The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa

At the centre of a glorious Georgian crescent, two adjoining mansions are home to an elegant yet family-friendly hotel with oasis garden and beautiful spa. There is a touch of Versailles about the public rooms, with fine art and cascading chandeliers. From smart deluxe doubles with contemporary styling to master suites adorned with artwork, every room is individually designed. ‘Roomy rooms, beautifully presented,’ notes a reader. Dog-friendly rooms have outdoors access, and your best friend can now join you in the bar as you eat from the lounge menu. By day, relax in the garden or in the Georgian spa with its 12-metre pool. At night in the Dower House restaurant, Martin Blake’s tasting menus cater to omnivores and vegetarians. ‘The attention to detail and the attentive staff make this hotel very special,’ writes our reader. Others also note the ‘kind attention of the staff’, especially the head hall porter, who collected them in his car when they couldn’t get a taxi in the rain. Some guests are more prickly: when you’re enjoying a drink outside, try to spot the resident rescued hedgehogs. (Annette Pickering, Peter and 
Anne Davies)