A growing number of UK hotels now offer some form of EV charging, but "the hotel has chargers" and "the charger will definitely be free and working when you arrive" are two different things. A little checking before you book saves a bad surprise at 9pm.
Which hotel chains have chargers
Premier Inn currently leads the major chains with chargers at over 120 locations, followed by Holiday Inn (around 77 sites, often bp pulse rapid units that are also open to non-guests) and Hilton (around 49). That said, well over 1,500 independent hotels and smaller chains also have some form of charging listed on Zap-Map — chain uptake is patchy and changing all the time, so it's worth checking the specific hotel rather than assuming a whole brand has it everywhere.
How to find one
- Zap-Map's accommodation filter — in the app or on the website, go to Filters → Location types → Accommodation to see hotels, B&Bs, and similar with charging listed nearby.
- Booking platforms — several hotel booking sites let you filter search results specifically for EV charging as an amenity.
- Tesla destination charging — Tesla has charging partnerships with a number of hotels, including some higher-end properties, worth checking if you drive a compatible car.
What to expect once you're there
- Usually a slow or "destination" charger (7–22kW), meant for an overnight top-up rather than a fast turnaround — don't expect rapid charging speeds at a typical hotel car park.
- Free or paid varies by hotel — some include it as a guest perk, others charge per kWh or per session; there's no universal rule.
- Often just one or two bays shared across the whole car park, not one per room — so it isn't guaranteed to be free when you arrive, especially at a busy hotel.
Before you rely on it
- Check the specific charge point's user comments on Zap-Map for that hotel — reliability and real-world usability (is it actually free, does it need a fob) come through in reviews more than the listing itself.
- If your onward journey genuinely depends on charging overnight, call the hotel ahead to confirm the charger is working and not already reserved.
- Keep a nearby public charger in mind as backup — use our Find a Charger tool to check what else is close by, just in case.
Hotel charging availability changes often as properties add, remove, or upgrade their chargers — always verify close to your stay date rather than relying on an older review or a general "this chain has chargers" assumption.