Top Ten Downtonesque Destinations

To celebrate the return of Downton Abbey, here is the Top Ten Downton Abbey style places to stay.  Sigh.

1. Rushton Hall Hotel and Spa: Kettering, Northamptonshire

From £119 / per room per night from Secretescapes.com (saving £61 / per room per night)

Rushton Hall Hotel and Spa- Kettering, Northamptonshire

Rushton Hall Hotel and Spa- Kettering,

The Grade I listed Rushton Hall Hotel and Spa is so grand and packed full of original features that guests could easily imagine they’re living the Downton Abbey dream. The magnificent 16th century building is surrounded by 25 acres of beautiful grounds, with a large lake, croquet lawn and tennis court, making for the perfect country escape. Having been awarded four coveted red stars and three rosettes for dining, the hotel itself features a gourmet restaurant, a full sized billiard table and the Stable Yard Spa – which has its own indoor swimming pool, fitness room and indulgent range of treatments on offer.

Offer includes accommodation in a superior room, full English breakfast and a 10% discount on treatments at the spa and on dinner in the restaurant. Visit http://www.secretescapes.com or call 0843 22 77 777.

 

2. Melville Castle: Edinburgh, Scotland
From £99 / per room per night (saving £66 / per room per night)

Melville Castle- Edinburgh, Scotland Melville Castle- Edinburgh

Standing within 50 acres of beautiful woodland, Melville Castle is an 18th-century country house hotel just 20 minutes from Edinburgh. With original features, gorgeous views of the surrounding landscape and luxurious rooms, even Lady Violet wouldn’t have much to complain about in this historic four-star castle. Stylishly decorated with traditional touches throughout, guests can throw themselves into the Grantham lifestyle, engaging in countryside activities like clay pigeon shooting, horse riding and falconry.

Offer includes accommodation in a Classic Double room, cooked breakfast, complimentary afternoon tea for two and complimentary late check-out. Visit http://www.secretescapes.com or call 0843 22 77 777.

 

3. Peckforton Castle: Tarporley, Cheshire
From £125 / per room per night (saving £90 / per room per night)

Peckforton Castle- Tarporley, Cheshire Peckforton Castle- Tarporley

Boasting stunning vistas across the Cheshire plains and a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2014, the dramatic Peckforton Castle combines regal charm with modern luxury to create an exclusive four-star retreat with a real touch of enchantment. With a range of gung-ho country activities like falconry and land rover experiences, guests will feel like Lord and Lady of Manor from the moment they pass through the drawbridge.

Offer includes accommodation in a Classic room, breakfast and two-course dinner in the brasserie and 30% discount on pre-booked spa treatments. Visit http://www.secretescapes.com or call 0843 22 77 777.

 

4. The Ickworth Hotel: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
From £149 / per room per night (saving £86 / per room per night)

The Ickworth Hotel- Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk The Ickworth Hotel- Bury St Edmunds

The Ickworth Hotel is situated in the grounds of the grand Ickworth stately home, a National Trust property which dates back to the early 1700s and is one of the most unusual and spectacular country mansions in Britain. It’s easy to imagine the Earl of Grantham strolling down the magnificent corridors while the girls take a stroll in the stunning landscaped gardens. Guests can explore the grounds on foot or on the hotel’s bikes and can access the exclusive Italianate gardens out of hours.

Offer includes accommodation in a Standard room, full English breakfast and three-course dinner. Visit http://www.secretescapes.com or call 0843 22 77 777.

 

5. De Vere Slaley Hall Hotel: Hexham, Northumberland
From £109 / per room per night (saving £65 / per room per night)

De Vere Slaley Hall Hotel- Hexham, De Vere Slaley Hall Hotel- Hexham, Northumberland

The serene grounds at De Vere Slalely Hall are just 40 minutes from the centre of Newcastle and offer one of the country’s most spectacular golf settings, featuring green championship fairways and bordered by beautiful woodland. The stately hotel also boasts a wide selection of restaurants and bars, including a stylish brasserie and a cosy whisky snug. There’s also an exclusive spa offering Germaine de Capuccini treatments, as well as a gym and a 20-metre pool, offering guests the ultimate luxury experience.

Offer includes accommodation in a standard room, breakfast and a two-course table d’hote menu dinner per person, a complimentary bottle of wine in the room upon arrival, full use of leisure facilities, 25% discount on any spa treatments booked directly and 20% discount on spa retail products. Visit http://www.secretescapes.com or call 0843 22 77 777.

 

6. Walton Hall: Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
From £114 / per unit per night (saving £103 / per room per night)

Walton Hall- Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire Walton Hall- Stratford-upon-Avon

Constructed as the ancestral home of the Mordaunt family, the 16th-century Walton Hall served for centuries as a high society residence before its recent multi-million pound restoration, which has transformed it into a luxury hotel with 65 acres of parkland. It boasts the two time AA rosette awarded Moncreiffe Restaurant, in addition to a spa and wellness centre, which includes a fitness suite, aerobics studio, indoor swimming pool, sauna and steam room. Walton Hall is the perfect spot for enjoying a leisurely getaway full of countryside walks and provides an excellent base for exploring nearby Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick.

Offer includes accommodation in a premium room, full English breakfast, three-course set menu dinner on first night, a bottle of house wine with dinner, afternoon tea, use of leisure facilities and late check-out until 1pm. Visit http://www.secretescapes.com or call 0843 22 77 777.

 

7. Danesfield House Hotel & Spa: Marlow-On-Thames, Buckinghamshire
From £149 / per room per night (saving £75 / per room per night)

7. Danesfield House Hotel & Spa- Marlow-On-Thames, Buckinghamshire Danesfield House Hotel & Spa- Marlow-On-Thames, Buckinghamshire

A turreted white country house framed by crisp landscaped gardens, the Danesfield House Hotel & Spa sits pretty in the Buckinghamshire countryside, just a few miles from Marlow and the regal town of Henley-on-Thames. With two restaurants and a multi-award-winning spa, this cool retreat has an indoor pool, a gym and a range of luxury treatments. The restaurant is run by chef Billy Reid, and the Orangery has a gourmet menu to rival Mrs Patmore’s culinary delights, with spectacular views down to the River Thames.

Offer includes accommodation in a Standard room, full English breakfast and 20% off all spa treatments. Visit http://www.secretescapes.com or call 0843 22 77 777.

 

8. Stapleford Park: Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
From £149 / per room per night (saving £62 / per room per night)

Stapleford Park- Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire Stapleford Park- Melton Mowbray

It’s easy to imagine the Granthams entertaining at Stapleford Park, one of the finest stately houses in the country. Few hotels could match the aristocratic grandeur of this sprawling Leicestershire pile, with its maze-like gardens, a resident falconer and even a few sheep, making this landmark property the perfect English escape. In addition to its high-ceilinged rooms, open fires and antique furnishings, Stapleford Park boasts a genteel restaurant, a championship 18-hole golf course and a luxurious Clarins Gold Spa, with a heated indoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room.

Offer includes accommodation in a manor room, full English breakfast, unlimited access to the spa and leisure facilities, 25% off any spa treatments booked directly with hotel and late checkout. Visit http://www.secretescapes.com or call 0843 22 77 777.

9. Ston Easton Park: Ston Easton, Somerset
From £119 / per room per night (saving £107 / per room per night)

Ston Easton Park- Ston Easton Ston Easton Park- Ston Easton, Somerset

A Grade I listed building dating back to the 18th Century, Ston Easton sits quietly on a 36-acre estate in the Mendip Hills, in sleepy Somerset. Classical landscaped gardens feature a crumbling grotto fountain, a historic ice house, romantic Palladian bridges, an original Saloon and a scattering of ancient wells. This is a place designed around indulgence, with spacious, elegant bedrooms, in-room spa treatments and the celebrated Sorrel Restaurant which uses fresh ingredients straight from the Victorian kitchen garden and fine vintage wines.

Offer includes accommodation in a Superior room and full English breakfast. Visit http://www.secretescapes.com or call 0843 22 77 777.

 

10. De Vere Oulton Hall Hotel: Leeds, West Yorkshire
From £100 / per room per night (saving £79 / per room per night)

De Vere Oulton Hall Hotel- Leeds, West Yorkshire De Vere Oulton Hall Hotel- Leeds

De Vere Oulton Hall sits within its own 300-hectare estate, featuring sweeping entrance, high ceilings lit by glass chandeliers, marble floors and landscaped gardens. The dining is AA Rosette awarded and presents a range of dignified spaces, from the gourmet restaurant’s dining room to the champagne bar and the swanky drawing room. Guests may hide away for the day at the spa and indulge in an Espa spa treatment or take a round on the 27-hole golf complex with its own Nike Golf Academy, a practice range and a spectacular setting.

Offer includes two-night stay in a Standard room, breakfast, three-course meal from the set menu in the Claret Jug restaurant on the first night of the stay, full use of leisure facilities, 25% off spa treatments (subject to availability and must be booked at the time of reservation) and 20% off spa retail products (minimum spend of £20). Visit http://www.secretescapes.com or call 0843 22 77 777.

 

 

Christmas in Kingston

HISTORIC KINGSTON OFFERS FANTASTIC FESTIVITIES FOR CHRISTMAS

The historic town of Kingston upon Thames will be alive with festive activities and events this Christmas kicking off with a Tudor-style market, which pops up in the town’s Market Place from 7th November to 24th December.

Christmas light switch on

On 15th November Cinderella and Santa Claus himself will be switching on the Christmas lights at 6pm with activities for all the family to enjoy from 3pm. The Rose Theatre’s Christmas production this year is Cinderella. Shoppers can meet characters from the show, see a live ice carving of Cinderella’s Glass Slipper and have a photo taken in a giant Cinderella themed snow globe. There will also be the chance to see real reindeer, choirs and brass bands plus a street dance show for all the family at the Rose Theatre called “Locked In”.

Santa Claus

Children can visit Santa for free in his grotto in Bentalls, with the option to receive a Christmas Present for £2.95. Check bentalls.co.uk for opening times.  They can also post their letter to Santa in special letter boxes in the Eden Walk shopping centre.  Santa will answer every letter, with the best three winning a prize, closing date for entries is 7th December.

Kingston Spotlight – competition for performers

A wide selection of Kingston performers ranging from musicians to mime acts, poets to acrobats and dancers to clowns will be performing in Kingston’s town centre over the festive season adding a bit of sparkle to the town’s shopping experience.  Each Thursday evening and over the weekend (starting on 17th November), these acts will compete to be named Talent of the Week. Members of the public can vote for their Talent of the Week in Kingston’s spotlight competition, throughout the Spotlight period.

Christmas pocket guide

Shoppers can pick up their Christmas Pocket Guide on the Christmas lights switch on night and from local businesses. The guide offers lots of information on Christmas in Kingston as well as the chance to win Free Parking in the town for a year, six months or a month at the NCP Cattle Market. Also up for grabs is a Christmas break at the historic small hotel Chase Lodge with tickets to see Cinderalla at Rose Theatre. Other prizes on offer include: £100 worth of Bentalls voucher, a Hotel Chocolat Hamper worth £50, a two course meal for two at Pizza Express, and a Tartan Travel Rug courtesy of the Edinburgh Woollen Mill.

Arts, crafts and carols

Shoppers will have plenty of opportunities to buy different Christmas gifts.  In the town’s Market House, Kingston Artist Open Studios (KAOS) will be selling the work of local artists, sculptors, ceramicists and crafts people from 26th November – 8th December. Fusion Arts, another Kingston based collaboration of artists, will be selling their wares in Market House from 11th December – 21st December and on 22nd December visitors can shop at the Thames Market, an arts and crafts market.

The Royal Kingston Craft Fair operated by Eden Crafts will pop up on All Saints Lawn from the 15th November to 24th December offering a great range of unusual and unique Christmas gifts.

On 23rd December the Freshly Made Market comes to town. Freshly Made is a collective of urban artists, musicians and jewellery makers who will be selling underground urban products. In addition, Kingston’s daily Ancient Market offers a wide choice of gifts for more information visit: www.kingstonfirst.co.uk/touristinfo

All Saints Church will be holding Christmas concerts and carol services on 2nd, 8th, 18th, 22nd, 24th.  December.

Variety of shops

Kingston’s town centre is just 25 minutes from central London and easily accessible for locals and visitors. The town’s shops will be open every night until 9pm from 3rd December and Christmas shoppers will find something for all tastes and budgets, within a very compact area, a good proportion of which is pedestrianised.  The shopping experience ranges from designer brands and high street fashion in large retail areas such as the Eden Walk Shopping Centre and the Bentall Centre, to independent boutiques that appeal to those in search of special and unique gifts.

Old London Road, which is having its Christmas party on 1st December, is the place to go for unusual purchases and is marked by Kingston’s famous falling over phone boxes (officially named ‘Out of Order’ by artist David Mach). Here shoppers can rummage through antique and vintage items at the Kingston Antiques Centre, or hunt for stylish accessories and up-cycled furnishings at 37 London Road, recently featured on BBC2’s “Mary Queen of Shops”.  Friends and relatives of music lovers will be spoilt for choice at Hands Music in the town’s Market Place which offers instruments, music, accessories and more, while nearby Banquet Records on Eden Street is ideal for muso’s seeking new and cutting edge releases.

Parking in Kingston

Visitors to Chessington World of Adventures can take advantage of a free park and ride running from the theme park to Kingston from 10th November to the 5th January.  Also from 3rd December there is also free parking in the Bentall Centre from Monday to Friday and in John Lewis every night both from 6pm.

Accommodation in Kingston

Shoppers can enjoy a night’s stay at boutique property Chase Lodge Hotel, from just £125 per night, for two people on a bed & breakfast basis. To book call 0208 943 1862 or consult www.chaselodgehotel.com. A former magistrates house, Chase Lodge has 12 rooms, all unique and with free Wi-Fi.

The White Hart Hotel offers luxury accommodation at an affordable price. Double and Twin rooms start from around £120. To book call 020 8977 1786 or consult www.whiteharthoteluk.co.uk.