2 Luxury Hotels Yorkshire Not to Miss

Yorkshire is known for Green Dales, Norman Castles, Puddings and some fantastic luxury hotels. Northern England does an outstanding job providing 5-star hotels that differentiate by having incredibly warm and friendly staff.

There are many luxury hotels Yorkshire so I thought I would do the research for you and reduce this to two fantastic options.

2 Best Luxury Hotels Yorkshire Has on Offer

1. Rockcliffe Hall

If you are looking for 5-star hotels in Yorkshire look no further. The stunning Rockcliffe Hall occupies 375 acres on the banks of the River Tees.

It is home to hundreds of different species of wildlife, trees and plants and covers river banks and wetlands. Over 90 bird species have been recorded here as well as 20 of the 59 butterfly species found in Britain.

Rockliffe Hall is clearly one of the best hotels in Yorkshire as it has won award after award. AA five red star status, Sunday times top 100 ultimate British hotel, Top 25 UK luxury hotel travelers choice trip advisor and many more.

Once you have stayed at Rockliffe Hall it is easy to understand how this luxury hotel South Yorkshire has become so award-winning. Not only is the property and everything in it stunning, but I also experienced some of the warmest 5-star services I have ever encountered.

But let’s get back to the arrival. Rockliffe Hall is not far from the main road and very well signed. It has one of those wonderfully majestic long driveways that always give me a strong sense of luxury hotel anticipation.

This boutique hotel has an old hall, a new hall and then the spa building. Did I mention they also have a golf course? And self-catering mews style houses?

There are 61 rooms across the two halls and multiple rooms for lounging in between! My personal favourite was the bright and light morning room.

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Rooms

My room at Rockliffe Hall was on the first floor of the new hall. The ground floor rooms have an outdoor patio. I had a small balcony overlooking the grounds.

My room was huge. It had a 2.5 seater couch and a chaise lounge the same size. A small table and 2 chairs. A King size plus bed.

Importantly it also came with a fantastic shower in the bathroom. This was a proper rainfall shower which was very high up but still had strong water pressure. And complete decadence – a flat-screen tv in the tub.

THEN there was also a whole dressing area with separate table and mirrors. The entire room was beautifully furnished in stylish and oh so comfortable fabrics – soft carpet, soft fabrics on the couches – all so soft and lovely.

Rockliffe Hall Restaurants

As one of the leading luxury hotels in Yorkshire, Rockliffe Hall, of course, serves amazing food in its 3 restaurants. The Orangery is the main restaurant and also where breakfast is served.

The Brasserie is located near the spa and is more casual dining and suited to bathrobe wearing. And the clubhouse also contains a restaurant.

There is a wonderfully decadent and colourful bar next to The Orangery. And best of all there is a fantastic wine cellar with the most fabulous sommelier.

Daniel Jonberger looks to find small quantities of wines from all over the world that can’t be purchased elsewhere.

Daniel will lead wine tastings based on your brief. If you don’t know much about wine he can design a more introductory tasting that explains the difference between different grapes etc.

Or if you know what you like give him a brief and he will look to source some interesting choices for you.

Tastings can and should be booked in advance. It is not necessary to be a guest of the hotel to book at a tasting. Gift certificates are also available for this service.

Masterclasses are held Wednesday – Sunday for groups of between 2 and 8 people at a price of GBP 45 per person. I don’t think this type of service is terrible common in Boutique Hotels Yorkshire. OK back to the food.

I had a fantastic dinner at the stunning Orangery restaurant. It is a beautiful room.The glass ceiling and sides let in loads of natural light. And there is so much attention to detail down to small things like the candle holders.

The Orangery offers a 6-course tasting menu or a 3-course meal. I chose the 3-course menu. I started with the village crab which came with black garlic and cheese and was a parfait style texture – delicious.

I couldn’t resist the Yorkshire lamb as my main. This is one of the signature dishes at Rockliffe Hall and I could quickly see why. The meat was so flavoursome and so delicate – just heavenly.

Breakfast the next morning was a continental buffet. And then I had to order the Singing Hinny. Streaky bacon, poached Wensleydale free-range eggs and maple syrup. A deliciously naughty way to start the day.

Rockliffe Hall Spa

The spa at Rockliffe Hall is award-winning and it is easy to see why. It is one of Britain’s largest and most luxurious spas at 50,000 square feet. It is also one of the leading boutique spa hotels in Yorkshire.

After leaving the changing room of the Rockliffe Hall Spa the first thing you will see is the 20-metre main pool. The room is stunning.

The end wall is glass top to toe and the sidewall has a range of beautifully colored stained glass windows. What a place to swim. There are loads of loungers so it is an area to relax and read or swim some laps.

There is a snack bar at the end of the pool that also offers juices and wine – very civilized.

Next door is a very impressive hydrotherapy pool. In the majority of luxury spas I have visited in the past the main pool and hydrotherapy pool are integrated.

It is not common to see a 20-metre pool and then a completely separate large hydrotherapy pool in the UK. The Rockliffe Hall spa’s hydrotherapy pool has several sections with timed options.

Recline on air beds and allow tiny air bubbles to massage your body or direct the body jets on the seated area to massage your lower back. A foot spa is also in this area which alternates hot and cold massaging bubbles.

There are then lots of different rooms at different temperatures. This includes a Tepidarium with warm body-shaped beds, a Caladrium that provides hot steam bathing which is infused with aromatic oils, a Tropicarium which is like a sauna but with moist heat, a classic Roman sauna, an igloo that provides hot and cold therapy AND an outdoor hot tub.

I also enjoyed one of the signature NEOM body treatments at the Rockliffe Hall spa, which was lovely. The spa itself is beautifully decorated – quite modern and rich in feel. It almost feels Asian but not quite.

The staff are incredibly friendly like the rest of the hotel. My NEOM massage used hot oil and there was a lot of spritzing and aromatherapy, which I very much enjoyed.

After my massage, I was taken to the highly comfortable relaxation area to recover. The spa also offers treatments using Caudalie and Comfort Zone products.

The gym has a 50 piece Technogym equipment with a fitness timetable and fitness specialists on hand.

⇒ I love visiting spas! If you’re looking for some more spa inspiration check out my posts on spas: Kamalaya in Thailand, Daylesford Spa in Australia, Czech Republic Spa Towns, Baden Baden Spa options in Germany, Luxury Hotels Yorkshire with spas, African Spa options, Ockenden Manor Spa in Sussex, Spa Hotels South West England, Dhulikhel Resort in Nepal, Blue Lagoon Iceland Reviews, Monart Spa in Ireland, how to take a fantastic Solo Spa Break, the Where to Stay in the Cotswolds for great spas, Spa Breaks Scotland and Solage Spa in California. 

Rockliffe Hall Spa Garden

The Rockliffe Hall Spa Garden is a unique experience that blends the indoors and outdoors. I haven’t seen anything like this on offer before.

Essentially this is like a mini spa that you can book and enjoy as a private experience – on your own or as a couple or as a group.

The Spa Garden has panoramic views and a stunning infinity pool. The outdoor pool is warm with different pressures of hydrotherapy massage.

There is a glass-fronted sauna, fire and water features, hot and cold experience showers and Tepidarium beds. It is all rather lovely and perfect for a special day or as a gift.

Rockliffe operates as a day spa or the general facilities are available to all hotel guests during their stay.

Things to do at Rockliffe Hall

There is a lot to do at Rockliffe Hall. Several walks can be done around the beautiful grounds – from a woodland stroll to a 3- or 5km walk to Hurworth.

There are many connections with CS Lewis as he lived nearby. There are sculptures etc using elements and characters from Alice in Wonderland throughout the grounds.

Rockliffe Hall also offers seasonal fun activities around Alice in Wonderland.

Rockliffe Hall has a croquet lawn and a golf course. Bring your own bike or Rockliffe will provide you with one.

The North Yorkshire moors and dales are perfect for cycling. Fishing, shooting and horseback riding can all be booked in advance.

How to Get To Rockliffe Hall

Rockliffe Hall is in County Durham between Hurworth and Croft on Tees. Darlington is the closest railway station and Durham Tees is the nearest airport. If you’re driving, it’s off the A1(M).

It’s no wonder Rockliffe Hall is considered one of the best places to stay in Yorkshire – and probably one of the top 5-star hotels in Yorkshire.

Things to do near Rockliffe Hall

OK, I will suggest something that is not near Rockliffe Hall but is absolutely the best thing to do within a reasonable distance of Rockliffe Hall! Head to York and see York Minster.

Since the 7th century, York Minster has been the center of Christianity in the north of England and is one of the most magnificent cathedrals in the world.

It is still an extremely active working church and a fascinating place to visit.

Free guided tours of York Minster are run daily. Each weekday at 130pm a special free tour is run which focuses on the stained glass windows of the Cathedral.

I highly recommend taking this tour. The stories that the stained glass windows tell are utterly fascinating.

The Hidden Minster Tours are also well worth taking. It is possible to go inside the Cathedral roof, see how the church was built, and understand how difficult it would be to restore.

Grab some lunch at the House of Trembling Madness.

While you’re in York don’t miss indulging your sweet tooth at Betty’s Cakes and Fudge Kitchen. Don’t just choose one – go to both. You’ll thank me.

2. Yorebridge House

Lovely Yorebridge House is a much smaller property than Rockliffe House and one of the most romantic boutique hotels Yorkshire has on offer.

This luxury hotels Yorkshire Dales property is at the edge of lovely Bainbridge and in the heart of rolling green landscapes, stone walls, sheep and cows and all things Yorkshire dales-esque.

Since Yorebridge House opened January 2008 it has won over 77 awards. These include the most romantic hotel in the UK according to Trip Advisor twice, best small hotel in England according to Visit England twice, loads of local awards, and in 2019 they are up for best independent hotel in the UK at the Caties – the most prestigious catering awards in the UK (they have been finalists for the last four years).

It takes no time to see why Yorebridge House is so very accoladed and awarded. This is just a stunning property.

If you look up boutique hotel in the dictionary I think there should be an entry on Yorebridge House. It is what many properties aspire to but fails to reach.

Staying at Yorebridge feels like you’re staying at some wonderful friend’s giant house with proper bedrooms, living rooms with big soft leather couches and soft comfy cushions that scream grab the paper and curl up with me and a general air of being completely at home whilst everything is just stunning.

If you’re looking for top country house hotels in Yorkshire or the best boutique Yorkshire Dales hotels Yorebridge House is it.

Yorebridge House Rooms

I hardly know where to begin with these amazing rooms. They must have more of a story than the rooms at any other Yorkshire hotel.

Ok, I am going to start with the story of this hotel. David and Charlotte own and run Yorebridge House. David has extensive experience in the hospitality industry and Charlotte has developed an interiors business that also consulted for hotels and restaurants.

As such, David knows all about how to run a hotel and service and Charlotte knows how to make everything look absolutely stunning. The interiors are all sourced from the best possible designers.

British companies, of course, when they can, Danish furniture, handmade silk curtains and my favourite, the modern take on the four-poster bed designed by Charlotte herself.

Each of the 12 bedrooms at Yorebridge has been inspired by a special place or experience in the couple’s lives. The hotel covers their proposal, their honeymoon and even David’s sister’s honeymoon. This gives each room a special and unique feel.

Every room goes into review every 6 weeks so the design is always fresh. Every January Yorebridge House closes for 2 weeks during the week and David and Charlotte do a full review/change over.

My room was Niskhiki on the ground floor in the corner – named one on the United Kingdom‘s most romantic bedrooms. The huge modern 4-poster plush bed was wonderfully comfortable.

My room contained everything you could think of. A Nespresso machine, a big jug of water and glasses, proper milk in a silver thermos (why don’t more hotels do this??), truffles, Molton Brown toiletries, a thick bathrobe, slippers and best of all a hot tub.

Yes, my own hot tub! If you were looking for luxury hotels in Yorkshire with hot tub your search is over.

I enjoyed a dip in the hot tub and honestly it was like I had just ingested multiple sleeping pills. The jets on my back were the best thing ever pre-bed and I had an amazing sleep.

Yorebridge House Restaurant

The restaurant at Yorebridge House has had 3 rosettes for 6 years. Yorebridge House’s location in Wensleydale means that all of its beef and lamb are sourced locally and of the highest quality.

Yorebridge is in the “skinny” part of England which means it can look to the east and west coasts to source the highest quality local fresh fish. Indeed, fresh fish is delivered to Yorebridge house six mornings a week.

Yorebridge grows its own vegetables, herbs and fruits (you can see them) and they even have their own honey, made by their one million bees. They make their own butter – to which they add marmite and sea salt, which is amazing.

All the bread and the ice cream is made in house – it is no wonder that everything tastes so damn good.

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I had an amazing dinner at Yorebridge house, starting with homemade rolls and the wonderful marmite butter. This was followed by a delightful amuse bouche soup and then Orkney scallops as my starter.

I couldn’t not order Yorkshire spring lamb with peas and edamame in three different ways. Then a raspberry and white chocolate parfait with chunks of white chocolate and raspberries for dessert. What a meal.

Unsurprisingly the breakfast buffet was full of the highest quality ingredients – local ham, local yoghurts, proper ripe fruits and even some parma ham. I also treated myself to eggs benedict made with local bacon.

Something Special

If you’re after a unique experience Yorebridge House has the only Laurent-Perrier tasting room in Europe. What a room. This is where you want to spend hours with your closest friends.

Yorebridge can design a wine tasting however you may wish. It is possible to dine here without doing a wine tasting (though why would you??) as long as there are at least 4 of you in the booking you can eat in here – don’t have to do a tasting – as long as at least 4 of you.

The Laurent-Perrier tasting room even has a screen that comes down so you can watch sports or a movie if you want.

Yorebridge House is currently building the first-ever Laurent-Perrier approved bedroom. It will even have its own infinity pool and heliport. One to check out.

⇒ Read more reviews on TripAdvisor ⇒ Book Now

Things to do Near Yorebridge House

Castle Bolton is quite magnificent and in the right weather it has some wonderful views. Aysgarth Falls are a short drive away.

The Wensleydale Creamery has a massive number of cheeses ready for you to taste.

How to Get to Yorebridge House

Yorebridge House is within the Yorkshire Dales about halfway between Newcastle and Leeds.

The A1M and the M6 are the closest main roads. Garsdale station is 10 minutes away by car and will take you to Leeds. The nearest airport is Durham Tees Valley which is 50 minutes by car.

Who Paid for What in this Post

Rockliffe Hall and Yorebridge House both covered the cost of my stay including half board. Rockliffe Hall also kindly provided my spa treatment. I paid car rental and petrol to get myself up to Yorkshire and costs incurred outside the hotel.

This post also contains a number of links through to other websites. If you end up making a purchase on those sites I will most likely receive some type of commission. Just wanted to make sure that you knew.

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