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Britain in Style
UK Luxury Travel
By
Annabelle Thorpe
 Chilled
champagne, a bubbling Jacuzzi, a four-poster bed draped in the
finest white linen. Or perhaps a sumptuous banquet in a medieval
castle, cruising along country lanes in a vintage Rolls-Royce,
or gliding across the English Channel on a gleaming yacht.
A luxury break
can mean many different things in Britain - holed up in a gorgeous
hotel room, shopping on Bond Street, or enjoying some retro-glamour
on an Agatha Christie-style train journey – anything as
long as its wildly indulgent and just that little bit naughty.
Indulgence is big in the UK
right now; a clutch of stylish new hotels has opened that redefines
country-house chic. Whatley Manor in the Cotswolds, Cowley Manor
in Gloucestershire and The Grove in Hertfordshire have joined
Seaham Hall and Babington House in a new wave of hotel design;
fuss and frippery are long gone, replaced with muted colours,
clean lines and relaxed attitudes – breakfast at 4pm and
dinner at midnight - if you wish - and indulgent treatments at
top-notch spas inbetween. Spa-lovers are well served in every
corner of the UK; from thalasso treatments at St David's Hotel
in Cardiff to oriental massages at OneSpa in Edinburgh.
In London,
hotels increasingly offer bespoke packages for top-end travellers
– the Mandarin Oriental in Hyde Park can organise helicopter
tours over the city, private boat tours along the Thames, or a
shopping day at Harvey Nichols (situated just across the road)
with a personal shopper. Combine a night at The Royal Opera House
(opt for the Grand Tier box, seats 4, at £170pp) with supper
at Gordon Ramsay at Claridges, where the approx cost of £150
for two ensures you are hanging out with London’s hippest
crowd. A limousine is the only way to cruise London by night (book
through Valliant Chauffeur Drive) but by day, take a private tour
in a Black Taxi, with an authentic 'cabby' as your guide, from
£75 for two hours.
If the city streets seem too hectic to be truly luxurious, opt
for somewhere a little more intimate. Foodies should head to Padstow
in Cornwall, where high-profile chef Rick Stein has added to the
Seafood Restaurant he opened 28 years ago, with a café, brasserie
and deli - or to Ludlow in Shropshire, which has the most Michelin-starred
restaurants outside London; try the Merchant House or Overton
Grange. For a weekend of culinary indulgence, check into Le Manoir
au Quat’ Saisons in Oxfordshire, home to Raymond Blanc and
one of the most sumptuous seven-course suppers in the country.
If you want to explore in style, then simply hop on the train.
Not just any train; take in the peaks and lochs of Scotland
on the Royal Scotsman – all polished mahogany, shining silverware
and views to die for. Or discover English towns such as Bath or
Brighton on the Venice-Simplon Orient Express British Pullman,
which offers day and evening excursions in carriages which date
back to the 1920's, with original brasswork, mosaic floors and
the dryest of dry martinis. For the ultimate ride, the Northern
Belle can be hired exclusively, and you decide the train’s
itinerary, with champagne all the way.
So when is the best time to come for an indulgent few days? If
you’re in the market for serious glamour, the months from
April to August - traditionally known as the 'season' - are the
glitziest in the social calendar. Kicking off with the Grand National
at Aintree, and taking in the Chelsea
Flower Show, Wimbledon,
Royal
Ascot, Henley Regatta and the ‘Proms’ concerts,
some serious dressing up is required, so head to Burberry or Stella
McCartney’s new flagship store, both on New Bond Street,
Harvey Nicks in Leeds, or the brand new Bullring centre in Birmingham
for a touch of quintessential British style. All of the events
offer top-notch hospitality; opt for a box at Royal Ascot, or
book tickets to the Courtyard Enclosure at Henley and a picnic
hamper to go with it.
The summer months are also the best time for exploring the seas
around Britain, from the Irish Sea in the north to the English
Channel in the south. Hebridean Island Cruises offer the chance
to visit some of the most far-flung islands, on small boats that
offer gorgeous cabins – all tartan fabrics and marble bathrooms,
with plenty of local whisky on hand if the wind gets up. If you
fancy just a day cruise, the Masterbuilders Hotel in Lymington
offers a day sailing on its private yacht, the Master George,
over to the Isle of Wight for lunch at its sister hotel, the George
in Yarmouth.
Cooler months are perfect for exploring Britain's castles and
country houses; forget walking boots and windcheaters and dress
up for jazz luncheons or wine tasting evenings at Castle Ashby
in Northamptonshire, or even a traditional English houseparty
weekend, with the chance to try clay-pigeon shooting, falconry
and carriage ride. Leeds Castle, in Kent, hosts open-air concerts
and firework spectaculars, but you can also hire out a private
room for 12 people or more, for a right royal feast. For the ultimate
in privacy, hire your own country hideaway - Rural Retreats have
a huge selection of chocolate-box cottages throughout the country,
including Rectory Cottage in Wiltshire, which boasts an Aga, open
fire, beautiful bedrooms with fluffy towels and white linen, gorgeous
views and an idyllic courtyard garden.
But whatever you do, and wherever you stay, there is one indulgent
tradition that shouldn't be missed. Whether it’s hand-cut
sandwiches, fresh pastries and a glass of champagne at the Lanesborough
or Landmark hotels in London, a luxury Fortnums hamper opened
on a lazy afternoon, or toasted teacakes at Bettys Team Rooms
in Harrogate, Yorkshire, open since 1919, make sure that at sometime,
somewhere, you remember to stop for tea.
Source:
VisitBritain: www.visitbritain.com
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