Danesfield House

Looking for a country house hotel you can easily escape to on a weekend out of London? Danesfield House Hotel and Spa should do the trick. It’s located on the outskirts of the elegant Georgian town of Marlow-on-Thames in Buckinghamshire, not far from Henley. At just an hour from the capital, it makes for a handy place for a getaway. But not only that, it’s rather special. You’ll feel that as soon as you start heading up the tree-lined drive towards its grand castle-like façade – this place has all the hallmarks of a classic country house hotel.

You can take afternoon tea in The Orangery, eat in the Oak Room Restaurant and sip late-night drinks in the cocktail bar. Then of course you can bed down in one of its 55 guest rooms, each of which is individually designed but all are fairly traditional to match the overall experience you get here. They range from the best-value Classic Rooms to Junior Suites, which have plenty of space to spread out. For the most opulent decor to match the grandeur you’ll experience downstairs, go for the Deluxe option.

Your room will have views of the Thames and the Chiltern Hills, tempting you to get out and explore the multiple nearby attractions and local landscapes – there are plenty of walks nearby to choose from too, but with 65 acres of grounds to explore and a spa with a good-sized pool as well as a sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi, you may prefer to save these until after you check out!