The 8 Best Sustainable Hotels Just A Train Ride Away From London
As winter trudges on, it is my belief that January is the perfect time of the year for a well-earned UK staycation. Instead of forking out hundreds on flights, why not opt for a boutique sustainable hotel just a train ride away from London. As sustainability continues to become an ever-important part of our day-to-day lives, hotels are following suit, implementing farm-to-fork menus and eco-friendly spa experiences.
We have compiled a list of the UK and beyond’s best sustainable stays that serve as a perfect escape from urban life. From coastal retreats to woodland oases and sprawling estate grounds, here are our top picks:
Scarlet Hotel, Cornwall
3 hours 40 minutes from London by train
Situated on the clifftops of Cornwall, The Scarlet is a luxury, adults-only hotel that boasts picturesque views of the British coastline. Its commitment to sustainability is echoed through its 100 per cent usage of renewable energy, solar heating, rainwater harvesting, and a commitment to wildlife protection. During your stay, soak up the coastal views in the outdoor hot tubs and sauna, receive bespoke treatments in its acclaimed spa, and if you are feeling brave, dip your toes in the hotel’s natural, unheated pool.
After a day of making full use of the hotel’s luxury facilities and exploring the quaint Cornish town of Mawgan Porth, you can dine in The Scarlet’s in-house restaurant and bar. With a focus on “Slow Food,” the restaurant’s seasonal menu utilises sustainable, locally foraged Cornish ingredients. The food is described as a “celebration of nature’s generous gifts,” with a constant emphasis on farm-to-fork cooking. The in-house sommeliers are also always on hand to help you pair the perfect wine with your dishes.
Where: The Scarlet Hotel, Tredragon Rd, Mawgan Porth, Newquay TR8 4DQ
Website: www.scarlethotel.com
The Tawny, North Staffordshire
1 hour 30 minutes from london by train
Just an hour and a half direct train away from London lies The Tawny hotel in rural North Staffordshire.
Located within the 70-acre Consall Hall Estate, the hotel rooms largely take the form of individual wooden cabins, scattered around a restored wild garden.
The entire site is fully solar powered, and this, coupled with its commitment to rewilding, has cemented its position within the luxury sustainable hotel world.
The estate borders the Consall Nature Park, a conservation area and nature reserve featuring 740 acres of woodland, heath and moor. And with the Peak District only being a stone’s throw away, you can jam-pack your stay with countryside walks and hikes.
Where: Consall Ln, Stoke-on-Trent ST9 0AG
Website: www.thetawny.com
Saint James, Paris
two hours and 30 minutes on the eurostar
If you are looking to travel slightly further afield, hop on the Eurostar to Paris and stay in a dreamy, eco-friendly chateau. This Parisian oasis is situated in the heart of the city, but its walled garden makes the stay feel intimate and well-removed from the chaos of city-living.
The hotel describes itself as a harmonious blend of nature and luxury, with an emphasis on sustainability. From prioritising the use of local products to selective sorting of their waste, this hotel is where comfort and sustainability seamlessly co-exist.
Where: 5 Pl. du Chancelier Adenauer, 75116 Paris, France
Website: www.saintjamesparis.com
Killiehuntly Farmhouse, Scotland
approximately 10 hours from london by sleeper train
A hidden haven in the heart of the Cairngorms, Killiehuntly’s farmhouse and cottages promise an immersive Scottish stay. It invites its guests to feel as if they are staying in a stylish country home, as opposed to a traditional hotel, with a focus on stillness and digital detoxing. As well as this, by staying here, you are directly funding the Wildland project, which aims to return the Scottish Highlands to their former natural richness. This is executed through continued efforts to plant trees and rewilding.
This sustainable ethos is echoed through its farm-to-fork dining, where the eggs come from the estate’s hens and the meat is all locally sourced. Killiehuntly also encourages its guests to get out in nature, offering free mountain bike hire, fly-fishing with the estate’s resident ghillie, and even a 4×4 tour with a ranger to see their rewilding efforts.
Where: Killiehuntly, Kingussie PH21 1NZ
Website: www.wildland..scot
Heckfield Place, Hampshire
50 minutes from london by train
If you are looking for a countryside retreat, Heckfield Place offers a grand stay in the heart of Hampshire. The sprawling 438-acre estate is home to an opulent Georgian manor, as well as its very own biodynamic farm.
The hotel remains one of the UK’s most prestigious, notably holding both a Michelin Green Star for its culinary ethics and a Michelin Key for its hospitality. Heckfield is also home to multiple drinking and dining spots, from its flagship restaurant, Marle, to its more intimate venue, Hearth, located in the old stables. The moody, velvet-clad Moon Bar also serves as the perfect place for a pre-dinner drink.
Where: Heckfield Pl, Heckfield, Hook RG27 0LD
Website: www.heckfieldplace.com
South Lodge, West Sussex
55 minutes from london by train
South Lodge invites its guests to “switch off from the everyday and switch on your senses” in a countryside retreat that is immersed in the natural world. During your stay, explore its wildflower meadow, vineyard, and natural pool, all set within 93 acres of Sussex countryside.
You can also relax and recharge in the hotel’s state-of-the-art eco-spa, before dining in its “zero-waste menu” restaurant, Botanica. Meanwhile, you can also take part in a chef’s table experience at its on-site Michelin-starred restaurant, The Pass. Unlike some of the other destinations on this list, South Lodge is also kid-friendly, making it the perfect weekend getaway for the whole family.
Where: Brighton Rd, Lower Beeding, Crabtree, Horsham RH13 6PS
Website: www.southlodge.com
Wildhive Callow Hall, Derbyshire
2 hours and 15 minutes from london by train
Wildhive Callow Hall is a Victorian Gothic manor which has been transformed into a luxury boutique hotel. Guests can choose to stay in the manor itself or opt for a treehouse cabin situated within the manor’s sprawling grounds.
Wildhive is deeply committed to “leaving only boot prints.” This means old boilers have been replaced with a biomass system to heat the main house, while the rewilding project has seen the planting of over 300 new trees. The kitchen is also working towards a zero-waste goal as it celebrates the very best of British produce.
Choose to stay in the grand Victorian manor or opt for one of the hotel’s treehouses nestled in its woodland grounds.
Where: Mapleton Rd, Ashbourne DE6 2AA
Website: www.wildhive.com
The Newt, Somerset
1 hour and 30 minutes from london by train
Perhaps one of the most hyped up hotel stays in the UK, The Newt has become somewhat of a household name with Londoners flocking to Somerset to escape the city for the weekend. The working estate spans acres of gardens, woodland, farmland and cyder orchards. Once you are finished exploring the estate’s vast grounds, unwind in its renowned spa, which offers an array of treatments and wellbeing classes.
The Newt’s commitment to sustainability spans a biomass energy centre fuelled by timber harvested in its own woodland, the installation of solar panels across the site, and a commitment to regenerative farming. The estate is remarkably self-contained, where wheat is milled to provide flour for the bakery, while the Water Buffalo provides milk for the creamery and their diverse orchard produces the apples for its very own cider production.
Where: A359, Bruton BA7 7NG
Website: www.thenewt.com
