Now it's official: Yorkshire hotels are UK's best

THREE of North Yorkshire's hotels and guest houses have found their way into the top 25 places to stay in the UK in an annual survey conducted by the Tripadvisor website – with one voted among the best in the world.

The historic Rudding Park venue near Harrogate has been named the UK's best place to stay, as well as securing sixth spot in a list of the world's top 10 luxury hotels, based on millions of internet reviews from travellers from around the globe.

The Waverley in Whitby ranks as the 13th best in the UK, while Broom House, in Egton Bridge near Whitby, has secured the 23rd spot in the same category.

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The Rudding Park estate was bought by Simon Mackaness, who remains the owner and chairman of the business, and his family in 1972. Renovations on the Grade I listed house began in 1987.

The 50-room hotel was launched 10 years later, and Bill Clinton, Mikhail Gorbachev and Archbishop Desmond Tutu rank among its most famous guests.

Mr Mackaness said: "This is a phenomenal achievement and I am delighted that Rudding Park is favoured so highly among our guests.

"To be voted number one in the UK and to be rated number six among the world's best hotels is an accomplishment we have aspired to since purchasing Rudding Park 30 years ago.

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"When creating our development strategy, we have always strived to provide the best service and guest care possible. I would like to thank everyone who has helped to bring Rudding Park such astounding recognition."

Rudding Park has been carving out a growing reputation, having previously figured in Tripadvisor's annual Travellers' Choice awards, now in their eighth year.

But this year's sixth place for the best luxury hotel in the world category is far higher than the 27th spot which Rudding Park secured in the 2009 contest.

Celebrities to have booked a stay include actor and comedian John Cleese, award-winning Leeds band Kaiser Chiefs and veteran rockers Deep Purple, as well as cricketer Matthew Hoggard.

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The average price of a room is 164, although the most exclusive Aketon or Boughton suites cost 294 a night.

An average of 28,000 guests stay every year, and an 8m development to create a 34-bedroom extension and spa is due to be completed in November.

Among the hotel's quirkiest features is the 400-year-old Catalonian olive tree in its Clocktower restaurant, which also features a handmade pink crystal chandelier from France and a 27ft limestone bar.

The owners of the other North Yorkshire businesses named in the annual Tripadvisor awards are now hoping the accolade will boost trade even further.

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Stephen Ward, who runs The Waverley guest house with his wife Julie, said: "It is particularly nice that we have made the list as it is based on the votes of the people who have stayed here. It shows that the hard work is paying off."

However, the success of North Yorkshire's establishments has been at the expense of some of the leading hotels in London, and the capital has failed to make the list for the UK's top 25 places to stay.

TripAdvisor's European marketing vice-president, Alison Copus, said: "With the Olympics just two years away, it's worrying not to see a single London hotel in the Top 25 UK list.

"Come 2012 all eyes will be on our capital city, and London hotels are clearly going to have to raise their game to make sure they provide world-class accommodation."

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The Golden Well in Prague was named as the top luxury hotel in the world, while the Hotel Britania in Lisbon came in second place. The same two establishments secured the first and second places in the category for the top luxury hotels in Europe.

A full list of rankings in the 2010 Travellers' Choice awards is available online from today, at www.tripadvisor.co.uk/travellerschoice.

As voted for in the Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice survey:

1 Rudding Park, Harrogate, Yorkshire.

2 The Manor Coach House, Worcester.

3 Boskerris Hotel, St Ives.

4 Can-y-Bae, Llandudno, North Wales.

5 Charterhouse Hotel, Torquay.

6 Silverdale, Seaford, East Sussex.

7 Castlebank Hotel, Conwy, Wales.

8 Avalon Beach Hotel, Bournemouth.

9 Dunkery Beacon Hotel, Exmoor, Somerset.

10 Trelaske Hotel, Looe, Cornwall.

11 The Old Rectory Hotel, Martinhoe, Devon.

12 Apsley House Hotel, Bath.

13 The Waverley, Whitby, North Yorkshire.

14 The Clarence Hotel, Portsmouth.

15 Tremarne Hotel, Mevagissey, Cornwall.

16 Yeoldon, Bideford, Devon.

17 Gwesty Cymru, Aberystwyth.

18 Hotel Una, Brighton.

19 Hunters Quay Hotel, Dunoon, Strathclyde, Scotland.

20 Bowling Green Hotel, Plymouth.

21 Staybridge Suites, Newcastle upon Tyne.

22 Cedar Manor House Hotel, Windermere, Cumbria.

23 Broom House, Whitby, North Yorkshire.

24 The Waterhead Hotel, Ambleside, Cumbria.

25 Primrose Valley Hotel, St Ives, Cornwall.