No more than two hours away, each of these 5-star hotels offers fabulous spa treatments, one-off dining experiences and beautiful surroundings, making for a fabulous weekend away from the stress and heat of the city.
So, pack your swimmers, grab a floatie and come and join us in these hotels with outdoor pools…
An exclusive hotel and spa in Bagshot, Surrey, Pennyhill Park is an ivy-clad manor house with an award-winning 45,000 sq ft. spa. The outdoor heated swimming pool is set amidst 123 acres of grounds and parklands complete with jogging and walking trails and a 9-hole golf course. There’s also an outdoor pool bar during the hot summer months.
When you aren’t using one of the many pools or indulging in a pampering session, the hotel offers two dining choices – The Latymer for fine dining and The Brasserie for a more casual dining experience. The rooms are all stylishly decorated and many retain original period features such as exposed brick work or wooden ceiling beams.
The infamous ‘Profumo’ outdoor swimming pool at Cliveden, surrounded by a traditional walled garden, is the perfect place to while away the summer.One of the most wonderful things about Cliveden is its proximity to the Thames and the possibilities to spend the day messing about in boats on the river. They have a fleet of vintage launches, a gorgeous Flotilla that looks like something out of a vintage Bond movie, and the possibility for Champagne cruises and boat picnics – what more could you want?!
The rooms at Cliveden are undeniably luxurious and the club rooms are each named after notable guests of the house, including Rudyard Kipling. You can also choose from a deluxe suite, a junior suite, a hot tub room with your very own Jacuzzi on the terrace, or a Mansion House suite all of which feature lavish décor and features such as oak panelling and large sash windows looking out over the grounds.
Spoil yourself at this gorgeous Hampshire country manor hotel. When the sun is out, chilling on a sunbed beside the outdoor pool, you’ll feel a world away from the stuffy heat of the city.
Chewton Glen’s food motto is to ‘live to eat not eat to live,’ in other words they are all about indulgence and gourmet cuisine. Head to The Dining Room for cosmopolitan, delicious and exquisitely presented food, or if you are looking for something more low-key then enjoy the casual atmosphere of The Kitchen where you can pick up tasty locally sourced food – some of which is even grown on the premises.
Book a stylish and cosy room within the main house, or splash out and book yourselves into one of the luxury tree houses. The lofty hideaways offer modern interiors with features such as wood-burning fires and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the view.
Pack your bags and head off to Suffolk where the luxurious Maison Talbooth awaits you.
The relaxed country house vibe of Maison Talbooth permeates the comfortable and well-lit Garden Room Restaurant with its towering windows and views over the Dedham Vale. If you are looking for something a bit fancier then book a table at the Le Talbooth Restaurant, one of Essex’s premier restaurants and just a two-minute drive from Maison Talbooth in the hotel’s courtesy Range Rover.
Spend your days exploring the surrounding countryside on foot, by bike or on horse-back and enjoy the fresh country air and a summer breeze. When you get back ease your tired legs in the outdoor heated Jacuzzi before kicking back next to the pool for the last of the sunshine.
If you can’t get out of the city but are dying for some pool time, then The Berkeley is an iconic hotel in London’s prestigious Knightsbridge area.
A fashionable place to spend the weekend, The Berkeley’s Blue Bar is the perfect place to start your night out, with mixologists whipping up delicious signature cocktails and glamorous interior décor including a state-of-the-art glass pavilion extension. During the day enjoy Afternoon Tea at the Berkeley where the PretaPortea comes in the many shapes and sizes of the latest catwalk trends.
If you are looking to splurge then book yourselves into a suite. Each suite is a work of art in itself, with collections of carefully procured designer furniture and views over Hyde Park.