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.
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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.
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Spa suitesLakeside hot tubsSpa suitesThe Gilpin has been named one of the Best Places To Stay in The UK by the Sunday Times. Credit: The Manc Group
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.
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“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.”
Credit: The Manc Group
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’.
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Moor Hall in Ormskirk, the best restaurant in EnglandNorthcote
“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.”
The Oldham Man and The Sea: the documentary about the Latics owner’s record-breaking Atlantic voyage
Danny Jones
It doesn’t matter if you’re not an Athletic fan or native to the borough; we think everyone should go along to watch the much-anticipated documentary about football club owner Frank Rothwell and his record-breaking journey across the Atlantic Ocean: The Oldham Man And The Sea.
One of the simplest and most satisfying names for a film we’ve heard in a long time.
For anyone who doesn’t know about the Oldham Athletic FC chairman turned OBE’s incredible story, Frank Rothwell has set multiple records with his impressive sea-faring feats in recent times.
This new doc, which just premiered at this year’s Manchester Film Festival, charts his latest trip across one of the biggest bodies of water on the planet in March 2024.
As you can see from the recent trailer, it’s almost as arduous a tale as the original Hemingway story.
This movie – produced by Journeyman Pictures and Chief Productions – made its full debut at the Odeon in Great Northern Warehouse for MFF 2026, and is set to have a number of other screenings in and around Greater Manchester in the coming weeks and months.
One of those is happening rather soon, in fact, over at Saddleworth’s Millgate Arts Centre on Saturday, 28 March, which is ideal for those local to the region; grab your tickets now.
ln fact, there’s also one happening even closer to his hometown the following month, with Oldham’s very own Queen Elizabeth Hall also hosting a special screening of Rothwell’s incredible achievement.
You can reserve your seats for that one right HERE.
Having not only become the eldest (70) Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge finisher back in 2021, but now holding the Guinness World Record for the oldest person to ever complete the crossing while rowing solo at 73 years old, he’s become nothing short of a local hero – and that’s just his stewardship of the Latics…
The film does, obviously, touch on his time at the helm of the League Two side, who finally returned to the EFL last June, but the heart and soul of this inspiring watch is the sail itself.
More importantly, it also documents not just the gruelling nature of the 64-day, seven-hour and 53-minute trek, but also how Frank has now helped raise more than £1.4 million on behalf of Alzheimer’s Research UK.
What an absolute icon.
Hopefully, this should be just about all the reason you need to watch The Oldham Man And The Sea the very next opportunity you get to do so – and, of course, all proceeds from ticket sales will also be going to charity, because just the kind of bloke he is.
And here’s hoping we get a streaming version sometime soon.
Four Manchester museums and galleries shortlisted for the ‘Oscars of the museum world’
Danny Jones
It’s official: four museums and galleries in Manchester have been shortlisted for what this particular scene dubs as the ‘Oscar’ equivalent of annual awards.
All located right here in the city centre, the quartet of cultural institutions are all famous not only in their own specific fields here in the North West, but nationwide and, indeed, all over Europe and beyond.
That being said, having this fantastic four-piece all nominated for the 2026 Museums + Heritage Awards together in the same year is a testament to just how blessed the Greater Manchester region is in this department.
Sponsored by Altair Media Ltd, the places in question are the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester Art Gallery, as well as the National Football and Manchester Museum. Congratulations!
Credit: Publicity picture/Lee McLean/PA Media Assignments (supplied)
While the National Football Museum and Manchester Art Gallery have been nominated for group-wide accolades – the Visitor Welcome and Team of the Year awards, respectively – the other two have been selected for a pair of specific projects.
In the case of Science and Industry (SIM), they’ve been spotlighted for the highly anticipated opening of the new and improved ‘Power Hall’, finally relaunched this past October, along with the accompanying Andrew Law Gallery, which could win both Permanent Exhibition and/or Sustainable Project of the Year.
What a haul that would be.
As for Manchester Museum, their memorable world premiere of The Cat That Slept for a Thousand Years has been shortlisted for ‘Temporary or Touring Exhibition of the Year’.
Debuting back in July 2025, it wrapped up last September and has since moved over to the likes of the Wakefield Exchange in Yorkshire, where it’s still on display until Sunday, 12 April.
If you fancy a day trip to see a big, glowing and very cute cat, it’s well worth booking a day out to go and see it for yourself.
Shazia Butt, Manchester City Council‘s Executive Member for Culture, Corporate Property, Crime and Policing, said: “We’re very lucky in Manchester to have so many incredible, creative and world-class museums and galleries right here on our doorstep, providing inspiration, learning, energy and fun, as well as spaces to rest and reflect, free of charge every day of the week.
“We know that visiting museums and heritage sites is the most popular cultural pastime for our residents, with over 73% of people saying they loved to visit in a recent survey – and with the calibre of these amazing spaces and what they offer in the city, it’s not hard to understand why.
“It’s fantastic to see this backbone of our cultural offer in Manchester being recognised in this way up there amongst the very best of museums and galleries nationally and internationally.”
Once again, well done to all those involved in making these venues so amazing and well worthy of the already award-winning status, as this particular nomination is just the latest in a lasting lineage of recognition that all of these wonderful spaces have earned over decades. Long may it continue.
The awards ceremony itself will take place on Wednesday, 13 May at the Park Lane Hilton down in London; best of luck to those flying the Manc flag for us – not that they need it.
Daisy Jackson -
10th March 2025 
