Top 5 Grown Up Getaways

Best Loved is all about those fantastic finds where you have a great night away that you’ll remember forever. We are very lucky to have some 5-star hotels and Michelin star restaurants within our collection, but we also have some delightfully deceptive inns, guesthouses and more.

The unifying factor amongst all our properties is that guests just “love” them – hence why we call ourselves “Best Loved”. This month’s “Top 5” newsletter is just for the grown-ups: Whether you’re looking for some peace and quiet, or if this is your chance to get silly without any little-ones to look after, we have the perfect grown up getaway ideas just for you…

Special mention goes out to one of our newest member hotels, Bethnal & Bec, a Hertfordshire hotel where City Chic Meets Country Comfort, perfect for a grown up getaway!

Simply Spa

One of the first things that spring to mind when thinking of a grown up getaway has got to be an indulgent spa day. Lots of our Best Loved Hotels have fabulous spas, which can be rounded off with a delicious meal and an undisturbed night’s sleep – click here to view all of our Spa Hotels »

To champion just a few of our wonderful spa hotels, take a look at these three which have recently been crowned the best of the best in some national publications:

Rockliffe Hall, County Durham – The Spa at Rockliffe Hall is over 50,000 sq feet of luxury and winner of “5 Bubbles” from the Good Spa Guide. So far in 2018, they have already been named one of the “Best Spa Hotels in the North of England” by The Telegraph, and one of the “Best Spas in the UK” by Red Online.

Lake Vyrnwy Hotel & Spa, Powys, Wales – was also mentioned in Red Online’s “Best Spas in the UK” article, and boasts an unbroken view of the lake from its Thermal Suite.

St Brides Spa Hotel, Pembrokeshire, Wales – was listed as one of The Lady’s “Top 10 Spa Hotels in 2018” and their hydrotherapy infinity pool, which overlooks the bay, uses therapeutic, sustainably sourced, sun-dried sea salt.

Wine Not?

Taking the time to wander around a vineyard, leisurely taste some wines, and generally slow down life’s pace is a perfect way to enjoy a grown up getaway.

Hattingley Valley Winery in picturesque Hampshire use traditional methods for making their wines. They use oak barrels to ferment a small proportion of the wines each year, as well as ageing on lees in stainless steel tanks. This helps to soften the wines before they go into bottles for the second fermentation. Each tour takes approximately 2 hours and includes a trip to the vineyard, an in-depth tour of their state-of-the-art winery, followed by a tasting of their premium English Sparkling Wines.

Extend your trip with a stay in a nearby Best Loved Hotel: Tylney Hall Hotel & Gardens is just a 30-minute drive (or taxi!) away and is a Victorian stately home set in more than sixty acres of beautifully landscaped gardens.

Revisit Your Youth

The first two activities on our list have both been about relaxing and recuperation, but this next day out is more challenging, both physically and mentally. The Crystal Maze Live Experience is the famous TV show brought to life, including your own eccentric “Maze Master” to guide you around the different adventure zones: Aztec, Industrial, Futuristic and Medieval.

After a busy day, why not retire to a Best Loved Hotel. The Milestone Hotel & Residences, The Arch London, or Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites & Residences are all within 30 minutes from the London attraction, or Hotel Gotham is just 15 minutes from the Manchester site.

Cooking Up A Storm

Rick Stein’s Cookery School, Padstow is regularly featured on “best of” lists when talking about cookery courses in the UK, including recent mentions by both The Guardian and The Telegraph, as well as many more. The seafood school has been open for almost 20 years, but it’s not just about seafood, they offer lots of other interesting day courses, including Indian Seafood, Far Eastern, Italian, Mexican, plus patisserie sessions as well.

Less than 15 minutes away is Treglos Hotel an exceptional property on the dramatic Cornish coast and has been run by the Barlow family for more than fifty years.

Time For Tea

Not only is Afternoon Tea a delightfully British tradition, but it oozes sophistication so much so that it simply had to be included on our list of grown up things to do!

We are very proud to have many hotels who served a delicious Afternoon Tea, one of which is currently crowned as serving the Best Yorkshire Afternoon Tea in the DeliciouslYorkshire Taste Awards: The Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa. Orestone Manor was also championed by BBC Good Food as having one of the best Afternoon Teas in the UK.