What To Book Around The UK This Season

The Ragged Robin
Surrey

This new pub with rooms in Godalming is all about open fires, cosy corners and a garden room that looks out over the River Wey. The menu leans into elevated British comfort – think chalk stream trout gravadlax, pork tomahawk and sticky toffee pudding – with Sunday roasts served alongside bottomless Yorkshires and lashings of gravy. There’s a spacious garden terrace with its own bar, and private mooring for guests arriving by boat. Upstairs, 19 boutique bedrooms range from snug doubles to suites with freestanding baths. Guests will find Bramley toiletries, Illy coffee and dog-friendly extras. Paddleboarding, wild swimming and walks through the Surrey Hills are all on the doorstep. 

Visit RAGGEDROBINGODALMING.COM

The Fortingall
Scotland

If you’re heading to the Highlands this season, you’ll want to check out this new boutique hotel set on a 7,000-acre estate in Perthshire. Set next to Glen Lyon, one of Scotland’s most beautiful glens, its ten bedrooms ooze quiet luxury with antique pieces, tactile fabrics and bespoke furniture by Anbôise’s Annabelle Holland. Days start with river walks or Land Rover tours through Glen Lyon, and end with cocktails at Charlie’s Bar or a pint at the village pub next door. There’s wild swimming, clay pigeon shooting and a drawing room made for slow afternoons with tea and cake. The village is steeped in history, home to Europe’s oldest tree, early Christian relics and more.

Visit FORTINGALL.COM

The Merry Harriers
Surrey

Another Godalming pub to know, The Merry Harriers recently reopened under new ownership, and it’s already earned a spot on the Top 50 Gastropubs list. The kitchen champions seasonality and zero-waste butchery, with meat and veg from local family farms. Expect scotch eggs with homemade brown sauce, sea bass with caviar and beurre blanc, and a sticky toffee pudding laced with whisky. The bar is the heart of the pub, pouring local ales like Shere Drop and cocktails made with homemade elderflower cordial. Interiors are mostly handmade, with carved wood furniture and heritage tones, while outside, shepherd huts and garden rooms offer rustic stays with fire pits and views of the hills. 

Visit MERRYHARRIERS.COM

Hyll
Cotswolds

This boutique hotel is taking over a restored Grade II-listed 17th-century manor house in Chipping Campden. Set to open in September, the hotel is putting R&R at the fore, encouraging guests to slow down and unwind. Set within a 60-acre estate, the property has thoughtfully designed interiors by Youth Studio, who have blended contemporary colours and textures. Naturalmat beds, Verden toiletries and Dyson hair dryers complete the luxe offering. There will also be a restaurant serving British dishes made with locally sourced ingredients, as well as a barn-style events space for weddings and private events (due to open next year).

Visit HYLLHOTEL.COM

The Jack Russell
Hampshire 

Set on the edge of the North Wessex Downs, The Jack Russell is a newly renovated country inn with 11 cosy rooms. The restaurant, led by chef Andy Watts, serves seasonal dishes using estate-grown produce – think venison, pheasant, and figs from the orchard – with hearty roasts and fresh seafood on rotation. Guests can stay in the main inn or the Dog House, a private retreat with a snooker table, lounge and fire pit. There are plenty of walking trails nearby, while Highclere Castle is a short drive away. 

Visit THEJACKRUSSELLINN.COM

Tide
Berkshire

This summer, Coworth Park – one of our favourite countryside escapes – introduces Tide, a seasonal terrace restaurant above the rose garden. Executive chef Adam Smith has created a menu that celebrates the best of British summer produce, with dishes like grilled scallops with buttermilk and hot sauce, lobster with black truffle, and Isle of Wight tomato panzanella with grilled prawns. Dessert could be Kentish strawberries with yuzu posset or elderflower summer pudding. Rathfinny sparkling rosé will flow freely, alongside botanical cocktails and crisp non-alcoholic serves. Tide is open Friday to Sunday throughout August.

Visit DORCHESTERCOLLECTION.COM

Vraic
Guernsey

Guernsey might not be in the UK, but if you’re travelling to the Channel Islands this summer, it could be worth making a detour to experience Nathan Davies’ latest restaurant. Named after the local word for seaweed, Vraic is a celebration of the island’s wild beauty – its rugged coastline, rich marine life and foraged produce. With just 25 covers and a custom-built grill, the tasting menu will spotlight local fish, shellfish and seaweed, all cooked over fire. Expect dishes like seared scallops with burnt butter and hand-picked seaweed, alongside whole fish and meats designed for sharing. Interiors echo the elemental ethos: charred timber, sheepskin-draped seating and a glowing open kitchen set the tone.

Visit VRAIC.GG

London City Ballet
Nationwide Tour

London City Ballet is currently touring the UK with its production of Momentum. Until 14th September, the company will perform at venues including Bath’s Theatre Royal, Birmingham Rep and Sadler’s Wells in London, showcasing rarely seen works by George Balanchine, Alexei Ratmansky and Liam Scarlett. Expect evocative storytelling, live music and performances from guest artist Alina Cojocaru.

Visit LONDONCITYBALLET.COM

Braemar Literary Festival
The Fife Arms 

The Braemar Literary Festival returns to The Fife Arms from 26th-28th September, bringing together bestselling authors, critics and poets in one of Scotland’s most atmospheric settings. Expect talks from David Nicholls, Monica Ali, Sir Alexander McCall Smith, and food writer Tom Parker Bowles, plus readings, performances and a festival launch dinner curated by guest chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen. Guests can book The Fife Arms’ literary package for priority access and exclusive events.

Visit THEFIFEARMS.COM

Seedscapes Exhibition
West Sussex

Wakehurst – Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex – has opened Seedscapes, a striking outdoor exhibition celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Millennium Seed Bank. Running until 14th September, the programme features immersive artworks from six international artists, including ceramic sculptures, soundscapes and augmented reality installations. Highlights include Cristina Ochoa’s giant seed sculpture on the Mansion lawn and Kristina Pulejkova’s pollinator hotels embedded with AR tech. 

Visit KEW.ORG

Mary, Queen of Scots Ballet
Scotland

The Scottish Ballet company will debut Mary, Queen of Scots at the Edinburgh International Festival this August before touring Glasgow, Inverness and Aberdeen. Told through the eyes of Elizabeth I in her final hours, the ballet reimagines the fraught relationship between two iconic queens. Expect choreography by Sophie Laplane, impressive sets and a dramatic score. Renaissance grandeur meets punk edge in this retelling of ambition, betrayal and legacy.

Visit SCOTTISHBALLET.CO.UK