Ah, the British seaside: windbreaks, buckets-and-spades, fish n’ chips! In the harbours where the chattering classes haven’t quite reached yet, a golden tinged nostalgia still lives. Estuary town Looe is such a place. It became popular as a resort in the 19th Century, and still retains a distinctly Victorian charm: the kind of place you ought to visit soon, before it gets re-discovered and its old-fashioned allure is bulldozed away.
The hotels here are certainly in step with the kind of place it is: think salty, family run places, and maybe a few too many net curtains to always be fully tasteful. But there are also some diamonds in the rough, which we at TravelMag have sought high and low to bring you here.
Jolly Sailor Inn
From £50/ night
Situated in a building that’s half a millennium old and so resonant of the sea that you’d hardly be surprised to see Long John Silver propping up the bar (propping up him?), the Jolly Sailor Inn positively exudes authenticity. And almost unbelievably, the rooms remain well accommodated with modern luxuries such as TVs and en-suite bathrooms. A great value place in which to dream of sea-going adventure.
Little Mainstone Guest House
From £65/ night
Right in the centre of town, this Victorian guest house offers delightful harbour views, in a comfy and unexpectedly stylish setting. The rooms are pleasantly furnished and boast TVs, and WiFi, while the cooked breakfast served up in the morning, served in a bright and airy dining room, is the kind of perk that’ll have you coming back for it and it alone.
Bridgeside Guest House
From £58/ night
Fun fact about Looe, it’s actually two towns, East Looe and West Looe, which became one with the construction of an elegant, multi-arched bridge constructed in 1853. This guest house is, as you might have guessed from the name, situated overlooking said bridge, right in Looe’s centre. It’s got great views from most of its rooms that really leave you feeling in the thick of things, and offers the usual full accoutrement of mod cons to complete your stay.
Meneglaze
From £70/ night
Once home to a sea captain, this four star guest house remains full of the spirit of the old Looe. The building itself is a beautiful Victorian construction that still offers a number of period features alongside such modern comforts as WiFi and flat screen TVs. The cooked breakfast here, too, is highly recommended, not to mention that it comes with a Cornish twist…
Rivercroft Hotel
From £80/ night
Overlooking the estuary, this sumptuous four star is just the place for those who want a bit more luxury to their stay in Looe, and is perhaps even better in the winter months, thanks to its large sitting-room-like rooms, complete with all the conveniences a modern traveller might need. There’s also an onsite bar and restaurant, so for the rest days of your holiday, you can take things as easy as you like, not even having to leave the front door should the wish take you.