We've selected 10 of the most dreamy destination hotels for stylish weekenders

Click here to go back to '50 great British breaks by the sea' for coastal campsites, self-catering, bed and breakfasts and holiday parks

Seaham Hall & Serenity Spa, Seaham, Co Durham

A short walk from the North Sea coast, Seaham Hall is very well positioned. But it's not just the location that has made this manor house the north-east's premier hotel. There's the blend of history - Lord Byron married here in 1815 - and ultra-modern facilities for a start. Guests are given a demo of how to use the gadgets in their room, and the spa comes with more pools and Zen relaxation zones than a Dubai seven-star. Rooms are cool but cosy and the restaurant offers Michelin-starred dining.

For more information call (01915 161400, www.seaham-hall.co.uk); doubles from £250 per night.

Driftwood, Portscatho, Cornwall

Sitting on a clifftop on Cornwall's south coast, looking down on the waters of Gerrans Bay, Driftwood offers views that you could spend days gazing upon, although the lure of the private beach would soon rouse you. The hotel's gorgeous, too. It might not look that special from the outside, but the interiors display impeccable taste, with lots of driftwood in the furnishings. In the restaurant, the seafood - red mullet and mackerel tartare - is excellent.

For more information call (01872 580644, www.driftwoodhotel.co.uk); double B&B from £180 per night.

Westover Hall Hotel, Milford on Sea, Hampshire

Overlooking the shingle beach at Milford, Grade II-listed Westover Hall Hotel offers all the stained-glass, oak-panelled and huge-fireplaced Victoriana you could possibly want. The 11 rooms have been sympathetically decorated and accessorised, and six have stunning sea views. The Modern European cuisine on offer in the restaurant relies on the local daily catch.

For more information call (01590 643044, www.westoverhallhotel.com); doubles from £206 per night.

The George in Rye, Rye, East Sussex

A former coaching inn, this hotel blends a genteel Georgian spirit with the latest in boutique design. The result is a very 21st-century retreat from the cobbles and tea shops that line the surrounding streets. All 24 rooms have been individually styled - candlesticks and roll-top baths - and the bar specialises in fine wines and cocktails rather than pints of best.

For more information call (01797 222114, www.thegeorgeinrye.com); doubles from £125 per night.

Gwesty Cymru, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion

Not many hotels can say they've inspired poetry but Gwesty Cymru, on Aberystwyth's prom, has an ‘englyn' or traditional Welsh verse composed for it. The ‘warmth that is Wales' is just as evident in this restaurant with rooms as it is in Tudur Dylan Jones' verse. With eight rooms, featuring sumptuous beds, oak furniture and artwork inspired by the local landscape - not to mention views of Cardigan Bay - the hotel is a celebration of all that's great about Wales.

For more information call (01970 612252, www.gwestycymru.com); doubles from £65 per night.

The Merchant Hotel, Belfast, Co Antrim

The grand neoclassical headquarters of the Ulster Bank, a short walk from the city docks, have been transformed into one of Belfast's hottest hangouts. The hotel's 26 rooms and vaulted lobby go for a decadent, fin de siècle feel - plenty of scarlet and subdued lighting - while the Cloth Ear bar and Great Room restaurant have a very contemporary vibe. You might even see a Corr or two in there.

For more information call (028 9023 4888, www.themerchanthotel.com); doubles from £220 per night.

Holm House, Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan

A stunning Arts and Crafts-style mansion on the cusp of the Glamorgan Heritage Coastline, Holm House is infused with the spirit of the 1920s. From the Art-Deco corridors and mother-of-pearl door handles to the copper bathtubs and lacquered beds in the rooms, the hotel couldn't be more redolent of the Jazz Age if it tried.

For more information call (029 2070 1572, www.holmhouse.com); doubles from £195 per night.

Blanch House, Brighton, East Sussex

Run by the Groucho Club's former bar manager, Blanch House is a seriously cool place to stay. With an interior that's more colourful than a Bonfire Night sky (rooms are accessorised with an eclectic range of furniture), the restaurant and cocktail lounge are also big draws in the city.

For more information call (01273 603504, www.blanchhouse.co.uk); doubles from £100 per night.

The Quay Hotel & Spa, Deganwy, Conwy

A brand-new hotel jutting right out into the marina, the Quay offers awesome views of the Welsh mountains and across the water to Conwy. All of its 74 rooms are light, airy and stylish - all leather headboards and Art Deco-style lamps - but exude an air of comfort that perfectly fits the needs of wind-blown walkers returning from a day out on nearby Snowdonia's slopes. There's a clean, modern spa, too, where aching calf muscles can be manipulated back to normality. The Vue restaurant, a favourite of Manchester United footballers and Cheshire ladies who lunch, is rightly renowned for its menus of quality Welsh cuisine - ribeye of lamb, local smoked salmon, Menai mussels - that keep plenty of local suppliers in business. Tidy.

For more information cal (01492 564100, www.quayhotel.com); doubles from £180 per night.

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Pool House, Pool-Ewe, Ross-shire

Situated beside a loch on Scotland's west coast, and with views of the Isle of Harris and the mountainous Highlands, this intimate seven-room escape is surely one of the most romantic spots in Britain. Even its Eastern-inspired interiors - hand-carved doors, ornate dark-wood furniture and bindi motifs on the walls - display a passionate love for decor and design that most bigger hotels would struggle to match. Hearts will soar in the North by North West restaurant, too, where head chef Daniel Hall's take on Highland cuisine - Loch Ewe langoustine with cantaloupe melon, hand-dived scallops - can be overshadowed by the sight of otters and seals by the shoreline.

For more information call (01445 781272, www.poolhousehotel.com); doubles from £265 per night, including dinner.