Plymouth hotels

Follow in the footsteps of a queen at this 5-star manor house hotel. Originally an Elizabethan manor house, you’ll still find the original lead-paned windows and stone fireplaces, but also an award-winning, state-of-the-art spa with multiple pools and a crystal salt steam room, and Michelin-star dining in Àclèaf restaurant.

Book into the Royal Suite and you can sip Champagne in your hot tub on the private parapet under the stars. Choose a wellness room near the spa, or consider checking into the converted stables – though I can never resist a carved wood four-poster bed, like the one in the suite named for Elizabeth I, who once stayed here.

Don’t miss a taste of the hotel’s own Boringdon gin in the ‘secret’ bar either, hidden behind a bookcase near the brasserie.

This small chain promises to be stylish and playful, and Plymouth’s Moxy Hotel has embraced the ‘Ocean City’ vibe with both hands in its fun design.

While the rooms are fairly minimalist, there are quirky touches throughout, like octopus print cushions to enliven the simple but quality basics – think high thread-count linens and 42-inch smart TVs. Instead of your average hotel furniture, you’ll find hooks on the wall for belongings and drop-down desks that can be folded away when not in use.

But where Moxy Plymouth really comes into its own is in its common areas, with crashing wave murals on the walls, bright colourful seats, 24-hour snacks, handy co-working spaces and table football – although I’m always most tempted by the books dotted among the ornaments.

This pretty manor house is set just outside Plymouth itself, but easily close enough to explore the city as well as enjoying the surrounding Devon countryside. All 15 rooms and suites inside the white Georgian manor are decorated slightly differently, with pale wood offset by dramatic blacks and whites.

All rooms feature sprung mattresses, 42-inch TVs, and a separate bath and shower in the bathroom, while St Elizabeth’s Suite has a whirlpool tub and a private terrace. One of the best hotels in Plymouth for a romantic break, it’s a wedding favourite, but equally good if you’re looking for a relaxed escape and good food.

The garden terrace is my favourite place to eat in summer, with some fantastic fish and seafood on the restaurant menu.

This Victorian townhouse has some great views out to Plymouth Sound, but just as many delightful details inside. Dating from 1879, the name was inspired by the traditional crafts used to create the building, with plenty of original features in the 15 rooms, as well as craft beers and cider in the bar, plus information on local crafters and craft workshops.

Spot hand-made wooden headboards by the beds in the Spacious King rooms and rich colours on the walls, as well as rainfall showers, TVs and digital radios. But the Craft House Favourite room is my own favourite too. There you’ll find chandeliers above the super king bed and a roll-top, claw-foot bath along with a rainfall shower in the bathroom.

One of the best hotels in Plymouth for location, it’s walking distance from Plymouth Hoe, the Barbican and the Mayflower Steps.

In the same Victorian Street as The Craft House, The Grosvenor is another of the best hotels in Plymouth for location, but with a rather different style to its neighbour. Rooms are more stripped back and minimalist, ideal if you prefer simplicity to sleep.

Minimal doesn’t mean basic though. You’ll find king-size beds, flatscreen TVs, and a shower and bath in the Superior rooms, while some also have bay windows. For something to make your stay more memorable, the Grand Suite has a four-poster bed and a claw-foot bathtub.

My tip is to check out the hotel’s research into its history during your stay. Originally three grand houses, the street has been home to baronets, majors, bankers, politicians and jewellers, while Waldorf and Nancy Astor lived a few doors down during the war.

If you’re more interested in plenty of facilities than a long history, the Crowne Plaza is one of the best hotels in Plymouth to book. The 4-star property has its own indoor pool, plus – unexpectedly – ski hire for the city’s Snowsports Centre. The hotel is also one of the closest to the historic Barbican area and Mayflower Steps.

Like many chain hotels, the 211 guestrooms are fairly plain and nothing to get too excited about, but they’re all well set up with TVs and king-size beds in the Executive rooms, some with sea views. Another option here – which I wish more hotels offered – is allergy-free rooms on request.

The food is more memorable, with the Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill on the penthouse floor – order a cherry blossom Cosmopolitan as you browse the extensive menu.

There’s more naval history to discover at the Imperial Plymouth, built for an Admiral and his family before becoming a doctor’s surgery and later a hotel and B&B with 21 rooms.

It’s one of the best hotels in Plymouth if you’re travelling on a budget, with plenty of style and rates that won’t break the bank. The bird-print feature wall in the King Ensuite always puts me in a cheery seaside mood, and statement wallpaper is a theme throughout the hotel, from flock-style effects to eye-catching patterns.

Families will love the Imperial’s apartment, with its bright colours, exposed beams and its own kitchen area. If you’re looking for more facilities, there’s an option to use the pool and gym at the nearby Crown Plaza for a daily fee.

You can’t move in Plymouth for reminders of Sir Francis Drake – his statue on the Hoe, his famous voyages – so it’s no surprise there’s also a hotel named for the colourful Elizabethan.

The Drake Hotel has plenty of naval links, although the building dates from the early 19th century rather than Drake’s own time. Built for another important naval officer in around 1820-30, there are some lovely original features in the hotel, from the niches on the staircase and powder-blue colour scheme to the ornate ceiling in the dining room.

It’s another of the best hotels in Plymouth for those on a budget, but you’ve still got nice extra touches, including marble-effect bathrooms and gold runners on the beds, while I could imagine myself back in Georgian Plymouth on the Superior King room’s chaise longue.

If you’re looking for all the facilities of a larger hotel but without checking into a chain, the New Continental Hotel is Plymouth’s largest independent family-owned property.

Set within a Grade II-listed Victorian building, the 99 bedrooms mostly follow a pattern, with a few tweaks of pink, blue or gold to set the different rooms apart. But I’ve found a few surprises, including the four-poster rooms, complete with carved white wood posts, hangings and matching chaise longues.

One of the best hotels in Plymouth, there’s also an indoor pool, sauna and steam room, not forgetting the gym if you’ve indulged at Steve’s Brasserie, the hotel’s in-house restaurant with vegetarian options among the classics, as well their own pizza oven. Slightly outside the city centre, it’s just minutes from Millbay Park and the Plymouth Pavilions venue.

Royal William Yard is easily one of my favourite parts of Plymouth. The old ‘victualling yard’ that once supplied the Royal Navy, its Georgian buildings and old barracks now houses some of the city’s finest bars and restaurants, as well as one of the best hotels in Plymouth.

Residence One Rooms occupies a building originally home to an Admiral of the fleet, now a boutique B&B. All 14 guestrooms have great period details, from fireplaces to cast-iron radiators and window shutters that the Admiral would still recognise, plus bright beachy artwork and TVs.

I’m sure he’d be envious of the luxurious beds, with goose feather and down pillows and duvets – certainly beats a hammock! The on-site Bistrot is just across the green for breakfast, including the irresistible croissant French toast.