The best UK hotels for a Christmas break

It’s the time of year for mulled wine, log fires and festive merriment – but the Christmas season also brings with it an undeniable element of stress. So why not take some time out and treat yourself and a loved one to a cosy weekend away in the hectic run-up to Christmas? You needn’t go far for a romantic Christmas experience – England is full of picturesque hotels that are perfect for a festive retreat. Here are some ideas…

Curl up in the Cotswolds at the Old Bell Hotel, Malmesbury
For a very English Christmas, you can’t get much better than the quaint Cotswolds. The beautiful town of Malmesbury is home to the Old Bell Hotel, which claims to be England’s oldest. The hotel offers two-night Christmas packages, allowing you a relaxing weekend spent exploring the surrounding villages, settling by a roaring fire in a country pub and enjoying a glass of Champagne in the hotel’s peaceful surroundings.

Shop til you drop in London with a stay at the Mayfair
You’ll have the whole of London on your doorstep, but the thing to do at Christmas time in England’s exciting capital is to check out the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, which promises festive fun for all ages, with a liberal amount of fine seasonal food and drink, as well as fair rides, ice skating and much more besides. Enjoy the finer things in life and take advantage of unrivalled Christmas shopping opportunities with a Christmas break at London’s Mayfair Hotel, which is a stone’s throw from Hamley’s – one of the world’s greatest and oldest toy shops. Book a Christmas weekend at the Mayfair and you’ll even get afternoon tea thrown in – perfect for unwinding after all that shopping.

Christmas in Cornwall at the Greenbank Hotel, Falmouth
When you think of Cornwall, you probably think of summer days spent on a sandy beach. But it’s also a great place to spend Christmas, when there are fewer people about and the quaint fishing villages dotted along the rugged coastline take on an exciting yuletide atmosphere. You’ll also be able to enjoy bracing walks along the breath-taking Cornish coast – the ideal way to work up an appetite for the sumptuous food you’ll be able to enjoy back at the hotel. The Greenbank Hotel in Falmouth offers sparkling Christmas breaks and a mouth-watering menu of a lot more than just turkey.

Snuggle up in snowy Scotland at Inverlochy Castle
For the ultimate white Christmas experience, try a weekend in a Scottish castle with a stay at Inverlochy Castle Hotel. Spend your days admiring the snow-capped mountains of the Scottish Highlands, indulge in whisky tasting at an old Scottish distillery, or even trying to spot the Loch Ness monster at the famous nearby loch. Nestled in the foothills of Ben Nevis, Britain’s tallest mountain, Inverlochy was visited by Queen Victoria in 1873. If you choose to spend Christmas here, you’ll soon see why the Queen declared that she “never saw a lovelier or more romantic spot”.

Rachel is a keen blogger and travel writer currently on the search for hotels for sale.