As we shiver through January, we’re busy drafting our wishlists for UK stays in the year ahead. From serene lakeside lodges to luxe skyscrapers in the world’s greatest capital – London, of course – 2024 will see a long and exciting roster of new hotels to choose from.
The only question is: which one will you check into first?
Cotswolds Waters, Gloucestershire
Regular visitors to the Cotswolds may already be familiar with Lakes by YOO, a rambling sustainable estate in Lechlade where sleek modern villas overlook nature-coddled lakes. Now the same team is launching Cotswolds Waters, a standalone collection of 63 lakeside apartments set by water in 110 acres of woodland. Functioning as both holiday lets and as private residences – you can buy one if you have the cash – the swish modern builds give you and your family on-tap access to low-impact activities such as swimming or paddle-boarding. You’ll also be allowed to use all the facilities of Lakes by YOO next door, including the spa, indoor pool, restaurant and kids’ club.Rates to be confirmed, cotswoldswatersbyyoo.co.uk
Ruby Stella, London
Joining a capital stable which already includes Ruby Lucy in Waterloo and Ruby Zoe in Notting Hill, Ruby Stella will bring the brand’s signature ‘lean luxury’ set up to a historic lane in Clerkenwell. Opening in March, the hotel’s public areas are set to channel a Dickensian bookish vibe befitting of this creative area, with the likes of tweed furnishings and a gilt-edged bar. Meanwhile, sleek rooms will come with only the essentials – including Marshall amps and aromatherapy toiletries.
Rates to be confirmed, ruby-hotels.com
Six Senses London
Taking over the former Whiteleys shopping centre in Bayswater, wellness brand Six Senses’ big debut in the capital heralds a new era of spa-going for Londoners. Even if you don’t check into one of the 110 rooms or suites, you can spend a day lolling about in the sprawling spa, apparently inspired by an old Underground station (which we’re sure will be much more tranquil than it sounds). Expect a 20m swimming pool, a relaxation room with vaulted ceilings and a huge fitness space as part of the deal.
Rates to be confirmed, sixsenses.com
The Hoxton, Edinburgh
With existing locations in the likes of Berlin, Amsterdam and New York, The Hoxton brand has long since expanded beyond its EC2A roots. And now it’s heading north to Scotland’s castle-crowned capital. The Hoxton Edinburgh, which is due to open in summer 2024, will be set in Haymarket across 10 interconnecting Georgian townhouses. Besides the usual cool hotel rooms there will also be a clutch of three-bedroom self-contained apartments to welcome long-stay guests – plus a restaurant and onsite gallery.
From £175, thehoxton.com
Art’otel Hoxton, London
Hot on the heels of 2023’s launch of the Battersea Power Station branch, creative hospitality brand art’otel is setting up shop in a contemporary building in Hoxton. Putting the work of street artist D*Face at the forefront, it promises a lot: an immersive art gallery, bars with outdoor terraces, a 25th-floor destination restaurant and 360-degree panoramic views across the capital. Each of the 48 rooms will feature bespoke art from D*Face too. Not enough to draw you? Two Banksy originals will be on display too.
From £400, artotellondonhoxton.com
Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London
It’s hard to get glitzier than Knightsbridge – unless, of course, you’re in Mayfair. So little wonder that Mandarin Oriental chose this exclusive enclave for its sequel stay in the capital, opening in early 2024. Among the many enticements will be the first UK restaurant from Michelin-starred Korean-American chef Akira Back and a rooftop terrace with views across the central London skyline. Meanwhile, the 50 rooms will come in soothing tones with delicate floral motifs; a perfect antidote to the city rush outside.
From £925, mandarinoriental.com
The Newman, London
Taking its name from the Fitzrovia Street on which it’s perched, The Newman is the first creation from Kinsfolk & Co, a crew of hoteliers and restaurateurs that all have extensive experience working at high-profile London names including Corbin & King and The Goring. They’re creating a stylish yet unfussy space reflecting Fitzrovia’s village feel and incorporating an Art Deco aesthetic. When it opens in late 2024 a highlight for locals will surely be the modern European brasserie, bathed in natural light.
From £595, thenewman.com
Treehouse Manchester
Originally due to open in 2023, Treehouse Manchester will finally begin welcoming guests into its 14-storey environs from this April. Much like the sister branch in London, the property – primely perched on central Deansgate – will have nature-inspired interiors and a rooftop restaurant where you can settle in and enjoy views over the city. The pet-friendly stay will also feature a ground-floor eaterie with a zero-waste ethos.
From £199, treehousehotels.com
Mollie’s Manchester
Manchester’s cool hotel scene will get a little bit cooler this spring with the opening of budget-luxe brand Mollie’s in the reimagined Old Granada TV Studios. Following on from the original motel-and-diner sites in Oxfordshire and Bristol, Mollie’s Manchester will sprawl over a vast swathe of the 1950s modernist landmark – with some areas given over to the city’s first branch of Soho House. Expect rooms starring dark wood panelling, terrazzo and distressed brass. And, of course, an outpost of Mollie’s signature retro-American diner.
From £120, mollies.comBaliffsgate, Northumberland
Most visitors heading to Alnwick are there to take in its castle – an impressive pile built following the Norman conquest. From summer 2024 they can linger that little bit longer, checking in for the night at this glam property set in a stone-fronted former school. Overlooking the castle’s Barbican entrance, the 48-room pad will feature a contemporary fireplace-lined restaurant with original Georgian features and a private dining space.
From £190, bespokehotels.com
The Store, Oxford
One of the world’s oldest family-owned department stores – founded in 1738 – Boswells was a staple of Oxford life until it closed in 2020. Now its grand halls on Cornmarket Street will be reborn as The Store, a 101-room hotel with two bars (one rooftop), an ‘untraditional’ British restaurant with Oxfordshire produce and a walnut-panelled spa featuring Oskia treatments. As for rooms? Modern minimalism meets period features and plush touches – think red velvet headboards.
Rates to be confirmed, thestoreoxford.com
Teffont House, Wiltshire
A new opening with serious history, Teffont House is set in the former Howard’s House Hotel, built in 1623. While the same enticing stone walls and lovely location in the picturesque Nadder Valley remain, you can expect some exciting new elements when it opens in September, including an orangery dining room and a mini Bramley spa tucked in amid the grounds. There will also be a walled garden growing produce for the kitchen, a yummy bonus for guests staying in the 17 bedrooms.Rates to be confirmed, teffonthouse.com
No.124 by Guesthouse, Brighton
Brighton is a favourite day trip from London, but the summer opening of this seafront stay might make you want to linger for a weekend. Set in a Regency-style townhouse overlooking the English Channel, the property will magpie from the Bloomsbury Group aesthetic and the city’s eclectic architecture spanning from the Royal Pavilion to the Lanes. Every room comes with a record player and access to help-yourself pantries, but before checking in, grab a seat on the outdoor terrace bar.
From £295, guesthousehotels.co.uk
Gallivant Littlestone, Kent
Steps from the powdery expanse of Camber Sands, The Gallivant has built a reputation as one of Britain’s finest seaside stays. Next year – after some delay – it will open a second branch further north up the coast in Littlestone. Once more the beach will be within easy access, good local food and drink will be a priority, and the style will be spot-on. You can cycle or walk along the promenade to lunar-like Dungeness, or hike around nearby Romney Marsh.
From £250, thegallivant.co.uk
100 Princes Street, Edinburgh
With a promised 2:1 staff-to-guest ratio, it’s clear that great service will be at the heart of this spring opening. But so will history. Set in the former home of the Overseas League, 100 Princes Street will celebrate the rich heritage of Scottish explorers through everything from custom-made tartan prints to hand-painted murals. There will be just 30 rooms, many of them overlooking Edinburgh Castle, and a very fine collection of whiskies for a nightcap by the fireside.
From £330, 100princes-street.com
Avington Lakes, Hampshire
In the shadow of regal 16th-century country house Avington Park, a new collection of lakeside lodgings – Avington Lakes – will open in early 2024. The eclectic mix of romantic shepherd’s huts, lakeside cottages and multi-bedroom retreats will be catered with daily breakfast, lunch and dinner hampers; that is, if you don’t fancy strolling to the estate’s own village pub or shop. A new cafe and spa, opening at Easter, will join an activities line-up including fishing, electric biking and clay pigeon shooting.
