Looking for a UK break with a twist? The UK is home to some of the most beautiful and unique hotels in the world, from castles to converted prisons to those that float. Here are ten quirky hotels in the UK to add to your bucket list.
Quirky hotels in the UK – what makes them different?
A quirky hotel adds a bit of intrigue and a new experience for those who are bored of the standard hotel experience. It simply means there’s something a bit different about it – perhaps it has a niche theme, or the building is completely unique or steeped in history. Let’s look at ten of our favourites.
1. The Witchery, Edinburgh
- Best for: couples who love medieval decor and fine dining
Steeped in centuries of Scottish History, The Witchery is a unique stay famed for its gothic decor, fine dining and award-winning wine list – and it’s even been voted as the UK’s most romantic hotel. Set within multiple historic buildings dating back to 1595, this quirky hotel is dark and moody. Its low lighting adds to the ambience created by silk upholstered walls, four poster beds and medieval trinkets – think Hogwarts with a touch of luxury.
The oak-panelled and candlelit dining room adds to the romantic magic of the hotel, and is the perfect spot for those looking for a fine dining experience with a gothic twist. A worthy entry for our quirky hotels in the UK list!
2. Titanic Hotel, Belfast
- Best for: Belfast first-time visitors keen to learn more about the Titanic’s history
Set within the former headquarters of Harland & Wolff, builders of the Titanic, this hotel is a must-stay for history buffs. The three-storey-high barrel-vaulted ceilings are the most notable nod to its shipbuilding past – their beauty and grandeur is almost overwhelming.
The hotel rooms stick to nautical and Art Deco themes. Ship lanterns, riveted panels and unique maritime artwork are displayed as a constant reminder of the building’s famed historic past. Throughout the hotel, there are over 500 pieces of art, artefacts and photographs on display to mark its heritage too – one of the most unique places to stay for couples in the UK.
3. Hocus Pocus Tiny Hotel, York
- Best for: magicians in the making
Magic-obsessed and looking for quirky hotels in the UK? Hocus Pocus Tiny Hotel is exactly your vibe. This medieval building has been transformed into a hotel with ornate bed frames, magic-themed decor and even green-glowing bathrooms in some rooms.
Our pick? Book the Libraryum room, which sleeps four and – you guessed it – is filled to the brim with books that look hundreds of years old.
4. Hard Days Night Hotel, Liverpool
- Best for: Beatles super fans – who else?
Beatles fans, no need to look further for your Liverpool hotel. Hard Days Night Hotel is a haven for the fandom, with Beatles-inspired art and little touches scattered throughout its 110 rooms. The hotel doesn’t only focus on its theme, though – there is plenty of luxury to be found in this four-star quirky UK hotel.
Bar Four is a moody and chic cocktail bar with themed drinks and plenty of Beatles artwork to take in. There’s also John’s Bar at the heart of the hotel and North Sixty4, which offers a dinner menu as well as daily afternoon tea – all, of course, with Beatles touches throughout.
5. Château Rhianfa, Anglesey
- Best for: a taste of what it’s like to be in a fairytale
Not many luxury hotels are famous for a huge red dragon’s head welcoming arriving visitors, but that’s exactly the case at Château Rhianfa. The hotel is built within a 19th-century French-style château, despite being on the coast of Anglesey in North Wales.
There are 16 individually-styled rooms in the original château, all boasting the same luxury, vintage feel that you would expect from such a unique, fairytale-style building. Relax in one of the many ornate lounges and enjoy the sweeping views of the Snowdonia mountain range.
6. Cley Windmill, Norfolk
- Best for: couples looking for a quirky hotel by the beach
One mile from Cley Beach on the Norfolk coast is Cley Windmill, a bed and breakfast luxury retreat built within a Grade II listed tower windmill. Its cosy, rustic rooms in the tower make it stand out as a quirky hotel in the UK. Fun fact – the Stone Room was once singer James Blunt’s bedroom when his family owned the converted windmill.
Rooms can be booked on a bed and breakfast or self-catering basis. A three-course set menu dinner is served every evening at 7pm after canapes in the lounge. Looking for inspiration for your room pick? The Old Cart Shed is the fanciest of the bunch, offering vaulted ceilings, a four-poster bed and an oak staircase.
7. Port Lympne Mansion Hotel, Kent
- Best for: a luxury family break and animal lovers
Port Lympne Reserve is a 600-acre wildlife park and breeding sanctuary for rare and endangered animals, and home to the luxury Port Lympne Mansion Hotel. Book a lodge for full-height windows looking into the enclosures of tigers, lions, rhinos and many more beautiful animals. It’s truly one of the most unusual hotels in the UK, and certainly one of the most special for animal lovers.
Guests can also enjoy exclusive access to the reserve before and after visiting hours on their own personal golf buggy, which is included as part of the stay. Looking for something really special? Opt for the giraffe lodge and wake up the majestic creatures wandering by your room.
8. Good Hotel London
- Best for: those who want to explore London and retreat to a quieter spot
The Good Hotel London is a floating hotel in Royal Victoria Dock, offering a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of the capital’s centre. The this London hotel was once a derelict floating accommodation platform in the Netherlands. It was then renovated into a floating hotel and sailed to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympic Games. Now, it calls London home and uses reused and upcycled furniture and decor in its cosy rooms and sprawling communal spaces.
The hotel spends all profits on global causes. It also provides long-term unemployed people with the opportunity to build a career in hospitality – a quirky hotel in the UK with multiple vitally important missions. My tip? Book a room with a view of the water.
9. Hotel Pelirocco, Brighton
- Best for: couples who love vintage rock ‘n’ roll glamour
Brighton is famous for its vibrant cultural, music and arts scene, and that is culminated in Hotel Pelirocco. Just steps from the beach and the self-proclaimed most rock ‘n’ roll hotel in England, each of the 19 rooms have a unique theme. Dolly Parton, David Bowie and Star Wars are just a handful!
On top of your stay at this quirky UK hotel, you can book extra packages, massages and even a boudoir photography shoot. There’s also a range of breakfast options – and they can even bring it to you in bed, which is a rare luxury for a boutique hotel.
10. Bodmin Jail Hotel, Cornwall – the most quirky of hotels in the UK?
- Best for: history lovers who like a bit of luxury too
Ever thought you’d say you fancy heading down to Cornwall for a few nights in prison? Bodmin Jail Hotel was once an 18th century prison and has now been converted into a boutique place to stay. Each room is crafted from three former prison cells, offering a taste of luxury with a historical twist.
There are original doors and bars on the windows paired with underfloor heating, fancy bathrooms and huge beds – the best of both worlds. Book the bed and breakfast or dinner package and dine in The Chapel Restaurant & Bar, built in the jail’s former chapel. It has ornate architectural details and sweeping high ceilings – truly one of the most unique places to stay in the UK. It’s a pet-friendly hotel too!
