This Blessed Plot

From the pirates of Penzance to the white cliffs of Dover, a look at some of the best boutique hotels on England’s southern coast, each one blessed with a location just a short walk from the sea.

From his deathbed in Shakespeare’s Richard II, John of Gaunt describes England as a “fortress built by Nature for her self / Against infection and the hand of war.” A blessed plot, blessed to be an island. Technology may have lessened the protective power of the waterways that surround England, but the ancient charm of its coastal communities remains strong. Particularly along its southern flank, and the mighty moat known as the English Channel. These delightful boutique hotels are all the evidence you’ll need.

Artist Residence Cornwall

West Cornwall, UK

For a sequel to the funky, bohemian Artist Residence Brighton, the natural choice is the colorful town of Penzance, on England’s South West coast. Artist Residence Cornwall is tucked away in the heart of town, in a beautiful Georgian house, within walking distance of just about everything. Each of the artist-designed rooms is completely different in style.

The Idle Rocks

St Mawes, UK

St. Mawes is something of a glamour destination, albeit a low-key, rather under-the-radar one. The Idle Rocks Hotel, a whitewashed inn that’s long presided over this picturesque harbour, supplies another reason to visit — its owners have an eye for design and a taste for relatively understated luxury. We say “relatively” understated because the pair in question includes the former chairman of Aston Martin.

Hotel Tresanton

St. Mawes, UK

In the postwar years the Tresanton was one of Britain’s favorite seaside hotels, before falling on hard times from the Seventies on. Lately it’s again become one of Cornwall’s hottest spots. This small collection of houses scattered up a hillside has been rescued from the ravages of time by Olga Polizzi, perhaps best known as the keen decorator behind her brother Rocco Forte’s global brand of big-city luxury hotels.

The St Mawes Hotel

Saint Mawes, UK

As you might expect from its name, St. Mawes is a longtime local institution in this charming seaside village of the same name. The hotel has evolved into one of England’s most lovable small boutique hotels. Seven rooms are decorated in a breezy maritime style that inspires instant relaxation. A bar and restaurant serves hotel guests and locals alike, and there’s a private 25-seat cinema to boot.

The Lugger Hotel

Truro, UK

Tucked away in a hidden cove on the Cornish coast, the Lugger, once a seventeenth-century smugglers’ inn, is the kind of quiet and remote hotel where you go to make a getaway, rather than an entrance. That’s not to say it isn’t charming and comfortable — it certainly is. It’s just to say that the Lugger does just what a good down-to-earth seaside escape should do, and does it exceedingly well.

Antonia’s Pearls

Cornwall, UK

The seaside village of Charlestown is one of Cornwall’s most picturesque destinations, and sees its fair share of tourism, especially in the summer months. One way to avoid any hint of a crowd is to duck into one of Antonia’s Pearls, a collection of cottages, a cabin, a studio, and a Georgian townhouse restored by owners and operators Antonia and David in a style that’s chic, unpretentious, and memorably eclectic.

Fowey Hall

Fowey, UK

If you’re of one of the generations that grew up reading The Wind in the Willows then you already know Fowey Hall — you just know it as Toad Hall. This house, in the village of Fowey, on the southern coast of Cornwall, is a quintessentially contemporary manor-house hotel. Albeit one that’s exceedingly family friendly. There’s plenty of entertainment for kids, as well as supervision — it’s as casual as a manor-house hotel can be.

The Old Quay House

Fowey, UK

For such an intimate hotel, Old Quay House is a remarkably well-polished place. The owners, it turns out, are no strangers to the hotel business, so service is sharp and the interiors are sophisticated in their confident restraint. The building is perched dramatically at the water’s edge, and several of the rooms look out over the estuary from private balconies. Individual rooms vary slightly, but all are done in an airy contemporary style

The Nici

Bournemouth, UK

Bournemouth has seen its share of seaside hotels, but none quite like the Nici, a West Cliff classic whose recent renovation leaves it looking more like Miami Beach than anyone could reasonably expect from the Dorset coast. Its 80 refurbished rooms and suites are a vision in minimalist white, gold, and green, and its public spaces lean in to the tropical inspiration.

The Albion Hotel

Freshwater, UK

On the waterfront at Freshwater Bay on the Isle of Wight, The Albion has 40 rooms, 35 of which face the water. Rooms range from beach-level terraces to coastal suites with roll-top bathtubs and rainfall showers, with the Victoria and Albert suites at the top end. The Cabin Bar, in the oldest surviving part of the building, opens onto a wraparound terrace above the beach.

The George Hotel Yarmouth

Yarmouth, UK

Set directly in the shadow of Yarmouth Castle, practically sharing a beachfront backyard with its imposing stone walls, The George is a 17th-century townhouse turned into a seventeen-room boutique hotel. Harbor views are easy to come by from most points on the property, and inside, bedrooms of varying shapes and sizes blend subtle modern touches with characterful period features.

The Terrace Rooms and Wine

Ventnor, UK

Imagine you had a pair of stylish friends who bought and restored an old Victorian house on the Isle of Wight, stocked the kitchen with great wine and produce from the local farmer’s market, then invited you to stay for the weekend. That’s what it’s like to check in at the Terrace Rooms and Wine, a boutique guesthouse set just above Ventnor’s historic waterfront esplanade.

Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa

Climping, UK

The medieval-inspired Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa has played host to England’s brightest stars, from its beginning as a private house through its transition into a luxury hotel — and continues to do so, right up to the present day. The beach at Climping is close by, and the hotel is set on thirty acres of private parkland, complete with an old Norman chapel that sees its share of weddings.

No.124 by GuestHouse

Brighton & Hove, UK

Perhaps you’d like to stay by the seaside and have the full experience, where you can smell the fish & chips, hear the seagulls, and practically touch the water. This seriously stylish hotel from the GuestHouse group can satisfy those cravings; it occupies a prime location along Brighton’s seafront that’s within walking distance of both the Palace Pier and the famous Lanes shopping district.

The Old Rectory

Hastings, UK

The seaside resort town of Hastings sees enough traffic to support some biggish hotels, but none are as stylish as the Old Rectory, a nine-room bed and breakfast owned by a fashion designer whose fine taste is evident in every detail. Thanks to its small size (and its 10-and-up policy) it’s refreshingly quiet, and while every room is different they’re connected by a unified aesthetic.

The Gallivant

Camber, UK

Beachy chic is a vibe that’s somewhat rare in England, but at the Gallivant, in the East Sussex seaside town of Camber, it’s in plentiful supply. The Gallivant is now a remarkably swanky boutique hotel. And while it’s inspired by an idealized vision of the Hamptons, its interpretation is a unique one, studiously avoiding transatlantic clichés in favor of a look that’s roughly equal parts casual surf shack and stylish country inn.