Beyond the Thread Count: British Bath and Body Brands in Luxury Hotels
By Lulu Townsend, our Travel Editor, Hotel Lover and Discerning Traveller
What you remember from a hotel stay is rarely the thread count. It’s the wildflowers in the hallway, a note by your bed, the smell of lemons in the corridor, or the way someone asks how you slept and really waits for your answer. Hotels across the UK often go further than comfort and luxury alone. Even the soap or body lotion can be part of the story, chosen with care to reflect the land around them. A bath oil steeped with meadow flowers, a cream made with herbs from the hedgerows, a shampoo that leaves your hair soft without the harshness of chemicals. These details carry the spirit of place and celebrate British makers.
Here are the top British bath and body brands making waves in luxury hotels across the UK, selected by The Hotel Guru, an independent guide to the most characterful places to stay around the world. Every hotel is selected by a team of experienced travel writers who visit in person and only recommend places they genuinely love. From a snug city hideaway to a grand country house, each place has a character of its own; it is all about hotels with a story to tell and a real sense of place. Whether you are planning a romantic escape, a weekend of great food, or a relaxed family holiday, The Hotel Guru makes it easy to find somewhere special, not just in the UK but around the world.
WILDSMITH
WILDSMITH’s story began over 180 years ago with botanist William Walker Wildsmith, whose fascination with the rhythms of plant life still shapes the brand today. Based at Hampshire’s Heckfield Estate, home to his original arboretum, Wildsmith blends plant power with modern science to create skincare that restores and nourishes.
Their latest English Ceramic Collection is a reminder that beauty and sustainability can go hand in hand. Each refillable ceramic bottle is handmade in Stoke-on-Trent, scented with fragrances inspired by Heckfield’s gardens and meadows, and made to last a lifetime.
Hotels where you will find WILDSMITH
Heckfield Place, Hampshire
Tucked away in the lush Hampshire countryside, Heckfield Place is the birthplace of WILDSMITH. It is a Georgian manor reborn as a luxury eco-conscious country house hotel. With farm-to-table dining, an extensive spa, and acres of gorgeous gardens, Heckfield Place is the perfect spot for a relaxing countryside escape for couples and families.
Lakes by YOO, Lechlade
Lakes by YOO offers luxury lakeside living in contemporary-designed villas. Perfect for families or groups, it provides a lakeside Cotswold escape with wild swimming, sailing, and nature walks. There is also an excellent spa with an indoor pool.
Bull, Burford, Cotswolds
Located in the centre of Burford, the 18th-century Bull Burford is a relatively new boutique hotel opening, its walls decorated with impressive artwork. In the library, a sketch of Dalí’s famous melting clock sets the atmosphere, while just along the wall, Basquiat’s Charles the First is full of raw energy. Elsewhere, pieces by Francis Bacon and Harland Miller anchor the collection in a distinctly modern British mood. Rooms are a blend of contemporary and traditional styles, with superb dining featuring local produce. It has recently opened Graze, a very stylish coffee and cocktail space.
The Three Horseshoes, Somerset
The Three Horseshoes in Batcombe epitomises a countryside pub with rooms, a restaurant and a garden. This 17th-century pub is a cosy spot with stylish interiors and a hearty menu with daily specials. An authentic rural, off-the-beaten-track place to stay with fantastic food.
WILDSMITH has also just crossed borders, partnering with Palazzo Passerini in Cortona, Tuscany, an exclusive Renaissance palazzo where it sits alongside other luxury brands Frette, Smeg and Busatti. www.palazzopasserini.com
Commune
Commune is the work of husband-and-wife team Rémi Paringaux and Kate Neal, who turned from fashion to fragrance with the idea of making sustainable self-care feel indulgent. The collection is plant-based, free from sulphates and parabens, and packaged in recyclable aluminium bottles with reusable pumps. Their first scent, Seymour, is a fresh, layered blend of grapefruit, lemongrass, geranium, lavender and Japanese hiba wood. It is uplifting and grounding at once, the kind of fragrance that makes washing your hands feel like a small luxury. Buy online from www.commune.cc.
Hotel partnership
Estelle Manor, Oxfordshire
Estelle Manor is the only hotel using Commune’s products in its rooms and suites. It’s one of the UK’s newest and most exclusive country house hotels. Owned by Sharan Pasricha, Estelle Manor is set within a 60-acre sprawling estate in Oxfordshire, serving as a rural counterpart to the prestigious Maison Estelle in Mayfair. The design, which combines contemporary and classic styles, was created by top interior designers, making it a visually impressive place to stay. This spa hotel is in a Grade II-listed manor (formerly Eynsham Hall) with 108 elegant rooms and suites, a state-of-the-art wellness spa, and a whitewashed gym. The excellent food across all restaurants highlights locally sourced ingredients. If it’s not already on your bucket list, it should be.
100 Acres
Launched in 2014, 100 Acres set out to bottle the essence of the English countryside. Founder Ellea Whamond has created a line rich with botanical oils, from magnolia flower and rose geranium to orange and lavender, that feels like stepping into a wildflower meadow or rose garden. The bestselling body wash has a fragrance so evocative it often sells out, while their newly relaunched bath salts, in a handsome green-and-gold glass jar, bring the spa experience home. Pink Himalayan salts and essential oils soothe both mind and body, and one per cent of all sales support Rewilding Britain. www.100acres.co.uk
Hotels where you will find 100 Acres
The Painswick, Cotswolds
The Painswick is a luxurious, dog-friendly hotel that captures the essence of the Cotswolds. This under-the-radar Cotswold hideaway is a meticulously restored 18th-century hotel and restaurant that artfully blends contemporary style with warmth and charm. The restaurant celebrates each season with locally sourced ingredients, reflecting the rich flavours of the Cotswolds. Couples searching for a romantic escape will love the spa and the beautifully designed gardens.
Double Red Duke, Cotswolds
One of the best places to stay in the Cotswolds, the dog and child-friendly Double Red Duke feels more like a boutique hotel than a country pub with rooms. Cosy interiors by Georgie Pearman include sitting rooms with open fires, fresh flowers, and several dining areas. Breakfast is served in the conservatory or bar and is a feast featuring delicious cinnamon buns from nearby Blakes bakery. The rooms, including many suitable for families, are spacious, with sisal flooring, large bathrooms with deep, wide baths, and walk-in showers. Expect homemade cookies, fresh flowers, Roberts radios, and the latest lifestyle magazines. An idyllic and stylish countryside pub with rooms perfect for a mid-week or weekend break.
The Princess Royal, London
Hidden down a leafy side street, this four-room restaurant with rooms is one of the best places to stay in Notting Hill, if not London. Rooms are named after royalty, and Elizabeth is a favourite, with a large green roll-top bath and a spacious tiled bathroom. Ben Tish’s food is the star of the show, producing mouthwatering menus that change regularly.
Bertioli
Bertioli is the natural extension of Caryn Hibbert’s vision at Thyme in the Cotswolds. The bath and body products are created with herbs and flowers grown on the estate, including lavender, rosemary and thyme, and are designed to be gentle, aromatic and rooted in place. Bertioli feels less like a brand and more like a philosophy of slow living, connection to the land, and products that carry the scent of the countryside into your daily rituals.
Hotel partnership
Thyme, Cotswolds
Thyme is a remarkable Cotswold hotel that redefines the concept of a country escape. This 31-acre estate combines a boutique hotel, farm, and cooking school, all set within beautifully restored historic farm buildings. The focus on sustainability and locally sourced produce is evident in the thoughtfully designed rooms. The dining experience is exceptional, featuring dishes created from ingredients grown on-site or sourced from nearby farms. Indulge in relaxing spa treatments, country walks or immersive cookery classes, all set against the backdrop of the stunning Cotswold countryside. Thyme is the perfect blend of rustic charm and contemporary luxury, surrounded by the beautiful British countryside.
Bamford
Founded by Carole Bamford in 2006, Bamford has become one of Britain’s most trusted names in sustainable luxury. The bath and body collection is organic, Soil Association certified, and full of botanicals such as chamomile, lavender, geranium and rosemary. Everything is presented in elegant glass bottles with wooden tops, making them as beautiful as they are ethical.
Hotels where you will find Bamford
Lime Wood, Hampshire
Nestled within the enchanting landscape of the New Forest in Hampshire, Lime Wood Hotel and Spa is one of the best luxury hotels in the UK. This relaxed, dog-friendly country house hotel offers more than just an overnight stay; it’s a place where understated luxury is complemented by genuinely warm personal service. Every room, suite, and cottage exudes style and comfort, from the generously stocked minibars and velvet sofas to the carefully selected artwork and natural textures that reflect the beauty of the surrounding countryside, gardens, and woodland. The Herb House Spa is a calming space where treatments are as organic and restorative as the country air. Central to the experience, the food at Hartnett Holder & Co. embodies authentic, rustic Italian dishes, using fresh ingredients sourced from the nearby coast and countryside; the arancini are an absolute must. Lime Wood is that rare gem that invites you to slow down and breathe deeply, making it the perfect hotel for anyone looking for a countryside escape, with or without family or four-legged friends.
Beaverbrook
Once the Surrey residence of Lord Beaverbrook, this grand country estate has been transformed into one of England’s most exciting country house hotels. The house has maintained its historic charm, yet each room feels distinctive, from soft pastels and bespoke floral prints to striking Art Deco designs. Dining here is a real delight: the Japanese restaurant is top-notch, while The Garden House features British favourites with plenty of flair and imagination, including homemade mini pastries. Breakfast is relaxed, with everything prepared to order rather than a standard Full English, after all, not everyone wants black pudding. The grounds span over acres, ideal for exploring at your leisure, and the spa is superb, one of the best in the UK, with indoor and outdoor pools, thermal rooms, and excellent treatments. Beaverbrook manages to be both glamorous and inviting, the kind of place that makes you feel at home while offering a true country escape.
