The AA Hospitality Awards 2026 have identified the premier hotels, B&Bs, and inns throughout the United Kingdom. the winners represent a wide variety of settings, including luxury London suites, Scottish castles, and eco-friendly West Yorkshire accommodations.
From Belgravia's £1,122 suites to Yorkshire's screen-free retreats
The UK hospitality market is currently defined by a sharp contrast between ultra-luxury and intentional, eco-conscious simplicity. The AA Hospitality Awards 2026 highlight this divide, showcasing establishments that cater to vastly different traveler motivations. On one end, The Emory in London's Belgravia district offers high-end amenities, including 24-hour butlers and complimentary mini-bars, with prices for Courtyard Studios reaching £1,122 per night in October.. The Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa in St Andrews also secured a top spot, being recognized as the Best Spa Hotel of the Year.
On the other end of the spectrum, The Penny Bun in West Yorkshire is being celebrated as a "new-age inn" that focuses on tackling climate change through screen-free rooms and an off-grid atmosphere. This establishment, which offers rooms for approximately £250 a night in October, represents a growing trend of travelers seeking to disconnect from the digital world in favor of moody, low-tech environments.
Historic grandeur at Crossbasket Castle and Culloden Estate
Historic properties continue to anchor the premium segment of the UK travel market. As the AA reported, Crossbasket Castle in High Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, earned the title of Hotel of the Year for Scotland,offering 50 bedrooms within its 16th-century walls with October prices starting around £263. Similarly, the Culloden Estate & Spa in Holywood, County Down, was recognized as the Hotel of the Year for Northern Ireland.
The report describes the 150-year-old Culloden estate as a "fairytale castle" that overlooks Belfast Lough and provides a range of deluxe and family accommodations, with rates starting from £207 per night in October. These winners underscore the enduring appeal of heritage-rich locations that combine historical significance with modern luxury facilities.
Regional highlights from Aberdeenshire to Gwynedd
Diverse regional landscapes provide the backdrop for many of this year's top-rated stays. In the Cotswolds, Calcot Manor & Spa in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, was named the Hotel of the Year for England, noted for its 220 acres of countryside and unqiue accommodation options like treehouses and cottages. Meanwhile, the Porth Tocyn Hotel in Abersoch, Gwynedd, secured the top spot for Wales, earning praise for its sea views and "timeless charm" with low-season single rooms available from £128.
In Scotland, the Lys-Na-Greyne Country House in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, was named the AA B&B of the Year. According to the report, this characterful home was built in 1912 and is situated along the River Dee, surrounded by over three acres of lush gardens, offering a distinctively personal alternative to larger hotel groups.
What specific criteria drove the AA's 2026 selections?
Several details regarding the AA's selection process remain unverified in the current report. while the AA highlighted the "exceptional service" of winners, the specific scoring metrics used to elevate Lys-Na-Greyne Country House to the top B&B position were not disclosed. Furthermore, the report does not clarify how many individual establishments were evaluated to determine the Small Hotel Group of the Year award given to Firmdale Hotels,or the specific criteria that distinguished The Celtic Collection as the Group of the Year.
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