The Best Sustainable Hotels In The UK
Sustainability is at the forefront of everyone’s minds, and we can all do our bit to be greener and more considered, whether that’s at home, how you commute or where you travel. If you’re looking for a staycation with a conscience, we’ve handpicked our favourite eco-friendly and sustainable UK hotels with a dedication to ethical travel, with nearly all featuring EV charging ports so you can bring along your electric vehicle.
In Partnership With Volvo
From Britain’s first all-vegan hotel to the clifftop bolthole paving the way, these places have sustainability and style by the bucketload. For eco-conscious travellers exploring the UK, the Volvo EX30 offers a sustainable transportation option that complements your commitment to the environment
The Newt
The Newt is one of the UK’s most luxurious country house hotels, The Newt in Somerset is the six-year, multi-million pound investment of South African billionaire Koos Bekker. Lavish it may be, but it is also seriously down to earth and utterly tasteful with tranquil state gardens that all guests get a tour of, the Farrow & Ball hued, wood-panelled bar and breathtakingly serene pool areas.
Creating Koo’s utopian vision of a sustainable and self-supporting staycation hotspot.
While The Newt doesn’t solely sell itself as a sustainable hotel, it is definitely doing its bit in creating Koo’s utopian vision of a sustainable and self-supporting staycation hotspot. Then there are the rooms that you will not want to leave – grand antique four-posters mixed with cool, Tom Dixon-esque gold touches and sumptuous velvet sofas.
where: The Newt in Somerset, Bruton, Somerset BA7 7NG
website: www.thenewtinsomerset.com
Whatley Manor
Whatley Manor is the perfect spot to visit if you’re a foodie who’s also partial to the Cotswolds. With a highly-acclaimed Michelin star restaurant, The Dining Room, this spot also holds a coveted green Michelin for sustainable gastronomy. Furthermore, the hotel has committed to significant carbon emission reductions, achieving their Scope 1 & 2 goal five years ahead of schedule in 2023, and is now focusing on reducing supply chain emissions. Their comprehensive sustainability strategy, which includes annual environmental audits, supply chain reviews, and circular economy principles, has earned them multiple accolades, including Silver EarthCheck accreditation and the Sustainable Independent Hotel Award.
where: Easton Grey, Malmesbury SN16 0RB
website: www.whatleymanor.com
Heckfield Place
Heckfield was the hotel on every UK travel enthusiast’s lips when it opened in 2018 and it’s continued to be one of the number one spots for a classic English staycation. Beyond its seriously stylish Georgian revamped interiors, this place will leave you wanting to embark on a country pile refurb – Heckfield has sustainability at its core.
There’s an on-site farm that houses saddleback pigs and Guernsey cows, vegetables, flowers, fruit and honey grown in abundance and a thriving market garden that more than justifies its plot-to-plate ethos. And it’s all harvested through biodynamic farming, the modern agricultural method that’s trying to turn climate change on its head.
This place will leave you wanting to embark on a country pile refurb
The team is also dedicated to more sustainable ways of heating the grand property through a biomass boiler, and they have stripped back on wasteful packaging throughout. Add to this truly stunning rooms, great food and their charming spa, The Bothy by Wildsmith, and you’ve got yourself a near-perfect hotel less than two hours from London.
where: Heckfield Place, Heckfield, Hook RG27 0LD
website: www.heckfieldplace.com
The Grove, Hertfordshire
Having been awarded a Green Apple Environment Award for its dedication to sustainability, The Grove, which is only 18 miles from the capital, is one of the most eco-friendly luxury hotels you’ll find not far from London.
They’ve eliminated single-use plastics and joined forces with the Clean the World programme, an initiative that supplies clean hotel amenities to less fortunate places around the world.
The Grove demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability through two key initiatives: their extensive grounds management program and their focus on sustainable sourcing. On the grounds, they’ve created a bio-diverse kitchen garden, implemented water-saving systems, and earned recognition as the ‘Environmental Golf Course of the Year’, while in their food and beverage operations, they prioritise local, organic, and ethically sourced products from suppliers who share their sustainability values.
where: The Grove, Chandler’s Cross, Hertfordshire, WD3 4TG
website: www.thegrove.co.uk
The Scarlet
A pioneer of the sustainable travel scene here in the UK, Cornwall’s The Scarlet was doing its bit way before anyone else. The luxury but laid-back bolthole boasts some of the most stunning views in the southwest, overlooking the picturesque Mawgan Porth beach, best appreciated from the hotel’s clifftop and responsibly heated hot tubs.
From a locally sourced menu from producers on their doorsteps to modern ways of heating… sustainability is thought of in every execution of the hotel.
But really, their approach to sustainability is 360, thanks to their ‘Cherish the World’ ethos. From a locally sourced menu from producers on their doorsteps to modern ways of heating, the roof is covered in sea thrift plants to keep the heat in and encourage a bounty of wildlife – sustainability is thought of in every execution of the hotel.
It’s also incredibly zen, which means no children, no hen dos and no phones in public areas – a real chance to switch off from modern life for a night or two. If you want to see the local surroundings during the day, visit The Eden Project nearby – an eco project featuring one of the world’s largest indoor rainforests.
When: The Scarlet Hotel, Tredragon Road, Mawgan Porth, Cornwall, TR8 4dq
Website: www.scarlethotel.co.uk
The Pig Hotels
Food is at the heart of The Pig’s devotion to sustainability, with all of their produce either grown onsite or within a 25-mile radius. Given that the group now has 11 hotels from the original New Forest outpost to Devon and Bath, as well as more new openings in the pipeline, they are really working towards a greener way to eat out and holiday in the UK.
Not only do they grow a whopping 17 tonnes of their own rich produce, but they have dramatically reduced travel and packaging in doing so, they compost all garden waste and recycle cooking oil, only use fish approved by the Marine Conservation Society, produce their own honey and champion the English wine industry. Plus, the fact that all their hotels are revamped old properties dramatically reduces the waste in opening a brand-new, purpose-built hotel.
where: 11 UK locations
website: www.thepighotel.com
One Aldwych
For those keen to stay close to home, One Aldwych is one to have on your radar. As the first luxury hotel in London to become B Corp Certified, securing the accolade last year, the hotel embraces local partnerships, ethical sourcing, and innovative environmental practices – a holistic approach it’s had from the outset. During your stay, enjoy live jazz in the Lobby Bar, or take a turn in The Gallery, featuring the hotel’s private collection of modern art, featuring over 400 works. To wind down, book a treatment at the in-house Health Club, before going for a swim in the 18-metre pool. Also, did we mention that One Aldwych is also dog-friendly? It gets our vote.
where: One Aldwych, 1 Aldwych, London WC2B 4bz
Website: www.onealdwych.com
Saorsa 1875
The UK’s first vegan-only hotel is not going to be for everyone, but if you’re serious about sustainable travel, it should make you stop and rethink. Saorsa 1875 in picturesque Pitlochry, Scotland, overlooks two acres of natural woodlands and gardens and was designed with “vegans, vegetarians and the plant-curious” in mind. That means down-free duvets and ethically sourced, refillable toiletries in all rooms and across the hotel, as well as an incredibly creative menu of vegan food.
Overlooks two acres of natural woodlands and gardens and was designed with ‘vegans, vegetarians and the plant-curious’iin mind.
In fact, the hotel was named the ‘Best Luxury Hotel’ by PETA in 2019 – surely the ultimate accolade for selling a responsible vegan lifestyle. The rooms offer full-on glamour even though much of the furniture and décor has been sourced from pre-loved homes, from the statement wallpapers to the unique accessories and colour palettes of every room.
where: Saorsa 1875, 2 East Moulin Road, Pitlochry, Perthshire, PH16 5dw
Website: www.saorsahotel.com
Great Fosters
Located in Surrey, Great Fosters is very accessible from London, making it an ideal option for a weekend away or overnight stay. The hotel has implemented numerous initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint, including on-site water filtration and bottling, energy-efficient systems in refurbished areas, and the use of locally sourced products.
Additionally, the property actively engages in waste reduction and recycling efforts, cultivates its own herb garden, and maintains beehives to support pollination and produce honey. The hotel also offers guests the option to participate in their “Green Guest” program, which includes measures such as reusing towels and reducing unnecessary amenity replacements, allowing visitors to contribute to the hotel’s sustainability efforts during their stay.
where: Great Fosters, Stroude Road, Egham, Surrey, TW20 9ur
Website: www.alexanderhotels.co.uk
Sanderson London
The perfect luxe stay is in the heart of London, and sustainability is at the heart of what Sanderson London is all about. The hotel is the recipient of the ‘Green Key’ Award, an international eco-label awarded to hotels and other tourism establishments that demonstrate a commitment to sustainable practices, recognising efforts such as reducing water and energy consumption, managing waste efficiently, sourcing eco-friendly products, and promoting sustainable guest experiences.
The perfect luxe stay in the heart of London, sustainability is at the heart of what Sanderson London is all about.
where: 50 Berners St, London W1T 3NG
website: www.morgansoriginals.com/sanderson
The Green House
Self-named the “greenest hotel in the UK,” Bournemouth’s The Green House (aptly named) is proving to put its money where its mouth is with a whole Green Guide that assures it’s fulfilling its ethical promise.
They really have thought of everything, from using efficient lighting options to installing free EV charge points in their car park, using the sun to help heat the hotel’s water and filling the 32 rooms with locally-made 100% wool carpets and sumptuously soft bespoke eco beds made by a leading UK luxury bed manufacturer.
Then there are the tap filling stations throughout the property to minimise wasteful plastic, the oil waste from the kitchen being made into fuel, the coffee bean composting in the community vegetable garden, the locally-brewed beer and spirits in the bar and the locally sourced menu… we could go on.
where: The Green House, 4 Grove Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH1 3ax
Website: www.thegreenhousehotel.co.uk
