Our five hip UK hotels are Blanch House and Hotel Pelirocco in Brighton, Crazy Bear in Oxfordshire, The Grove in Hertfordshire and Boskerris in St Ives, Cornwall. They are quirky, themed or simply stylish places to stay, and this update re-checks what we could confirm about each in 2026.
| Rank | Hotel | Where | Verified in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blanch House | Brighton | 12 en-suite rooms per its site |
| 2 | Crazy Bear | Stadhampton, Oxfordshire | Hotel in the village; room details not rechecked |
| 3 | Hotel Pelirocco | Brighton | 19 themed rooms (listings) |
| 4 | The Grove | Hertfordshire | 214 rooms, 300 acres |
| 5 | Boskerris Hotel | Carbis Bay, St Ives | 15 rooms, seasonal; status to confirm |
Rain is a fact of UK holidays, so we picked places where you would not mind staying in all day.
#5 Boskerris Hotel, Cornwall
Boskerris sits close to the white sand of Carbis Bay, on a 1.5 acre property with a panoramic view of St Ives Bay. It has 15 bedrooms, including one suite. Guides list it as open from April to the end of October, and one notice showed it as temporarily closed until April 2026, so confirm that it is taking bookings before you plan a trip.
#4 The Grove, Hertfordshire
The Grove is a country house resort with 214 guest rooms, a luxury spa, 16 meeting and event spaces and an 18-hole championship golf course, set in a 300-acre private park. It was the seat of the Earls of Clarendon from 1776 to about 1920, and today it is a popular weekend break from London.
#3 Hotel Pelirocco, Brighton
Hotel Pelirocco is a Regency Square hotel with 19 themed rooms. Themes range from Modrophenia, a mod room, and Rebel Rebel, a David Bowie tribute, to Betty’s Boudoir and Pin Up Parlour. Brighton’s shopping, conference centre and nightlife are close by. Some reviewers say a few rooms show wear.
#2 Crazy Bear, Oxfordshire
The Crazy Bear is a hotel and restaurant in the village of Stadhampton, Oxfordshire. It is known for deliberately eccentric interiors. Check the hotel directly for current rooms and rates.
#1 Blanch House, Brighton
Blanch House is a boutique hotel in Brighton with 12 individually designed en-suite rooms, one of which is the Perrier Jouet Room. Its mix of food, drinks, interiors and nightlife keeps it on our list, but the hotel’s site does not state current opening hours, so call before you book.
Keep reading
- How much does it really cost to live in a hotel?: what a long stay in a hotel adds up to
FAQ
Which hip hotels are in Brighton?
Blanch House (12 rooms) and Hotel Pelirocco (19 themed rooms).
How many rooms does The Grove have?
214 guest rooms in a 300-acre park in Hertfordshire.
Is Boskerris open all year?
No. Guides list it as open from about April to the end of October, so check dates.
Which UK hotel has Bowie-themed rooms?
Hotel Pelirocco in Brighton has the Rebel Rebel room, based on a Bowie album cover.
How were these hotels picked?
We chose them for personality and design. We updated each entry with room counts and details from the hotels and listings, and flagged what we could not confirm.
Last updated: October 2026.
