskins is actually two conjoined townhouses, offering 19 vibrant bedrooms (some quite small), all decked out in opulent art deco style. It’s a great budget option, particularly if you go for rooms with a shared bathroom. There’s no compromising on breakfast, with great veggie/vegan options and welcoming staff who have a wealth of knowledge of where to eat, shop and party. Dogs are welcome and parking vouchers can be purchased in advance – essential in Brighton.
Doubles from £80 B&B, paskins.co.uk

No15 by GuestHouse, Bath

Situated on one of Bath’s grandest streets, No15 is a set of elegant Georgian townhouses comprising 36 individually styled rooms. Families are welcomed with mini-tipis in the bedrooms, kids’ menus in the restaurant and Norland nannies for babysitting, and you can bring your dog (for an additional £25). The restaurant sources many of its ingredients from producers local to Bath, while downstairs, the spa includes a couples’ treatment room, which can be paired with a joint soak in the huge bath in the Copper Room for the ultimate romantic treat.
Doubles from £168 room only, guesthousehotels.co.uk

The Adria, South Kensington, London

A cocoon of loveliness in leafy South Ken, the Adria is that rare thing: a hotel where it genuinely feels like you’re staying in your poshest friends’ London mansion. Lounges ooze quiet luxury, with staff on hand to bring everything from afternoon tea to cocktails and snacks from the butler’s pantry. Rooms are stylishly simple, with bone china on the tea tray and Penhaligon’s in the bathroom, and although there’s no restaurant, there are plenty of places to eat in the surrounding streets. An under-the-radar gem.
Doubles from £291; theadria.com

Manor Town House, Fishguard, Pembrokeshire

It’s all about the views at this charming Georgian hotel, with four of the six elegant bedrooms looking out over the Irish Sea. Bedrooms are filled with luxury touches – Egyptian bed linens, vegan toiletries – with a continental breakfast delivered to your door each morning. The town itself offers art galleries and antique shops, with spectacular coastal walks and a range of watersports on offer.
Doubles from £125 B&B; manortownhouse.com

King Street Townhouse, Manchester

Don’t be put off by King Street’s central location; the hotel is on a quiet road and has the feeling of an elegantly curated oasis, with rooms in calming blues, greens and greys. The cherry on the cake is the infinity spa-pool on the seventh floor, which has wonderful views. Curl up with a movie in the screening room before dinner in the slick Tavern restaurant.
Doubles from £161 room only; kingstreettownhouse.co.uk

Clementine’s Town House, York

Clementine’s opened its doors last summer after a multimillion-pound refurbishment that saw the elegant Victorian townhouse restored with chic Parisian-style bedrooms and suites, some with four-poster beds. Days at Clementine’s begin with a hearty Yorkshire breakfast, and there’s a well-stocked bar for a post-sightseeing tipple, taken in the walled garden in summer.
Doubles from £107 room only; clementinestownhouse.co.uk

Cliftonville Townhouse, Margate, Kent

A 10-minute stroll along the coastal walk to Margate’s charming old town, Cliftonville has just three bedrooms, giving it a pleasingly intimate feel. All are light, bright and airy with contemporary furnishings. Owners Simon and Stephen are always on hand for directions and recommendations, and the world-class Turner Contemporary gallery is just a short stroll away.
Doubles from £98 room only; cliftonvilletownhouse.com

The Bonham Hotel, Edinburgh

A trio of Victorian townhouses, set on a leafy crescent in the city’s West End, the Bonham has a classic, refined feel, with glittering chandeliers and bedrooms that mix muted decor with berry-hued velvet sofas and chairs. Dinner in the wood-panelled restaurant is a grand affair. Afterwards, settle into a velvet armchair in the moodily lit bar for a whisky or late-night cocktail.
Doubles from £165 room only; thebonham.com

Ambleside Townhouse, Lake District

Bring walking boots, cagoules, the kids and the dog for a stay at this lovely Lake District B&B, set right in the heart of the pretty town of Ambleside at the top of Windermere. The 15 rooms all have handmade beds and Sealy mattresses to ensure a restorative night’s sleep after a long walk, with spectacular fry-ups served in the chic breakfast room alongside vegetarian and healthier options. Cyclists are well catered for, too, with bike storage and washing facilities, along with helpful information on local biking and walking routes.
Doubles from £70 B&B; amblesidetownhouse.co.uk