3 Best places to stay in Niagara Falls

Sitting on a historic village green where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario, the Charles is all about outdoor living.

The bright, airy common rooms in this sprawling Georgian mansion flow out to tiered terraces and private gardens; just down the road are historic forts, parks, a golf course, and access to the waterfront pedestrian path – with views across the river to New York State.

You could spend a whole day al fresco here, taking your crab Benedict breakfast (massive, moreish) on the verandah facing the ninth hole.

It’s just as well: the (least expensive) deluxe rooms are a bit poky. Go for a larger premium-tier room if you plan on late lie-ins and evenings by the fireplace.

The cultural flipside to the epic Niagara Falls experience is a 20-minute drive away on the historic streets of Niagara-on-the-Lake.  One of the best-preserved 19^th towns in Canada, it’s a must-visit after the Falls, and the Pillar & Post – reminiscent of a British Victorian inn – distills the town’s charm into one lovely stay.

The converted cannery building started life as a hotel decades ago, but seems older, with deep, distressed-leather seating, traditional tartan upholstery and mahogany four-poster beds in most rooms. Still, this is a holiday town, so you also get mod cons such as an in-house spa, with free access to the hot tubs and springs (treatments are extra) and full bar service at the indoor and outdoor pools.

The Nouveau Canadian cuisine is a highlight – breakfast comes with locally cured bacon, Ontario maple syrup and a full juice bar. On arrival, the valet whisks away your car. In exchange, you can use the town shuttle, which makes regular stops at the surrounding wineries – so nobody has to drive.

No other hotel can match the pure wow-factor here, from the wall of windows in the soaring lobby to the floor-to-ceiling views in the sunny, spacious bedrooms.

That’s because the Marriott Fallsview has snatched a prime location on the sharp incline over the Niagara River. If you’ve only got one night in town, this place is like an all-access pass, with those eponymous Falls views from every angle and a dedicated bridge to shepherd you down to the water’s edge (a funicular, for a small fee, gets you back).

Clean, functional rooms are modern, immaculate and replete with toiletries – but fall short of chic. Here, the view is the thing. Before booking, make sure yours has the Falls in the frame – some rooms face downriver instead.