Travel & Tourism

Peak District hotel named the best place to stay in the UK

Gary Neville's Stock Exchange Hotel also fared very well.

Daisy Jackson - 10th March 2025

A hotel in the Peak District has just been named the best place to stay in the UK in the prestigious Sunday Times list.

The Cavendish Hotel in Derbyshire, which stands in the grounds of the magnificent Chatsworth House, topped the list for 2025, praised for its beautiful interiors and ‘epic’ views of the Peak District.

The Sunday Times’ 100 Best Places to Stay in the UK is compiled by a team of experienced reviewers, who narrow down hundreds of stays into the definitive guide of the best accommodation around the UK.

Hotels are judged on several factors, including design, facilities, and value for money, plus dining and service.

There are a fair few successes this year for the North West beyond the achievement of The Cavendish.

Another consistently award-winning spot – The Gilpin – was named the top spot in the North West.

This beautiful spa hotel is home to a Michelin star restaurant, award-winning spa facilities, lakeside hot tubs, and spa suites built on top of natural ponds, spanning across two sites in the beautiful Lake District.

Judges said that The Gilpin is ‘snug and homely’ in parts while being ‘seriously slick’ in others.

Even closer to home, Gary Neville’s Stock Exchange Hotel was the only spot in central Manchester to make the list, praised for its ‘old-school opulence’.

The Sunday Times said: “This grade II listed hotel is a tasteful flurry of marble pillars, gleaming brass fixtures and charming service.

“Rooms are refined and restrained, the hushed palette of creams, greens and greys allowing the tasteful furnishings to draw the eye.

“And the A-list love it: the former footballers Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs are co-owners, Madonna once booked out the entire place and Paul McCartney was a recent guest.”

Moor Hall, the restaurant of which just scooped the ultimate accolade of a third Michelin Star, features in the top 100.

This beautiful bolthole in Ormskirk has been celebrated for its fantastic food offering, which includes another on-site one-Michelin star restaurant in The Barn, as well as its rooms which range from the botanically-themed garden suites in the grounds to the more traditional bedrooms in the manor house.

There’s another Lancashire favourite on the list too, as Northcote swoops in with its ‘exquisite Michelin-starred fine dining and warmly welcoming service’.

“Located near Clitheroe and overlooking the Ribble Valley, it offers easy access to some superb country walks,” The Sunday Times list says. “But most guests find themselves tempted to stay in, sipping cocktails on the terrace or a whisky in the lounge.”

But claiming the prestigious top spot to be named Hotel Of The Year is The Cavendish.

Its reviewer said: “Given she had permission to raid the attics of Chatsworth House, one of the UK’s most beautiful stately homes, to furnish this Baslow bolt hole owned by the estate, it’s hardly surprising that the in-demand designer Nicola Harding has given its 18th-century interiors and 28 bedrooms impressive sparkle.

“Harding’s trademark zingy colours (from teal to tomato) contrast winningly with antique furniture and paintings by distinguished artists such as Elisabeth Frink, Barbara Hepworth and Phyllida Barlow.

“There’s a cosy bar for post-walk snifters and an elegant dining room where your three courses are admirably food-mile friendly. Nature adds another touch of class, with epic views of the Peak District available through almost every window.”

You can see the full list HERE.

Read more

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• A popular staycation company is recruiting for a hot tub holiday tester
• What it’s like to stay at the Lake District spa hotel considered one of the UK’s best

Featured image: The Manc Group