A wave of hotels have opened, or been recently revamped across England. From an upscale roadside diner in Oxfordshire, to a listed Georgian manor in Hampshire, here are six of the best.
Heckfield Place, Hampshire, by Spratley & Partners
Occupying a Grade II-listed Georgian mansion in rural Hampshire, Heckfield Place has been designed to offer a "resolutely natural" experience to its guests.
The hotel's 400-acre grounds are dotted with lakes, walled gardens, and even a farm that supplies fresh fruit, vegetables, and honey to the two restaurants on site. Wildflowers and straw bags serve as decor in the earth-toned bedroom suites.
University Arms, Cambridge, by John Simpson and Martin Brudnizki
The University Arms hotel in Cambridge was originally constructed back in 1834, but has recently reopened its doors following an £80 million revamp by architect John Simpson and interior designer Martin Brudnizki.
Drawing on the city's academic history, Brudnizki has created "quintessentially English" rooms with literary details – guest suites are named after famous authors, while the bar features patterned wallpaper that recalls antique book covers. There's also a library with leather armchairs and a wood-burning fireplace.
Mollie's Motel and Diner, Oxfordshire, by Soho House
Host to a series of cool-tone guest rooms complete with luxurious king-size beds, Mollie's has been designed by the Soho House team to overturn typical notions of the roadside motel.
It's located just off a motorway in Oxfordshire and includes a general store, workspace, and drive-through American diner serving classics like burgers, milkshakes and nachos.
The Stratford, London, by Space Copenhagen
Danish design studio Space Copenhagen has lent its pared-back Scandi aesthetic to the interiors of The Stratford, a new hotel that occupies seven floors of a SOM-designed tower in east London's Olympic Park.
In the light-filled guest suites, sand-coloured walls are complemented by warm copper light fixtures and natural wood furnishings. Similar tones appear in the dramatic triple-height entrance lobby and ground level brasserie.
My Chelsea, London, by DH Liberty
DH Liberty recently revamped My Chelsea to feature a handful of honey-gold fixtures, hinting at the beehive kept on the roof – botanical prints in the bedrooms also reflect the hotel owner's penchant for gardening.
The focal point of the building is its conservatory-style drinks bar, which is dressed with plush green velvet seats and huge Birds of Paradise plants intended to create "coves of intimacy" amongst guests.
Whitworth Locke, Manchester, by Grzywinski + Pons
Vintage posters that advertised trade with tropical countries inspired the warm-hued guest suites of the Whitworth Locke, which takes over a trio of 19th-century cotton mills.
Colours take a moodier turn in the hotel's ground floor, where surfaces have been painted various shades of grey to reflect Manchester's typically overcast skies. This level also plays host to a cafe, co-working space, and greenery-lined cocktail bar.