The biggest party of the year, or the cosiest night in.
Be it friends in glad rags arriving at a country house with bottles of fizz clinking in the boot, families gathering in a farmhouse kitchen to make beef Wellington from scratch, or lovers counting down to midnight in a fire-warmed cottage with Jools Holland's Hootenanny on the screen – New Year’s Eve can take many forms. Now, where to spend it?
Best for a flamboyant soirée:
Castle Trematonia, Cornwall
- Standout features: Natural swimming pool, sauna, music room, undercover skate ramp, nine acres of gardens, real fires, castle ruins
- What we love: House of Hackney interiors
- Sleeps: Up to 18 guests
New Year's Eve at Castle Trematonia calls for a little theatricality. Think sequins sweeping down the leopard-print staircase, Champagne between ancient castle walls and music that plays long after dark. With eccentric interiors and a guest list of favourite people, this is no place for an early night.
Best for multigenerational celebrations:
The Marlings, Cotswolds
- Standout features: Hot tub, tennis court, children's playpark, banquet hall, real fires, pizza oven, seasonal heated outdoor pool, pool house, farm animals
- What we love: The layout (comprising a farmhouse, converted barn and two sets of cottages) that encourages time together and privacy
- Sleeps: Up to 25 guests (22 adults and 3 children)
As the year slips away, gather the generations at this Cotswolds estate for a celebration worthy of the occasion. At The Marlings, family stories unfurl around the banquet table, little ones steal hours past bedtime and midnight arrives in a flurry of popped corks, favourite faces and well wishes.
Best for a romantic New Year's Eve for two:
Ebony Wood, Snowdonia
- Standout features: Hot tub, sauna, outdoor shower, yoga deck
- What we love: The remote woodland setting
- Sleeps: Up to two guests
At Ebony Wood, there's no need to dress for the occasion. Hidden amongst the trees, this off-grid retreat for two trades crowded countdowns for a wood-fired sauna, stargazing from the hot tub and the warmth of a crackling fire. A bottle of something special and nowhere else to be makes for a New Year's Eve, blissfully unplugged.
Best for a spirited New Year's with friends:
Kober, Cornwall
- Standout features: Western-style bar, games room with pool table, cinema room, hot tub, sauna, dual-aspect fire
- What we love: The private bar and proximity to Padstow
- Sleeps: Up to 10 guests
At Kober, friends can mix cocktails and reminisce over games of pool in its own Western-style bar and games room, before gathering beside the dual-aspect fire for the year’s final supper. As midnight nears, wander into Padstow to join the locals raising a glass in the harbour pubs.
Best for keeping the whole family entertained:
Viola, Somerset
- Standout features: Jacuzzi, sauna, cinema room, games room, Formula 1 racing simulators, golf simulator, table tennis, tennis court, gym, lake, seasonal swimming pool
- What we love: The entertainment facilities for every generation
- Sleeps: Up to 12 guests
With a swimming pool, cinema room and games room all under one roof, Viola makes light work of entertaining the whole family on New Year's Eve. Whilst the children plot to stay awake until midnight, the grown-ups can settle into wine tasting, knowing there's plenty to keep everyone occupied the next day.
Best for seaside sophistication:
Liminal, Cornwall
- Standout features: Panoramic sea views, outdoor infinity pool, hot tub, games room with pool table, cinema room, outdoor kitchen, bar and pizza oven
- What we love: The uninterrupted sea views and generous entertaining space
- Sleeps: Up to 14 guests
With sweeping sea views taking centre stage, Liminal sets the scene for a glamorous New Year's Eve on the Cornish coast. Gather around the generous dining table for a celebratory feast before taking the festivities upstairs to the games room. Come morning, the brave can welcome the new year with a bracing dip in the sea.
Feeling inspired? Book your stay this New Year's Eve or Christmas.
