20 charming hotels for a British city break

The Pig in the Wall, Southampton: This little Piggy occupies an 18th-century building set into the medieval wall of a busy and populous port city, berth for some of the world’s largest cruise ships. The hotel is one of a small litter (see GHG website). Inside find shabby-chic style, wood floors, vintage china, antiques and curios. You can snack at the all-day deli counter — or jump in a hotel Land Rover for a free ride to the mother Pig in the New Forest and some seriously good modern cooking. Characterful rooms have espresso machines, larders and monsoon showers. Rooms from $164. Breakfast $12.50. 44(0)2380 636900, thepighotel.com/in-the-wall

The Bonham, Edinburgh: With its castle perched high on a volcanic crag, its medieval-plan Old Town and Georgian New Town, the Scottish capital is a tourist magnet. A stroll from the shops of Princes Street, on a Victorian crescent, the Bonham occupies three adjoining townhouses. Bedrooms have contemporary styling with bright splashes of color and some splendid city views. You can take tea by the fire in the panelled Consulting Room bar (the building was for a time a private clinic) and enjoy modern Scottish dishes with a European twist in the impressive dining room overlooking the leafy Drumsheugh Gardens. B&B from $177 (low-season special $95). À la carte $40. 44(0)131 226 6050, thebonham.com

Assembly House, Norwich: The unofficial capital of East Anglia retains much of its medieval charm, with a Norman cathedral, 12th-century castle keep and wealth of historic buildings. This 18th-century mansion and long-time place of entertainment stands in a quiet dead-end street next to the Theatre Royal. Suites and bedrooms are amply furnished and stylish; six have their own secret garden, four have a lounge; most have separate double-ended bath and drench shower. At breakfast there is freshly squeezed orange juice, eggs Benedict and omelet Arnold Bennett. At night eat in, choosing from a short menu, or take your pick of local restaurants. Rooms from $230. À la carte breakfast (full English $13); dinner $37. 44(0)1603 626402, assemblyhousenorwich.co.uk

Stoberry House, Wells, Somerset: Just 35 minutes’ drive from Bath, this restored 18th-century coach house affords picture-postcard views of England’s smallest city, with its 13th-century cathedral and moated Bishop’s Palace. Comfy sitting rooms have a home-away-from-home feel, with artwork, crowded bookshelves, board games and ornaments. The five bedrooms are imaginatively, traditionally styled. At breakfast the continental buffet is a veritable feast. Homemade bread, Somerset cheeses, Scotch pancakes ... Then how about a cream tea in the wonderful gardens? B&B (continental) doubles from $108. Cooked breakfast $7. 44(0)1749 672906, stoberryhouse.co.uk

Abbey Hotel, Bath, Somerset: Right at the center of this jewel of a city, famed for its Roman baths and sublime Georgian architecture, this 60-room hotel wins praise for its friendly, efficient staff. Spotless bedrooms, reached by various stairways, differ in size, as you’d expect from a conversion of three townhouses. Public areas are bright, hung with artwork. There’s gourmet cooking in Alium Restaurant, a lively buzz in Art Bar and an exceptional breakfast and afternoon tea. B&B from $240. À la carte $58. 44(0)1225 461603, abbeyhotelbath.co.uk

Number Thirty Eight Clifton, Bristol: Bristol has a fascinating mix or architecture (including unique 19th-century Bristol Byzantine) and a thriving arts scene. Explore it from your base at this former Georgian merchant’s house run as a relaxed B&B. The eight immaculate bedrooms, in heritage shades, mix contemporary and traditional style. Loft suites span the building, affording panoramic views over the city and the green expanse of Clifton Down. Breakfast is excellent. The house is unstaffed after 8 p.m., but you have a great choice of restaurants on Whiteladies Road just minutes’ walk away. B&B from $145. Children over 12 welcomed. 44(0)117 946 6905, number38clifton.com

Jesmond Dene House, Newcastle Upon Tyne: Just five minutes’ drive from the vibrant city center, with its fine Victorian architecture, concert hall, galleries and nightlife, find this mansion built in Tudor style for a 19th-century magnate amid lovely grounds. Beautifully appointed bedrooms are supplied with freshly ground coffee, fresh milk and glossy magazines. The staff are friendly and helpful. Locals come for afternoon tea on the terrace, and for Michael Penaluna’s modern British cooking. At breakfast there is freshly squeezed orange juice, home-baked croissants and kippers with seaweed butter. It’s "propa mint an’ that, pet," as they say around these parts. B&B from $178. À la carte $64, set dinner $25-$30, tasting menu $89. 0191 212 3000, jesmonddenehouse.co.uk

Castle House, Hereford: Hereford Castle is no more, but this Regency villa stands in gardens by the remains of the moat, in a small city on the banks of the River Wye. The hotel is family-run, the kitchen supplied with produce from the owners’ farm. Bedrooms in the main house are traditional, furnished with antiques; rooms in a neighboring townhouse are more modern. Eat informally in the bistro, or sample Claire Nicholls’s modern cooking in the restaurant. Stroll to the Norman cathedral to see the priceless medieval Mapp Mundi — a map of the world, but not as we know it. B&B from $190. À la carte $50, tasting menu $63.50. 44(0)1432 356321, castlehse.co.uk

2 Blackburne Terrace, Liverpool: From Britain’s largest cathedral to Paul McCartney’s modest childhood home, and with a thriving waterfront and arts scene, friendly Liverpool has many attractions. A short walk from the center, behind a row of lime trees on a cobbled drive, this late-Georgian townhouse is run as a B&B. Stylish rooms have antiques, modern artworks and theatrical touches. Browse books on local history in the elegant drawing room. Sun yourself in the walled garden. Sit down with fellow guests to eat breakfast pastries and cooked dishes at a table laid with silver, crystal and porcelain. Children 10 and over. B&B from $201. 44(0)151 708 5474, 2blackburneterrace.com

Edgar House, Chester: In a cathedral city close to the Welsh border, this small luxury hotel occupies a Georgian house atop Britain’s most complete medieval city wall. The owners have a fine sense of style and fun (an honesty bar is secreted in an old telephone kiosk). Four of the beautifully designed bedrooms overlook the River Dee. All have striking décor, rain showers, free-standing baths and underfloor heating. In the same building, Twenty2 restaurant serves sophisticated modern cooking. Walk the wall and return for afternoon tea in the riverside garden. B&B from $264. À la carte $44-$57. Children 14 and over welcomed. 44(0)1244 347007, edgarhouse.co.uk

Hannah's, Winchester, Hampshire: Jane Austen is buried in the medieval cathedral in this city on the edge of the South Downs, while the legendary Round Table of King Arthur hangs in the castle. From Thursday to Sunday young hostess Hannah McIntyre welcomes guests to her much-praised B&B amid the independent shops of Parchment Street. The three charming bedrooms have super-kingsize beds and a bath big enough for two. In the beamed breakfast room, Hannah serves an exemplary breakfast, with homemade jams and granola. Explore the one-time capital of England, and return for tea and homemade cakes. B&B from $195. Children 12 and over welcomed. 44(0)1962 840623, hannahsbedandbreakfast.co.uk

Artist Residence, Brighton: This south-coast resort has a youthful, bohemian vibe, reflected in this townhouse hotel on a Regency square. The décor is wildly eclectic, with a wealth of fun art. There are two cocktails bars, a ping-pong room, in the lounge rattan chairs and parlour games. The smallest bedrooms are unashamedly billed as "tiny." Sample the seasonal tasting menus in The Set restaurant, small plates in The Set Café. At breakfast choose from house granola, pancake stack with Greek yogurt, smoky beans on toast and eggs Benedict. See the GHG website to read about the London sister hotel. B&B from $113. 44(0)1273 324302, artistresidencebrighton.co.uk

Old Parsonage, Oxford: At the beating heart of the historic city, this 17th-century parsonage stands amid the university’s colleges, a stroll from the bohemian quarter of Jericho. The interiors blend antique and modern, with fine portraits hanging on the bar’s charcoal-gray walls. Staff are bright and friendly. You’ll find a courtyard garden, a library with doors onto a terrace, and luxury bedrooms with marble bathrooms (some with a rainfall shower). At dinner, modern British dishes might include Hereford steak béarnaise, cod cheek, winter slaw and tartare sauce. Great breakfasts are served until 11 a.m. Walking tours and use of hotel bicycles are imaginative bonuses. B&B from $285. Theater menu $23-29, à la carte $46 plus 12½% discretionary service. 01865 310210, oldparsonage-hotel.co.uk

Old Bank, Oxford: On the High Street across from Bodleian Library, Old Parsonage’s sister hotel occupies two historic buildings much altered over centuries. There is a peaceful residents’ library bar, while food and drink are served all day in Quod restaurant (much patronised by Chelsea Clinton at Oxford) on the heated terrace, and in the lively public bar hung with the owner’s modern art collection. The bedrooms have fresh flowers, high-end toiletries, bath and shower. All have 24-hour room service, and suites have an espresso machine. The best city views are from the front. Rooms from $196. Breakfast à la carte (full English $19), lunch/dinner $44 (plus 12½% discretionary service charge). 01865 799599, oldbank-hotel.co.uk

Duke House, Cambridge: The river Granta becomes the Cam as it wraps itself around this city, spanned by bridges to "the Backs," the rear of colleges, including the iconic King’s, a stroll from this smart but welcoming boutique B&B. A refurbished Victorian house once home to the Duke of Gloucester, it is close to the green space of Parker’s Piece and, more prosaically, the bus station. There is a comfortable sitting room. The five bedrooms (one in an adjacent cottage, one with private balcony) are attractive and comfortable, with use of a shared fridge and honesty bar. At breakfast there’s great bread, homemade compote and local produce. B&B from $152. Babies and over-10s welcomed. 01223 314773, dukehousecambridge.co.uk

The Grazing Goat, London: In an enclave surprisingly close to the teeming West End, this is a smart, airy gastropub with a panelled dining room above a bar with outside seating. Eight simple but beautifully furnished bedrooms on three upper floors have restful décor, smart toiletries, cafetière coffee. You can graze all day and do far better than a goat, with British bistro-style dishes, house-cured meats and daily fish specials. Breakfast includes such unusual items as omelet with grilled crevettes and scallions. Also check out sister hotel The Orange, in Pimlico. Rooms from $220 (winter special rate). Cooked breakfast from $9, à la carte $44. 44(0)20 7724 7243, thegrazinggoat.co.uk

The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa, Bath, Somerset: At the center of one of the most beautiful sweeps of urban architecture in Europe, with glorious city vistas, this luxury hotel has been created from adjoining townhouses. Behind the elegant frontage, public rooms are filled with paintings and antiques. There is a smart bar for cocktails, and a fine-dining restaurant. Bedrooms vary in size and amenities; some have a four-poster, some an espresso machine. Master Suites are the last word in elegance. The Jane Austen family room in the coach house has a conservatory. The spa pool is especially magical. B&B from $334. À la carte $80. 44(0)1225 823333, royalcrescent.co.uk

Grasshoppers, Glasgow: A compact port city on the Clyde with a medieval cathedral and renowned Victorian and Art Nouveau architecture, Glasgow is home to the Scottish Opera, Ballet and National Theatre. Right bedside Central Station, behind an anonymous office frontage, this cheap and cheerful hotel has been compared to an upmarket hostel. Take the lift to the top to be greeted with smiles and a surprise treat (maybe cake or an ice). The cheery bedrooms have a bathroom pod with power shower. Four nights a week you can stay in for a simple supper (Tuscan sausages, maybe, or risotto) — or check the in-house guide for restaurant recommendations. Breakfast on local deli fare. B&B single from $85, double from $98. À la carte $21. 44(0)141 222 2666, grasshoppersglasgow.com