For a lot of travellers, lodging may be probably the most memorable a part of a vacation – and our readers have revealed their prime British hotel to spend the evening in.
The Independent held its first-ever Travel Awards on 8 September, celebrating the locations, journey firms and days out that make our getaways particular.
Greater than 17,000 of you shared your favorite lodge as a part of our survey, with London’s luxurious Lodge Café Royal topped king of UK stays.
Impartial readers suppose that the five-star lodge on Regent Road is greater than only a basecamp and a bed room for metropolis breaks within the capital.
The unique Café Royal opened in 1865 and counted Oscar Wilde and David Bowie in its guestbook – it reopened as the fashionable Lodge Café Royal in 2012.
With 159 visitor rooms and suites, together with six signature suites, an intimate two-Michelin-starred restaurant and the Akasha Spa, that includes an 18m pool, sauna, two marble Hammams and a health club, that is one in every of London’s main luxurious hotels.
Assistant journey editor and lodges professional Emilee Tombs stated: “With its landmark location, elegant model and notable previous company, it’s unsurprising that Lodge Café Royal has secured the highest spot for our readers.
“The lodge has hosted company for over 160 years and is clearly nonetheless doing issues proper. They’ve one of many world’s greatest pastry cooks, Albert Adrià, an award-winning subterranean spa and household services that go above and past.”
Whereas the London hotspot took first place, about 125 miles to the north-east, Norfolk’s Blakeney Lodge was ranked as a deserving runner-up by our readers.
The Blakeney Lodge, set on the town’s quay, has individually embellished rooms, a bar, restaurant and stress-free leisure space with an indoor swimming pool, steam room, sauna and mini health club overlooking its solar terrace.
Emilee stated: “How good to see a family-run lodge on our checklist too – and naturally, it could be Blakeney Lodge in Norfolk.
“Set overlooking the atmospheric salt marshes in a Nationwide Panorama, the lodge has simply 60 comfortable rooms, a restaurant that utilises one of the best of the area’s seasonal produce and is household and dog-friendly.”
To see who else took prime place at The Impartial Travel Awards, take a look at all of the winners from our inaugural celebrations .
Learn extra: All the winners of the Independent Travel Awards 2026