The greatest hotel in Britain, according to Time Out

Here at Time Out, we pride ourselves on being connoisseurs of accommodation. From inns with rooms to coastal townhouses, 10-room boutiques and ultra luxury lodges, our team of editors spend their time reviewing hotels in all four corners of the country. The result? Our brand-new list of the 20 best hotels in the UK.

The 2026 ranking – which spans new openings, old classics and everything in between – features country escapes and budget-friendly B&Bs, as well as some of the swankiest stays about town. 

As for the top spot, this year the ultimate accolade went to Gleneagles Townhouse, the sexy urban sibling of five-star luxury hotel Gleneagles in Scotland’s Ochi Hills. Slap-bang in the centre of Edinburgh, just minutes from Princes Street and Edinburgh Waverley station, the hotel (which was a bank in a former life) is a very swish, very chic urban hub for posh holidaymakers. 

The five-star boutique hotel, which is also a private members’ club, is home to three bars and its restaurant, The Spence, is a tried-and-tested Time Out fave. As for the rooms, think opulent furnishings, floor-to-ceiling sash windows and canopy beds.

‘The Edinburgh outpost has an arty, pastel-hued look, a stylish crowd and a cracking rooftop bar, but still maintains all the things we love about the original, from its razor-sharp service to its glorious Scottishness – just without the clay pigeon shooting and the horses,’ said Time Out Edinburgh expert Dayna McAlpine.

Check out Time Out’s full list of the best hotels in the UK.

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