Best of British

Travel is open but that doesn’t mean we can’t make the most of a night or two away in the UK. Here are Lulu’s Best of British finds for dog owners, country lovers, city slickers and those looking to retreat..

NEW

The Grosvenor at Stockbridge

This countryside hotel has always been popular with those who love country pursuits and is surrounded by some of the best fishing in the UK, thanks to the River Test. Now The Grosvenor has taken on a new lease of life under new ownership and has undergone a stunning renovation which includes a fantastic pink bar! Choose between rooms with calm, muted tones or opt for one of the more bright and colourful rooms. The rooms have large beds with plump pillows and crisp white bed linen and underfloor heating in the en-suite bathrooms. Dog-friendly rooms are in the garden rooms at the back of the hotel as is the Hayloft the hotel's honeymoon suite. The Market Room Restaurant takes its name from the 19th-century Stockbridge Market with a menu that features some favourites including crab linguini, minute steak with fries and sticky toffee pudding with a great wine list to choose from. A great choice any time of the year.

Rates from £178

www.thegrosvenorstockbridge.com

DOG-FRIENDLY

Great Fosters, Surrey

A fine Tudor mansion with award-winning gardens close enough to London for a quick night away. Panelled sitting rooms with open fires and Afternoon Tea served on the lawn make a stay here a quintessentially British affair. Stay in the summer and enjoy lazy days by the pool with a cocktail in hand.

The Estate has evolved over the years and the latest addition is the Dower House, just a short stroll from the Main House. It includes seven generous dog-friendly rooms and suites, all rich in original details designed for indulgent weekends, get-togethers with friends and family, and perfect too for longer stays.

Rates from £255

www.alexanderhotels.co.uk

LUXURY

The Bloomsbury, London

You’ll find iconic luxury hotel The Bloomsbury in a beautifully restored Lutyens’ 1930s’ neo-Georgian building in London’s literary heartland, close to Covent Garden. Cosy and luxurious it’s hard to believe the hotel has 152 rooms: it’s more home from home than hotel with the best turndown service I’ve come across. The elegant rooms and suites are peppered with little luxuries including Malin and Goetz products, Nespresso machines, in-room rolltop baths and luxury marble bathrooms. Downstairs you can choose between The Coral Room, the glamourous art deco bar which turns to a sultry red when the lights are dimmed, and the Bloomsbury Club Bar, a more intimate affair. Dining at the Dalloway Terrace is a must, it is, after all London’s most instagrammable restaurants and one of the most romantic. Virginia Woolf, an author whose name is synonymous with Bloomsbury, wrote the eponymous character in her novel Dalloway Terrace. This beautiful indoor-outdoor space undergoes seasonal changes and is accompanied by a fresh, often-updated menu as well as beautiful floral installations. If you’re after a luxurious slice of the city look no further.

Rates from £350

www.doylecollection.com

COSY

Borough Court, Hampshire

Borough Court is one of the oldest houses in Hampshire with records going back as far as 1333. Privacy is the name of the game here with just two large double rooms with vast beds adorned with crisp white bed linen and plump pillows. The Chinese Room has two basins in the room, an en-suite bathroom and a separate shower and the attic room have a large, bright bathroom up a few steps with a bath and large shower, big enough for two. Guests have the use of a large drawing room with a working fireplace and next door in the dining room breakfast is served at a time to suit you. A luxurious British B&B experience more akin to a boutique hotel.

Rates from £145

www.boroughcourt.co.uk

CITY SLICKER

The Dunstane Houses

Located in the heart of Edinburgh's old town, The Dunstane Houses is a stylish and welcoming city retreat with an authentic Scottish soul. Family-run since 1865, but inspired by the best of modern-day Scotland, this charming hotel blends heritage good looks with personal service and a fresh, contemporary style. The six suites offer, among other things, four-poster beds and freestanding copper roll-top baths in the bedroom. The Ba' Bar & Lounge features food made with seasonal Scottish produce from small local suppliers, as well as daily Afternoon Tea. The hotel not only has a wide selection of drinks but also one of the largest, rare whisky collections in the city.

Rates from £194

www.thehotelguru.com

CHOCOLATE BOX

The Swan, Cotswolds

Flagstone floors and roaring log fires welcome you at this eight-bedroom 16th-century coaching inn. Recently re-vamped and re-opened the rooms are colourful and cosy, with vintage floral fabrics or bright, contrasting colours. Some feature massive free-standing baths in the rooms and all have fluffy dressing gowns and own-brand 100 Acres products. If you're travelling en famille I recommend you book the family cottage (two rooms in the courtyard) which sleeps up to six, four in one room and two in the other. The modern British menu is seasonal; you’ll find some favourites on the menu including treacle tart with clotted cream and The Swan Cheeseburger is a mouth-watering treat. In the evening grab your spot by the fire in the bar and enjoy a cocktail from the new menu before heading through to the oak-floored dining room or courtyard garden. For the summer months, the garden grill is served from the outdoor kitchen during the weekends.

Rates from £100

www.countrycreatures.com

RETREAT

The Travelling Bookbinder Retreats, IONA

Tucked away on the spiritual isle of Iona on the west coast of Scotland, artist and author Rachel Hazell - aka The Travelling Bookbinder – takes her guests on a journey of self-discovery and creativity. On her inventive Driftwood Binding Retreat, which runs several times a year, you’ll make your own book with driftwood covers. As well as creating pages and content, you’ll also learn how to fold, stitch and bind books. You’ll stay at The Green Shed, which is at the island’s northern tip. Expect to wander the shoreline, looking out for seals and collecting shells, and visit the abbey and say hello to flocks of Hebridean sheep. Evenings are spent curled up on sofas with a book, painting or sharing some tunes and you’ll celebrate your creations at a show-and-tell tea party. Rachel, whose own work Bound: 15 Beautiful Bookbinding Projects is published by Kyle, provides a space where you can tap into your creativity, lose your inhibitions, embrace mindfulness and get into the zone.

www.queenofretreats.com

26 – 30 August 2022, rates from £1,495 (includes accommodation, all meals and materials).