The U.K.’s oldest cities got their start in urban planning from the Roman invasion but will see hotel openings this year that cement their status. Chester has the remains of a Roman garrison, as well as the Rows, a pioneering medieval take on shopping mall that still contains some of the city’s nicest shops. Wilde’s opens on Bridge Street this summer, with 18 rooms, mullioned windows and clawfoot baths plus a very modish rooftop pool and restaurant.
In York, dominated by its 7th-century Minster and with a Roman settlement from 71AD, No 1 by Guesthouse is housed in a landmark Georgian building in Clifton. With four poster beds and vinyl turntables in the 39 bedrooms, help yourself pantries in the corridors and a spa in the cellar.
Fuelled by the wealth of its colonies and profits from slavery, the Georgians built with an abandon that belies their love of graceful squares and crescents. In March, the Clayton Hotel will bring style and a serious increase in room numbers to Bristol. Once a landmark - and listed - printworks on Broad Street, its entrance is covered in Art Nouveau tiles and will lead the way to 255 bedrooms, bars and a restaurant.
Created from the Industrial Revolution, Manchester is England’s northern powerhouse, with Victorian-era museums and modern-day energy that encompases art, design and tech.
Once a cotton warehouse, with later turns as a brewery and a comedy club, the Leven has just opened in Manchester with 42 rooms that mix exposed brick with full kitchens plus a restaurant to follow in the new year.
In Scotland, Edinburgh and Glasgow have a proper rivalry, only united in a mutual disdain for London. In March, Gleneagles - Scotland’s most famous country hotel - opens a Townhouse with 33 bedrooms and members club in the former headquarters of the Bank of Scotland on St Andrews Square. In a city which lacks a top-notch gym, the bank’s vault will have cutting edge treatments including cryotherapy. 100 Princes Street opens in June with a champagne trolley when you check, cream teas and canapes. Expect lush, fun rooms - just 30 of them - and a top floor Explorers Club where single malts and world wines will blend views across to Edinburgh’s castle.
Tactfully, Virgin Hotels are opening in both cities. In recent years, the company has produced a series of award-winning hotels in the US and this is the company’s first incursion across the Atlantic. Glasgow’s one will be on the River Clyde, sharp and modern with a laptop-friendly cafe amid its bars, restaurants and 242 rooms. Edinburgh, in a 19th century Old Town building.
The biggest concentration of new hotels will be in London though. Whether it’s luxury, budget or in between, there’s a new opening in the capital. The Old War Office in Whitehall will be reborn as the Raffles OWO hotel. This Edwardian building, with views onto Horseguards Parade and St James’ Park was once the workplace of Ian Fleming and has been a location for a number of James Bond films, including No Time to Die. It’s this year’s most exciting opening in the city.
At the budget end, by winter Hoxton - which balances fun and accessible cool - will open in Shepherd’s Bush with especially affordable ‘Hideout’ rooms. In Soho, the Broadwick Hotel, designed by Martin Brudnizki will be rakish and seriously stylish, while Chateau Denmark, situated on London’s Tin Pan Alley, will be rock’n’roll, with 55 glam rock-resonant rooms in what were once the recording studios where David Bowie, Elton John and Jimi Hendrix hung out and will have live music too. Pink Floyd fans will want to head to Art'otel. Within Battersea Power Station, famed for the Animals cover, there will be 164 rooms and a rooftop pool. London’s new hotels are really hoping for a heatwave summer.
