Linthwaite House, Bowness-on-Windermere, part of the prestigious Leeu Collection, which operates exceptional properties in South Africa, Italy, and the UK, is proud to announce that it has successfully retained its Michelin Key for the second consecutive year.

Introduced in 2024 as the hotel world’s equivalent to the Michelin Stars for restaurants, the Michelin Key awards celebrate the finest places to stay around the globe. The three-tiered system distinguishes hotels as One Key (a special place to stay), Two Keys (an exceptional place to stay), or Three Keys (an extraordinary place to stay).

In the 2025 selection, a total of 139 hotels across the UK and Ireland were recognised: 82 with One Key, 43 with Two Keys, and 14 with Three Keys.

This year’s global Michelin Key unveiling, held on October 8, 2025, expanded the awards’ reach to nearly 100 new countries, updating honours across North America, Europe, and Asia.

Among the newly recognised properties, Leeu Collection’s Collegio alla Querce in Florence achieved an impressive two Michelin Keys in its inaugural year of operation. In the first-ever African selection, each of the Leeu Collection’s South African properties, Leeu Estates, Leeu House and Le Quartier Français earned one Michelin Key each. Altogether, the Leeu Collection now holds an outstanding six Michelin Keys across its international portfolio.

Karen Irving, General Manager at Linthwaite House, commented: “We are thrilled to have retained our Michelin Key for the second year and delighted for our colleagues across the Leeu Collection in Italy and South Africa on receiving their first-ever Michelin Key awards. This recognition, following our recent success in the Condé Nast Traveller UK Readers’ Choice Awards 2025, makes this an especially proud moment for our entire team.”