5 of the best luxury beach hotels in the UK

A leading contender for discerning travellers looking to book UK luxury hotel stays by the sea, The Scarlet Hotel, Newquay is not only gorgeous and perfectly located but it’s also an eco-friendly accommodation with a focus on its beautiful natural surroundings, whether in the rejuvenating spa, superb rooms and suites, or its excellent dining venues.Because of this, The Scarlet Hotel features on our list of the most sustainable luxury hotels in the UK.

The Scarlet is also an adults-only hotel, which seems, quite frankly, rather appealing to those without or with kids. Cheeky kid-free weekend away, anyone? 

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Each of the hotel’s Rooms and Suites includes outdoor space, merging the wind, waves, and wildlife to the chic and cosy accommodations, which are designed to be cooled by the ocean breeze and heated by the warmth of the sun.

Beautiful, bold pops of colour amid a largely neutral palette are inspired by the rich hues of the coastline. 

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Scarlet Restaurant pays attention to local, sustainable, seasonal ingredients, and this applies to both the food and the slow-aged wines on offer. Each night for dinner, guests have a choice between an enticing à la carte menu or a seven-course tasting menu, carefully created by talented chefs. 

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The Spa is a tranquil, eco sanctuary that overlooks the cliffs and crashing waves beneath it. Unwind in the sauna, steam room, indoor pool, and natural outdoor reed pool for a true restorative experience.

There is a wide array of indulgent treatments, each taking place in tents lit by lanterns, followed by pure, deep relaxation in the suspended cocoon pods. 

The ultra-cool Artist Residence Hotels are where deluxe meets bohemian, and the Brighton offering perfectly embodies the eclectic spirit of the hip seaside town, while providing an upscale accommodation for the more discriminating traveller.

Set within a regency townhouse across four floors, Artist Residence Brighton is set on the seafront with many of its rooms overlooking the iconic West Pier and the popular beach below. 

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Rooms range from Tiny, Cosy, Comfy and Bigger, as well as the large Next Door apartments located in the adjacent townhouse and Below Deck rooms, which are geared towards groups.

Featuring limited edition art prints and reclaimed furniture, all rooms and apartments are individually furnished and include organic bath products and fully stocked mini bars. 

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The hotel’s lively café and bar is a local social hub that’s open all day and into the night, serving coffee, cocktails, and everything in-between. It’s the perfect spot for a boozy brunch or even just to sit at your laptop and watch the world go by. 

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In the thick of Brighton’s spirited seafront, Artist Residence provides an ideal backdrop for a long weekend by the beach, or seeing a gig, or exploring the town’s colourful streets and absorbing its electric atmosphere. 

Nestled on one of Cornwall’s most beautiful sandy beaches in Carbis Bay, this hotel perfectly encapsulates what constitutes luxury beach holidays, UK-style.

This lavish hotel occupies a privately-owned expanse of 25 acres of Blue Flag beach – the only hotel in the UK to do so – and the estate itself is set over 125 acres, stretching from the glittering shores of the bay all the way up to a lush, wooded valley, offering an abundance of space to explore and get lost in. 

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38 individually furnished Rooms and Suites seamlessly blend vintage chandeliers and gilt mirrors alongside contemporary furnishings and fittings, as well as modern technologies such as tablets to book spa treatments, order room service, and make dinner reservations. 

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Dining at Carbis Bay is a splendid experience and with a plethora of venues on offer, guests are spoilt for choice.

Walter’s on the Beach provides sensational beachside dining and a spectacular cocktail menu at its award-winning location, while The Beach Club Restaurant has a laid-back vibe with a lively atmosphere and The Deli is a takeaway café right on the beachfront promenade. 

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The C Bay Spa is the hotel’s peaceful retreat within a retreat. Boasting a glorious infinity-edged outdoor swimming pool overlooking the sand and sea below, candlelit treatment rooms, outdoor sauna, relaxation lounge and decked balcony, it’s the perfect spot for unwinding by the coast. 

This 50-year-old historic destination hotel and restaurant is simply breath-taking. Actor Eddie Redmayne has frequently holidayed here and it’s easy to see why. It’s a family-run establishment offering warm highland hospitality with sheer five-star refinement. 

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Its Rooms and Suites are located across North and South lodges with views across the loch or the hills, and each is individually decorated to reflect the Isle of Skye’s characteristic landscape while furnished with antique treasures, paintings, and trinkets to give them a homely feel.  

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Food and drink are an integral part of Kinloch Lodge’s ethos, with a focus on fresh, seasonal produce and understated cooking with bold, tantalising flavours.

Not to mention the meticulously curated accompanying wine list and whisky bar, which features more than 122 bottles.  

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Located in the beautiful Sleat on the island’s southern peninsula – an area known as the ‘Garden of Skye’ – there are plenty of walking and hiking trails, castles, gardens, and outdoor adventures to explore and take in the outstanding natural beauty that surrounds you. 

Not technically on the beach but the Hampshire shoreline is mere minutes away from this award-winning hotel, which is considered one of the top destinations for luxury UK beach holidays. Edging the glorious New Forest, Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa boasts a range of accommodations to suit both couples and families. 

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The property features spacious Rooms and Suites that are quintessentially English in style, with a country house charm and views across the lush gardens and the estate – many also come with their own balconies for a little more privacy.

For an extra splash of luxury, we highly recommend indulging in one of the fabulous Hot Tub Hotel Suites.

Finally, the pièce de resistance is the hotel’s selection of stunning deluxe Treehouses, which are self-contained and include all the luxuries a five-star hotel has to offer, providing the perfect enchanting woodland escape. 

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The hotel takes its food very seriously, and the fine dining options available here are second-to-none. The Dining Room focuses on fresh, local ingredients, and by local we mean that most of the produce has travelled less than 100 yards to your table from the hotel’s fantastic Kitchen Garden.

The Kitchen has celebrity chef James Martin at its helm, and he and his talented team have curated a wonderful menu of wood-fired pizzas, seafood dishes, superfood salads and gourmet burgers.

Not only is the Kitchen Garden a great place to eat, it’s also a top place to learn about food and partake in cookery classes. 

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The award-winning spa is a haven of relaxation, with an indoor swimming pool and hydrotherapy pool, plus copious treatments and services ranging from massages and facials to manicures and make-up consultations.

On the more active side there is tennis, yoga, and pilates in the purpose-built studios, and a well-equipped gym with personal trainers on hand.