Southampton hotels

As its name suggests, the city’s only 5-star hotel sits right on the harbor—from the right angle, the Harbour Hotel looks a little like a luxury ship about to set sail.

My favorite views are from HarBar on the 6th floor, the hotel’s rooftop bar and restaurant. Relax on the terrace overlooking the Solent with a cocktail using local Mermaid gin and some wood-fired pizza. Having your own binoculars in your room comes a close second. The guestrooms feature splashes of orange, complimentary gin in a decanter, king-size beds and rainhead showers.

As an added bonus, there’s the award-winning restaurant, The Jetty, known for its seafood, as well as the spa, with several pools and Elemis treatments.

The sister hotel to the original Pig hotel in the nearby New Forest, The Pig in the Wall has the same trademark shabby chic style and a unique location, tucked away in the city’s medieval walls.

One of the best boutique hotels in Southampton, its 12 individually styled rooms make the most of their historic quirks—Snug Rooms are up in the eaves with exposed timber beams, while Spacious Rooms have carved wooden posts on the beds, stone fireplaces and—my own favorite touch—rolltop tubs on medieval-style tiles.

The laid-back atmosphere continues over dinner, with deli-style dishes to eat around rustic wooden tables or on low sofas by the cozy log burner. Ingredients are sourced from their sister site—expect creative salads, sausage rolls and pies, though there are vegetarian options at breakfast too.

It’s not often you see rooms above an Italian restaurant among the best hotels in Southampton, but Ennios is a cut above your average pizzeria. Set on the harbor, close to the cruise ship terminals and ferry port, the 10 guestrooms have mod cons like flatscreen TVs and Egyptian cotton linen, but are all decorated differently.

The romantic canopy bed in the Executive Superior Double room is the standout, although I’ve got a soft spot for the elephant print cushions in the Deluxe Double, as well as the luxurious L’Occitane toiletries in the bathrooms.

One of the best hotels in Southampton for foodies, breakfast might be traditional English but lunch and dinner are mouth-wateringly Italian, with a great wine list to accompany classic pasta dishes, meat, fish and the indulgently delicious house special dessert, Ennio’s tiramisu.

This award-winning hotel and pub is where many passengers and crew stayed the night before boarding the Titanic. The tavern is named after the ill-fated ship’s owners, the White Star Shipping Line.

Today, the 13 rooms have a full-on nautical theme, decorated in plums, greens and grays, which takes me back to the golden age of cruising. The Comfy Cabin rooms have king-size beds, monsoon showers or roll-top tubs, and squashy pillows, while even the smaller Cosy Cabins have luxurious bedlinens, flatscreen TVs and monsoon showers.

Its central location makes this one of the best hotels in Southampton for exploring, set within walking distance from the historic heart of the city as well as the harbor and cruise port. Plus, there’s a good selection of pub classics and plant-based dishes when you need to refuel.

The moment you step through the elegant white columns of No.4 Carlton, you get a sense of why this understatedly luxurious building is one of the best hotels in Southampton. With nine guestrooms and suites to choose from, I always think it combines the best of traditional style with contemporary flair.

Wingback chairs come in a glimmering silver-gray fabric, the curving staircase in the hall is offset with striking sea-blue paint and bird-print wallpaper, and the eye-catching lighting is a world away from a classic chandelier.

The same goes for the rooms: choose between Art Deco-style pink and black, blue with splashes of gold, and more earthy neutral tones offset by quirky decorative touches. All have king-size beds, rainfall showers and coffee machines, plus a fridge stocked with complimentary drinks. Continental breakfast is included, and the hotel is only a short walk from the SeaCity Museum.