Alexandra

Top choice in Dorset


It's like the setting for an Agatha Christie mystery, minus the murder. Wicker chairs dot manicured lawns, glittering Lyme Bay sweeps out behind. The perfect spot for a proper English afternoon tea, complete with scones, jam and dainty sandwiches.

The hotel's best bedrooms (£180 to £240) boast bay windows and sea views; the back-facing ones are charming too.