Hartwell House

Wander through the ‘extravagantly and sumptuously furnished’ rooms at this stately mansion – it’s not hard to imagine being a member of the court of Louis XVIII of France, who lived here, in exile, in the 19th century. Today, run by Historic House Hotels for the National Trust, it’s a ‘special’, ‘blissfully quiet’ place to stay. ‘It oozes history – we loved it,’ say guests, including ‘a keen historian’, this year. The ‘spectacular’ building stands in ‘incredible’ grounds with a lake, a church and a Gothic tower; inside, ‘super’ bedrooms are decorated in period style. For a royal experience, book one of the lavish four-poster suites outfitted with antiques and fine paintings. ‘Dine well’ in the formal restaurant (‘elegant in an old-fashioned way’, with candles and floor-length tablecloths), where chef Daniel Richardson’s seasonal menu uses ‘beautifully fresh’ fruit, vegetables and herbs from the garden and orchard. More casual dinners may be taken in the spa café on Friday and Saturday nights. Mornings, breakfast is ‘fine’: grilled Loch Fyne kippers, poached haddock, ‘the best porridge we’ve tasted’. (A and BB, Richard Morgan-Price, and others). This hotel is a member of Pride of Britain hotels.