2 Best Hotels in Ludlow, Stratford-upon-Avon and the Heart of England

Situated on Ludford Bridge, this food-focused pub with rooms has lovely river views, especially from the Riverside Suite and the Othello Suite; the latter has its own terrace with hot tub. Rooms are smart and comfortable, with lots of heritage fabrics. Breakfast, including locally made sausages, is a real treat. In fact, all the food is very good. This is a bit of a destination restaurant, and even dishes that sound run-of-the-mill, such as a duck spring roll or dressed crab, are anything but. Views from the restaurant are fabulous, too.

What was once a crumbling Georgian mansion has been beautifully converted to a relaxing, contemporary hotel with good-size, well-designed guest rooms decorated in soothing color schemes. Rooms have Nespresso machines and minibars stocked with local goodies. Overlooking the serene Ludlow countryside, Forelles Fine Dining serves well-regarded Modern British cuisine, with most of the produce sourced from within a 30-mile radius; Sunday lunch is particularly good. Also on-site are a bistro-style restaurant for more relaxed dining and a gorgeous spa with an outdoor cedar hot tub.