Tex mix: Eclectic Houston fuses space history, cowboy culture and art

Why sell it

Even though Houston is the fourth-largest city in the US in terms of population, it curiously flies under the radar with the UK market. To put that into context, Houston welcomed more than 54 million visitors in 2024 (an overwhelming proportion of  these being domestic), yet fewer than 105,000 were from the UK, so clients will feel like they’re visiting somewhere overlooked by their British counterparts.

Yes, Houston is undoubtedly a sprawling metropolis, but it can feel so much smaller when visiting some of its very walkable neighbourhoods, such as the Museum District, Montrose and the culturally rich Third Ward – the latter being where a certain Beyoncé grew up. You can also use Houston’s size to your advantage when selling it, as its diversity of experiences appeals to just about every type of client. Couples will love the vibrant nightlife of Midtown, the city’s legendary ties with Moon missions will obviously appeal to families and everyone will enjoy its pockets of green space to decompress in.

What’s new

A growing interest in the city’s high-end hotels has made it easier for Houston to segue into a luxury city. Destination marketing company Houston First Corporation reported that July 2024 saw a 23.4% year-on-year rise in demand for luxury properties and 29.2% growth year-on-year in revenue. The response has been to build new, upmarket hotels. Two decadent boutique options have opened in charming Montrose: 71-room Hotel Saint Augustine opened last year, while nine-room neoclassical mansion The Marlene welcomed its first guests this summer. In the premium market, Thompson Houston by Hyatt opened in 2024, overlooking leafy Buffalo Bayou Park. And more will follow, including Auberge Resorts’ The Birdsall in the River Oaks District in 2027.

When to go

Houston is at its best from February to April and October to November, when the temperatures are warm and comfortable enough to enjoy the city outdoors. These shoulder seasons avoid the colder, wetter winter months, as well as the searing heat of summer – the latter a time when the locals flee north to avoid the ferocious temperatures.

Where to stay

I was lucky enough to stay at The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston, the city’s most luxurious address and the only hotel in Texas that’s rated five stars by Forbes. 

First impressions here clearly count, with the three-storey atrium and grand chandelier setting the tone for the idyllic outdoor pool, art from billionaire owner Tilman Fertitta’s personal collection and the white marble bathrooms in every room. The 20,000sq ft spa on the fifth floor is a supremely tranquil oasis – something that’s very much needed in a city as busy as Houston.

But The Post Oak isn’t the only luxury hotel option in Houston. The Lancaster Hotel in the Theatre District is draped in 1920s glamour, while the Four Seasons, JW Marriott and Autograph Collection property The Laura are excellent Downtown options. If your clients want culture, Hotel ZaZa is both a convenient and classy stay on the doorstep of the Museum District. The timeless European beauty of Hotel Granduca and the urban oasis of The Houstonian Hotel have also undergone recent facelifts.

What to do

Many people know Houston as the home of Nasa’s Mission Control, so it would be remiss for clients not to take a trip to the Johnson Space Center. Even if they’re not fans of space, it’s hard not to get swept up in the living history and interstellar equipment on display here. There are a number of tram tours available, but two VIP options will elevate the experience – one that includes the historic Mission Control centre and another that goes behind the scenes of the rigorous training astronauts undertake.

If clients time their trip well, an evening at the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at the NRG Stadium is a must (usually every March). To really experience a true Texan atmosphere, this is where to come – expect impassioned rodeo competitions, headline music acts each night and a classic American carnival. Make sure clients create their own custom hat beforehand at Magnolia Mercantile – I found my creative juices in full flow injecting my own personality into a Texan fashion staple. Plus, they’ll be in the minority if they don’t wear one.

Despite Houston’s large size, there are plenty of green spaces in the city where clients can slow down. Buffalo Bayou Park is a 160-acre oasis veined with hiking and biking trails, kayaking opportunities along the Buffalo Bayou river and the chance to see 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats fly out from underneath Waugh Drive Bridge at dusk. Hermann Park is another tranquil green space next door to the Museum District, while the huge ornamental fountain in Gerald D Hines Waterwall Park is one of Houston’s most recognisable sights.

What to see

Houston’s Museum District is one of the country’s most culturally concentrated areas, with 19 museums. 

The Museum of Natural Science is one of the most-visited in the US and it will be easy for clients to see why as they meander through its numerous immersive exhibits. Highlights include wandering among the many fossils on show in the Morian Hall of Palaeontology, being whisked back 5,000 years in the Hall of Ancient Egypt and walking through a conservatory that’s alive with thousands of butterflies at the Cockrell Butterfly Center. 

Beyond, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Menil Collection are two world-class art museums, the former one of the largest of its kind in the country and home to 80,000 paintings and sculptures.

Next door to the latter, the serene beauty of the Rothko Chapel is perhaps the most peaceful spot in the city. For something more contemporary, head to the city’s Fifth Ward for the multimedia experience of arts production company Meow Wolf, which opened its Houston exhibition in 2024. Inside, discover the wild, the wacky and the surreal through works from more than 100 artists – half of whom are from Texas.

Clients can spend their downtime in many different ways in Houston. If it’s premium retail therapy they’re after, it can be found in The Galleria shopping mall and the luxury open-air River Oaks District, complete with upscale boutiques and restaurants. There are also the independent shops and food stalls of Post Houston, the city’s former post office that’s now better known for its striking staircases and six-acre rooftop park, which delivers fine views of Houston’s skyline. Its new lease of life is one of many examples of how the city is always evolving.