21 Unusual UK Hotels (2025)

Imagine waking up in a windmill overlooking the crashing waves, checking into a former newspaper office turned boutique hotel, or spending a night behind the bars of a converted prison. Our expert’s pick of unusual UK stays covers all that and more, from quirky coastal escapes to remote countryside hideaways and even a few extraordinary London addresses. Fancy a touch of grandeur? Treat yourself to a private castle, tower, or folly. Each property on our handpicked list promises something memorable, with charm, character, and experiences you won’t find anywhere else.

The hotel maketh the holiday

• Burgh Island in Devon is a 1930s time capsule of Art Deco elegance, Agatha Christie intrigue, and golden-age glamour. Guests arrive by amphibious vehicle, dress for dinner, sip pre-war cocktails, and once the tide rises, remain marooned in unforgettable vintage style.
• Fingal, once a lighthouse tender, is now a luxury floating hotel moored in Leith, Edinburgh’s hip hub. Expect sleek design, a glamorous ballroom perfect for parties, and a superb restaurant—making this destination hotel as stylish as it is unforgettable.

For an escape

• In York, Bar Convent Guesthouse offers a truly unique stay: an 18-room retreat within England’s oldest living convent, founded in 1686. With a baroque chapel, Victorian garden, glass-roofed hall, charming cafe, and resident sisters, it’s a soulful escape steeped in history.

For couples

• Duck Lodge B&B is a single luxury log cabin located in the South Downs National Park. Interiors have a Scandi-chic feel with pale wood and simple modern furniture. Complete with a hot tub and indulgent breakfasts provided, this is a charming choice for a couples' weekend hideaway.

For families

• Fancy waking up with only a pane of glass between your family and a family of tigers, wolves, rhinos or giraffes? Well that’s a possibility at the Port Lympne Hotel, part of the Port Lympne reserve in Kent. Roughly 700 rare and endangered animals live here, but it’s not a zoo, it’s a breeding facility. As well as staying in rooms close to the animal enclosures, you can also stay in the main house, which is a very stylish country manor house hotel, or you can glamp.
• Bodmin Jail Hotel is another fun choice for families. This boutique stay is set within the historic Bodmin Jail. Interiors are sleek and contemporary but with plenty of period features. With spacious family rooms, casual dining the kids will love, and the general novelty of the setting — this is a great option for a family getaway.

For the coast

• Cley Windmill in Norfolk tops the list of unusual seaside stays: a romantically restored 18th-century windmill turned boutique B&B. Stay in whimsical tower rooms with sweeping views, or opt for converted stables and boathouse, with self-catering and fine dining from an excellent chef.
• For a true island escape, head to the Star Castle Hotel, on St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly. This star-shaped fortress turned retreat offers 38 charming rooms, two superb restaurants, and owner Robert Francis’s twin passions: freshly caught lobster and an impressive wine cellar.
• Perched on Snowdonia’s Dwyryd Estuary, Hotel Portmeirion and Castell Deudraeth offer distinctly memorable stays. Portmeirion charms with colourful, whimsical architecture and garden paths, while Castell Deudraeth impresses with grand period interiors and serene estuary views. Both promise character-filled escapes, delightful dining, and unforgettable coastal scenery.
• Perched above Mawgan Porth, The Scarlet, Cornwall blends eco-luxury with jaw-dropping sea views. Think cliff-top hot tubs, an Ayurvedic spa, reed pool swims, and seasonal dining. Romantic, design-led, and utterly serene—this adults-only escape is Cornwall at its most soulful.

For a castle hotel

• Augill Castle, near Kirby Stephen in Cumbria, is a gloriously eccentric mid-Victorian folly between the Lakes and Dales. With 14 antique-filled rooms, four-posters, roll-top baths, communal feasts at a grand oak table, leisurely breakfasts, and a warm welcome for children and dogs, it’s unforgettable.
• Swinton Park Hotel in Yorkshire, is a more traditional, luxurious affair, set in 250 acres complete with battlements, towers and turrets, plus lakes, walled gardens, a spa, fishing, golf, cooking classes and with an award winning restaurant. Swinton Park also qualifies for our list of the UK’s best unusual spa hotels.
• While you cannot stay in the castle itself, Hever Castle B&B is set in the grounds of Hever Castle and it is so high-end that it still feels like a grand stay. Gorgeous rooms are all individually styled with antiques and original features. The best have in-room free-standing baths. Choose this for a taste of the royal life.
• Similarly, Leeds Castle Stable Courtyard B&B, is (unsurprisingly) set in the old stable block of Leeds Castle. Ideal for a rural weekend away — enjoy the beautiful grounds and garden, dine in the nearby pub, and enjoy the traditional decor.

For a themed stay

• The Scotsman Hotel, once the bustling offices of the Scotsman newspaper, now offers a luxurious stay in the heart of Edinburgh. With grand architecture, rich history, and stylish rooms, it blends old-world character with modern comfort—perfect for a city escape with pedigree.
• Aviator at Farnborough Airport is a striking design hotel where aviation heritage meets modern luxury. Expect dramatic architecture, glamorous interiors, sweeping runway views, and fine dining—an ultra-stylish stay that feels as polished and aerodynamic as the planes just beyond your window.
• Titanic Hotel, set in a vast converted warehouse, channels the grandeur of its namesake with soaring spaces and maritime style. Blending industrial heritage with luxury, it offers spacious rooms, a dramatic spa, and a bold nod to Liverpool's seafaring past.
• Hard Days Night Hotel is Liverpool’s ultimate Beatles-themed stay. Packed with memorabilia, playful design, and musical touches throughout, it combines four-star comfort with Fab Four nostalgia—offering fans and visitors alike a fun, stylish base in the heart of the city.

For a clever conversion

• Malmaison Oxford, once a castle then a prison, is now a striking boutique hotel. Original cell doors and bars remain, but bedrooms are sleek and modern. With a dramatic atrium, stylish bar, and courtyard yard, it’s a unique blend of history and glamour.

For London

• Moored on the Thames, just a short distance from Canary Wharf is the Sunborn Yacht Hotel, a permanently moored super yacht with 135 smart, classically styled rooms, a restaurant and a spa. It’s just 15 minutes from London City airport too.

For downright eccentric!

• Crazy Bear Hotel in Stadhampton re-imagines an old coaching inn with unapologetic eccentricity: a double-decker bus reception, champagne on tap, pink padded walls, and leopard-print carpets. Bold, decadent, and delightfully surreal, it’s one of the UK’s most flamboyant boutique stays.

Still not sure?

• Refine your search by location, and explore all the best places to stay in London,
• Check out our Ultimate Guide to the best Party Hotels,
• Alternatively, contact one of our friendly Gurus for advice and personalised advice.