Forget the fuss of flying and make your first stop as newlyweds at one of these unforgettable new minimoon hotels in the UK!
There’s nothing mini about these minimoons. Whether you want to max out on spa, sea or city, we’ve found the perfect place for you to escape to after the big day that are set to be a big hit for 2023 and beyond.
The Best Minimoon Destinations for 2023
The Gilpin Hotel & Lake House, Lake District
Looking for the ultimate minimoon hotel? Nowhere does it better than The Gilpin Hotel & Lake House, a truly luxurious, five-star hotel and spa in the beautiful Lake District.
Set in 21 acres surrounded by Lake District countryside, The Gilpin Hotel & Lake House has 30 bedrooms – most of them with private hot tubs (and some with a whole spa to yourself!) – several restaurants including a Michelin-starred offering, a Champagne Bar, lounge, terraces, spa treatment area – and resident llamas and alpacas!
The Gilpin Hotel & Lake House’s ‘Gilpin Moons’ offer the ultimate in luxury in the beautiful Lake District. Lucky couples can expect champagne in room on arrival, three dinners at the three restaurants – including one wine-paired, Michelin-star tasting menu offering – couple’s spa treatments, Windermere Lake Cruise tickets and more.
Look to the five Spa Lodges to really splash out, with their own ensuite spa featuring steam rooms, hydrotherapy hot tubs and saunas – or, the even bigger Spa Suites where honeymooners can expect a bedroom ‘floating’ over the pond with views to the mountains, a circular stone bath, double shower and a spa room with sauna, steam room, infrared lounge bed, massage chair and a huge outdoor hot tub – perfect for toasting newlywed life with a glass of bubbles.
Book The Gilpin Hotel & Lake House now
The Bracken Hide Hotel, Isle of Skye
If you’re going to have a minimoon in the UK, opt for somewhere like the Isle of Skye for breathtaking, otherwordly views, which are on offer at this new spot overlooking a stunning landscape.
Opening at the end of March 2023, The Bracken Hide is a new wilderness hotel based in the heart of the Isle of Skye. Focused entirely on the environment, this striking, modern, luxury 4-star accommodation concept bridges the gap between a traditional luxury hotel and wilderness-style accommodation.
As well as The Hub, the focal point of the hotel which will house the restaurant, whisky bar, lounge, and screening and games rooms, there are 45 en suite cabins, set in clusters across the 53-acre site. Adjacent to the hub is a pair of Nordic saunas with a plunge pool and pond for wild swimming.
The rooms at The Bracken Hide are individual cabins. While guests will enjoy the accompaniments of a traditional hotel room, with room service, underfloor heating and en suite smart shower rooms, the cabins offer complete privacy, with the opportunity to look out to the dark skies above. All are clad in sustainable timber and have beautiful views out across Loch Portree.
Book The Bracken Side Hotel now
The Treehouses at Lanrick, Perthshire
Consisting of five luxury sustainable treehouses located in a woodland area on the banks of the River Teith in Perthshire, this incredibly beautiful and secluded spot creates an authentic Scottish wilderness experience, away from the distractions of a busy modern world! Yep, you guessed it, this means absolutely no wifi, making it the perfect opportunity for a digital detox.
All treehouses include a kitchen/living area, a log-burning stove for the cool winter nights, a bathroom, an outdoor bath or shower and 250 square foot tree-top terrace with a BBQ. Guests all receive a welcome hamper containing local products upon arrival.
This is the perfect off-grid location for relaxing minimoons and for those wanting to escape to nature, with stunning woodland and scenic river walks, biking, picnics, and salmon and trout fishing available on their doorstep.
For those looking to explore a little, The Treehouses are located just four miles from the breathtaking Trossachs National Park, which offers mountain climbing, mountain biking, canoeing, wild swimming and boat trips on Loch Lomond. Doune Castle, Stirling Castle, Deanston Distillery are all within ten miles.
Book The Treehouses at Lanrick now
Wagtail, Greenhead, Northumberland
Looking for sustainable minimoons? Check out these two shepherd’s huts on a sustainability-focused farm, in the middle of the certified Dark Sky area in the Northumberland National Park (completely free from light pollution), have been cleverly merged to create a one-bedroom luxurious bolthole.
Romance is everything at Wagtail with a freestanding copper tub under a glass ceiling to gaze up at the stars and a fairy-lit barn with firepit for enchanting evenings under the night’s sky. It even comes with a telescope and stargazing books…
Aside from marvelling up at the Dark Skies, the area has lots to offer with dramatic ridges and panoramic views and plenty of wildlife to spot from deer, hares, curlews, oystercatchers and wagtails, while Hadrian’s Wall, the Pennine Way and Hadrian’s Cycleway are all a few minutes drive away.
Sustainability is a key focus here and the hut’s eco credentials include insulation of 100ml of sheep’s wool, while the anti-allergenic pillows are filled with loose Sheep’s wool rather than synthetic foam.
Book the Wagtail now through Crabtree & Crabtree
Stump, Sibton Park Estate, Suffolk
With its own natural swimming lake, rowing boat and a private spa area with hot tub, steam and sauna rooms, this fairytale thatched folly is an idyllic romantic retreat for couples wishing to sneak away from it all for some privacy and pampering.
The interiors are both luxurious and characterful. Playing on its name ‘Stump’, this one-bedroom bolthole is full of charming little details with little arched oak doorways and windows and a magnificent tree fireplace for guests to cosy by. And although it may feel like nesting in the hollow of a tree, there is every mod con imaginable for a truly luxurious stay in the wilderness.
And when couples feel like stepping outside of this pampered paradise, they can enjoy some of the many activities on offer and gently explore this wonderful estate by bicycle. For the active, there is tennis, paddleboarding or rowing, as part of Suffolk’s stunning wetlands as well as guided wilderness walks to experience the full dawn chorus and explore this beautiful wildlife-rich area. Clay pigeon shooting, axe-throwing, archery, and air rifle sessions are also on offer!
Book the Stump now through Fish&Pips
The Chelsea Townhouse, London
For a bustling city break for your minimoon, the beautiful Draycott Hotel (as it is known currently) will undergo a sensitive restoration before reopening as The Chelsea Townhouse, operated for Cadogan by Iconic Luxury Hotels.
Situated in the heart of Chelsea, The Draycott Hotel is conveniently located close to the popular food artisans of Pavilion Road, world famous King’s Road and is a short stroll from Sloane Street. Cultural attractions within walking distance from the Draycott include the Saatchi Gallery, Royal Court Theatre, Cadogan Hall, Chelsea Physic Garden, V&A, The Natural History Museum and more. This revamped location is on track to be a popular choice for London minimoons for 2023.
Book The Chelsea Townhouse now
The Retreat at Elcot Park, West Berkshire
Having opened in February 2022 and recently won The Sunday Times Best UK Hotel 2023, The Retreat at Elcot is the perfect destination for a country escape and is set to be a big name on the scene in 2023!
Housed in a Grade II-listed 18th-century picturesque country house overlooking the beautiful Wessex Downs, The Retreat at Elcot Park offers fun infused escapism. Filled with informal, playful twists inspired by both the history and location of the property, the hotel is a place where couples will feel instantly welcomed and at ease. The Retreat is a destination in its own right, a place where couples can see, try and eat new things.
The elegant suites are perfect for couples, boasting freestanding baths overlooking the gardens, elegant and expressive décor and inviting four poster beds. The rooms are also equally characterful and comfortable and all have plenty of space.
With stunning views of the Kennet Valley, delicious culinary offerings in the pan-Asian restaurant, a luxurious spa and Health Club and close proximity to various famous sites, the property is ideally situated for couples looking to enjoy both country pursuits and culture alike.
Book The Retreat at Elcot Park now
More Great Minimoon Hotels in the UK
The Treehouse at Harptree Court, Somerset
Country just got seriously chic. Stay at The Treehouse at Harptree Court and you’ll enjoy your own secluded treetop retreat, complete with a cosy log burner and wrap-around stargazing deck, plus one of the dreamiest copper bathtubs (with a view!) we’ve ever seen.
Book The Treehouse at Harptree Court now
Stobo Castle Health Spa, Scotland
On the shores of a loch in the Scottish Borders stands Stobo Castle Health Spa – and we’ll warn you now, it ticks pretty much every minimoon box out there. Four-poster bed? Check. Decadent three-course dinners? Check. State-of-the-art spa? Check, check, check! Book the Cashmere Suite for an incomparably sumptuous stay at this romantic castle.
Book Stobo Castle Health Spa now
Cary Arms & Spa, Devon
Does a luxury boutique hotel, perched beside Devon’s dreamy Babbacombe Bay, sound like bliss to you? How about if we throw in a seaside spa, a gastro menu that changes as often as the tides and stunning accommodation that redefines the meaning of beach huts, without scrimping on charm? Cary Arms & Spa is home to all of this and more. All the more reason to make it your first choice for minimoons.
Shangri-La Hotel At The Shard, London
Boasting unbeatable views and an iconic location in its own right, the Shangri-La Hotel At The Shard is one of the most sought-after spots for minimoons in the capital. We recommend the exclusive Signature Suites. Check into one of these and you can enjoy London’s landmarks from your ultra-comfy, body-contouring bed, while your personal butler keeps your Champagne flute filled.
Book the Shangri-La Hotel at The Shard now
The Crazy Bear, Beaconsfield
If you’re bored of one-size-fits-all hotels, then the only place you should be checking into is The Crazy Bear Beaconsfield. Nothing is what it seems at this 15th-century coaching inn, where a charming façade leads into a mind-bogglingly marvellous collection of opulent and eclectic interiors.
Read More:
- Lucknam Park Hotel: Spa Review: a Luxurious Cotswolds Minimoon
- 14 Luxury UK Minimoon Hotels to Visit Without Breaking the Bank
- Review: Cottage in the Wood, a Magical Minimoon Bolthole
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