Farnley Tower

In a peaceful pocket of Durham, swathed in trees, Farnley Towers is an attractive Victorian manor house with a sweeping staircase, stained glass and panelling. You're just out of the centre, in an elevated location, so there's a country-in-the-town feel, bolstered by the style of the 17 rooms – updated country-house about covers it, with handsome beds and coordinated fabrics. Some rooms have castle and cathedral views too. There’s a bright cream-and-white dining room that makes a bit of a statement, and a very decent breakfast spread that's cooked to order.

Dining otherwise is at the rather fine Holi & Bhang India restaurant on the lower ground floor – you can spill out on to terrace and lawn from here. For Durham's other restaurants, it's just a ten-minute stroll down the hill to the centre.