Adult Only Boutique Hotels

If you’re planning a romantic retreat for your first holiday together, or just fancy a break in a quiet, child-free haven for a couple of nights, the UK has some superb adult-only hotels. We’ve hand-picked a small selection of fabulous places where you can kick back and escape the chaos of kids – even during the school holidays.

Our top sdults only boutique hotels featured in this article are:

• The Scarlet – Tredragon Rd, Mawgan Porth, Newquay, Cornwall TR8 4DQ
• Swain House – 48 Swain St, Watchet, Somerset TA23 0AG
• Ecclestone Square Hotel – 37 Eccleston Square, Pimlico, London SW1V 1PB
• Old Rectory Boutique Country House Hotel – Martinhoe, Devon, EX31 4QT
• Heron House – 50 Brook St, Bampton, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 9LY
• Glazebrook House Hotel – Glazebrook, South Brent, Devon, TQ10 9JE
• Combe Grove Manor House Hotel – Brassknocker Hill, Bath, Somerset BA2 7HU
• Tir Y Coed Country House – Rowen, Conwy LL32 8TP

The Scarlet, Cornwall

The Scarlet (pictured top), a luxury eco-hotel and spa on Cornwall‘s north coast, promises a magical escape for adults in its gorgeous sea view bedrooms and cliff top hot tubs. Guests can spoil themselves at the luxurious spa, tuck into delicious food, and reach the beach in a three-minute walk. Set in Mawgan Porth, this place is hard to beat when it comes to location – and the contemporary and elegant rooms have balconies and wrap-around terraces to make the most of the spectacular views. An award-winning chef changes the menu daily, serving meals made from local ingredients, while the spa offers a good range of luxurious treatments for added pampering. If you can tear yourself away from the hotel, the Merlin Golf Club and Driving Range is only a five minute drive away, while Newquay can be reached in 15 minutes by car and Padstow in 20 minutes.

Swain House, Somerset

In the enchanting harbour town of Watchet in Somerset, Swain House is a petite Victorian townhouse offering four luxury rooms with custom made wallpaper, king size beds, flat-screen TVs, free-standing roll-top baths, sumptuous fabrics and REN toiletries. Alongside the morning’s full English breakfast you can order a picnic basket to take out on your adventures – even if you only venture for a five minute stroll to Helwell Bay and Watchet Marina – and return to the hotel for an evening meal if you’d like to stay put rather than explore the town’s pubs and restaurants.

Swain House

Ecclestone Square Hotel, London

If you’re looking for a high-tech hideaway for a romantic break in central London, close to theatres, parks and a superb selection of shops, the Grade II-listed Eccleston Square Hotel is just the ticket: each room comes complete with an iPad which can fine-tune the lighting, curtains and sound; a large 46-inch flat-screen 3D TV with Sky channels; and Hästen’s beds (known as the most comfortable beds in the world). Set in an elegant London square in Pimlico, bordering Belgravia and Victoria, this boutique hotel is only a ten minute walk from Victoria tube and train station, offering a combination of convenience and comfort. Guests can travel around the city with a complimentary smartphone ‘Handy’ during their stay, offering free local and international calls to many countries and unlimited mobile internet. Back at the hotel, the luxury marble bathrooms sneak a hidden TV into the mirror and spoil guests with indulgent massage showers – offering the perfect retreat after a busy day’s sightseeing.

Old Rectory Boutique Country House Hotel, Devon

Nature lovers will appreciate the attractive package offered by the Old Rectory Boutique Country House Hotel in the North Devon hamlet of Martinhoe – including idyllic gardens, fresh sea breezes, and wildlife-spotting from the old grape vine canopy. Set within Exmoor National Park, there are lovely views from the rooms at this boutique hotel, which doesn’t allow children under the age of 14, while outside guests can get lost in a Victorian maze, relax in the leafy seating areas, and wander past waterfalls and trout ponds in the extensive grounds, which lead directly to the Exmoor Coastal Path. Back inside the house the restaurant serves award-winning wines and a seasonal menu featuring vegetables from their own garden and quality produce from local farms.

Old Rectory Boutique Country House Hotel

Heron House, Bampton, Devon

On the border of Somerset and Devon, nestled in the foothills of Exmoor National Park, Heron House offers boutique bed and breakfast accommodation in in the ancient village of Bampton, surrounded by endless opportunities for outdoor pursuits. You can try your hand at fly fishing on the River Exe; go walking or golfing; follow mountain biking tracks and wonderful walks; or embark on a flight in a hot air balloon to see the region from a fresh perspective. Heron House offers just three comfortable, simply-decorated bedrooms housed within an attractive 18th century stone town house. Safe in the knowledge that this is an adult-only establishment, guests can unwind in peace in the walled garden during the summer, or find a cosy spot on the Drawing Room sofa in the winter. Back in your room you can expect luxurious bedding and comfortable beds – waking up to an award-winning breakfast cooked to order at a time to suit you.

Heron House

Glazebrook House Hotel, South Brent, Devon

You can choose from eight plush, individually-styled rooms at the adults-only Glazebrook House Hotel within Dartmoor National Park. Set in private grounds, this secluded boutique hotel and restaurant is full of quirks and surprises, with unusual décor and welcoming staff. After a full English breakfast guests can get out and about to explore the vast moorlands, forests and craggy rock formations of Dartmoor; follow trails winding through ancient valleys dotted with Neolithic tombs and Bronze Age stone circles; or head to the bright lights of Plymouth, 25 minutes’ drive away, to visit the National Marine Aquarium.

Combe Grove Manor Hotel, Monkton Combe

For cool Georgian elegance and award-winning food, head to Combe Grove Manor Hotel in Monkton Combe, just outside the beautiful historic city of Bath – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Surrounded by 69 acres of manicured gardens and wild woodland, this relaxing hilltop retreat has superb country club facilities and offers awesome panoramic views stretching for 25 miles over Limpley Stoke Valley. The colourful boutique rooms are quirky and indulgent, and the location is ideal for sightseeing in the West Country – Bath alone is packed with attractions such as the Roman Baths, Jane Austen Centre, Bath Abbey and famous Thermae Bath Spa.

Tir y Coed Country House, Snowdonia

And finally, within the boundaries of Snowdonia National Park in Wales – just four miles from the medieval walled town of Conwy – the immaculate Tir y Coed Country House combines warmth, comfort, elegance and excellent attention to detail. This beautiful Welsh retreat is set in over an acre of mature landscaped gardens on the edge of Rowan, one of the Conwy Valley’s most attractive villages. Large windows and outdoor terraces make the most of the lovely views, and the whole surrounding area is packed with things to see and do, including attractions such as Bodnant Garden, Conwy Castle and Deganwy Castle.

Have we missed out your favourite adult-only boutique hotel? Send us a message and tell us!

Author: Rebecca Burns