Leicester, a county town of Leicestershire, is one of the oldest cities in England, and we review the five best boutique hotels in this historic city below.
The train from London St Pancras to Leicester takes around an hour, and if you are traveling by car, it’s a 20-minute drive from the M1 intersection with the M69. The nearest airport is East Midlands Airport, around 16-miles from Leicester town center.
With a population of more than 300,000, Leicester is the largest city in the East Midlands and the tenth-largest in the country. It is the home of all types of food and is well renowned for its diversity of food and drink. Everything is on offer, from curry in what is known as the Golden Mile to the world-famous Red Leicester cheese or the Melton Mowbray pork pie!
With so much to see or do, any time of year is fabulous in Leicester, but Winter is particularly special as Leicester transforms into a magical Christmas wonderland. The Christmas market is worth a visit, where you will discover an array of local festive delights to get you into the Christmas spirit.
1. St Martins Lodge
Set back from the hubbub of daily life in a peaceful pedestrianized part of the city and a very short 10-minute walk from Leicester Train Station, you will find the wonderfully charming St Martins Lodge, Leicester (pictured above). This luxury boutique hotel blends beautifully into the historic quarter of this wonderful city, with its captivating views of the historic Cathedral.
Located opposite the Cathedral and a few meters from the Richard III exhibition/museum, St Martins Lodge is also convenient if visiting St Martins House Conference Center, Leicester Castle, and Leicester Guildhall. It is also literally 5 minutes to the city center, where you will find everything your heart desires from shops (Leicester is home to one of the country’s most popular shopping destinations), atmospheric coffee shops and restaurants, independent bars, and traditional real ale pubs. The hotel offers free secure parking on-site and an accessible lift to all floors, so it has every base covered.
Retaining many historical features, the hotel’s beautiful old building oozes plenty of charm and character and offers stunning rooms in an enviable location. The exterior hides a wonderful secret concealed within the walls of this fully renovated Grade ll Listed building. Despite being renovated, this luxury boutique hotel has a beautifully modern interior that has been ever so tastefully decorated. It retains many original features, including the most elegant winding staircase in the hallway.
The hotel offers 28 luxury bedrooms, all of a very good size. It boasts a top-floor junior suite, ground-floor accessible rooms, and superior rooms featuring wonderfully relaxing, freestanding bathtubs. All rooms are stylishly renovated yet still pay homage to the architecture and nature of this historic building. Original features, including fireplaces in some of the bedrooms, have been maintained, and many of these beautiful rooms offer unrestricted views of Leicester Cathedral and its stunning gardens.
2. Adagio Leicester aparthotel
While not inspiring, Adagio Leicester aparthotel provides funky modern accommodation close to Leicester’s major points of interest, including the Curve Theatre, the National Space Centre, Welford Road Stadium, and the three universities.
This four-star tourist residence has 73 studios for two people and 25 two-room apartments for four people. Each of them has all the amenities you need for a comfortable stay, specifically, a separate bedroom, a kitchen, an office space, and a living room with a sofa bed. Other useful services include a dry-cleaning service, self-service laundry facilities, a luggage storage facility, and a fitness room.
3. Winstanley House
Winstanley House is a 10 minute drive from Leicester. This boutique hotel is set in a mansion. Built in 1775 this hotel has undergone a recent and extensive renovation. A highlight of Winstanley House is probably its endless lawns and terrace where you can enjoy a drink outside in the summertime.
Everything within the hotel, the rooms, bar, and communal areas have been modernized and offer a chic presentation of what was an old country house. Rooms are stylish and modern bathrooms have marble finishings. There are 19 stunning bedrooms, two elegant ballrooms, and beautiful terraces, all set in 168 acres of rolling public parkland. This boutique hotel is also home to Black Iron, a contemporary British steakhouse and restaurant.
4. Ragdale Hall
Ragdale Hall is located deep in the Leicestershire countryside and is an ideal venue for a spa retreat or just for strolling in the extensive and beautiful gardens. The nearest station is Loughborough, a 15-minute drive away, and Leicester is under half an hour’s drive away.
Dating back to 1785, the hall has been renovated to include modern designs mixed with Victorian history. Extensive spa facilities include an indoor pool and a thermal spa, a candle pool, and a cold cave shower. The rooftop infinity pool, a multimillion-pound glass installation, overlooks the grounds and is the standout feature at this boutique hotel.
5. Stapleford Park
Stapleford Park is a 4 red star luxury country house hotel offering a spa, luxury accommodation, country sports and 2 AA rosette restaurants. It is just under 15 minutes drive from Melton Mowbray, the town famed for its much-loved pork pies, and is 45 minutes drive from Leicester. We have included this hotel in our Leicester listing as it is one of the most luxurious country house estate hotels in the area, even though it’s some distance from the city. The nearest big train station is Grantham.
Stapleford Park’s extensive estate is surrounded by 500 acres of green landscape and a beautiful lake nearby, and because it dates back to the 14th century, this hotel is bathed in history. Fifty-five bedrooms offer classic luxury, some with original fireplaces and four-poster beds.
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