With the number of vegans in the UK exploding over the past decade, it’s no surprise that the hotel business has been following close behind this move from niche to mainstream — and the UK is at the forefront of the growing trend.
Home to the first vegan hotel suite, which opened in 2019, the country’s first fully vegan hotel launched the same year, while London is regularly named the vegan capital of Europe, and Brighton was crowned vegan capital of the world earlier this year.
From plant-based spa treatments to vegan afternoon tea, hotels with plant-based menus in their restaurants and entirely vegan places to stay, it’s never been easier to plan a vegan-friendly holiday. We’ve picked some of the best.
Saorsa 1875, Pitlochry
l If you still doubt that somewhere can be vegan, stylish and luxurious, you only need to look at Saorsa 1875, the UK’s first all-vegan boutique hotel, which opened in 2019.
Housed in a 19th-century baronial house in Pitlochry, the 11 rooms — all named after local wildlife — are each decorated differently, with bright and eclectic furnishings.
saorsa 1875 lunch menu vegan burger CREDIT Saorsa 1875
Vegan burger (Photo: Saorsa 1875)
In the restaurant, the menu is completely plant-based, packed with local, seasonal and foraged ingredients, along with a similarly vegan list of drinks, including craft beers, small-production wine and cocktails inspired by the region.
Toiletries are provided by local, ethical brands — and are also 100 per cent vegan — plus there are regular yoga retreats during the year. Doubles cost from £160 per night.
Hilton London Bankside, London
While many hotels limit themselves to the occasional vegan dish on the menu, Hilton’s London Bankside hotel is home to the country’s first vegan hotel suite.
The emphasis is still firmly on luxury, but uses plant-based products throughout the suite — the headboard and other furniture is made from material created out of pineapple leaves, called Pinatex, while the flooring comprises 100 per cent renewable and sustainable bamboo.
There’s a vegan mini bar selection, vegan in-room dining and luxury vegan products in the bathroom, while the keycard is also plant-based and even the stationery on the suite’s desk has been chosen to ensure there are no animal traces in the paper or ink.
Created in partnership with Bompas & Parr, it’s also had the seal of approval from The Vegan Society. The suite costs from £585 per night.
Hilton HHR LondonBankside VeganSuite0593 HR CREDIT Hilton hotels
Vegan Suite at Hilton London Bankside (Photo: Hilton hotels)
Careys Manor & SenSpa, Brockenhurst
This 18th-century manor house in the New Forest is the perfect spot if you’re looking for a vegan-friendly spa break.
While the rooms at Careys Manor & SenSpa include plenty of traditional luxury, featuring four-poster beds in some of the manor house bedrooms, everything from afternoon tea to the SenSpa treatments can be tailored to suit vegan guests.
The spa’s products are all 100 per cent vegan, with a string of signature treatments and therapies, including the Plant Power Face & Body Rejuvenation, consisting of an anti-stress massage plus a cleaning and exfoliating facial using botanical extracts from the stonecrop plant.
The vegan afternoon tea (which must be booked 48 hours in advance) includes sweet treats and sandwiches, while there’s also a vegan à la carte menu at the hotel’s Thai restaurant, Zen Garden.
Rooms cost from £180 B&B, Plant Power Face & Body Rejuvenation costs £95, vegan afternoon tea from £27.
Careys Manor exterior3
Exterior of Careys Manor (Photo: Careys Manor)
Goats & Oats, Garsdale, Yorkshire
If you’re looking for vegan-friendly travel, you’re not limited to hotels, though. There’s a string of impressive vegan B&Bs across the UK that are ideal for countryside escapes and budget breaks, such as Goats & Oats at Garsdale, set in a converted barn in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
A stone’s throw from the Pennine Bridleway, with 100 per cent plant-based food — everything from a vegan full English, pancakes and home-made granola for breakfast to packed lunches and curry or chilli for dinner.
There are three rooms for guests, including a pet-friendly room and spacious family room, with plant-based milk and vegan treats alongside coffee and tea, plus mod cons including a 43-inch smart TV and high-speed wi-fi. Rooms cost from £100 per night.
For another lovely countryside escape, Loaf B&B (standing for Local Organic and Animal-Friendly), in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, was one of the first places in the UK to offer a vegan stay. You’ll find vegan toiletries here, as well as plant-based breakfasts provided for guests. From £65 per person per night.
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