This week sees the release of the most hotly-anticipated book for years: The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah. The new novel is the first to feature world-renowned Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot since the death of original creator Agatha Christie.
Little is known about the upcoming novel apart from its setting: the mysterious Bloxham Hotel. And so to celebrate, trivago.co.uk has compiled a list of the most iconic fictional hotels.
Existing solely in TV, film or literature, it's not possible to stay at these hotels, but then again - you might not want to...
1. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - Rajasthan, India
Still from The Second Best Marigold Hotel (2014) | Source: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Charming if a little rough-around-the-edges, the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is the perfect place for a first-time trip to India. With a contingent of very loyal guests, this hotel's welcoming staff and rustic feel will win over almost anyone. Particularly popular with British seniors.
Originally featured in the 2012 British comedy of the same name, the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is set in Jaipur in the state of Rajasthan. While no hotel exists with that name, many shots of the hotel's exterior were filmed at Rawla Khempur, an equestrian centre-turned-hotel in Udaipur.
In the film and its upcoming sequel, the hotel plays host to a number of British retirees looking to spend their autumn years in the Indian sun.
2. Bates Motel - Fairvale, California
The Bates Motel as part of the Universal Studios Tour | Source: Ipsingh, Wikicommons
A solid choice for budget travellers, the Bates Motel is a family-run business offering cheap but not always cheerful accommodation. Located in an isolated setting after the relocation of a highway, the Bates Motel is a quiet place to get away from it all. All rooms are fitted with a shower.
Originally featured in Alfred Hitchcock's infamous film Psycho in 1960, the Bates Motel is synonymous with terror, violence and suspense. The iconic film changed the world of cinema - particularly the genre of horror - and a reconstructed set of the motel of the Bates family home can be still be visited as part of the Universal Hollywood Studio tour.
In the original film, Marion Crane stays at the motel while on the run following a theft. After dining with Norman Bates, the motel owner, she is attacked by a shadowy figure as she showers and is stabbed to death.
3. The Grand Budapest Hotel - The Republic of Zubrowka
Promotional image for The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) | Source: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Found in the beautiful Alpine setting of Zubrowka, the Grand Budapest Hotel is a striking historic building with a lot of character. While slightly eccentric, its staff are warm and welcoming, with the charming concierge particularly popular among guests. Don't forget to try Mendl's beautifully crafted Courtesan au Chocolat while in town.
The 2014 Wes Andersen comedy The Grand Budapest Hotel was a critical and commercial success, gaining acclaim for its beautiful cinematography. A British-German production, the film was shot in the historic town of Görlitz, with a department store serving as the hotel's interior. Though the hotel is entirely fictional, its exterior is said to be inspired by both the Bristol Hotel in Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic) and Gellert Hotel in Budapest (Hungary), however a scale-model was used during production.
The plot of the film follows the adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at the hotel, and his assistant, Zero Moustafa, after the former is accused of the murder of a wealthy guest.
4. Fawlty Towers - Torquay, England
Promotional image for Fawlty Towers (1975) | Source: Photobucket
Guests searching for a traditional English B&B should look no further. Run by a dynamic husband-and-wife duo in the pretty town of Torquay, this simple, no-frills hotel provides an entertaining stay on the English Riviera. Just don't hope to spy a heard of wildebeest sweeping majestically across the plain...
Fawlty Towers was an iconic British TV programme shown from 1975-1979. It is often cited as one of the best comedies in British history. While the hotel itself was entirely fictional, creator John Cleese claimed that it was based on The Gleneagles Hotel in Torquay, where Cleese and the Monty Python cast stayed in May 1971.
The plot of the series follows the hapless Basil Fawlty as he attempts to run a B&B, while resenting each of his guests, his wife and his staff.
5. Overlook Hotel - Colorado
Still from The Shining (1980) | Source: ReiheSieben.de
A grand and imposing building in the Colorado Rockies, Overlook Hotel has a long and interesting history. The hotel boasts a grand, open-plan interior but also has lots of outdoor space, including a huge hedge maze popular with families. Winters in the Rockies can be challenging.
The Overlook Hotel featured in Stephen King's bestselling 1977 novel, The Shining, as well as the 1980 film of the same name. The hotel is inspired by King's stay in The Stanley Hotel in Colorado, though the film was not shot there. Instead, the majority of the film (including a lot of exterior scenes) were filmed in a studio in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.
The Shining sees a family become caretakers of an isolated hotel over winter. After a snowstorm cuts all contact with the outside world, the father becomes increasingly unstable and begins to hunt down his family.
6. Crossroads Motel - Birmingham, England
Promotional image for Crossroads (1964) | Source: Birmingham Mail
A much-beloved motel (despite its less-than-stellar reputation), the Crossroads Motel gained notoriety in the 1960s and its popularity continued to rise well into the 1980s. Despite being fully refurbished in the early 00s, the motel's signature retro style remained popular. The perfect choice for anyone looking for a motel outside Birmingham.
The fictional Crossroads Motel (and later Crossroads Hotel) was the focal point and prime setting of the British soap opera Crossroads, which aired 1964-1988. A revamped version aired from 2001-2003, but was largely panned. In the middle of the show's run, the original motel was burned down and reopened as a hotel.
Despite its seemingly poor quality and amateur feel, the original show regularly drew in audiences of up to 18 million.
7. The Bloxham Hotel - London, England
The Bloxham Hotel | Source: Four Colman Getty
The talk of the town, The Bloxham Hotel was the place to be - and be seen - in 1920s London. With its grand interiors and elegant furnishings, the hotel was the height of glamour and sophistication until a mysterious event involving three deaths forced the hotel to close its doors.
The Bloxham Hotel is the setting for the first novel to feature Hercule Poirot since the death of creator Agatha Christie in 1976. Penned by Sophie Hannah, the eagerly-awaited novel is released this week.