If you’ve ever found yourself dreaming about velvet armchairs, country garden strolls, and curated city style in the same breath, this is the British itinerary you didn’t know you needed. It’s travel for those who appreciate a view, a vibe, and a story worth telling - equal parts artisanal tea, tailored fashion, indie theatre, and soft-hued countryside fog.
Consider this your insider pass to Olwethu-Thando Klaas’s Britain. The GLAMOUR contributor’s hit list of where to stay, shop, sip, and explore is as tested as it is tastefully curated.
Oxfordshire
Stay: Artist Residence Oxfordshire
The warm 16th-century Oxfordshire farmhouse that evolved into a classic country pub in the village of South Leigh makes a beautiful case for being the dictionary definition of “picturesque”. Whether you arrive by private car, taxi, or the regular £30 bus from the airport to Oxford, this is a stay fit to fill your rom-com movie dreams.
Founded by husband-and-wife team Justin and Charlotte Salisbury - who have a very distinctive vintage boho charm meets contemporary in their boutique hospitality styling - the Artist Residence Oxfordshire is the kind of place that makes you forget your inbox exists.
A design-led spot in the famed Cotswolds countryside, they’re regularly visited by locals and have a stylish globetrotting selection coming through too, but are still considered a relative ‘hidden gem’ laden with an Andy Doig sculpture, softly scented Bramley bath products and English fare. With paint-chipped patina, in-room Roberts digital radio, and breakfast served like a still-life painting by a discreet and attentive team, anyone would be tempted to add another night to their stay.
The pub on the property, Mr Hanbury’s Mason Arms, is so cosy and cool that it almost dares you not to post about it!
The refreshed drinks menu, garnished with foraged flowers & herbs, lets you hit the highlights of local offerings, from the memorably smooth Cotswolds Dry Gin to the delectable Rhubarb Daisy. For another highlight of your visit, do give the Merguez Scotch Egg on the food menu a try - paired with the fresh plum chutney, it gives a true, wholesome starter to English taste beyond the city.
Don’t Miss: The stroll-worthy garden and the sensational bath tubs that double as therapy.
Culture Hit: Many university colleges and museums offer free entry, so take time to explore hidden courtyards and world-class exhibits (like the body art and ornament section at Pitt Rivers Museum). Also, wander through Blackwell’s - a multi-level literary landmark, with everything from rare book finds and gift-worthy art prints to music scores and an underground Norrington Room that feels like a secret archive. And for grandeur with major period-drama energy, Blenheim Palace is unmissable - history, architecture, and stories worth getting lost in. Vintage lovers can shop poodle skirts and once-in-a-lifetime fashion finds, meanwhile, at either The Retro Room, Reign Vintage, or Ballroom Emporium.
Bristol
Stay: Artist Residence Bristol
In one of the coolest districts (said to be the ‘cultural heart of Bristol’), where turning a corner can either lead to a stately townhouse or a graffiti-laden wall and locals shuffling home or to drinks at the vibey Cosies, is the second of five Artist Residence hotels.
This former boot factory-turned-hotel may just be one of the best examples of bohemian charm in Britain. From hotel reception to the co-working space and the co-playing lounges with their abstract neon artwork, Artist Residence Bristol has a character well-matched to the city that’s invariably the hardy but warm, tattooed cousin of London. Think upcycled furniture, art gallery-styled walls, and a buzzing bar helmed by knowledgeable tenders pouring some of the most palatable UK beer brews that even a sworn cocktail lover can enjoy. At their pub-restaurant, you'll maybe overhear drinking couples sitting in their booths, planning, while entrepreneurs at tables happily munch while they dissect climate politics and where their business will be positioned in the coming years.
Queer-friendly and eccentric, with incredibly detailed individually designed rooms that have both smart traveller essentials (e.g: charging ports, smart TV & light dimmers) as well as unique interiors tempting guests to snap a pic and then stay in between the crisp white sheets with a full-bodied cuppa, this colourful hotel in the Stokes Croft quarter shines with creative, warm energy come daylight or nighttime.
If you like your cities with edge and personality, Bristol delivers - and so does this stay that’s at home in a Georgian townhouse just 10 minutes from the Temple Meads station that’ll take you to your next UK adventure!
Best For: Slow morning meetings with oat milk cappuccinos, dinners with plates that favour substance over spectacle, and setting off for afternoons of vinyl-hunting at Payback Records and Plastic Wax Records.
Culture Hit: The walk-through immersive arts experience ‘Wake the Tiger’, made up of 30 spaces, is a huge hit in the city, and some of the best art is also outdoors. Don’t skip the street art walking tours - ‘Where The Wall’ experiences are popular if you don't want to go searching for that Banksy yourself!
If you’re in need of an independent & trendy cafe, restaurant, or retail shop fix on a grand scale, head to the Wapping Wharf, where even among the many establishments at home in shipping containers, there is also the fascinating train, crane, and boat working exhibits, as well as the opportunity to just sit harbourside and people-watch. The local distillery, 6 O’clock Gin, has one of the best unique drink experiences, though, so if you’re parched, head to their floating bar at The Glassboat.
Lake District
Stay: Langdale Chase Hotel
When you - and the occasional Hollywood star - crave quiet, cinematic luxury, Langdale Chase Hotel delivers.
This 19th-century mansion on the banks of Lake Windermere (England’s largest natural lake) recently underwent a careful restoration, preserving its Victorian Gothic architecture while introducing design details that feel more modern & elegant. Rich oak panelling, soaring windows, plush and textured fabrics in rich hues, and freestanding tubs positioned perfectly for views over the water and perhaps a little meditating.
It's no longer “old school”.
Langdale Chase is timeless - a UK indulgence with personality, and the price tag to match!
It’s the kind of place where you might spot locals checking in for a celebratory staycation, or White Lotus actors sipping something warm after wrapping up (I can verify!).
Somewhere between lakeside walks and decadent soaks, I was sailing in the hotel's restored 1928 teak and mahogany motor yacht (great to bypass traffic, see the sights without hassle, and sample vintage travel), and tipped off by my truly entertaining Albatross boatsman to the nearby Loughrigg Fell hike: family-friendly, rewarding, and easy enough to do even after a long, lazy breakfast.
Speaking of breakfast - it’s included, and worth getting up for! Blessedly, Langdale’s food and beverage offering extends far beyond morning rituals. The restaurant menu is generous and ingredient-forward, with comforting, elegant plates that feel familiar but refined (the seafood tells its own story - of skill, sourcing, and a chef who knows when to let ingredients shine).
Afternoon tea is to be anticipated too - warm scones, clotted cream, and floor-to-ceiling windows framing lake views. And don’t miss the in-house wine tasting experience - a standout even in this cellar-rich region, with a surprisingly brilliant South African wine that caught me completely off guard, and a passionate sommelier ready to impart knowledge as much as she indulges guests and their wine pleasures (and rants).
At night, you can slip into the hotel’s private cinema, where films screen daily for guests - complete with treats, of course. It's these gentle, thoughtful details that make Langdale Chase Hotel feel like a true casual luxury retreat.
I lingered until the last possible moment - and I wasn’t the only one.
Insider Tip: If you’re after peak main character energy, book the Boathouse Suite - Langdale’s most coveted private residence that’s tucked right at the water’s edge. With its own jetty (perfect for stretching your legs in the morning), two copper tubs, heating you can control, a smart TV hidden away at the foot of the bed, and panoramic lake views from bed and bath, it’s an entire mood. Couples are said to love it for its romance, but solo travellers with a taste for drama and deep soaks, like me, will thrive too. It’s the kind of memorable suite that turns an escape into a story worth retelling!
London
Stay Smart: Hyde London City [Aldgate]
Hyde London City brings smart luxury to the Aldgate district, with clean lines and comfy, tech-savvy rooms that make London’s chaos feel manageable for a traveller on the go.
Steps from St. Paul’s Cathedral and housed in the historic Grade II-listed landmark, the Spiers & Pond building (once the first hotel in London with electric lighting), Hyde London City now buzzes with a modern energy rooted in the likes of LA's social scene, thanks to Hyde brand’s signature nightlife DNA.
The interiors are saturated, immersive, and layered: detailed kaleidoscope motifs meet the building's Victorian bones, and moss green boucle bench seats match the velvet headboards in textured symmetry. There’s also Leydi, a contemporary in-house Turkish restaurant that serves meze, pide, and Mangal-grilled feasts, paired with free-flowing raki and has the air of a place that goes from vibey dinner into a late-night event. Downstairs, the hidden Black Lacquer bar spins out Tokyo-inspired small plates and decent soundtracks for those who wish to forgo the quintessential London pubs - delivering an intimate, glamour-tinged after-dark scene you can leave for your cosy room anytime.
It’s a soulful blend of heritage and high style - a hideaway with personality that’s priced just right and anything but corporate!
Stay Spirited: The Zetter Clerkenwell [Farringdon]
If Hyde is bold and tech-forward with an old-soul address, The Zetter Clerkenwell is its free-spirited, vintage-obsessed cousin. Depending on what your London itinerary is, the maximalist eclecticism of this hotel could make checking in its own bucket list hit!
Nestled in the heart of London’s design district, this boutique hotel is beloved for its bold colours, quirky touches, and a sense of curated charm that’s more fashion insider townhouse than traditional hotel.
The rooms are intimate but full of personality - bespoke wallpaper, retro telephones, and eco-conscious touches - making it a favourite for local professionals and culture vultures alike. Downstairs, the bar serves a mezcal-forward cocktail list (briliantly printed as a newspaper of intrigue) that could go toe-to-toe with any Soho staple, and the service is warm but unfussy.
Just outside your Zetter Clerkenwell door? Some of the city’s best artisan bakeries, studios, trusty Tesco’s for those essentials, and some galleries, as well as historic pubs tucked between repurposed warehouses.
Zetter Clerkenwell is London with just enough eccentricity to make it feel like your secret find!
Cultural hit list: When you’re building an itinerary that threads together fashion, theatre, and timeless British elegance, you turn to someone who knows the city deeply. Someone who’s graced Shakespearean stages, held court in the Bridgerton ton, and can point you toward where to scoop a fashion gem just as swiftly as she can point you to a traveller's ideal tucked-away concept store.
Enter: Adjoa Andoh - acclaimed actress, director, cultural icon, and the fierce force behind Bridgerton’s Lady Danbury. Between filming, theatre seasons, and academic fellowships, Ms. Andoh graciously opened her London little black book just for us. From the independent shops she champions to the brunch spot that feels like home, here’s her refined, unfiltered guide to shopping, eating, and experiencing London like a true insider.
Shop: As recommended by Adjoa Andoh herself
- Neal’s Yard Remedies in Covent Garden for timeless herbal wellness (and a few stylish gift ideas).
- OSKA in Shropshire or online at Toast for well-made, punk-soul staples.
- Knatchbull on Savile Row with their made-to-measure suits for women.
Olwethu’s Pro Tip: Travellers with time restrictions should call or email ahead to get an idea of the timeline your bespoke suit will take to get from measure to delivery.
Eat:
- Akara (Borough Market): Contemporary West African plates done beautifully.
- Momo: North African glamour, Algerian warmth, and food that’ll flirt with your palate.
- Clover Restaurant (Brixton): There’s a vibrant fusion of Caribbean flavours which can be found in this cosy setting with its wide windows opening to the street. Dining here means a modern twist to expected flavours, thanks to owner Clover’s adept hand.
Culture Fix:
- Autograph Gallery, Tate Modern, and Sir John Soane’s Museum - proof that London is a walking syllabus in culture! Ms. Andoh’s says that Autograph in particular is fantastic as the East London gallery “premiers the work of photographers from the diaspora predominantly, also queer and exciting new photographers”.
- Theatre Love: The director and actress swears by The National Theatre, Young Vic, and Brixton House. If you're lucky, you’ll catch a future award-winner in an experimental play for £15.
Markets: Borough and Brixton - both great for gourmet bites and that hard-to-describe buzz.
Wales
Stay: Unyoked Berwyn
After a whirlwind of train rides, afternoon teas, artistic culture trips, and Bridgerton-worthy palaces, your itinerary deserves a plot twist - and this one's wrapped in morning mist and wood.
Unyoked’s Berwyn cabin is tucked deep into Wales’ borderlands (not quite a literal cabin in the woods, though, so rest easy), where rolling hills and towering trees up further hush the outside world and your phone signal surrenders to stillness.
Honestly the stuff of Instagram dreams, this is a sleek, sustainably built cabin I wanted to challenge myself and others to try.
There’s no WiFi. No TV. No immediate hospitality team to pamper you.
Here, there is just a clever kitchenette, curated playlists, a hidden espresso stash, and the kind of snug bedding that dares you to sleep in past sunrise.
This is what the minimalist movement looks like in the wild: off-grid but intentional. The sturdy cabin has design bones any aesthetic lover would approve of, firstly. If you’re booking one of the Unyoked brand's cabins, think Scandi-sleek lines, organic linens, a firewood burner, and windows positioned like nature’s cinema.
You’ll wake to mist rolling over the green, and you can prep slow breakfasts on a gas burner, and maybe pen your own novella while sipping the provided tea by candlelight. Don’t let the lack of internet fool you - this cabin’s the chicest kind of digital detox.
Don’t Miss: The walking trails right outside your door, and the joy of doing absolutely nothing - majestically!
Bring With You: A journal, walking boots, a camera, your own food & beverage essentials, thermal socks, hardy slippers, sweaters, and that novel you've been meaning to finish.
From the bubbling pubs of Bristol to the breezy peaks of Wales, Britain has a way of making the mundane feel cinematic. With this itinerary, you can follow the threads of fashion, history, and personal discovery - while still getting your beauty sleep in design-forward digs!
Whether you’re sipping Earl Grey tea lakeside or slipping into a tailored OSKA blazer after exploring Moco Museum (one of my most highly recommended museum brand stop-ins), let this guide be your starting point. Because sometimes, the best trips don’t just change your location; They change your outlook!
Score fresh travel tips and more insights on KlaasinSession.com
Find detailed evergreen reviews and guides, to places like Paris (because it's not all croissants & red berets) and even Western Cape boltholes, there too!
