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MICHELIN Guide reveals its first ‘Keys’ hotels in the UK and Ireland

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Four years ago, MICHELIN Guide announced a major revamp of its hotel selection. Whilst it has been recommending hotels ever since its first Guide in the 1920s, with over 5,000 now listed globally, it never applied its restaurant rating system to them.

This changed last October when MICHELIN announced it would start awarding ‘Keys.’ Like its restaurant Stars, these would be awarded to the “crème de la crème of our selection.” To quote:

“All our hotels excel in design, architecture, service and personality — the MICHELIN Key denotes the absolute most outstanding experiences in our selection.”

Select hotels would be awarded either one, two or three Keys, with Three Key hotels marking out the pinnacle of hospitality.

2024 UK and Ireland MICHELIN Keys announced

A year after announcing the launch of Keys, MICHELIN Guide has published its first list of Key hotels in the UK and Ireland. These are the “culmination of countless hours of evaluation by our MICHELIN Guide Inspectors,” with the inaugural keys awarded to 123 hotels:

  • 14 Three Key hotels
  • 37 Two Key hotels
  • 72 One Key hotels

We thought we’d publish the full list, because the ‘Three Key’ selection is pretty much as you would expect. I found the ‘One Key’ selection more interesting because it features hotels which may not automatically be on your radar.

At Head for Points, we have reviewed eight of them:

Two of the biggest openings this year have made it to the top of the list with both The Peninsula and Raffles at The OWO being awarded Three Keys.

The only hotels from the big five hotel loyalty schemes we cover are:

  • Gleaneagles, Auchterarder (Accor/Ennismore, but not part of Accor Live Limitless) – Three Keys
  • Raffles London at The OWO (Accor) – Three Keys
  • The Savoy (Accor) – Three Keys
  • Bvlgari Hotel London (technically part of Marriott Bonvoy but not points earning or redeeming) – Three Keys
  • Sofitel London St James (Accor) – One Key
  • NoMad London (now Hilton) – One Key
  • Gleneagles Townhouse Edinburgh (Accor/Ennismore, but not part of Accor Live Limitless) – One Key

There are quite a few hotels which are part of Small Luxury Hotels (and so can be booked via Hilton) or Mr & Mrs Smith (and so can be booked via Hyatt). There are also a few Global Hotel Alliance properties, such as Corinthia London.

What does a MICHELIN Key mean for you? As a start, I wouldn’t be surprised to see hotels on this list try to push up their prices as they bask in the prestige of their awards. Prices at restaurants awarded a MICHELIN star often increase and I would expect to see something similar here.

Three Key Hotels

  • The Newt in Somerset – Bruton
  • Lucknam Park – Colerne
  • Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, A Belmond Hotel – Great Milton
  • Bvlgari Hotel London
  • Claridge’s – London
  • Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane
  • Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park – London
  • Raffles London at The OWO
  • The Connaught – London
  • The Peninsula London
  • The Savoy – London
  • Adare Manor – Adare, Republic of Ireland
  • Ballyfin Demesne – Ballyfin, Republic of Ireland
  • The Gleneagles Hotel – Auchterarder, Scotland (review here)

Two Key Hotels

  • Coworth Park, Dorchester Collection – Ascot
  • The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa – Bath
  • Gidleigh Park – Chagford
  • Gravetye Manor – East Grinstead
  • Lympstone Manor – Exmouth
  • Hampton Manor – Hampton-in-Arden
  • Heckfield Place – Heckfield
  • Beaverbrook Surrey – Leatherhead
  • Thyme – Lechlade
  • 45 Park Lane, Dorchester Collection – London
  • Brown’s Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel – London
  • Corinthia Hotel London (review here)
  • Covent Garden Hotel, Firmdale Hotels – London
  • Ham Yard Hotel, Firmdale Hotels – London
  • Haymarket Hotel, Firmdale Hotels – London
  • Hotel Café Royal – London (review here)
  • Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London
  • Rosewood London
  • The Beaumont Hotel – London
  • The Berkeley – London
  • The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel, London
  • The Dorchester, Dorchester Collection – London
  • The Langham, London (review here)
  • The Twenty Two – London
  • Lime Wood Hotel – Lyndhurst
  • Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa – Malmesbury
  • Chewton Glen Hotel – New Milton
  • Grantley Hall – Ripon
  • Hambleton Hall – Rutland
  • Cliveden House – Taplow
  • Gilpin Hotel & Lake House – Windermere
  • The Samling Hotel – Windermere
  • Cashel Palace – Cashel, Republic of Ireland
  • Sheen Falls Lodge – Kenmare, Republic of Ireland
  • The Merrion – Dublin, Republic of Ireland
  • The Fife Arms – Braemar, Scotland
  • The Balmoral – Edinburgh, Scotland

One Key Hotels

England

  • Amberley Castle – Amberley
  • Bath Priory – Bath
  • Homewood – Bath
  • The Gainsborough Bath Spa (review here)
  • The Queensberry Hotel – Bath
  • The Yard, Bath
  • The Collective at Woolsery – Bideford
  • Farlam Hall Hotel & Restaurant – Brampton
  • Artist Residence Brighton
  • Artist Residence Bristol
  • Number 38 Clifton – Bristol
  • The Gallivant – Camber
  • Cowley Manor Experimental – Cheltenham
  • Foresters Hall – Cowes (Isle of Wight)
  • Forest Side Hotel – Grasmere
  • Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire
  • The Old Rectory – Hastings
  • The Harper Langham
  • 1 Hotel Mayfair – London
  • Artist Residence London
  • Baglioni Hotel London
  • Beaverbrook Town House – London
  • Broadwick Soho – London
  • Charlotte Street Hotel, Firmdale Hotels – London
  • Chiltern Firehouse – London
  • COMO The Halkin – London
  • Flemings Mayfair – London
  • Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge
  • Knightsbridge Hotel, Firmdale Hotels – London
  • L’oscar London
  • NoMad London
  • Number Sixteen, Firmdale Hotels – London
  • One Aldwych – London
  • Redchurch Townhouse – London
  • Shangri-La The Shard London (review here)
  • Sofitel London St James
  • The Emory – London
  • The Soho Hotel, Firmdale Hotels – London
  • The Vineyard Hotel & Spa – Newbury
  • Estelle Manor – North Leigh
  • Artist Residence Oxfordshire – Oxford
  • The Swan Southwold
  • The Idle Rocks – St Mawes
  • Hotel Tresanton – St Mawes
  • Thornbury Castle – Thornbury
  • Artist Residence Cornwall – West Cornwall
  • Linthwaite House Hotel – Windermere

Channel Islands

  • Longueville Manor – Saint Helier, Jersey

Scotland

  • Glenapp Castle – Ballantrae
  • Dumfries House Lodge – Cumnock
  • Links House at Royal Dornoch – Dornoch
  • 100 Princes Street – Edinburgh
  • Gleneagles Townhouse – Edinburgh (review here)
  • Prestonfield Edinburgh – Edinburgh
  • Foyers Lodge Loch Ness – Foyers
  • The Grandtully Hotel by Ballintaggart – Grandtully
  • Kinloch Lodge – Isle of Skye – Sleat
  • Cromlix Hotel – Kinbuck
  • Newhall Mains Dingwall – Resolis
  • Glenmorangie House – Tain

Wales

  • Palé Hall – Bala
  • Penmaenuchaf – Dolgellau
  • The Grove – Narberth

Republic of Ireland

  • Gregans Castle Hotel – Ballyvaughan
  • Cliff House Hotel – Ardmore
  • Castlemartyr Resort – Castlemartyr
  • Dylan – Dublin
  • Wilder Townhouse Dublin
  • The Killarney Park
  • The Victoria – Killarney
  • No. 1 Pery Square – Limerick
  • Dromoland Castle – Newmarket on Fergus
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Comments (46)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Lumma says:
    3 Oct3 October 04:08

    I’ve definitely stayed in a few One Key hotels in my time

  • executiveclubber says:
    3 Oct3 October 05:01

    Three Keys for the decrepit Savoy? Two for the Corinthia? Did they just sort hotels.com by price high to low and hope for the best?

    • Sean says:
      3 Oct3 October 14:42

      My thoughts also, having spent 20+ nights in the Savoy over the past couple of years and “enjoyed” a fair few issues during the stays (including no water in the whole hotel once! When I called to ask what was happening they brushed me off and didn’t see why it was an issue)

    • TGLoyalty says:
      3 Oct3 October 20:32

      Corinthia is one of the worst stays I’ve had in London

  • BJ says:
    3 Oct3 October 06:03

    I wonder if a budget hotel like a Premier Inn or Travelode will make it onto the list in the same way as streetfood has been awarded stars.

    • Ken says:
      3 Oct3 October 06:48

      This analogy only works if they start awarding stars to the Peckham branch of KFC or Maccies.

      Don’t hold your breath.

      • BJ says:
        3 Oct3 October 07:35

        Good point but FYI KFC in Kathmandu had/has a red carpet and a uniformed doorman … I kid you not 🙂

    • Kit Aspen says:
      3 Oct3 October 07:31

      To be fair, they have given Keys to a number of small boutique hotels that are not insanely expensive, those feel like the equivalent to unique super high quality street food. Places like The Swan in Southwold stand out on the list above.

      • BJ says:
        3 Oct3 October 07:45

        Yes, a berrer analogy but if a budget chain were to come along with anazing architecture in a stunning location I wonder if that might be enough to get a key.

        • JDB says:
          3 Oct3 October 08:18

          @BJ – the keys relate also “to interior design, quality and consistency of service, overall personality and character” so the budget chains might not make the cut.

          • BJ says:
            3 Oct3 October 10:59

            Well, you couldn’t say they weren’t minimalist or very beige in their design concept 🙂

        • The Savage Squirrel says:
          3 Oct3 October 11:24

          Whatever you think of ‘spoons food/drink offering (not much in my opinion 🤣) there are definitely a couple of ‘spoons properties I can think of where they did actually do a fantastic job of renovating and repurposing old buildings while retaining character and stylish nods to their former uses.

          • CJD says:
            3 Oct3 October 18:45

            I’d say that’s one thing Wetherspoons do incredibly well, to their credit.

    • Jay-Marc says:
      3 Oct3 October 07:45

      An award at a point more in the spirit of the Bib Gourmand could be useful.

      • JDB says:
        3 Oct3 October 08:20

        Yes, the guide has gone backwards in this regards really vs its previous five star rating with black/red and the black/red rocking horse. Some great places with two (out of five) red stars and a red horse. They still exist fortunately so maybe not too widely listed is better!

  • Sandgrounder says:
    3 Oct3 October 06:47

    No Britannia hotels made it? Nothing in Blackpool?

  • Matt says:
    3 Oct3 October 06:59

    Ballyfin is duplicated on the 3 key list.

  • Joan says:
    3 Oct3 October 07:18

    I see a lot of the Firmdale Hotels have been awarded 2 or 1 Keys . A great way to earn Avios as you can get 10x avios via BA Shopping « in store” . We often go for drinks /food at The Ham Yard and have had some nice chunky avios additions as a result ☺️

    • JDB says:
      3 Oct3 October 08:14

      Yes, the Firmdale hotels are remarkably good for London and very individual. Ham Yard and Haymarket usually have good value lunch menus.

  • No longer Entitled says:
    3 Oct3 October 07:28

    HfP have reviewed eight of them. Rob was glowing about Grantley Hall in Yorkshire last year. Rightly so.

  • jj says:
    3 Oct3 October 08:22

    Independents and small chains: 117; Accor – 5; Hilton – 1; Marriott – 0; IHG – 0; Hyatt – 0.

    The Michelin inspectors obviously share my long-held perception that the big chains are functional rather than aspirational, and that there really is little purpose in collecting points in hotels where I really don’t want to stay. It also supports my belief that, despite Rob’s repeated criticism of the scheme, ALL is the best hotel group to have points in, as it actually has some decent hotels where the points can be spent.

    • Rob says:
      3 Oct3 October 08:30

      But at 2 Eurocents per point you’re looking at a big hit for your £1,000 Raffles room.

      And Accor’s Mercure won the last Which? award for worst UK hotel chain didn’t it (Britannia not making the cut off in terms of size) ……

      • jj says:
        3 Oct3 October 08:38

        Agree with you, @Rob, that Mercure hotels are truly dreadful. I’ve had the misfortune to stay in a couple on business in run-down parts of the UK where levelling–up hasn’t been the success fondly imagined by Boris.

        • Throwawayname says:
          3 Oct3 October 14:26

          Mercure hotels aren’t universally dreadful, like many ‘conversion brands’ they can range from abysmal to superb, with most being somewhere in between. However I believe there’s a particular operator focusing on the North of England which does have some pretty outdated hotels- outside of football weekends in Manchester, the prices do reflect that though, so it’s an easy way to get a decent-sized (if unattractive) room for Ibis money.

    • TGLoyalty says:
      3 Oct3 October 08:54

      I don’t feel like it’s a comprehensive list of every good to very good hotel in the U.K. yet.

      Surprised Fairmont Windsor didn’t even make the list considering some that did.

      Wouldn’t expect any UK Marriott to make the list except perhaps the new St Regis when it opens and maybe The Langley or University Arms could if they improved service.

      Then Six Sense for IHG and Admiralty Arch for Hilton when they open.

      • JDB says:
        3 Oct3 October 09:05

        It is indeed a far from comprehensive list, but the super limited presence of chains is both telling and reassuring. There are some tip top places that don’t wish to be or need to be included.

        I do think it’s sad that Hilton and Accor are responsible for managing Admiralty Arch/OWO. We will see how that goes.

        I’m not particularly surprised by the Fairmont Windsor not being included, it is and is intended to be corporate. The Langley is an interesting one, attractive place but it is the painting by numbers equivalent of hotel management; not the real deal. Can’t comment on the others but am watching the Six Senses with interest as I visit that area very regularly even though it’s a no go zone for @Rob!

        • jj says:
          3 Oct3 October 12:59

          To be fair, GHA seems to do quite well out of this, with a reasonable number of hotels listed (although they’re not totalled in the article).

          Is it time to make GHA’s Discovery programme a first class citizen on HfP, @Rob? I’ve had some great stays in GHA hotels.

          • Throwawayname says:
            3 Oct3 October 16:44

            NH can be amazing value for money, was recently passing through Valladolid (great little city BTW, I only stopped there because I had a long drive to Madrid but was blown away but by it), paid something like €51 for my room and also got a status upgrade to a superior with Nespresso machine, bathrobes and slippers etc.

    • Tom says:
      3 Oct3 October 11:28

      I think this is a little unfair to Hyatt because their presence at the luxury end in the UK is uniquely weak / non-existent but there are plenty of other European countries where there is a Park Hyatt that would be basically the only big chain hotel to make Michelin’s list (Paris, Vienna, Milan, etc.).

      Otherwise, agree that in the case of IHG, Hilton and Marriott they are generally not up to much.

      • TGLoyalty says:
        3 Oct3 October 20:52

        2 Keys Gritti Palace, The Ritz Carlton Nikko, Zadun, Ritz Carlton Reserve

        1 Key RC Orlando, Tampa Edition, The Gwen Chicago, RC NYC, RC NoMAD, St Regis Rome (can’t believe Florence didn’t make the list), Santo Mauro Madrid LC, Westin Palace Madrid, (how didn’t Alfonso make the list?!?), RC Fukuoko, Suiran LC Kyoto, RC Kyoto, RC Okinawa, JWM Nara, RC Niseko, RC And W Osaka, RC and Prince Gallery Tokyo, St Regis Mexico, St Regis Playa Del Carmen

        Have to say seems like the European properties just didn’t try for the amount of Japanese properties on the list.

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