The Eco-conscious Traveller’s Guide
to Unique Stays in the UK

With tourism in the UK estimated to be worth more than £257 billion ($320 billion) by 2025, and the news becoming increasingly saturated with impacts of the climate crisis, it’s more important than ever to ensure good environmental practices when it comes to travel to the UK. Fortunately, hotels across the country are making a concerted effort to reduce their carbon footprint and provide an eco-friendly retreat for their visitors. From hotels boasting a bespoke borehole to an ethical golf course, there are countless unique stays in the UK to choose from. 

The Wild Boar  

Located in the luscious landscape of the Lake District and neighboring the expansive Lake Windermere, The Wild Boar hotel is a 4* inn reputed for its locally-sourced dishes and cosy rooms. It boasts the unique addition of a private woodland, as well as a carefully curated smokehouse menu and access to luxury health club facilities at the nearby Low Wood Bay. For those wanting to experience the Lake District and all its beauty, the inn is the perfect place to seek comfort after a long day in the mountains.

The inn is best accessed by car, but Windemere train station is a mere 10 minute drive away. For those who plan to travel to the UK from abroad, there is a direct route from Manchester Airport train station to Windemere, where you will be able to take a taxi to the inn. 

A proud owner of the Green Key award, The Wild Boar has been recognised as taking significant steps to improve environmental management, implementing policies such as a comprehensive recycling programme and the commitment to reduce certain emissions.

Some of their key initiatives include:

• Showers and toilets adhere to strict water usage limits 
• Complimentary toiletries are made of recycled materials, will be recycled, or is biodegradable 
• No single-use food products are used 
• Organic waste is composted 

Click here to make your reservation at The Wild Boar!

The Grove 

Replete with a dedicated ‘green team’, set up in 2018, The Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire is a paragon for a stylish and sustainable UK trip. Boasting 300 acres of green countryside, the Grove is a serene retreat for those wanting eco-conscious luxury. It’s located just 18 miles (29 km) outside London and is easily reachable by car or train. 

The Grove is a winner of the esteemed Silver The Green Apple Environment Awards in the Sports, Leisure & Hospitality Wastes Management category. 

Their continued focus is the drive to reduce waste, but the full breadth of their efforts includes:

• Waste awareness training for all employees
• ‘Clean the World’ programme for recycling and reusing leftover toiletries 
• Produce grown on their expansive grounds 
• Plastics replaced with biodegradable straws and stirrers 

Another key feature of The Grove’s sustainable endeavours is their golf course, which alone is enough reason for lovers of the sport to travel to the UK. It’s GEO Certified, meaning that it’s been recognised for its efforts regarding sustainability and environmentalism. Furthermore, The Grove has been crowned winner of the 2022 Environmental Golf Course of the Year. Some of its award-winning practices to earn this title include:

• Efficient irrigation systems that have saved 30% of annual water usage 
• Organic and bio products used on the lawn
• Replantation and preservation of animal habitats 
  
  

The Zetter

Situated mere steps away from St Paul’s Cathedral in Clerkenwell, and only one tube stop from King’s Cross St Pancras, the The Zetter Hotel is the perfect destination for any UK trip. Its location makes it particularly popular with business travellers looking for a deluxe stay that balances the emissions of their travel to the UK, with sustainability being the central focus of everything at this unique destination. The interior is unique and stylish, bedecked in a vivid colour palette with trailing greenery and vintage-look chandeliers. It’s certainly one to visit for interior design enthusiasts. 

The Zetter is accredited with the Green Tourism certificate, an accolade accepted worldwide as a measure of green practices. Special eco-conscious efforts at The Zetter encompass:

• 1500 foot borehole providing all water for toilets and refrigeration
• Comprehensive recycling 
• Recyclable packaging on all stock 
• Locally-sourced products
• Built from sustainable timber 

Click here to make your reservation at The Zetter Hotel!

Whether it’s contemporary luxury or rustic tradition you’re after, there’s an eco-friendly destination for you. The above hotels offer a unique and high-quality experience to visitors, with the reassurance that each one is striving for sustainability and environmental awareness. 

If you’re looking for other eco-friendly places to stay in London, Ecotourism World has you covered: Have an Ecofriendly Stay in London – Ecotourism World

Alternatively, if immersing yourself in nature is more your thing, have a look at our list of Three Beautiful Eco Friendly Glamping Sites in the World.

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