logo
London's 10 greatest gardens

London's 10 greatest gardens

Telegraph05-05-2025
London may be a sprawling metropolis, but it's also a garden lover's paradise. With more than 3,000 parks and green spaces, the capital offers everything from manicured royal gardens to secret urban oases and plants with a view.
Whether you're after a tranquil afternoon among roses or a chance to see rare orchids under glass, London's gardens deliver sensory delights and unexpected discoveries at every turn. If you're having a busy day of sightseeing, factor in a date with nature for that all-important reset. Before you go, it's worth checking opening hours – some gardens are seasonal or host events that may affect access.
Here's our pick of the capital's finest green spaces.
For further London inspiration, see our guides to the capital's best hotels, restaurants, nightlife, shopping and things to do. For family-focused places to stay, check out our guide to the best family-friendly hotels in London.
Kew Gardens
Arguably the crown jewel of British horticulture, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew is a Unesco World Heritage Site boasting more than 50,000 living plants. Housing the world's most diverse collection of living plants, Kew's highlights include the soaring Palm House, the Japanese Gateway, and the recently restored Temperate House – the largest surviving Victorian glasshouse in the world.
With 321 acres to explore, Kew is a deep dive into global plant diversity and breathtaking landscape design. The gardens also include the ornate Great Pagoda and Kew Palace – the former summer residence of King George III, which is open in the summer months.
Insider tip: For a bird's-eye view of the gardens, walk along the 60ft-high Treetop Walkway. Stop by Petersham Nurseries in nearby Richmond for lunch with botanical flair.
Contact: kew.org
Price: Adults £22; free for children under four
How to get there: Kew Gardens Station (District line or Overground); 10-minute walk. Parking available but limited
Barbican Conservatory
A brutalist surprise, the Barbican's hidden conservatory is the second-largest in London and feels like a futuristic jungle. It was built in 1984 at the request of the then-resident Royal Shakespeare Company to disguise the Barbican's fly tower.
Nestled within the concrete and glass of the iconic arts complex, its tropical plants climb the concrete beams, while koi glide beneath steel walkways. You will find it on level three, where two floors of bridges, walkways and streams unfold before you. Plants hang suspended in mid-air, with towering Kentia palms and lush tree ferns. It's part plant haven, part architectural marvel – and a brilliant respite from the city bustle.
Insider tip: Go on a Sunday afternoon and catch a matinee performance or explore the Barbican's art exhibitions after your visit.
Chelsea Physic Garden
Established in 1673 by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries, this is London's oldest botanic garden and a medicinal plant treasure trove. Spread across three and a half acres, this delightful English garden is home to one of Europe's oldest rock gardens, a herb garden rich with culinary and medicinal plants, botanical order beds, glasshouses, rare specimens and tender species – plus the largest outdoor olive tree in Britain. Tucked behind high brick walls along the Thames, it's home to more than 4,500 medicinal, edible and useful plants.
Insider tip: Spring is prime time for rare alpine blooms. Grab a table at the garden café for herbal-infused cakes and teas.
Eltham Palace Gardens
Once a cherished medieval palace and the childhood home of Henry VIII, Eltham Palace was later transformed into a stunning art deco mansion by the eccentric millionaires Stephen and Virginia Courtauld.
The grounds of Eltham Palace and Gardens feature 19 acres of original medieval gardens, as well as some unusual art deco elements and one of London's oldest working bridges over the moat. Water trickles down the stones and cascades into the beautiful rock garden. With formal rose gardens and herbaceous borders, it's a fascinating study in layered landscaping.
Insider tip: Combine your visit with the palace interior for a time-travelling double bill. Step inside this stylish home, equipped with cutting-edge 1930s technology, and glimpse the Courtaulds' lavish way of life.
Kyoto Garden, Holland Park
This serene Japanese garden in the heart of West London was a gift from Kyoto to celebrate the Japan Festival in 1991. Tucked within the leafy expanse of Holland Park, the Kyoto Garden offers a serene retreat from London's bustle.
This meticulously crafted green space blends traditional design with natural beauty. Cascading waterfalls, ornamental ponds filled with koi carp, and immaculately pruned shrubs create a landscape that invites quiet reflection. Stone lanterns and tiered walkways add authenticity, while peacocks roam freely across the manicured lawns. The Kyoto Garden remains a testament to cultural exchange and enduring craftsmanship.
Insider tip: Visit early morning midweek to avoid crowds and enjoy the soft dappled light. Bring a book and settle under the ginkgo tree.
Gardens at Buckingham Palace
Usually hidden from public view, the 39-acre gardens at Buckingham Palace are a rare glimpse into the Royal family's private green retreat. With sweeping lawns, 156 plane trees, a three-and-a-half-acre lake and a spectacular herbaceous border, the gardens feel surprisingly secluded despite their central London location. During summer opening months, visitors can stroll specially designed trails past wildflower meadows, rose gardens and beehives producing royal honey.
Insider tip: Book in advance for July to September, when full garden tours are available. Late afternoons tend to be quieter.
Contact: rct.uk
Price: Adult tickets from £16.50 for garden-only access; the gardens are also available to visit as part of a full-tour ticket.
How to get there: Green Park Station (Victoria, Jubilee, Piccadilly lines); five-minute walk.
The Garden at 120
Perched atop one of the City's modern towers, The Garden at 120 offers a rare, free-to-enter green space with sweeping views across London. Set 15 storeys above Fenchurch Street, this elegantly landscaped rooftop is planted with wisteria, wildflowers and olive trees, creating a peaceful escape from this hectic part of town.
Wooden decking, flowing water features and thoughtfully designed seating areas encourage visitors to linger. Unlike many city gardens, no booking is required, making it one of London's most accessible – and uplifting – sky-high retreats.
Insider tip: Visit just before sunset for golden-hour views of the Gherkin and St Paul's. Nearby Fortnum & Mason's Royal Exchange café is ideal for a stylish post-visit coffee.
St Dunstan in the East
Once the proud work of Christopher Wren, this bomb-damaged church has evolved into one of London's most haunting and beautiful secret gardens. Ivy and fig trees weave through crumbling stonework, while soaring Gothic arches frame secluded patches of greenery.
Destroyed during the Blitz, the ruins have been lovingly reclaimed by nature, creating a space that feels both timeless and quietly moving. Today, St Dunstan in the East is a serene retreat for City workers, photographers and visitors in search of stillness, just minutes from the Tower of London.
Insider tip: Bring a sandwich and take a quiet lunch break as part of your tour of this historic part of London.
Phoenix Garden
A biophilic retreat away from the tourist madness of Covent Garden? Phoenix Garden is that. Tucked between Covent Garden and Soho's bustling streets, the Phoenix Garden is a rare pocket of tranquillity in the heart of London's West End.
This community-run space was established in the 1980s and has evolved into a charming urban wildlife haven, with wildflower meadows, native planting and hidden benches perfect for a quiet pause. Bees, butterflies and even the occasional frog thrive among the greenery. Despite its central location, the garden remains delightfully under the radar – a perfect stop for weary shoppers, theatre-goers or anyone seeking a breath of fresh air.
Insider tip: Visit in late spring when the wildflowers are at their best, and pick up lunch from nearby Seven Dials Market, packed with independent food stalls.
The Hill Garden and Pergola, Hampstead
Perched above Hampstead Heath, this semi-wild Edwardian garden remains one of London's most romantic hidden corners. Built in 1906 by philanthropist Lord Leverhulme for lavish summer parties, its once-pristine stone columns and walkways are now charmingly overgrown with vines. The faded grandeur only adds to its dreamy atmosphere, making it a favourite for quiet strolls and picnics with City views.
Insider tip: Visit at golden hour for atmospheric photography and combine it with a walk on nearby Hampstead Heath.
Natural History Museum Wildlife Garden
The Natural History Museum is, of course, one of London's top – and consequently busiest – attractions, but this garden still feels under the radar. Hidden behind the museum's grand Victorian façade, the Wildlife Garden, established in 1995, is a living showcase of Britain's rich biodiversity, with woodland, meadow, pond and hedgerow habitats carefully recreated.
More than 3,000 species have been recorded here, from dragonflies to hedgehogs, offering a rare glimpse of native nature in the middle of South Kensington. It's an inspiring counterpoint to the museum's grand indoor exhibitions – and a perfect spot for a peaceful, al fresco moment amid scientific discovery.
Insider tip: Arrive early in the day on weekdays when the garden is at its quietest and the wildlife is most active.
How we choose
Every garden in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from church grounds to botanical gardens – to best suit every type of visitor. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations.
About our expert
Alison Taylor moved from Yorkshire to London 18 years ago and never looked back. She will mainly be found eating and drinking in East London, or grabbing dumplings in Chinatown and a taking wander through the reassuring madness of Soho.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Pilot's terrifying final words on deadly flight to Tenerife from UK
Pilot's terrifying final words on deadly flight to Tenerife from UK

Daily Record

time38 minutes ago

  • Daily Record

Pilot's terrifying final words on deadly flight to Tenerife from UK

A British Airways flight from Heathrow was the second plane involved in the Tenerife airport disaster, but it never reached the island. Tenerife, with its sun-soaked beaches, is a favourite holiday destination for Brits. ‌ However, on 22 March 1977, a horrific tragedy unfolded when a passenger flight destined for Tenerife North airport, then known as Los Rodeos Airport, crashed, claiming the lives of all 583 people on board. ‌ It comes as, just three years after the first Tenerife plane crash, a Delta Flight exploded shortly after take-off, killing all passengers and crew on board. ‌ Tenerife boasts two airports, but Tenerife North is notoriously challenging for pilots due to its altitude of 2,000ft and often cloudy weather conditions that hamper visibility. Tragedy struck again just three years later, at 9.20am on 25 April 1980, when Dan-Air's Flight 1008 left Manchester Airport for Tenerife, carrying mainly British holidaymakers eager for the Canary Islands' sunny beaches and breathtaking landscapes. The flight crew comprised three seasoned pilots - Captain Arthur Whelan, 50, co-pilot First Officer Michael Firth, 33, and flight engineer Raymond Carey, 33. Five flight attendants were also on board, bringing the total number of passengers and crew to 146. For three hours, the flight went smoothly until the crew began their descent at 1pm local time, according to the Mirror. The winds were gusting from an unexpected direction, forcing air traffic to be redirected to Runway 12 rather than the standard landing strip. ‌ But this sparked a dilemma for air traffic controller Justo Camin, 34, as another aircraft was already approaching the identical runway, creating the terrifying prospect of a mid-air collision between the two planes. Operating without radar assistance, Camin was compelled to depend on procedural techniques to control air traffic and he directed each aircraft to stick to a pre-planned route. At 1:18 pm, Camin recognised he needed to place the Dan Air crew into a holding pattern to enable the aircraft in front to touch down safely on Runway 12. ‌ Yet, there was no established holding pattern for this runway, forcing Camin to think on his feet. He ordered Flight 1008 to enter a left-hand holding pattern, circling until the other flight had cleared. Responding to First Officer Firth's position report, Camin stated, "Roger, the er, standard holding pattern overhead Foxtrot Papa is inbound heading one five zero, turn to the left, call you back shortly." ‌ Captain Whelan responded with a brief "Roger", neglecting to repeat Camin's instructions back to him. Had he done so, the looming catastrophe might have been prevented. ‌ Nevertheless, when Camin told them to "turn to the left," he meant to say "turns to the left," specifying the direction the crew should follow whilst executing the holding pattern. But missing the vital 's', the crew understood this as "turn to the left." Camin, who had also authorised the flight to ascend to 5,000 feet, made a minor but crucial error. ‌ Captain Whelan, puzzled by the sudden directive to enter a holding pattern not indicated on any of his charts, executed a single left turn, aligning with a heading of 150 degrees, convinced this was what the controller intended. They were now soaring over mountainous terrain, where the minimum safe altitude was a staggering 14,500 feet. Just one minute and six seconds before the devastating crash, one of the pilots said, "bloody strange hold, isn't it?" adding, "it doesn't parallel with the runway or anything." ‌ The cockpit voice recording clearly captured the crew's escalating unease, yet no one challenged the controller's instructions. Controller Camin, under the assumption the plane was over the sea in his makeshift holding pattern, permitted the aircraft to descend another 1,000 feet, unaware it was actually amidst the mountains. Captain Whelan voiced his concerns about Camin's instruction to his co-pilot in the cockpit, saying, "I don't like that." ‌ His co-pilot replied, "they want us to keep going more round, don't they?" At this juncture, the automatic ground alarm blared in the cockpit, urging them to "pull up, pull up!" In a desperate attempt to avoid the looming mountainous terrain, Captain Whelan abruptly aborted his left turn for a drastic right turn. He believed this manoeuvre would enable them to circumvent the imminent obstacle. Typically, when hearing the alarm, the correct response would be to "pull up" in a bid to gain sufficient altitude to clear any surrounding terrain. ‌ Co-pilot Firth, after examining the chart, recognised the captain's decision was poorly judged and suggested different courses of action. The phrase "let's get out of here," uttered by Flight Engineer Carey, echoed through the cockpit voice recorder (CVR). Despite the engineer's warning, Captain Whelan continued with the steep right turn, which caused a drop of 300 feet. ‌ Spanish investigators declared categorically in their report this precise manoeuvre eliminated any possibility of avoiding catastrophe. Alerts from Flight Engineer Carey, "bank angle, bank angle!" ring out as the final recorded words before the CVR falls silent. Dan-Air Flight 1008 met its devastating fate as it slammed into La Esperanza at a height of 5,450 feet, just 92 feet (28 metres) below the summit. ‌ The impact destroyed most of the aircraft immediately, spreading wreckage across the mountainside. The tail portion of the plane careered several hundred metres, ultimately smashing to the ground, tumbling into a gorge, and breaking apart. Small fires broke out amidst the scattered debris, and Tenerife North Airport was shaken by the crash alarm for the second time in just over three years. Rescue teams arrived at the mountain within hours, but it was immediately apparent that none of the 146 passengers on board had survived the crash. ‌ The scene was so catastrophic not a single intact human body could be found, and many victims could not be definitively identified. While acknowledging the air traffic controller's error, Spanish investigators placed the entirety of the blame on the Dan Air crew. However, British investigators argued the controller should have recognised sooner the proximity between the two planes would pose a problem, allowing him to implement a standard holding pattern and prevent any confusion amongst the crew. They further contended the controller should not have issued an untested and non-standard holding pattern, but conceded that the Dan Air crew did not question the controller's instructions or seek clarification. ‌ The decision by Camin to allow flight 1008 to descend to 5,000 feet also drew criticism from the British team. They argued that if the holding pattern had been designed according to official regulations, the minimum altitude should have been set at 7,000 feet. Upon receiving a ground proximity warning, the captain - unable to see due to fog and cloud - opted to make a right turn, which tragically led them directly into the mountain. Typically, crews are expected to ascend as high as possible in response to such an alarm. What remains undisputed, however, is the omission of a single letter in a word triggered the series of events that ultimately resulted in the crash. ‌ Had the controller used "turns" instead of "turn", the tragic crash could have been averted. The investigation into the crash led to an increased emphasis on clear, standardised procedures across all flight operations, including holding patterns. The incident underscored the importance of unambiguous communication between air traffic controllers and pilots, with a particular focus on pilots repeating instructions from Air Traffic Control to eliminate any potential misunderstandings. Despite the tragedy, Dan Air managed to bounce back and continued operations until 1992 when it was acquired by British Airways. Even though it marked the largest loss of life on a British aircraft, the memory of Dan Air Flight 1008 and the 146 lives tragically lost that day seems to have faded over the last 45 years.

Whether it's Scotland or St Tropez, this is what your holiday says about you
Whether it's Scotland or St Tropez, this is what your holiday says about you

Telegraph

time39 minutes ago

  • Telegraph

Whether it's Scotland or St Tropez, this is what your holiday says about you

Ah, August. Time for everyone to take a break. Time for everyone to take a nice, relaxing little holiday with family and friends. Pack the Uno. Fish out the old kaftan. Remember the Gaviscon at the airport. But where are you off to this year? France? Italy? Or are you firmly sticking to Scotland and avoiding all those nasty foreigners? Here's what your holiday says about you. The Dordogne You have 'a little place' an hour or so from Bergerac Airport, and like walking to the local boulangerie every morning in pink shorts and a Panama hat where you queue with 53 other Brits also buying paper bags of croissants and baguettes using their best O-Level French. You call wine 'plonk', your bookshelves are groaning with old copies of Dick Francis and Peter Mayle, and you have very strong opinions about the best route south through France from Calais (not via Paris – are you mad?). You absolutely cannot stand the French. Fuengirola You are a member of a Glaswegian drug gang who voted Brexit. Charlbury You are a very rich American who wants to see the real British countryside. You're staying in a 'cute little farmhouse' for £50,000 a week and were initially quite dismayed by the smallness of the showers and the fridge, but have told your family not to complain because this is the authentic British experience. You enjoy visiting Blen- heim Palace and eat something called a Scottish egg in the nearby pub. At the village fete, which is like a party for dogs, you win a can of chicken soup with a best before date of 2013. Tea remains genuinely baffling. You return to America with all your views of Brits confirmed. Those guys! So eccentric. So misguided. No wonder they need such help. The Peloponnese This is what you reply when someone asks where you're off on holiday this summer. You mustn't simply say 'Greece'. That's dead common, and people might think you're off to Skiathos or something ghastly. Imagine! Alternatively, you may also reply ' Paxos ' or ' Corfu '. You try and avoid the Greek wine in every single restaurant you go to, but you'll still drink your complimentary shot of ouzo as a little digestif. One of the teenagers cried when octopus arrived at the table because she watched a documentary about them on Netflix. You bump into some neighbours from Wiltshire and agree to have drinks to 'get the children together', even though the children can't bear one another. You don't like them much either, come to think of it. You'd rather lie in the villa's hammock with your Durrell book. St Tropez You're a celebrity who's chartered a superyacht but come ashore for lunch and a spot of shopping in authentic Riviera boutiques, such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci. After that, it's a bit of grilled fish and several bottles of San Pell at Club 55. You don't see the bill. You have people who take care of these things for you. You feel very strongly about the environment and are, in fact, an ambassador for one of the big ocean charities, although you can't quite remember its name. But still, everybody can take a week or so off, can't they? And your yacht isn't even the biggest. You cruised past a Qatari royal yesterday and his was at least two metres bigger. The Six Senses Ibiza You're an ageing hippie (married to a hedge funder) who's been coming to the north of the island for decades. You used to stay in a villa but have been put off in recent years by all the horror stories of horrible burglaries, so now you stay here instead. It's honestly very reasonable, only £1,000 or so a night and you'd be spending far more than that on a villa. You do yoga by day and drugs by night, but only mushrooms nowadays. They're natural, after all. Namaste. Salcombe Salcombe has been dubbed 'Chelsea-on-Sea' in recent years, which you think is unfair because you don't actually have a house in Chelsea. It's more Fulham Broadway, to be honest. But you do like spending as much time in Salcombe as you can at this time of year, even though the traffic has become horrendous and getting a table at the Winking Prawn can be jolly difficult. Your house is decorated with nautical motifs and you have a 12ft boat called Second Wind. A Hebridean island The Glorious Twelfth is your favourite day of the year. You simply don't understand people who want to be in disgusting Europe in August when you could be in Scotland killing things – fish, grouse or deer, mainly. You're never happier than when outside in the heather. Don't be a sissy – ignore the midges and ticks. Kippers for breakfast, picnic for lunch, whisky and venison for dinner. Splendid. You stay at Tebay on the drive up and down because they have dog-friendly rooms and you love your Labradors more than your own children. Get on, Monty! There's a good boy! Puglia You are a 30-something married couple with small children. Your parents used to holiday in Tuscany, but a few years ago you read that Puglia had become the most fashionable area in Italy, so you rent a developed trulli every year and invite various other friends with babies, too. It's a 45-minute drive to the supermarket, and you have to go every day because you always seem to be out of milk, but at least it gets you out of the house for a spell, away from the cacophony of children. The dishwasher runs at least six times a day and you don't get beyond page three of your book. Returning home to Wandsworth is, in a way, a relief. Disneyland Florida You've messed up. There are so many queues! Queues everywhere you look – queues to get in, queues for the rides, queues to get snacks. You spend $208 on four hot dogs for lunch and another $68 on churros after that; the children are now vibrating with sugar. Everyone wants to go on Space Mountain but you. Still, it could be worse, you think wearily as you approach the third hour trudging towards the front of the line: you could be a fully-grown man dressed in a Mickey Mouse suit in 40-degree heat. Next summer, you're going to Centre Parcs. No arguing.

Seven of the best UK spots for afternoon tea with a view
Seven of the best UK spots for afternoon tea with a view

Times

timean hour ago

  • Times

Seven of the best UK spots for afternoon tea with a view

The ritual of afternoon tea dates from the 1840s — when Anna, Duchess of Bedford felt a little peckish between lunch and dinner — but its popularity shows no sign of waning, judging by the number of #afternoontea posts on Instagram and TikTok. As such, hotel lounges and country tearooms seem to be on a mission to outdo each other with photogenic cake stands displaying mouthwatering creations. Being able to take in a great view while you're tucking in really tops it off. These seven suggestions should be enjoyed at a leisurely pace, as you let your gaze drift over mountain crags, shimmering lochs or unique cityscapes. This article contains affiliate links that will earn us revenue This boutique hotel in the glorious Lake District has a handsome hillside perch, with fantastic views from its restaurants and lounges. If the weather's fine you can enjoy afternoon tea on the terrace, overlooking Windermere and Coniston Fells (£39pp). The head chef, Gerald van der Walt, creates new menus every few months based on what is in season, so you might be treated to a lemon and strawberry gâteau in summer or a venison and damson sausage roll in autumn. Afterwards, stay in one of Linthwaite's comfy rooms, with floral prints and fabric headboards; opt for a View room for vistas of the B&B doubles from £265 ( • Lake District v Peak District: which is better? The setting for afternoon tea at St Brides looks out over Saundersfoot Bay, a thick wedge of biscuity gold sand backed by cottages and countryside. There's a strong Welsh accent to the spread here — expect Caerphilly cheese scones and a 'Welsh strawberries and cream' fruit tea — and, best of all, it's only £29 a head. Be sure to book the Tea Time Me Time package, which combines a spell in the spa's thermal suite with afternoon tea (from £75). Start the day with a hike along the superlative Pembrokeshire Room-only doubles from £192 ( • Best hotels in Wales There's little that is more soul-soothing than a long, expansive view of a loch. And, as you'd expect, the Lodge on Loch Lomond is in peak position — not just for views of its namesake, but also of Ben Lomond in the background. Expect crowd-pleasing favourites in the afternoon tea, including carrot cake, macarons and chocolate brownies in dainty miniature form; or go savoury with delights such as haggis bon bons (£24pp). After a stroll around the water, visit the Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre or take out a pedal boat. Bed down for the night in one of the Lodge's tasteful tartan B&B doubles from £219 ( The ripples and curves of the evergreen Yorkshire Dales show off English beauty at its finest, and this understated inn near Skipton has dramatic landscapes on all sides. Settle in at the Fell's two-AA-rosette restaurant, which has huge windows filled with that classic scenery, as well as a tea with a difference. You'll get an elegantly presented taste of local food heritage — milk stout cake, fruitcake, Yorkshire pudding with roast beef and Yorkshire curd tart (£28pp). The fabulous spread is best enjoyed after tackling a scenic walking loop around the peaceful Bolton Abbey estate, spying the ruins of the 12th-century priory en B&B doubles from £154 ( It's a classic Cornish view: a bright teal cove rippling into a wide sweep of pale gold sand and a green headland sheltering the shallows. It could only be improved by clotted cream — applied after the jam, of course, in true Cornish style. Carbis Bay's afternoon tea overlooks its namesake, a 25-acre blue-flag beach. You can tuck in on the sea-view terrace or in the Orangery (£70 for two). Local jams and Tregothnan tea give it a traditional, sustainable feel — no madcap flavours here. There's a hotel spa to enjoy beforehand, or nip into nearby St Ives for art galleries, sculptures and quaint seaside B&B doubles from £312 ( • Cornwall's best beaches Few city skylines are as distinctive and magical as that of Edinburgh, with its cinematic castle, the Balmoral Hotel's clock tower and the columns of the National Monument. See it all from one of the new kids on the block, the W Hotel, whose tenth-floor SushiSamba restaurant has views across the urban landscape — and a glam afternoon tea. Take a stroll through Scotland's prettiest city, taking in the Scots baronial and gothic revival architecture, then settle in at the W for tree-shaped cake stands bearing Latin-Asian fusion treats, including an Edinburgh sushi roll and Brazilian coffee mousse (£65pp). Your room for the night is a glossy, modern number with pops of orange and a little bar set-up for Room-only doubles from £251 ( • Scotland's most luxurious hotels Sitting above secluded Combesgate beach, this smart north Devon hotel has 28 lovely rooms, wonderful sea views and direct access to the South West Coast Path. For afternoon tea, delicious handmade cakes and pastries are served alongside sandwiches and scones with Devon cream and jam. You can enjoy it on the terrace or in the cosy lounge — or you could get it packed into a hamper and head out (£45pp). Walk off the calories with a wander down to the beach or Woolacombe village, or grab that hamper and make the 20-minute trek to the rocky headland at Morte Point, from where you can spot Atlantic grey B&B doubles from £180 (

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store