Matfen Hall

On arrival at Matfen Hall the valet will park your car, the concierge will whisk your luggage to your room and you will be offered a welcome drink in The Great Hall as you check in. All this sets the tone for your stay at this five-star hotel, which occupies a 19th-century Gothic mansion in the Northumberland countryside, not far from Hadrian’s Wall. Set in 300 acres of stunning parkland, there’s a championship golf course, a spa and a choice of places to eat. It is the quintessential country house hotel, with all the comfort and luxury that implies, and yet it is so much more – with grandeur, opulence and an attention to detail that sets it apart.

There are 65 rooms and suites: book any and you can expect classic but contemporary decor in tune with the elegance of the place. Of course, your room has a minibar, and yes, good coffee is available, courtesy of a Nespresso machine. Toiletries are from Penhaligon’s of London, and alll beds are fitted with the finest 300 TC Egyptian Cotton Sateen sheets. These may be minor details for some (not us), but the attention to them is evidence of the service and style you can expect at Matfen Hall. And there’s more besides. Book a suite for the extra space and marble bathroom, and get a seasonal flower arrangement too. For guests staying in the luxury suites and rooms, if you arrive by plane or train into Newcastle, a chauffeur service is included in your rate.

Everyone who stays here has access to the swimming pool, sauna, treatment rooms of the spa and the very impressive gym – and all guests are welcome to explore the beautifully-manicured grounds. Booking in for a round of golf or afternoon tea in The Orangery are two other appropriate ways to while away relaxing days. Then, when evening arrives, dress for dinner and head to the Emerald Restaurant for fine dining after a cocktail in the 1832 bar. There’s a timeless appeal to all this that many will love, but if it’s too formal for you, there’s steak and seafood to enjoy at the more contemporary Cloisters Restaurant, ingeniously designed in a former courtyard.

Matfen Hall works equally well as a place to rest and relax as it does to celebrate a special occasion, but it’s also well located as a base to explore the North East. It’s midway between Newcastle and the best-preserved bits of Hadrian’s Wall, with Northumberland National Park stretching away to the north. Whether you get to see any of this will depend on if you can tear yourself away from the hotel and its manifold comforts.