Whatley Manor

A Michelin-starred restaurant, a spa and 12 acres of beautiful gardens make Whatley Manor a rather special place to stay – particularly if it's a celebratory occasion. To really make the most of this country house hotel in the Cotswolds, don’t just book a room or a suite. Make sure you add treatments to your time in the spa, indulge in an afternoon tea on the terrace, book a table at The Dining Room and why not add a wine flight for good measure?

You approach Whatley Manor up a long, tree-lined drive. At the top, you’ll find a Grade II-listed mansion that houses 26 guest suites and rooms. Each has been individually designed and all are equally elegant with understated colours and a sophisticated style. Whether you choose a Classic Room or a Deluxe Suite, you’ll find a supremely comfortable king-size bed and underfloor heating in your en-suite bathroom. Robes and slippers are eco-friendly, WiFi is reliable, tea and coffee carefully sourced, and cookies are handmade.

This, as you may have guessed, is a five-star retreat – in fact, it has the AA’s highest accolade, five red stars. But those aren’t the awards this place shouts loudest about. Its proudest achievements are green ones: it’s won an Award for Best Green Practices and has been named the Best Eco-Conscious Spa. Even its restaurant's Michelin Star is green, recognising a kitchen that uses produce from its own no-dig garden and meat from the farm next door. It’s this commitment to sustainability that makes the luxury here all the more appealing, and it stretches from the on-site recycling centre to the Molton Brown toiletries in refillable bottles that are provided in your room.

Although this country pad has only 26 guest rooms, you’ll find ones that are dog-friendly and others suitable for a family (children over 12 years are allowed). It also has a choice of two restaurants, with Grey’s offering a relaxed alternative to the fine dining of The Dining Room. The gardens are beautifully kept and offer a place to wander and while away the hours – and if it rains, there’s even a private cinema which you can hire to watch a film of your choice. All this, and you're also perfectly poised for exploring the Cotswolds. Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire is close by, not to mention the attractive market town of Malmesbury.