Michelin has conducted an extensive survey of hotels throughout the UK and Ireland to determine which establishments merit the hotel equivalent of the prestigious Michelin star.

In a groundbreaking move, 14 hotels have been bestowed with three Michelin keys, signifying that they provide exceptional experiences so extraordinary they warrant a trip solely to visit them, transcending their role as mere places to stay.

These hotels encompass a diverse array of concepts and accommodations, ranging from chic boutique design hotels to grand luxury icons, and from intimate cottages or lodges to majestic heritage castles or manor houses.

Receiving three keys is an accolade that positions a hotel as “one of the world’s most remarkable and extraordinary hotels and a destination in itself for that trip of a lifetime”. Visitors are in store for “all the elements of truly great hospitality” and warm memories to look back on.

Out of the 123 venues inspected by Michelin, 14 have achieved the distinction of three keys. London boasts eight of these elite locations, while three others grace the English countryside, and Scotland and the Republic of Ireland each claim one.

The Michelin keys were introduced last year and have since been awarded to hotels in Japan, Italy, Spain, France, and the USA, marking this year as the inaugural occasion for the UK’s inclusion in the scheme, reports the Mirror.

Like the Michelin stars, these honours are conferred following incognito inspections by Michelin judges – there is no set number of keys to be awarded, leaving it entirely to the discretion of the inspectors to deem which hotels are deserving.

A single Michelin key is awarded to a location offering an exceptional stay. This could be a place that breaks the norm, offers something unique, or is simply one of the best in its category. The service here always goes above and beyond, providing significantly more than other establishments with similar pricing.

Two Michelin keys signify an extraordinary stay. These are places that are truly unique and exceptional in every way, guaranteeing a memorable experience.

These hotels exude character, personality, and charm, and are operated with evident pride and considerable care. Their eye-catching design or architecture, coupled with a real sense of locale, make them exceptional places to stay.

Three Michelin keys represent an unparalleled stay. These locations are all about astonishment and indulgence they offer the ultimate in comfort, service, style, and elegance.

They rank among the world’s most remarkable and extraordinary hotels and are destinations in themselves for that once-in-a-lifetime trip.

The complete list of Michelin key-holding hotels across the UK

Three-key hotels

England

The Newt in Somerset, Bruton

Lucknam Park, Colerne

Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, A Belmond Hotel, Oxfordshire

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, London

The Savoy, London

Scotland

The Gleneagles Hotel, Auchterarder

Republic of Ireland

Adare Manor, Adare

Ballyfin Demesne, Ballyfin

Two-key hotels

England

Coworth Park, Dorchester Collection, Ascot

The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa, Bath

Gidleigh Park, Changford

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 London

Covent Garden hotel, Firmdale Hotels, London

Ham Yard, Firmdale Hotels, London

Haymarket, Firmdale Hotels, London

Hotel Cafe Royal, London

Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London

Rosewood London

The Beaumont, London

The Berkeley, London

The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel, London

The Dorchester, Dorchester Collection, London

The Langham, London

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 and Lake House, Windermere

The Samling Hotel, Windermere

Scotland

The Fife Arms, Braemar

The Balmoral, Edinburgh

Republic of Ireland

Cashel Palace, Windermere

Sheen Falls Lodge, Windermere

The Merrion, Dublin

One-key hotels

Amberley Castle, Sussex

Bath Priory, Bath

Homewood, Bath

The Gainsborough Bath Spa, Bath

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, London

One Hotel Mayfair, London

Artist Residence London

Baglioni Hotel London

Beaverbrook Town House, London

Broadwick Soho London

Charlotte Street Hotel, London

Chiltern Firehouse, London

COMO the Halkin, London

Flemings Mayfair, London

Four Seasons hotel London

Knightsbridge hotel, London

L’oscar London

NoMad London

Number Sixteen, London

One Aldwych, London

Redchurch Townhouse, London

Shangri-La the Shard London

Sofitel London St James

The Emory

The Soho hotel, London

The Vineyard Hotel & Spa, Newbury

Estelle Manor, North Leigh

Artist Residence Oxfordshire

The Swan Southwold

The Idle Rocks, St Mawes

Hotel Tresanton, St. Mawes

Thornbury Castle, Thornbury

Artist Residence 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

Edinburgh: Gleneagles Townhouse, Edinburgh

Prestonfield Edinburgh

Foyers Lodge Loch Ness, Foyers

The Grandtully Hotel by Ballintaggart, Grandtully

Kinloch Lodge, Isle of Skye

Cromlix Hotel, Kinbuck

Newhall Mains Dingwall, Resolis

Glenmorangie House, Tain

Wales

Palé Hall, Bala

Penmaenuchaf, Dolgellau

The Grove of Narberth

Republic of Ireland

Gregans Castle hotel, Ballyvaughan

Cliff House hotel, Ardmore

Castlemartyr Resort, Castlemartyr

Dylan, Dublin

Wilder Townhouse Dublin

The Killarney Park, Killarney

The Victoria, Killarney

No 1 Pery Square, Limerick

Dromoland Castle, Newmarket on Fergus