What is THE most beautiful hotel you have stayed in in the UK?

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

A group of friends have given us a very generous gift of a night away to mark a special occasion. They were nervous about a voucher in the current climate so have given us the cash. Which is great because we can go anywhere!
We are happy to add some money to it for the right place, but might tag on an extra night so I'd say budget is £150 to £200 a night.

Our usual approach would be to choose the location and find a nice hotel nearby. But then I thought it might be good to choose a fabulous hotel in a place we might not have considered.

Would want it to be expensive because it's a lovely hotel, not because it is an average hotel e.g. in the centre of London.

Have spent a lot of time in London with work so wouldn't have this night away there. We also wouldn't go as far as Cornwall for a short break.would prefer somewhere different to where we have been over last few years ( so probably not Dorset, New Forest, East. Sussex and Norfolk although would consider for the perfect hotel) Otherwise happy to go pretty much anywhere.
A decent pool, inside or out would be a bonus.
Suggestions for places you have stayed or know people who have raved about a certain place would be very welcome.
Thank you

Lumley castle is stunning

Thank you @userintgerain - we have relatives in Durham and usually stay with them when visiting but hadn't thought of staying in a hotel - definitely an option.

Kent

We stayed at Leeds Castle on our only night away last year and it was lovely to take pictures of it with no one there

Plus we went to Sissinghurst on the way back - was amazing

Also, I've never stayed but always wanted to - the crab and lobster

www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/england/county-durham/durham/hotels/

The telegraph and Guardian do short reviews which we’ve found quite helpful in the past. Lumley Castle is included in above link.

Lumley really does look lovely. Showed DH who said he's not keen on using the money to stay a few miles from where we often stay with friends/family.

But definitely the sort of thing we are after.

Thank you all, working through the other suggestions

Wild Boar, Crook. Luxury feature rooms with impressive baths and high end decor, plus a private wood with a tarn.

Swinton Park near Masham. We had a room overlooking the deer park.

For a bit of fun, The Romeo and Juliet room at Malmaison Manchester.

DH took me to Thornbury Castle for our anniversary one year, food was amazing, no pool though. Royal Crescent hotel in Bath was lovely too, great spa there!

I'm a sucker for historic buildings though- both hotels had amazing service, which is really part of the experience for me!

The pig chain is amazing and chilled

Lumley castle and crab and lobster are both lovely. The poshest hotel I’ve stayed in that wasn’t In London was Seaham Hall www.seaham-hall.co.uk/ it was a few years ago so it may have changed but still looks nice on the website. I stayed for a wedding and just couldn’t wait for the wedding to be over so I could go back to the room!

I’d love to go to Burgh Island but I haven’t actually been to the hotel (beach is gorgeous)

www.burghisland.com/

Second The Pig. I've stayed at quite a few, and they always fit the bill as decadent, warm, welcoming, and the food is to die for. Definitely a lush getaway, without being too pretentious. I'd get one of the rooms with the claw footed bath. We've also recently stayed at the Fish (not connected to the Pig, and it's a fabulous cotswold hotel - tons of nature walks, they have their own private cinema you can use for free, and again fabulous food).

www.thepighotel.com/.

www.thefishhotel.co.uk/

Beautiful hotel in a beautiful location with an amazing restaurant
monachylemhor.net/

Depends how long you're going for as I get the impression you're not close to Scotland

Thank you all. Where locations are a bit far for a short break, we might incorporate a night's stay in a more expensive hotel into future longer trips (given we have saved a lot of money not travelling as much as usual over the last 18 months)

I'm not sure it fits the bill as it's not perfect and has no pool but The Cottage in the Woods in the Malverns has incredible charm and incredible views. Just to throw it in there.

A tiger, leopard or lion view would be fun :o)

www.aspinallfoundation.org/port-lympne/short-breaks/tiger-lodge/

Love this place:

www.brocco.co.uk

Great for days out in the Peaks

The Tigerlily in Edinburgh was beautiful.

I've stayed at Swinton - in the turret , which was fabulous but was possibly more than your budget .
Crazy Bear I loved , opulent , eccentric and more .

Going to look up all the suggestions now

My favourite hotel in the UK is the Savoy but it’s in London and it’s expensive so doesn’t fit the bill!
Other hotels I would recommend are The Malmaison in Oxford (in what used to be a prison, rooms are converted cells), Lodge on Loch Lomond for its amazing views, The Sands in Margate for being right on the seafront, The Rose in Deal, The Grand in Brighton...

I couldn’t see where you’re based to judge where might be a reasonable distance to travel though?

Cliveden, hands down. But your £150 won’t go very far!

The Witchery in Edinburgh! We stayed in one of their apartments when we got married. The Balmoral in Edinburgh is also beautiful.

I've never stayed in an 'amazing' hotel in the uk in terms of facilities, food, etc. I've paid a lot of money for hotel stays that were, frankly, disappointing. The main problem has been other guests' noise and behaviour, so check in advance of the hotel is hosting a wedding(s), hen weekend or similar. Also, horrible food.

But I've stayed in some wonderful B&Bs in awesome locations, such as Holy Island (where we saw a wisp of the northern lights), and ate a 'pub lunch' for dinner.

Portmeirion. Absolutely beautiful place.