Sunday Times says Sussex hotel is best to stay in southeast

The Swan Inn, in Fittleworth, earned the title having been praised by the judges following its latest revamp.

It was named on the list of the 100 Best Places to Stay from across the UK.

The guide by The Times and The Sunday Times was revealed today, Monday, March 10.

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The Swan Inn named the best place to stay in the southeast

The Swan Inn in West Sussex was named The Times and The Sunday Times Best Places to Stay 2025 winner in the southeast

The judges praised the latest revamp of the “snug pub”, which The Times says has been a favourite with “everyone from Rudyard Kipling to John Constable”.

The Times and Sunday Times says the hotel has interiors with “a glorious hit of nostalgia” (Image: Zanna Westgae/The Swan Inn) It was described as “a characterful country inn with retro touches”, with interiors, service and a menu that offers “a glorious hit of nostalgia”.

The guide is split into ten regions, London, Southeast, Southwest, Central, East, North & Northeast, Northwest, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

A full map is below

Other places highlighted in the southeast were the New Park Manor in Hampshire which was named the Best Family-Friendly Hotel, Beaverbrook in Surrey named Best Blow-the-Budget Hotel and The Rose in Kent awarded Best Boutique Hotel.

Susan d’Arcy, Hotel Expert at The Times and The Sunday Times, said: "One of the things that has impressed us most when travelling around the country this year is the welcome.

The pub area of The Swan Inn (Image: Zanna Westgae/The Swan Inn) “Hotel teams appreciate that there's a lot of choice out there and they're really going the extra mile to deliver friendly and knowledgeable service. It makes all the difference to a stay."

The Swan Inn receiving the recognition comes off the back of its village, Fittleworth, being named by The Times as one of the coolest UK postcodes to move to in 2024.

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The village was dubbed the "new Cotswolds" and the Swan Inn was highlighted as a place to visit.

It also recommended visits to the "chic furniture shop" and the florist Milli Proust’s "ancient woodland flower farm". 

There is also the Winery Nutbourne Vineyards, described by The Times as a place you can “sip on award-winning still and sparkling booze and nibble on its cheese picnic platters while looking out over wildflower meadows”.