Places to stay

From the countryside colours of the suites to the ingredients showcased in the 4 AA Rosette restaurant and next-level experiences that champion local businesses, The Balmoral has a sublime sense of place. 

By The Balmoral Published 4 April 23

The trick to surviving a weekend in London with a young family in tow is to stay in one of the capital's best hotels, discovers Country Life's Dean Usher.

By Dean Usher Published 25 March 23

Down Hall Hotel and Estate is a 110-acre playground just a few minutes outside the M25 where fun and games are part of the attraction. Toby Keel paid a visit.

By Toby Keel Published 11 March 23

Mary Lussiana checks into the Portuguese capital's prettiest hotel.

By Mary Lussiana Published 18 February 23

A manor house in the Garden of England — rumoured to once have hosted Charles I — is now a buzzy restaurant with rooms. Gilly Hopper checks in

By Gilly Hopper Published 11 February 23

The lodges at The Farmstead in Suffolk, not far from the world famous site at Sutton Hoo, are cosy, charming, quirky and fun. Toby Keel paid a visit.

By Toby Keel Published 4 February 23

Lydia Stangroom discovers a New England-style beach house on the Cornish coast that's as enchanting in the winter as it is come summer.

By Lydia Stangroom Published 7 January 23

Gleneagles Townhouse has seemingly, and impressively, matched the lofty standards set by its country cousin, Gleneagles hotel, finds Mary Miers, on a visit to the hotel, member's club and all-day restaurant rolled into one.

By Mary Miers Published 17 December 22

Sustainability has never been more luxurious than in the Maldives, where innovative methods are being employed to ease environmental pressures without sacrificing style, finds our Travel Editor Rosie Paterson.

By Rosie Paterson Published 10 December 22

The Cotswolds without the crowds? Annunciata Elwes visits Stockbridge’s Grosvenor Hotel.

By Annunciata Elwes Published 6 December 22

Crowd-free beaches, coastline, marshes and meadows, and plenty of wildlife make Northumberland a superb place to go. Here's our guide to what to do, where to stay and what to eat.

By Rosalyn Wikeley Published 26 November 22

Many hotels promise to be dog-friendly, but few are as truly welcoming as Wild Thyme & Honey in the Cotswolds, say Paula Lester and her labrador Nimrod.

By Paula Minchin Published 19 November 22

A few miles from Bristol lies Thornbury Castle, a creation that's been a beautiful place to stay for half a millennium —  though the guests today are tourists rather than the Tudor royal household.

By Toby Keel Published 12 November 22

The Turquoise Holiday Company partners with boutique-hotels on the world’s best beaches for the perfect winter-sun break.

By Turquoise Holidays Published 4 November 22

Emma Earnshaw checks into Retreat East and finds a new hotel that's paving the way for more sustainable hospitality.

By Emma Earnshaw Published 29 October 22

Country Life magazine's Editor-in-Chief Mark Hedges pays a visit to Lindisfarne, the castle owned and restored by the magazine’s founder as his Northumberland retreat.

By Mark Hedges Published 18 August 22

From towering sea stacks to endangered penguins, the world’s most interesting beaches offer more than pristine sand and crystalline waters, finds Antonia Windsor.

By Country Life Published 16 August 22

From swim spots and pick-you-own sunflowers farms to hotels with unbeatable views, Rosie Paterson tells you how to make the most of London while the sun is still shining and where to stay

By Rosie Paterson Published 5 August 22

They may not be home to great cities or blue lagoons, but our British islands are places of insular retreat that encapsulate extremes of weather, architecture, landscape and emotion, says Mary Miers.

By Mary Miers Published 30 July 22