Chewton Glen
Where is it? Hampshire, England
Why book? This renowned hotel in the New Forest is poised halfway between rural retreat and seaside sanctuary, mingling classic country style with a splash of spa chic.

Its restaurant Marryat – named after Children of the New Forest author and former hotel guest Captain Frederick Marryat – has earned plaudits from Egon Ronay and envy from hundreds of chefs across the Continent. Chef Luke Matthews’ classic British menu – including ravioli of Scottish scallops, Dover sole, and apple and blackberry crumble – is an essential gastronomic experience.

Rates £404–£1,015 (from the cheapest double room in low season to the most expensive suite per night - most include breakfast unless stated, though not dinner; continental breakfast is £20pp at Chewton Glen)

Gidleigh Park
Where is it? Devon, England
Why book? This beautiful 24-room country house hotel, situated on wild Dartmoor, offers one of the finest dining experiences in southwest England. Chef Michael Caines has earned two Michelin stars for the hotel’s restaurant – as well as an MBE for himself – through his dedication to top-class cuisine.

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His innovative, seasonal menu changes constantly and zealously makes use of the freshest local products. You might start with ravioli of Brixham crab and move onto Devon beef or Cornish sea bass – washing it all down with a choice from one of the most extensive wine lists in the UK.
Rates £290–£1,050

Hipping Hall
Where is it? Lake District, England
Why book? In the middle of a 15th-century hamlet, this chic Lune Valley restaurant-with-rooms is set in a cluster of ivy-clad stone buildings surrounded by three acres of greenery. In contrast to the soothing neutrals and airy tranquility of its bedrooms, the reception room, bar and lounge are strikingly opulent, with just a dash of kitsch.

The perfect setting, then, for Jason ‘Bruno’ Birkbeck’s modern take on British cooking – saddle of venison with black pudding ravioli, pot-roasted pig’s head and braised local oxtail. Vegetables come straight from the hall’s walled garden.

Rates £145–£230

Hurst House on the Marsh
Where is it? Carmarthen Bay, Wales
Why book? Hurst House on the Marsh is quite simply the most gloriously eccentric thing to come out of Wales since Shirley Bassey first threw on a feather boa and started watching Bond films. There’s a chrome-and-glass bar that looks as though it’s on loan from the Tate Modern and hand-carved Moroccan doors, as well as Dalí-esque melting clocks and giant angle-poise lamps, which bring a surreal edge to Dylan Thomas’ former home village.

In the restaurant, the delicious menu is put together by Michael Bates, and concentrates on fresh, local ingredients, such as black beef, salt-marsh lamb and straight-out-of-the-ground leeks. Tidy.
Rates £285–£335

The Miller of Mansfield
Where is it? Berkshire, England
Why book? Sidled up to a flint cottage, and opposite a Tudor-topped corner chapel and a stone parish church, this 12-room Grade II-listed red-brick inn on the Berkshire/Oxfordshire border blends traditional fittings with chic modern design.

The restaurant, a sedate space of white-and-cream décor, is where chef Mehdi Amiri produces dishes such as slow-cooked local chicken, hand-rolled linguine in a lobster sauce, and monkfish with mash and snails. Walk off the calories on the nearby Thames path afterwards.
Rates £110–£175

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