Tripadvisor unveils best and dirtiest UK hotels

London’s Chesterfield Mayfair was voted best performing British hotel in the latest TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice competition.

The Regency-style town-house hotel came in ninth position in a worldwide poll.

It was described by TripAdvisor travellers as “exquisite”, “beyond expectations”, “spotless”, “great value”, “peaceful retreat” in a “perfect location” with “first class service”.

The Rudding Park Hotel, Harrogate, came in 12th in the worldwide poll, while last year’s best performing British hotel, the Atlantic Hotel in St Brelade, Jersey, made the top 100 worldwide list again, coming in 49th position.

But Britain performed better in the Best Inns & B&Bs Europe category, with five out of the top 10 properties in the UK.

These were the Bay Tree House and Annex, London; Chestnuts House, Bath; Gerald’s Place, Edinburgh; Badminton Villa, Bath; Gwynfryn Bed and Breakfast, Conwy, Wales.

TripAdvisor also announced the UK’s 10 “dirtiest” hotels, based on traveller ratings for cleanliness.

This year saw no less than six repeat offenders, including four from the same hotel group, Britannia.

The Europa Gatwick appears on the list for the third year running, but topping this year’s roll of grime is the Nanford Guest Hotel, Iffley Road, Oxford, which has moved up a place from its second place ranking last year.

The top 10 dirtiest hotels were as follows:

1. Nanford Guest House, Oxford
2. Manor Court Hotel, London
3. Britannia Hotel Stockport, Stockport
4. Europa Gatwick, Crawley
5. Whiteleaf Hotel, London
6. Park Hotel, London
7. County Hotel, Carlisle
8. Britannia Hotel Birmingham
9. Eden Plaza Hotel, London
10. Britannia Country House, Didsbury, Manchester

The 2008 Traveller’s Choice UK Best Hotels (worldwide ranking in brackets) were:

100 Best Luxury World
The Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel, London (9)
Rudding Park Hotel , Harrogate (12)
The Atlantic Hotel, St Brelade, Jersey (49)
Hotel 41, London (78)
Draycott Hotel, London (85)
Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Dorchester (91)

Top 10 Best Luxury Europe
The Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel, London (4)
Rudding Park Hotel, Harrogate (7)

Best in the 25 Most Popular Destinations
The Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel, London (6)

Top 10 Best Hidden Gems World
Coswarth House, Padstow (8)

Top 10 Best Hidden Gems Europe
Coswarth House, Padstow (6)

Top 10 Best Bargains Europe
The Cottage in the Wood Country Hotel, Keswick (7)
The Orchard House, Northumberland National Park (10)

Top 10 Best Inns & B&Bs Europe
Bay Tree House and Annex, London (3)
Chestnuts House, Bath (4)
Gerald’s Place, Edinburgh (5)
Badminton Villa, Bath (6)
Gwynfryn Bed and Breakfast, Conwy, Wales (8)

Top 10 Best Service Europe
Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Dorchester (5)
The Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel, London (6)

The TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice award winners for 2008 were determined by a combination of TripAdvisor’s Popularity Index and traveller ratings of specific property attributes.

By Bev Fearis