The Woolacombe Bay Hotel

The four-pearl Woolacombe Bay Hotel has a charming, semi-timbered, red-brick facade. Marble steps lead to an old fashioned revolving wooden door and into the hotel's high-ceilinged reception area complete with crystal chandeliers and charmingly traditional wood-paneled front desk with brass hand-bell. Run by the Lancaster family, much effort has gone into the upkeep of this period property and in maintaining a balance between modernization and retaining its historic features -- including a lovely Edwardian-era elevator. The property is a mix of self-catering and hotel accommodation and is set in six acres of well-landscaped grounds that slope down to one of the U.K.'s finest beaches. Clientele are a mix of families -- drawn by the beach and kid-friendly facilities -- and largely retired couples attracted by the views and hotel's nostalgic charm. During school holidays, however, it can feel a little overrun with children. 

This hotel features a particularly fine setting at the top of a gently sloping hill overlooking North Devon's Woolacombe Beach -- three miles of golden sands and generally considered the best beach in the U.K. The edge of Woolacombe Sands, an extensive swathe of coastal dune-scape, is just minutes away on foot. The quaint restaurant, cafes, and traditional pubs of Woolacombe town are also a few minutes away on foot. The area is also very popular with surfers with lots of surf shops and decent-size waves for most of the year. There's little public transport in the area beyond some local buses (the nearest train station is in Barnstable over 12 miles away) so driving is highly recommended.

This hotel has 37 rooms, most of which are decorated in fresh and uncluttered -- even a little sparse -- styling with modern furnishings, striped carpets, and statement wallpaper or beach-themed touches. Standard amenities include flat-screen TVs, good quality tea/coffee facilities, and free Wi-Fi -- though no air-conditioning. Clean, contemporary bathrooms provide waffle-towel robes and high-end toiletries. Some bathrooms have shower/tub combos, while others have separate soaking tubs and walk-in showers. While many of the upper-tier rooms have great sea views, 2015 saw the addition of three Luxury Sea View suites complete with Juliet balconies and superb panoramas.

The self-catering apartments are located up the hill just outside the main hotel grounds and each is home to two bedrooms, a seating area, and a fully equipped kitchen. This accommodation is more basic and not the same upscale standard as in the hotel. Linens are provided, but not beach towels. Dogs are allowed in units on the ground floor. 

Breakfast is served buffet style with a continental selection as well as traditional cooked English favorites -- all included in the room rate. Doyle's Restaurant's particularly elegant surrounds serves an a la carte dinner menu of fine, locally sourced produce, while the Bay Brasserie provides less formal fare throughout the day. Leisure facilities are excellent, and include a heated indoor pool, an outside lido-style swimming pool lined with loungers, and a separate splash pool for kids. Children also have access to a kids' den, full of stuff to keep them entertained and away from the main area of the hotel; babysitting is also available. The hotel spa also offers a steam bath, sauna, and whirlpool as well as a choice of 40 massage and beauty treatments. An impressive health club also provides a modern gym, two squash courts, and outdoor tennis courts -- though it is also open to non-residents and can get crowded. Wi-Fi is free throughout.