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One of the UK’s best budget hotels is in Belfast, according to Time Out, and it costs around £100 a night. Second Nature Belfast, formerly known as Room2, has been named the best budget option in Time Out’s annual ranking of the 20 best hotels in the UK, appearing alongside a whole host of much pricier stays across the country.
The list, which was compiled by Time Out editors and expert contributors, spans everything from grand London institutions to remote countryside retreats. At the very top is Gleneagles Townhouse in Edinburgh, named the UK’s best hotel overall, with its canopy beds, rooftop bar and restaurant The Spence. Meanwhile, Somerset’s The Newt was crowned best boutique hotel, while London’s legendary Claridge’s took the title of best luxury hotel. Rooms at those hotels start at £340 and £930 a night respectively, making Second Nature’s roughly £100 starting price look particularly tempting.
The Belfast hotel describes itself as the UK’s first ‘hometel’, with apartment-style rooms designed to combine the comforts of a flat with the sociability of a hotel. Rooms come with kitchenettes, sofas and workspaces, while downstairs there’s Winnie’s bar, an all-day dining space and plenty of living room-style areas for guests to hang out in.
It also scores highly on the practical stuff. It runs on 100 percent renewable electricity and has a zero-waste-to-landfill policy, while rooms are pet-friendly. Breakfast is another major selling point, with a buffet of cooked breakfast dishes, pastries, fruit and yoghurt, alongside an all-day brunch menu and evening small plates.
Perhaps its most appealing feature, however, is its timing. Breakfast is served until 2pm and guests can check out at 2pm too, meaning you can have a proper lie-in after a night exploring Belfast rather than dragging yourself out of bed at some ungodly hour.
It’s not the only relatively affordable hotel to make the cut. Leven in Manchester starts from £126 a night. Margate House, meanwhile, was picked as the best seaside break, with rooms from £150, while The Bull in the Cotswolds was named best for couples, starting at £180.
Time Out’s UK hotel list takes into account factors including location, price and value for money. Every hotel is individually reviewed by Time Out editors or trusted experts, with the aim of covering the full range of places available to travellers.
So, while Second Nature might not have the grand country-house credentials of The Newt, the art deco glamour of Claridge’s or the sea tractor of Burgh Island, it does offer something arguably just as useful: a comfortable, sociable Belfast base that won’t completely rinse your bank account.
📍 Check out the full list of the UK’s top hotel stays here.
ICYMI: 12 British restaurants were added to the Michelin Guide in August 2026.
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