‘A little bit of heaven, such a wonderful place,’ writes a reader and regular guest at this contemporary hotel in Capability Brown parkland on the Lansdowne family’s estate. Hotel residents have a choice of smart, air-conditioned rooms with espresso machine and fridge, perhaps a Juliet balcony. From April to October, they also have access to the pleasure grounds, arboretum, entertainments (jazz, Shakespeare, garden tours) and to Georgian Bowood House (the ‘little house’ built as service courts and orangery to the demolished ‘big house’). Picnics can be ordered, and, in the relaxed fine-dining restaurant, menus include dishes such as lobster thermidor, steaks from the grill, sole in brioche cruse with celeriac, lobster, bouillabaisse. ‘Such amazing friendly staff. One night is never enough.’