The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in the UK

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to the UK

Edinburgh, Scotland Edinburgh, Scotland

Visiting the UK for the first time can be an exciting, yet overwhelming experience. With so many incredible hotels to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to stay. If you're deciding where to stay for your first visit to the UK, we've compiled a list of the best hotels for first time visitors. We analyzed all of the hotels in the UK based on price, location, amenities, guest ratings, and more to determine which would be the ideal places to stay for first timers. Whether you're here for just a few days or longer, these hotels offer the perfect combination of amenities, location, and price. For those visiting the UK for the first time, it's important to choose a hotel in a safe and convenient area to make the most of your first visit. You'll want to be close to the activities, shopping, and dining options, of course. When looking for hotels, consider the amenities they offer. Some hotels may have a fitness center, a bar or restaurant, a pool, or even a spa. All of these features can add to your overall enjoyment if you've never been to the UK before. Also, guest ratings and reviews are also important to consider when choosing a hotel. Whether you're visiting the UK for the first time, or you're a seasoned traveler, the best hotels in the UK for first-timers offer the perfect combination of comfort, convenience, and affordability. So, here's our list of suggestions for your next trip.

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

The Savoy London

London, United Kingdom
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $596 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

Located at 189 Strand, Wc2r 0eu, The Savoy London has great rooms from $596 (before taxes). It offers room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. It has a terrific 9.40 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only a short distance from the city center, first time visitors will especially love child care, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, city views, and cooking classes at this relaxing hotel. Unwinding at the restaurant after sightseeing is a nice way to end the day.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Luxury


Fonab Castle Hotel

Pitlochry, United Kingdom
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $244 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is Fonab Castle Hotel which has nice rooms starting at $244. Offering skiing, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and breakfast, it also has a great guest rating of 9.10 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Foss Road. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers hiking, mountain views, child care, laundry services, and golf which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just a short drive from the city center. Everyone loves a nice indoor pool, and the one here does not disappoint!

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Luxury


Inverlochy Castle Hotel

Fort William, United Kingdom
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $661 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to the UK
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

We found Inverlochy Castle Hotel to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $661. We loved that is has skiing, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and hiking, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 9.00 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at Torlundy. You'll also find mountain views, child care, laundry services, golf, and pet-friendly rooms which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just a quick trip from the center of town. Nothing says relaxation like having room service delivered.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Tennis
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Luxury


Cameron House on Loch Lomond

Alexandria, United Kingdom
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $605 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

With terrific rooms from $605, Cameron House on Loch Lomond, at Cameron House provides an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. Its terrific guest rating is 9.30 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers breakfast, outdoor tennis, hiking, child care, and laundry services. It's located just a short distance from the city center, too. You'll love relaxing in the heated pool after a busy day exploring.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
  • Horse riding
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Luxury


Shangri-La The Shard London

London, United Kingdom
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $651 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in the UK
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

Shangri-La The Shard London has a great guest rating of 9.10 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. The great rooms here start at $651 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 31 St Thomas Street. Furthermore, it also offers child care, laundry services, city views, a spa, and an indoor pool, which is nice for first time visitors. Just a short drive from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. The pool here was very nice, relaxing, and fun.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Infinity pool


Royal Lancaster London

London, United Kingdom
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $300 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

The great guest rating of Royal Lancaster London is 9.10 out of 10. This place has room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $300, and it's located at Lancaster Terrace. We also love the a kid-friendly buffet, hiking, child care, laundry services, and pet-friendly rooms which are great for visitors. And since it's just a quick trip from the center of the town, the location is great, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Luxury


The Marcliffe Hotel and Spa

Aberdeen, United Kingdom
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $178 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to the UK
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A cool place is The Marcliffe Hotel and Spa because it has great rooms that start at $178. It has skiing, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving, it also earned a great guest rating of 9.10 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at North Deeside Road Pitfodels. Only a short distance from the city center, travelers will especially love a bar, breakfast, hiking, child care, and laundry services at this convenient hotel.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Fishing
  • Tennis
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


The Carlton Tower Jumeirah

London, United Kingdom
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $744 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

The Carlton Tower Jumeirah offers room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $744 (before taxes). It's located at On Cadogan Place and has earned a guest rating of 9.00/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers child care, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, city views, and a hot tub which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just a short drive from the city center. That hot tub is terrific after a long day of sightseeing.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Breakfast in the room


The Headland Hotel and Spa

Newquay, United Kingdom
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $389 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Heated pool

Located at Fistral Beach, Headland Rd, The Headland Hotel and Spa has great rooms from $389 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 9.00 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find breakfast, hiking, child care, laundry services, and golf which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just a quick trip from the center of town.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool


The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa

Bath, United Kingdom
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $358 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to the UK
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa which has nice rooms starting at $358. Offering room service, a casino, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 16 Royal Crescent. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers parking, child care, laundry services, golf, and pet-friendly rooms. It's located just a short distance from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Luxury


For more terrific hotel ideas in the UK, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in the UK, Best Beach Hotels in the UK, Best Cheap Hotels in the UK, Best Luxury Hotels in the UK, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in the UK, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in the UK, Best Hotels for One Week in the UK, Best Hotels for One Night in the UK, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in the UK, Best Adults Only Hotels in the UK, Best Party Hotels in the UK, Best Hotels for Scuba Diving in the UK, Best Hotels for Skiing in the UK, or Best Business Hotels in the UK.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in the UK?

UK Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$132

Visitors will find a large range of terrific first time trip hotel choices when planning a visit to the UK. The price of these first time trip hotels can vary according to location, type, and amenities. The average first time trip hotel price in the UK based on data from 5226 hotels is an affordable $132. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in the UK.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $292
  • 4-star hotels: $141
  • 3-star hotels: $114
  • 2-star hotels: $96


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