Ye Olde Bell

At first glance, Ye Olde Bell looks like a traditional roadside inn, but step inside and you’ll see that it’s comfortably and sumptuously furnished to look more like a country house hotel. What’s more, if you slip out the back, you’ll find a spa with an impressive array of thermal facilities. Situated a mile or so off the A1 in Nottinghamshire, it has been hosting overnight guests for centuries, including some illustrious names (a young Queen Victoria among them). These days, however, thanks to its restaurants and restorative relaxation rooms, it’s not just part of the journey but a destination in its own right.

The hotel has  59 rooms, including four suites and two spacious lodges – all rooms have been individually designed to make the most of the historic features of the building. The suites, of course, are the most luxurious, with canopied beds and roll-top baths in the bathrooms, but whichever you choose they are all well-designed with elegant touches. Heavy curtains and antique furniture sit alongside the upscale hotel staples of flatscreen TV, hairdryer and tea and coffee-making facilities and wifi throughout. The en-suite bathrooms all have power showers and breakfast is included with every stay.

If you’re in the market for some pampering then you’re in luck; the hotel has invested in a lavish spa complex which has a wide range of facilities , including an Alpine sauna, herbal laconium, outdoor pool and treatment rooms. There’s plenty of packages on offer from 30 minute massages up to multi-day experiences. If you’re using the place as a stop-over you might be happy to rest in a classic room and refuel in the relaxed St-Leger-Bistro-by-the-Bar. If you’re heading here to visit the local area, the spaciousness of a lodge might suit you best. If you’re here for a treat, book a suite, spend some time in the spa and get yourself a table at the Restaurant Bar 1650.