The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2026 Revealed—And Four UK Stays Made the List

A Hong Kong harbour landmark takes the crown, while three London institutions and an Oxfordshire country retreat give British travellers plenty to celebrate.

The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2026 ranking has arrived, with Rosewood Hong Kong named the world’s best hotel for the second year running. For readers closer to home, there is another reason to pay attention: four UK properties have secured places in the top 50.

Claridge’s leads the British contingent at No.13, followed by Raffles London at The OWO at No.28, Estelle Manor at No.43 and The Connaught at No.49. Together, they offer an appealing choice between a London weekend and a countryside escape, without requiring a long-haul flight.

Why Rosewood Hong Kong is the world’s best hotel

At No.1, Rosewood Hong Kong makes a persuasive case for planning a city break around the hotel itself. Set beside Victoria Harbour, it combines 413 rooms and suites with interiors by Tony Chi, an extensive art collection and 11 restaurants and bars.

Even its entry-level rooms measure 53 square metres. That generosity continues in marble bathrooms with separate baths and twin walk-in showers, while materials such as tweed and timber give the interiors a residential character.

There is enough here to fill the hours between exploring the city: Indian cooking at Chaat, a drink at Darkside, treatments at Asaya and a swim in the 25-metre infinity pool. The hotel’s official website has the latest accommodation and dining details.

The four UK hotels in the World’s 50 Best Hotels 2026

No.13: Claridge’s, London

The highest-ranked British hotel is also one of the capital’s most recognisable addresses. Claridge’s has welcomed guests since 1856, and its Art Deco public spaces remain part of the appeal of checking into Mayfair.

Yet the attraction goes beyond the familiar frontage and famous name. Its Japanese-inspired spa and individually conceived suites give the hotel a contemporary life alongside its history. For a celebratory London stay, that combination of occasion and comfort is precisely the point.

No.28: Raffles London at The OWO

On Whitehall, Raffles London at The OWO offers a different kind of grandeur. The former Old War Office has been converted into a hotel whose historic architecture remains central to the experience, from its imposing staircase to suites associated with the building’s former occupants.

Dining is a substantial part of its draw, with restaurants from Mauro Colagreco and Japanese-inspired Kioku by Endo among the options. For an evening with a little intrigue, the subterranean Spy Bar supplies a suitably atmospheric setting.

No.43: Estelle Manor, Oxfordshire

The UK’s countryside entry is Estelle Manor, near Witney. Set within an 85-acre estate, the 108-room hotel combines a restored Jacobean Revival manor with interiors that favour rich fabrics, contemporary art and a distinctly sociable atmosphere.

Its Roman-inspired bathhouse is a major part of the attraction, alongside swimming, padel and woodland walks. Non-members can stay at the hotel, making this an option for those who want the atmosphere of a country club as part of a weekend away.

No.49: The Connaught, London

Completing the British quartet, The Connaught brings the focus back to Mayfair. Food and drink are compelling reasons to visit, with Hélène Darroze’s three-Michelin-starred restaurant and the Connaught Bar’s celebrated martini trolley under the same roof.

The art collection adds another dimension, with works by figures including Barbara Hepworth and Louise Bourgeois. It is a hotel that can shape an entire London evening, even for those who are not checking in.

The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2026: the full list

All 50 hotels, in order, from the official 2026 ranking are:

1. Rosewood Hong Kong — Hong Kong

2. Capella Bangkok — Bangkok

3. Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River — Bangkok

4. Atlantis The Royal — Dubai

5. Passalacqua — Lake Como

6. Rosewood São Paulo — São Paulo

7. Mandarin Oriental Qianmen — Beijing

8. Upper House Hong Kong — Hong Kong

9. Chablé Yucatán — Chocholá

10. Mandarin Oriental Bangkok — Bangkok

11. Aman Tokyo — Tokyo

12. Four Seasons Firenze — Florence

13. Claridge’s — London

14. Hôtel de Crillon — Paris

15. Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab — Dubai

16. Capella Sydney — Sydney

17. Raffles Singapore — Singapore

18. Casa Maria Luigia — Modena

19. Le Bristol — Paris

20. Cheval Blanc Paris — Paris

21. Desa Potato Head — Bali

22. San Ysidro Ranch — Santa Barbara

23. One&Only Mandarina — Riviera Nayarit

24. Bulgari Tokyo — Tokyo

25. Las Ventanas al Paraíso — Los Cabos

26. Royal Mansour — Marrakech

27. Four Seasons Astir Palace — Athens

28. Raffles London at The OWO — London

29. Copacabana Palace — Rio de Janeiro

30. The Taj Mahal Palace — Mumbai

31. The Peninsula Istanbul — Istanbul

32. Bulgari Roma — Rome

33. Patina Osaka — Osaka

34. Mount Nelson — Cape Town

35. Nihi Sumba — Sumba Island

36. Badrutt’s Palace — St. Moritz

37. Park Hyatt Kyoto — Kyoto

38. Hôtel du Couvent — Nice

39. Portrait Milano — Milan

40. Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo — Monaco

41. Plaza Athénée — Paris

42. Hotel Sacher Vienna — Vienna

43. Estelle Manor — Witney

44. Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc — Antibes

45. Amangiri — Canyon Point

46. The Peninsula Hong Kong — Hong Kong

47. Maroma — Riviera Maya

48. Aman Nai Lert — Bangkok

49. The Connaught — London

50. San Domenico Palace — Taormina

Two Italian stays worth building a trip around

At No.5, Passalacqua is also named the Best Hotel in Europe and receives the 2026 Best Boutique Hotel award. With just 24 rooms across its Lake Como estate, it offers a markedly intimate proposition: terraced gardens, individually designed interiors and the atmosphere of an elaborate private home.

For travellers choosing their next Italian escape, the small scale is as interesting as the ranking. This is a place to linger over the setting, with rooms spread between the main villa, former stables and a lakeside house.

Further south, Modena’s Casa Maria Luigia enters at No.18 and takes the Highest New Entry award. Created by Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore, the country estate brings contemporary art, music and food into the same intimate setting.

Dining at Francescana at Maria Luigia and Al Gatto Verde makes it especially relevant to anyone who plans a holiday around the table. The appeal is the chance to spend longer within that culinary world, with the hotel itself becoming part of the reason for travelling.

Which hotel should go on your shortlist?

The useful question is what you want from the stay. Rosewood Hong Kong lends itself to a hotel-led city break; the London entries offer three distinct settings for a special weekend; Estelle Manor brings the emphasis to the countryside. For Italy, Passalacqua and Casa Maria Luigia suggest two very different itineraries—one shaped by the lake, the other by food.

Let the ranking introduce an address, then look closely at room categories, restaurant availability and any separately charged experiences before booking. A place on the list is a starting point; the right stay still depends on how you want to spend your time.