13 Unmissable Hotel Openings Coming To Great Britain & Ireland In 2026
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Olivia Emily spotlights the UK’s most exciting new hotel openings in country and town
From the reimagination of Admiralty Arch to off-grid Japandi cabins in the Cairngorms, when it comes to luxury hotels, there is plenty of newness on Great British and Irish shores. Whether you’re after a luxury flagships in the capital, seaside retreats along the Kent coast, or boutique hideaways in the Cotswolds, we’ve tracked down the 13 properties to know.
Wildhive Eshott Hall, Northumberland
Wildhive’s first property made an instant splash when it opened in Derbyshire in 2021 – and now to an Italianate manor for the brand’s second venture. We’re told to expect nature-focused interiors by Matt Hulme, with 14 bedrooms in the main house, six in the converted stables and ten cosy cabins. Opens this summer. wildhive.uk
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The Grace, Westport
What do 16th-century pirate queen Gráinne Ní Mháille (Grace O’Malley) and 20th-century screen star and Monaco princess Grace Kelly have in common? Bold yet elegant, they’re both inspirations underpinning The Grace, a just-opened 129-room property nestled on a 430-acre County Mayo estate right on the Wild Atlantic Way. Open now. thegrace.ie
Admiralty Arch
Waldorf Astoria Admiralty Arch, London
One of London’s famed landmarks is being transformed into Britain’s first Waldorf Astoria: Admiralty Arch, standing proudly at the end of The Mall, exactly opposite Buckingham Palace. At its rear, find Trafalgar Square, The National Gallery and a gateway to Soho. There will be two restaurants to enjoy: Coreus by Clare Smyth and Café Boulud by Daniel Boulud. Opens this summer. hilton.com
The Gallivant Littlestone Beach, Kent
Since it opened in 2010, California beach-style The Gallivant has come to redefine East Sussex’s huge sand dune beach Camber Sands. Now it’s branching out just down the road to a 1920s Kent property for its much-awaited second outpost: an adults-only, Hamptons-style 13-key property occupying an acre of sand dune right on the shoreline. Opens this summer. thegallivant.co.uk
(© Edvinas Bruzas)
Soho House, Manchester
Soho House has conquered New York, LA, most European capitals and the British countryside, and now it’s time for an intimidating frontier: the North. Soho House Manchester has taken over the former Granada Studios. Inside, find spaces to work, relax and dine all topped by a rooftop pool and doused in the brand’s signature mid-century aesthetic. Open now. sohohouse.com
KABN, Cairngorms
After debuting on the shores of Loch Fyne, off-grid retreat KABN is bringing its Japandi cabins to Scotland’s most breathtaking landscape: the Cairngorms. While you’ll only discover its exact location on arrival, expect views of Highland peaks and ancient forests, curated scents, rain showers and furniture sculpted by Scottish artisans from fallen oak trees. Opens September. kabncompany.com
Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere
From Windsor Park and The Savoy to St Andrews and Bedfordshire, Canadian luxury hotel brand Fairmont is gradually making its mark on Britain. And now Cheshire: Fairmont is redeveloping The Mere, a historic 157-acre resort near Knutsford which dates back to The Domesday Book and boasts a honeypot championship 18-hole golf course. Opens this summer. fairmont.com
Teffont House, Wiltshire
The Beckford Group knows how to do upmarket pubs-with-rooms, and we expect the brand’s first dedicated hotel to live up to their cossetting standards. Just 17 Natasha Hidvegi-designed rooms will be joined by a newly designed Orangery, plus a croquet lawn, apple orchard, BBQ area, sauna and wild plunge pool. Opens this summer. teffonthouse.com
St Clement, London
Nick Jones may have stepped back from Soho House, but he can’t keep his hands off hospitality, most recently the multipurpose Corner Shop 180. And it’s this pocket of Temple in London that Jones will be frequenting even more when St Clement opens this year, comprising 90 bedrooms, a rooftop restaurant and a state-of-the-art gym. Opening month tbc. stclement.co.uk
The Kithmore, St Andrews
A new resident is arriving in seaside chic St Andrews this summer. Drawing on Scots word ‘kith’, meaning friendship, familiarity and a sense of home, this 44-bed home-from-home takes over three townhouses on Playfair Terrace and is all about doing the basics brilliantly. Opens June 2026. thekithmore.com
Six Senses, London
Six Senses’ very first UK hotel has been highly anticipated. Part of the landmark Whiteley development, London joins Rome and Kyoto as city outposts for a brand renowned for its sprawling wellness resorts. Boasting 109 exquisitely designed bedrooms and suites, the subterranean spa is the main event, inspired by London’s iconic underground stations. Open now. sixsenses.com
Cambridge House Auberge, London
Another global brand arriving in the capital is Auberge, which is reinventing Mayfair’s Palladian In and Out Military Club into Cambridge House. With 102-rooms designed by Jean-Louis Deniot, the property is set to be a truly luxurious London hotel, set within a historic home, to boot. Opens this summer. auberge.com
This feature appears in the 2026/27 Great British & Irish Hotel Guide.
