Whether it’s a mini-break, a wed-min escape or a UK mini moon, Britain is home to some of the most beautiful hotels with some of the most unusually magical heritage.
From windmills to railway carriages, Airstream camper vans to decommissioned lighthouses, here are 7 unique hotels for the most romantic pre or post-wedding mini-breaks!
Cley Windmill, Norfolk
Climb to the top of the 19th-century grinding mill at Cley Windmill to see the Norfolk coastal views in their full glory complete with the surrounding salt marshes. The top-floor Wheel Room is accessed via a ladder, while for guests keen to stay grounded, other bedrooms, which overlook the reed beds or the charming village, are in the former store rooms and miller’s accommodation. For weddings, it is perfect for small and intimate ceremonies followed by dinner by candlelight.
Belle Tout Lighthouse, Sussex
Extraordinary light surrounds this characterful B&B in a decommissioned lighthouse. It stands remote on the cliffs overlooking the notorious lover’s leap of Beachy Head. It’s warm, welcoming and serene, and each room has its own character courtesy of the unique location, whether you stay in the Beach Hut, Captain’s Cabin or Keeper’s Loft. Belle Tout Lighthouse is perfect for a pre-wedding mini break or another ideal mini-moon destination.
The Old Railway Station, Petworth
Pull into this converted train station and take up residence in one of the refurbished Pullman carriages on the disused tracks. Quirky and charming, The Old Railway Station, check in at the old parcels office in the restored Victorian station building and stay in one of the well-furnished bedrooms, redecorated with colonial flair, while those in the well-thought-out train carriages have Edwardian fittings and a surprisingly spacious bathroom. It’s perfect for an Orient Express style mini-moon!
St Cuthbert’s House, Northumberland
Jeff and Jill Sutheran’s superb B&B, in Seahouses, at the heart of the Northumberland coast occupies a delightfully converted Presbyterian church; the former sanctuary today serves as an elegant open-plan lounge and breakfast room, with books, DVDs, travel guides and a well-stocked honesty bar. Meanwhile, spacious, comfortable bedrooms have a stylish bathroom and lots of great touches, such as dressing gowns, slippers, high-end toiletries. What a place to spend a pre-wedding mini-break, contemplating your vows!
Brooks Guesthouse, Bristol
In the old city centre, a stroll from harbourside restaurants, Brooks Guesthouse is a converted 1960s office block–turned backpackers’ hostel that’s now a contemporary B&B with a difference. Beautifully sleek and shiny’ Airstream camper vans are parked on the AstroTurfed roof, each with optimal hospitality including a bird’s-eye views over the town
Bar Convent, York
Home to England’s oldest active convent, this unusual Grade I listed Georgian building by the medieval city wall in York also houses a café and good-value B&B accommodation. Bar Convent has a glass-roofed entrance hall, an 18th-century domed chapel and a library of antique Catholic texts as well as immaculate bedrooms.
The Dial House, Norfolk
I count only the sunny hours,’ reads the Latin inscription on the sundial set in the wall above the entrance to this eclectically decorated Georgian house. It is the faultless style that really sets the whole place apart from other hotels. Each room takes its inspiration from an element of a 21st-century Grand Tour: China is done in blue and white to astonishing effect, while the Italian Palace room could see you arriving in Italy itself.
Guest Writer: Bonnie Friend, Good Hotel Guide
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