Most of us enjoy a spot of international travel, but sometimes when it’s all crowds, delays and turbulence, a trip a little closer to home has its advantages. Unearth another side of the UK for your next memorable trip away.
The Gainsborough Bath Spa
Bath, United Kingdom
Located at the centre of the historic city of Bath and built in and around the mineral-rich thermal spring waters, The Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel promises a romantic introduction to the traditions of the region. Spanning two 19th century Grade II-listed buildings, the hotel comprises 99 classically elegant rooms and suites, but more importantly, the Spa Village Bath. A focal point for the hotel, the spa houses two natural thermal pools, a steam room, infrared saunas, and a menu of luxurious aromatherapy treatments.
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Belmond Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons
Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
For those with a sensibility for world-class cuisine, this 15th century manor house turned hotel and michelin-starred restaurant is a must-visit. The realised vision of celebrated chef Raymond Blanc, the country house is set in the picturesque Oxfordshire village of Great Milton and features 32 individually-designed rooms, a gardening school, and famed Raymond Blanc Cookery School. When guests aren’t busy wining and dining or working on their culinary skills, they can head to the historical city of Oxford for a spot of quintessential English culture.
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Cliveden House
Berkshire, United Kingdom
Only a 45-minute drive from London’s city centre, Cliveden House has been providing guests with luxury accommodation in the heart of the countryside for almost 350 years. The sprawling 376-acre estate has an outdoor pool, sauna and tennis court, plus André Garrett Restaurant and The Astor Grill. The 48 rooms, which vary in size and design, reflect distinctive styles reminiscent of the history of the house. Guests can wander the grounds and nearby woodlands, get lost in the estate’s maze, enjoy a vintage flotilla on the River Thames or indulge in treatments at the spa.
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Lime Wood
Hampshire, United Kingdom
Family-friendly and fit for royalty, this five-star Hampshire manor in the verdant New Forest feels a world away from Central London. Originally a hunting lodge and preparatory school before being lovingly restored into a luxury hotel, today’s facilities include a stylish restaurant, working kitchen, and three-storey Herb House Spa. The accommodations, with timeless furnishings, large oak doors and Italian marble bathrooms, are the ultimate display of laidback luxury. Take advantage of the countryside setting with a weekend itinerary of horse riding, golf, fly fishing, and cooking.
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Beaverbrook
Surrey, United Kingdom
Encapsulating the old-world charm of high society England, this recently restored late-Victorian mansion-cum-five-star hotel is an idyllic hideaway in the heart of the Surrey countryside. Stretching 400 acres of well-manicured grounds and woodlands, Beaverbrook plays host to a growing selection of accommodations, multiple dining destinations, a cooking school, library and Art-Deco cinema. Due to open in 2018 is the Coach House Spa, which will include six treatment rooms, sauna, nail lounge, indoor and outdoor pool, and – serving as a tranquil oasis for guests to relax and rejuvenate.
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The Fish Hotel
Broadway, The Cotswolds, United Kingdom
Not far from the quaint village of Broadway, newly refurbished The Fish hotel occupies the 400-acre Farncombe Estate (also home to sister hotels Foxhill Manor and Dormy House). Overlooking the striking English Cotswolds, the estate comprises a collection of buildings, treehouses, huts and hideaways of faultless Scandinavian design, that house both the hotel’s guest rooms and dining destinations. The serene surrounds assure relaxation but for those more adverse to activities and adventure, archery, segway safaris, terrain tours, axe throwing, picnics, cycling and more can be added to the agenda.
THE PIG at Combe
Honiton, Devon, United Kingdom
With just 27 charming rooms, a stay at this relaxed country house is what you need to start a new week feeling well-rested. Just the right touch of nature and luxury, the grande Combe House is located at the fringe of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, tucked in alongside woodland and rolling hills. The rooms are luxurious but welcoming making for a peaceful home from home, but like all The Pig properties, the kitchen garden is the highlight. Grown onsite and sourced from no further than a 25-mile radius, the changing menu showcases the best of the region’s ingredients in an inviting setting.
At the Chapel
Bruton, Somerset, United Kingdom
With freshly baked artisan goods delivered to your door each morning, this is one luxurious hideaway you won’t want to leave. Set in a former 17th century chapel, At the Chapel is a unique venue at the heart of Bruton, Somerset. It houses an all-day restaurant, a curation of the best wine from small producers at Winestore, an event space for up to 60 guests, and eight contemporary, individually-designed guest rooms. The rooms maintain many of the building’s original features and come well-appointed with modern artwork, marble bathrooms and lush bedding.
Shepherd House
Faversham, Kent, United Kingdom
A little over an hour out of London, this Georgian townhouse turned boutique three-bedroom B&B will have you feeling right at home. Renovated a few years ago by a husband and wife duo, it’s the perfect display of old and new with original features placed alongside bold-coloured walls and contemporary furnishings. Guests wake up to a home-cooked breakfast, made to order with locally sourced produce; think Scotch pancakes with streaky bacon, pork sausage with scrambled eggs, coffee, orange juice, and for the perkier visitors, a horseradish bloody mary. Set right on the doorstep of Kent’s coast, coastal walks, nature reserves, and award-winning restaurant, The Sportsman, are all within easy reach.
Gilpin Hotel
Windermere, Lake District, United Kingdom
Spanning 21 acres at the heart of the Lake District, this family-run hotel beckons couples seeking a relaxing and luxurious weekend away. The main hotel has 25 varying accommodations, including the more intimate garden suites and spa lodges, or a mile away there’s the Gilpin Lake House: a separate estate with six bedrooms, its own lake, boat house, swimming pool and sauna. Guests can enjoy one of two onsite restaurants, including modern British cuisine at Michelin-starred Hrisihi. The area affords uninterrupted idyllic scenes for those in favour of seclusion, or guests can explore further afield at the Lake District’s quaint towns and villages.
For more information or to book a stay, get in touch with one our expert Travel Consultants.