Little Hotels

in North-East England

The Houblon Arms

, Oasby
.

A 17th century coaching inn featuring big wooden four-poster beds, in a Lincolnshire village.

Guest rating 9.3

The Cookie Jar

, Alnwick
.

An exquisitely decorated little boutique hotel, almost within arms-reach of magnificent Alnwick Castle.

Guest rating 9.7

Lord Crewe Arms

, Blanchland
.

A pub, hotel and restaurant at the heart of Blanchland, a pretty-as-a-picture village in Northumberland.

Guest rating 9.5

Chillingham Manor

, Chillingham
.

A Very Comfortable Manor House Bed & Breakfast in the Northumberland Countryside.

Guest rating 9.9

Ascot House Hotel

, Harrogate
.

A small Harrogate hotel with a big Yorkshire welcome.

Guest rating 9.3

Chesters Stables at Walwick Hall

, Hexham
.

The ultimate in luxury self-catering suites in Northumberland, with one, two, three or four bedrooms.

Guest rating 9.9

Westgate Manor

, Westgate
.

A Victorian country house hotel set in the heart of Weardale and the Durham Dales.

Guest rating 9.9

Seaham Hall Hotel

, Seaham
.

An award-winning boutique hotel and luxury spa set in elegant gardens with a stunning cliff-top location overlooking the sea.

Guest rating 9.6

Stow House

, Aysgarth
.

A boutique B&B in a fabulous rural setting close to Aysgarth Falls in the Yorkshire Dales.

Guest rating 9.9

The Old Parsonage

, Berwick-Upon-Tweed
.

A country house B&B close to Berwick-Upon-Tweed and the Northumberland coast.

Guest rating 9.9

Cold Cotes Guest House

, Felliscliffe
.

A delightful farm guest house surrounded by a glorious cottage garden on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.

Guest rating 9.8

The Burgoyne Hotel

, Reeth
.

A georgian country house hotel standing on a village green in Swaledale. Complete with the 1783 Bar and Restaurant.

Guest rating 9.2

St Valery Boutique B&B

, Alnmouth
.

Four large, elegant comfortable rooms in a townhouse in the seaside town of Alnmouth.

Guest rating 9.9

Chatton Park House

, Chatton
.

A luxury adults-only B&B in a country house surrounded by immaculate gardens. Ideally placed between the Cheviot Hills and the North Sea coast.

Guest rating 9.9

Tower House

, York
.

An exotically designed boutique B&B in a very convenient part of York close to York Minster and The Shambles.

Guest rating 9.9

The Traddock Hotel

, Settle
.

Peace and quiet surrounded by the scenery of the Yorkshire Dales. Walking routes start at the front door.

Guest rating 9.5

Brocco On The Park

, Sheffield
.

A boutique hotel in Sheffield with an exceptional restaurant, handy for both the city and the Derbyshire Peak District.

Guest rating 9.3

Judge's Lodging

, York
.

A Georgian townhouse hotel close to all the main sights in York.

Guest rating 9.1

Shallowdale House

, Ampleforth
.

A small country B&B with an impeccable interior and stunning garden.

Guest rating 9.3

Beadnell Towers

, Beadnell
.

A family-friendly, dog-friendly 5-Star hotel near the Northumberland coast.

Guest rating 8.8

Wrea Head Hall

, Scarborough
.

A grand gothic mansion in extensive grounds on the edge of the North Yorks Moors.

Guest rating 9.0
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Reasons to visit North-East England

This is a big area, with big scenery and big skies. The moors of Yorkshire, County Durham and Northumberland just seem to roll on forever. Here and there they are divided up by rivers, vigorous torrents (High Force waterfall is a must) gradually taking on a  gentle, ambling gait as they make their way towards the sea.

History is a big part of a visit to the North-East, ranging from Hadrian's Wall and other Roman sites to the industrial heritage museums that have sprung up around disused coal pits and docks. It is Hadrian's Wall that is the grandad of them all as it meanders it's way 73 miles across the country from coast to coast. This was the final outpost of the Roman Empire for 300 years and has left a massive legacy right down to our own times. Some parts of the wall are well-preserved, along with Roman towns, forts and villas, while in other places just small traces remain, adapted over the centuries as roads field boundaries or house foundations. Those of an energetic dispostion can walk or cycle the entire length of the wall.

More recent history comes in many forms. You can visit the cottage where George Stephenson was born, or Haworth Parsonage, the home of the Bronte sisters (not forgetting their brother too, of course). The National Trust has a number of interesting country houses and estates, including Wallington (home of the oddball Trevelyan family), Gibside (a great landscaped estate that has crumbled and is being reborn) and Seaton Delaval Hall. It is Cragside that stands out though, because it is not just a grand house in a magnificent estate, equal to many of the best anywhere. It was also home to Lord Armstrong so it became the first house in the world lit by hydro-electricity and was the laboratory for many of his inventions.

Two cities stand out as being of special interest. York is famous for York Minster, one of the world's most magnificent cathedrals and a masterpiece of stained glass and stone. The whole city is very appealing though, especially the Shambles, a mediaeval street of timber-framed shops and houses. Nor should any visitor miss the Jorvik Viking Centre which celebrates the archaeological discoveries made right beneath the streets or York.

The other city that must not be missed in Durham. Durham is defined by its geography, perched on a steep-sided hill on a rocky promontory surrounded by the River Wear. To the Saxons who first established a foothold here, it was a natural defensive site, and the castle they built here grew and expanded over many centuries. The original little Saxon church grew too, and Durham cathedral is one of the best in the country, all the more so because of the new "Open Treasure" exhibition experience. No-one will be disappointed by Durham.