18 Best Hotels in The Northeast, England

Located 10 miles north of Hexham and "beyond the wall," this delightful old inn combines three virtues: good food, cozy rooms, and eco-friendly credentials. Bedrooms are simple but modern, with colorful decor and good-size bathrooms, and four rooms are fully wheelchair accessible. The best option is the luxury lodge on the grounds of the hotel, complete with supersized spa bath and terrace. The restaurant uses produce grown in the hotel's own gardens, and is especially crowded on Sunday.

Five miles south of Bamburgh on the scenic coastal road, this chic boutique hotel combines 18th-century heritage and character with 21st-century luxury and comfort. The individually designed rooms are colorful and spacious, with exposed brick walls and criss-crossing beamed ceilings, though the decor varies dramatically so not everything will be to everyone's taste. For ultimate luxury, opt for the top-floor Craa's Nest suite, which includes a comfy seating area, free-standing copper bath, and even a telescope (to scan the horizon for ships). Downstairs, The Towers kitchen, lounge, and bar serves good food all day long; try the fish pie, which is the catch of day topped with a cheddar crust and served with buttered greens.

Around six miles east of Dunstanburgh Castle, halfway between Alnwick and Bamburgh, lies this 200-year-old country mansion—now a popular spa hotel. Set within lovely gardens (including a walled garden and hedge maze) and surrounded by rolling, lake-dotted countryside, the central building is home to a host of well-appointed bedrooms and suites. There's also an excellent restaurant, and extensive spa facilities, including a large heated swimming pool, jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, and several treatment rooms. For longer or more secluded stays, opt for one of the three coach houses or the self-catering cottage in the grounds. Even if you aren't able to stay the night, you can still visit with a day package, which can include spa treatments and a two-course lunch.

Seven miles southwest of Greenhead on the edge of the North Pennines, this luxury country estate is an idyllic away-from-it-all escape. The rooms are beautifully appointed in warm grays, greens, and blues, with modern bathrooms and garden views while larger groups can enjoy the extra spacious cottages on the grounds. The elegant Cedar Tree Restaurant offers fine dining using the best local and seasonal produce, with meals accompanied by stunning views across the manicured lawn to the ornamental lake. Take a stroll around the grounds, including the lovely walled garden, and consider a short walk to the village's pretty St. Thomas a Becket Church, where the chief engineer of the Titanic is buried.

At the top of a cobbled street overlooking the cathedral and castle, this family-run guesthouse has small, snug bedrooms with pleasant city views. A recent renovation has given the place a kind of sophisticated dollhouse vibe, with floral-print wallpaper and deep pink and purple accents. The family rooms, which sleep up to five people, are a great value. The Pancake Café downstairs serves a short but delicious menu of sweet and savory pancakes.

Magic-loving Muggles will go wild for this enchanting boutique hotel in the heart of Alnwick, which evokes all the spirit of the wizarding world—even if its literary inspiration is never actually named. The four atmospheric rooms, which are called things like The Marauders and The Dumbledorm, as well as the stairways and corridors that link them, are decked out with stuffed owls, broomsticks, and burgundy-and-gold scarves, and lit by "candlelight." However, there are plenty of mod-cons to enjoy too, from Hypnos beds and smart TVs to coffee machines and rainfall showers. Downstairs is the Dirty Bottles bar, which serves excellent pub food (with a focus on smoked meats) and fancy cocktails until late. There's no parking on-site, but you can pick up a parking disc for £1 and leave your car on nearby Pottergate (!) street.

Talk about a feel for history—this former farmhouse in open countryside, graced with stone arches and exposed beams, is not only built on Hadrian's Wall but also partly from it. The rooms are small and simply decorated but comfortable and great value. There's also a self-catering cottage with two bedrooms that can be rented by the week.

This large but stylish design hotel is a relatively new addition to Newcastle's waterfront yet it's already proving to be one of the city's most in-demand stays. Each of its stylishly understated bedrooms, which range from cozy double rooms to large townhouse suites, offer floor-to-ceiling windows (most with river views), modern bathrooms with rainfall showers, and good-sized smart TVs as well as extra touches like yoga mats. The hotel also has Gino D'Acampo Quayside, an excellent Italian restaurant with an appealing riverside terrace as well as a fully-equipped 24-hour gym. There's also a great selection of local artwork throughout.

Occupying a sprawling 19th-century mansion in the northeastern part of the city, this attractive, independent boutique hotel is surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens overlooking a stream with a small waterfall and is filled with polished oak floors, huge windows, and wandering staircases. You can read the paper by the inglenook fireplace in the lounge or curl up on a firm bed in one of the chic and modern guest rooms. For ultimate comfort, book one of the two major suites; each offers quirky sloping ceilings, spacious seating areas, and appealing rooftop terraces. Downstairs, the elegant Fern Dining Room run by renowned local chef Danny Parker serves elegant yet unfussy dishes using the finest regional meat and produce; try the aromatic tandoori spiced monkfish or the indulgent cheddar cheese and spinach soufflé. Ask at reception for a quick peek inside The Great Hall, a grand high-ceilinged room with oak paneling, huge Gothic windows, and an intricately carved fireplace, all overlooked by an ornate minstrels' gallery.

Close your eyes and imagine an English castle: you're probably picturing Langley, a lavish 14th-century fortification complete with turrets and battlements. Today, the castle is a romantic hotel, offering large, well-appointed rooms—both in the castle and out in the grounds (with castle views)—as well as one of the region's best fine-dining experiences. The romantic baronial dining room, with little candlelit alcoves draped in rich fabric, offers an excellent three-course prix-fixe menu of traditional English dishes with Italian twists; think ravioli stuffed with ox cheek. There's also a lighter (and cheaper) snack menu, served in the equally attractive drawing room. Langley Castle is six miles west of Hexham. Stick around after breakfast for the free morning tour of the battlements.

This cozy, stone-walled inn with oak beams sits in the heart of the village and has simple, modern guest rooms decorated with pine furnishings; some of them date back to the 1600s. The food in the bar and in the restaurant, especially the freshly caught seafood, is excellent, making it an ideal spot for lunch while you're touring the area.

This is a real Norman castle, right down to the dungeons and maze of dark flagstone corridors—one room even has a bathroom hidden behind a bookcase. Antiques and rich fabrics lend the castle rooms a sumptuous feel (those in the courtyard annex are less expensive, but also less atmospheric), while the bar and lounge areas are fittingly decked out with historic portraits and chandeliers. Dine in the modern and surprisingly inexpensive Black Knight—perhaps the hotel's most beautiful room—or join one of the regular, and somewhat cheesy, Elizabethan banquets (£36.50; one goblet of wine and one of mead included). You'll find the hotel just east of Chester-le-Street, around eight miles north of Durham on the road to Newcastle.

Built as a getaway for a wealthy banker in 1812, this charming country estate surrounded by 450 acres of private grounds is wonderfully secluded; it's a full five minutes' drive off the nearest public road. The original building is well maintained, particularly the beautiful, spacious atrium and a wood-paneled bar. A modern wing has less character, and the guest rooms could do with a face-lift, but the beds are comfortable and the bathrooms modern. The Dobson Restaurant serves good Modern British cuisine, and there's the family-friendly Linden Tree pub if you want something more relaxed. Part of the vast estate has been converted into an 18-hole golf course, which makes it a popular destination for sports enthusiasts. There's also a spa and a swimming pool. The hotel is located just off the A1, roughly halfway between Morpeth and Alnwick.

Converted from an old riverside warehouse, this glamorous, design-conscious hotel sits beside the iconic Millennium Bridge. Guest rooms, done in a modern style with clever rococo-esque touches of gilt and velvet, are spacious, and the huge beds are piled high with pillows. The discreet Mal restaurant presents modern French fare in a room overlooking the Tyne. Combined dinner, bed, and breakfast deals are available.

Just a short drive or taxi ride from the center of town yet surrounded by a sea of green, Ramside Hall is one of the most luxurious stays in the northeast. The main hotel has some good rooms and wonderful suites, but the treehouses are even better—they're built on stilts and set in woodland overlooking the two 18-hole Championship golf courses surrounding the hotel. Each of the one-, two-, and three-bedroom treehouses offers a spacious living room with a gas fireplace and enormous TV, a well-equipped kitchenette, a modern bathroom with a free-standing copper bath, and a spacious terrace with a hot tub and steam room. Shuttle buses take you from the treehouses to the main hotel complex, where there are two excellent dining options (try the pan-Asian restaurant Fusion) and an ultra-modern spa with pools galore.

In 1815, Lord Byron married Annabella Milbanke in this foursquare mansion on a cliff top overlooking the sea; today, the sumptuous contemporary interior is a haven of luxury. Stately bedrooms have their own fireplaces, original artwork, two-person baths, and exotic flowers. At the equally elegant restaurant, indulge in dishes such as loin of venison and root vegetables flavored with chocolate. Make some time for the excellent Serenity Spa, inspired by feng shui principles. Seaham is right on the northeastern edge of County Durham, around 13 miles from the city of Durham.

With sumptuously appointed rooms, a popular bistro restaurant, and convenient location right by the castle, this historic convent-turned-boutique-hotel is Alnwick's most luxurious stay. Each of the 11 rooms are beautifully and individually decorated, but if you have to pick one, make it the Chapel—arguably the holy grail of Northumberland hotel rooms. This stunning (and seriously spacious) suite combines beautiful old chapel features like carved beam ceilings and stained glass windows with modern luxury like a super-soft king bed, drench shower, freestanding bath, 60-inch flat-screen TV, and an Amazon Echo. Even if you don't stay here, pop in for a decadent afternoon tea (Thursday through Saturday) or a delicious dinner.

A short stroll from Chesters Roman Fort, this boutique country estate offers beautifully appointed rooms, a sophisticated fine dining restaurant, and a modern spa with a glass-walled pool. Each of the 10 bedrooms is tastefully decorated with muted colors and tartans and includes a king bed, coffee machine, smart TV, and marble bathroom. The refined Dining Room restaurant, with its elegant floral wallpaper and pastel-colored chairs, serves seasonal menus of British specialties, from roast lamb to seared sea trout. Guests can also enjoy the fitness suite, swimming pool, jacuzzi, and steam room, and there are spa treatments available.