11 Most Sustainable Hotels in the UK

Whilst the climate crisis continues to bite, an eco-friendly approach to the way we live is ever increasing across the globe. Travel is a mixed bag that can both positively affect and negatively impact the environment so it’s good to know that some hotels are doing their bit. Being a sustainable hotel means more than just promoting the reuse of towels and presence of recycling bins and many UK hotels now have planet-friendly approaches which go beyond the basics. From solar panels and thermal heating to all-vegan hotels, we’ve selected our favourite sustainable UK hotels with a dedication to eco-tourism.

 

1Daylesford Organic Farm, Gloucestershire

Daylesford Gloucestershire

Nestled within the idyllic Cotswolds, Daylesford Organic Farm offers beautiful, converted cottages providing an eco-conscious countryside destination. The family-run estate is home to one of the most sustainable farms in the UK with sustainable organic principles at the heart of Daylesford’s farming. Alongside the farm, an exceptional countryside retreat is offered within the grounds with accommodation in both beautiful stone cottages and rustic farmhouses.

The main highlight of a stay at Daylesford Organic Farm is the events calendar featuring home grown floristry classes and sustainable cooking lessons as just some of the many activities available on site. Meanwhile, guests will also indulge in a phenomenal menu from the farms award-winning kitchen featuring locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.

 

  Book Your Stay: daylesford.com

 

 

2Heckfield Place, Hampshire

heckfield place sustainable hotel in uk

Since opening in 2018, Heckfield Place has had sustainability at its core. With impressive eco credentials, this magnificent, country hotel continues to be a top contender for a luxury British staycation. The stylish Georgian manor oozes curb appeal whilst the revamped interiors offer beautiful character and a charming elegance. Not only is Heckfield Place a spectacular destination for a staycation, the hotel is also an eco-champion. 

For starters, the use of natural materials is strongly featured within the décor, a biomass boiler aids a more sustainable heating system and there is a strong reduction on packaged goods throughout the hotel. In addition to this, the hotel has an onsite farm, home to saddleback pigs and Guernsey cows, which also grows a range of crops that is harvested through biodynamic farming before making its way to the plates of guests.

 

  Book Your Stay: heckfieldplace.com

 

3The Pig Hotels

the pig hotels sustainable hotels in uk

the pig hotels sustainable hotels in uk 1

The Pig Hotel Group is a collection of seven sustainable hotels across the South of England from the original New Forest accommodation to Kent and Cornwall with more eco-friendly hotels in the pipeline. The hotel group has strong values and is constantly striving towards a greener way to stay and play within the UK. The Pig brand is renowned for a rustic style with all hotels created from refurbished existing properties, a huge waste reduction compared to building a brand new establishment.

At the core of The Pig’s sustainability mission is a heavy focus on food with all menu ingredients either home grown or from within a 25-mile radius. The hotels boast their own organic kitchen gardens, recycle cooking oil, only serve MSC certified fish and compost all garden waste. A partnership with Belu water, a social enterprise that donates profits to Water Aid, is also a strong element of The Pig Hotel Group’s commitment to sustainability.

 

  Book Your Stay: thepighotel.com

 

4The Scarlet, Cornwall 

the scarlet outdoor tub in cornwall

The award winning The Scarlet Hotel in Cornwall is a luxurious Cornish hotel in Mawgan Porth near Newquay. Arguably one of the best hotels in cornwall, offering some of the most epic coastal views England has to offer. The Scarlet embraces the building’s stunning cliff top location and is eco-friendly through and through. The best way to describe this 37-bedroom hotel is – ‘Sustainable Luxury’. The decor reflects and makes full use of natural environment and its location, blending the indoors and outdoors. Read more here.

 

  Book Your Stay: www.scarlethotel.co.uk

 

 

5Thyme, Gloucestershire

thyme hotel sustainable hotels in uk

thyme hotel sustainable hotels in uk 2

Known as ‘a village within a village’, Gloucestershire’s Thyme hotel is nestled within a 150-acre farm with the River Leach flowing through it. The restored Cotswold manor merges heritage and beauty with conservation and the main focus of Thyme is on nature and sustainability. Whilst the grounds provide nesting and shelter for woodland creatures, the 150-acre plot also features a kitchen garden, the produce from which most of the hotel’s menu is created.

Meanwhile, the heating at Thyme comes from a ground-source heat pump and wood-pellet boiler, a feature that was intrinsic to the design of this sustainable hotel. The eco-friendly hotel also offers incredible attention to detail with even the coffee pods in the guest rooms being completely plastic-free and fully compostable.

 

  Book Your Stay: thyme.co.uk

 

 

6The Grove, Hertfordshire

 Awarded a Green Apple Environment Award for dedication to sustainability, Hertfordshire’s The Grove is a luxury accommodation with an eco-conscious culture. With an on-site ‘Green Team’ dedicated to reducing, re-using and recycling, The Grove has completely eliminated single-use plastics and supplies only eco-friendly hotel amenities to guests.

The exquisite menu served at the hotel offers delicious dishes created from local ingredients and produce grown within the hotel’s 300-acre estate. Whilst the hotel is heavily focused on a green outlook, luxury at the hotel is not compromised with elegant furnishings, exceptional customer service, incredible amenities and a world-renowned golf course within the hotel grounds.

 

  Book Your Stay: Booking.com

 

 

7Canopy By Hilton

Canopy By Hilton

Canopy By Hilton

Canopy by Hilton London City is UK’s first Canopy hotel by Hilton, offering the dependable quality of Hilton infused with a contemporary, boutique hotel flair. Crafted with discerning travellers in mind who value design and sustainability, this eco-conscious hotel boasts a prime location in London’s vibrant East End.

Sustainability lies at the heart of Canopy by Hilton, the innovative building design was in fact constructed by recycling two former buildings. The eco-conscious ethos extends into the bedrooms and is evident at every turn, the beds are crafted from reclaimed steel and sustainably sourced wood from forests dedicated to conservation. The toiletries are eco-friendly, all the rooms come with a carafe, to reduce single-use plastic consumption and water refilling stations on every floor. Even the room key cards are made from wood to align with the sustainable practices.

In keeping with Hilton’s Travel with Purpose goal’s, Canopy by Hilton London City is committed to reducing its environmental footprint in half by 2030. The hotel derives a portion of its energy through solar panels, while a green roof serves as a means to retain heat without the need for extra energy consumption. Additionally, an efficient building management system closely monitors lighting and heating to minimize energy waste. Read more here.

 

 Book Now : Booking.com

 

 

8The Green House, Bournemouth

The Green House, Bournemouth

The Grade II listed Victorian manor, The Green House, is self-described as ‘the greenest hotel in the UK’. Located a short distance from the Bournemouth beachfront, The Green House offers everything you could possibly want from a sustainable hotel. From solar-heated water tanks and energy efficient light options to free EV charge points in the car park, the hotel offers everything an eco-warrior could want from an accommodation option. Even the décor is eco-friendly with bespoke eco beds and locally made carpets.

Not only that but the eco-friendly hotel features water filling stations throughout the property to minimise plastic waste whilst the bar serves only locally brewed spirits and locally sourced menu options. Externally, the hotel grounds boast a community vegetable garden with the inclusion of a compost area, dedicated to used coffee beans, as well as a rooftop bee installation. The Green House is an exceptional hotel with all the features to make it a sustainable vacation spot.

 

  Book Your Stay: Booking.com

 

 

9Atlantic View Lodges, Widemouth Bay 

Located on the Cornish coastline, Atlantic View Lodges make the ideal seaside escape offering magnificent views over Widemouth Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Surrounded by stunning nature, the lodges have been designed with a green vision as even the exterior is created from the sustainable material kebony wood.

Each lodge is energy efficient with solar power, thermal water heating and air source pumps powering the underfloor heating. With a strong aim to reduce the environmental impact of holiday accommodation, Atlantic View Lodges uses no oil or gas on site and further reduces their carbon footprint through the use of energy-saving LED bulbs and A+ rated white goods throughout the property. The beautiful lodges are a sublime staycation option and prove that luxury can co-exist with sustainability.

 

  Book Your Stay: atlanticviewlodges.co.uk

 

 

10Saorsa 1875, Pitlochry, Scotland

Located in the picturesque Scottish town of Pitlochry, the UK’s first vegan-only hotel is dedicated to ethical luxury. Overlooking acres of magnificent woodlands and manicured gardens, Saorsa 1875 is a glamorous manor house with a quirky, eclectic design of locally sourced and second hand interiors. Along with a characterful style, the guest rooms also feature eco-friendly, refillable toiletries and down-free duvets whilst the hotel was named ‘Best Luxury Hotel’ by PETA. Also winner of National Geographic’s Goo Egg award, veganism is in the core of this sustainable hotel with even the electricity supplied by the first vegan-certified supplier in the UK, Ecotricity. However, the main attraction of Saorsa 1875 is the exquisite food, a menu of creative vegan meals from locally sourced ingredients and a waste reduction plan.

 

  Book Your Stay: saorsahotel.com

 

 

11The Zetter, London

sustainable hotels in uk zetter hotel london

The trendy London hotel, The Zetter, is a converted Victorian warehouse that put the neighbourhood of Clerkenwell on the map. This award-winning, boutique hotel offers a chic but quirky design which supports sustainable goals through the use of eco-friendly materials in its décor. All bathroom products are eco-friendly and no glass or paper goes to waste whilst guests can also choose to decline housekeeping in exchange for food and drink credit in an effort to save energy. However, the coolest part of The Zetter’s sustainability effort is a 1500-foot borehole that supplies water to the eco-friendly hotel to cool the rooms and flush toilets.

 

  Book Your Stay: Booking.com

 

 

*All listings featured in this story were independently selected. However, when you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.