Where to go in 2025
A new year always brings a bumper crop of hotels to look forward to and the rest of 2025 is no exception. Here are the five we are looking forward to most.

&BEYOND Suyian
In July, &BEYOND Suyian opens in Laikipia (the African safari expert’s first property in Kenya), where guests staying in the 14 suites will have exclusive access to more than 44,000 acres of wilderness on a private conservancy.
Game-drive sightings could include rare African wild dogs and black leopard, as well as species such as Grévy’s zebra.
Nordelaia Beaulieu, Beaulieu-sur-Mer
The town of Beaulieu-sur-Mer as seen from Cap Ferrat
This summer, the team behind Nordelaia Piedmont is launching its second venture in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, a charming coastal town in the south of France that was once a favourite holiday haunt of Queen Victoria.
Set in a 1960s building overlooking the port, Nordelaia Beaulieu will have minimalist interiors, an Italian restaurant and a rooftop terrace with Mediterranean views.
Ardbeg House, Islay
Drink — specifically peaty, smoky, single-malt Scotch whisky — will be at the heart of Ardbeg House on Islay, when it reopens this autumn with a fresh look courtesy of Russell Sage Studio.
Owned by The Glenmorangie Company (part of Moët Hennessy), which is also behind the nearby Ardbeg Distillery, the Port Ellen hotel will feature a reimagined bar and restaurant and 12 suites, each with design details that nod to its Inner Hebrides location.
The Zetter Bloomsbury, London
Equally reflective of its setting, near the British Museum, will be The Zetter Bloomsbury (main image), the third outpost from the eponymous London-centric hotel group, which is slated for October.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Six transformed Georgian townhouses with interiors by James Thurstan Waterworth (previously at Soho House) will combine antique African and Asian artworks, Persian rugs and 20th-century pieces.
NIHI Rote, Indonesia
A post shared by NIHI Rote | Edge of Wildness ™ (@nihirote)
A photo posted by on
Perhaps one of the most-anticipated openings towards the end of the year, however, is NIHI Rote in West Timor.
Fans of the original (on the island of Sumba) will be hoping for a repeat winning formula of world-class surf, thatched pool villas on a white-sand beach and Nature-based wellness.
London-based journalist Emma began her career at Tatler magazine before going freelance more than 15 years ago. She writes about travel, interiors and design for publications including House & Garden, Country & Townhouse and Centurion, as well as The Times and The Telegraph.
-
The week in property statistics: Service charges reach record high
Plus, how first-time buyers prop up the mortgage market, why you need to move north if you want to live by yourself, and house-price growth slows
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
Why it’s imperative that schoolchildren have access to art and design classes
The UK’s creative industries are worth £124.6 billion, but suitable classes are being stripped from the curriculum. Tristram Hunt, director of the V&A, outlines what the Museum is planning to do about it.
By Tristram Hunt Published
-
Direct to the Dolomites
The upcoming Italian Winter Olympic Games means that the Dolomite Mountains are firmly in the spotlight. And from new hotels to self-drive itineraries there's plenty to do and see.
By Emma Love Published
-
From Bond to billions: How Andermatt is becoming one of the most talked about ski resorts in the Alps
Originally a sleepy town used by the Swiss army, the resort of Andermatt is growing into a must-visit for the discerning skier.
By Adam Hay-Nicholls Published
-
'The country’s coasts are long-hailed as some of the most desirable destinations on the planet': Where was the third season of 'The White Lotus' filmed?
Pack your bags because The White Lotus is back.
By Richard MacKichan Published
-
Riviera dreaming: Why this glamorous Tuscan seaside town isn't content to fly under the radar anymore
Once frequented by David Bowie, Monte Argentario, on Italy's Tuscan coastline, is back in the spotlight a half century on and betting on a new wave of popularity.
By Rosie Paterson Last updated
-
Dawn Chorus: Audrey Hepburn’s Swiss villa hits the market for £17 million and research reveals that looking at art can, quite literally, help you live longer
Everything you need to know today: The Swiss home that Audrey Hepburn lived in for 30 years prior to her death is for sale, those who regularly engage with art have a 31% lower risk of dying early and an iconic Palm Beach hotel teams up with interior designer Ashley Hicks.
By Rosie Paterson Published
-
‘I don’t want to oversell it but they are the best pumpkin pancakes in the universe’: Country Life’s unbeatable guide to Oxfordshire
Where to stay, where to eat and what to do in Oxfordshire (with some borderline Gloucestershire snuck in), according to the people who love it and live there, including Lady Carole Bamford.
By Jo Rodgers Published
-
A converted reservoir in Devon that might be the UK's most interesting holiday home
With some 7,500sq ft of space and room for 16 guests, Woolbrook Reservoir in Sidmouth is a unique property that has to be seen to be believed.
By James Fisher Published
-
Sun, snow and sublime food — why the Dolomites might be my new favourite ski spot
There’s more to skiing than the French and Swiss Alps, says James Fisher, who goes in search of new adventures in the Italian mountains
By James Fisher Published