I love a weekend getaway. If you feel life has become a bit too boring, then it’s just enough to kick-start your motivation. Why? Because we feel inspired when we go to new places and experience new things. Weekend breaks in the UK are also nice because if you live in the UK it means you don’t have to go through the stress of flying and in and out of airport queues. And you can see a new part of the country you might not have visited before. Another great thing about weekend breaks in the UK is that it doesn’t eat up your annual leave so if you are limited on days that you can take off from work then fear not, because I’ve got three great suggestions for weekend breaks in the UK that will be just enough to satisfy your travel craving if you can’t do a long-haul because of time, patience or money.
I visited Boringdon Hall a few weeks ago which was lovely. It’s a heritage 5-star boutique hotel and if you like a bit of history then Boringdon is your place because it’s been around since the 1500s. Each of the rooms are different as well so this really gives a sense of individuality when it comes to the design of the property. There are 40 rooms at Boringdon Hall and two fabulous restaurants on site for all your culinary inspiration. There’s also the Gaia Spa which is really lovely and which I talked about in my previous blog post about my top three spa breaks in the UK.
There’s a variety of things you can do at Boringdon and you can tailor-make your weekend getaway to suit whatever kind of style of break you would like to have. If you are after rest and relaxation, a massage at Gaia Spa followed by some time in the sauna might do the trick. If you want a foodie holiday, there’s an amazing Laurent Perrier afternoon tea where you can do a champagne tasting that’s paired with the afternoon tea menu – all whilst sitting next to a roaring fire in the Great Hall. The food at Boringdon is also fantastic so if it’s a foodie experience you want, it’s yours.
If you like an active break, then the hotel is right on the edge of Dartmoor National Park and there are so many hikes and treks you can do there. You can also go horseback riding at nearby Cheston Farm or even hot air ballooning with South West Balloon Flights. You will most certainly NOT run out of things to do there so whether it’s a relaxing break or an active break, there’s something for everyone.
Mottram Hall is a luxury hotel located in Cheshire in the fresh country air and my, what a stunning place it is. The hotel houses 120 rooms in an 18th century Georgian country house and it is absolutely beautiful. From the manicured grounds to the unique décor (with a nod to British heritage), this is a beautiful place to take a break and put your feet up for a weekend. If you are wondering how to get there it’s only 6 miles from Macclesfield train station so once you get to the station, you can simply get a taxi to the hotel.
The hotel is surrounded by 270 acres of landscaped gardens so this really is a dreamy location if you like waking up to amazing views and love a stroll in the garden. Again this is another hotel and one of those weekend breaks in the UK where you can really tailor-make your own mini holiday. You can choose to the relax in the award-winning spa, get a treatment or treat yourself to a glass of champagne in one of the two restaurants on site – the Claret Jug or the Carrington Grill. All the food served is modern British fare and where they can, everything is sourced locally.
Mottram Hall is also host to everything from weddings to business conferences so if you are a company picking conference venues in Cheshire, well….look no further.
Dukes has a lovely atmosphere, with a heritage feel – it’s situated next to Green Park in London and a very short walk from Green Park station, in the quiet, well-heeled area of St. James in Mayfair. And don’t be fooled into thinking you won’t have any peace or quiet because you are in London. Dukes is tucked away so feels very quiet but is still close to the hustle and bustle of Green Park. And in fact, it’s very close to Buckingham Palace and I did take a walk there to see it by night – something not everyone does! The hotel itself is a historical building and the St. James area was where King Henry 8th built his palace in the 16th century. Around the corner is a house where Winston Churchill lived for 3 years. The place is full of history.
I checked into the hotel around 3pm and firstly took a little tour around. The nice thing about Dukes is that there is a 24-hour Health Club where you can use the gym or steam room at all hours of the day. I love a good steam room experience, so I like the fact that this is open around the clock so that even if I come in late after dinner, I still have time to hit the steam room to unwind before bed.
Dukes does have an onsite restaurant called GBR (Great British Restaurant) which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner (and bottomless brunch). I was able to try the breakfast there and it was really good with options for both vegetarians and meat eaters. Recommended –the beetroot/spinach cold pressed juice and the avocado/poached egg with chili on toast. The grilled kipper is also very nice!
I stayed in the junior suite which was beautiful – open with high ceilings so it felt as though there was plenty of space. I love the little balcony which is just big enough to seat two people to have a drink or a cup of tea. The bathrooms were also lovely and spacious with marble floors and walls and amenities from Floris. I prefer a bath over a shower because I feel with a bath you can really unwind and I also loved that there was a glass of rose scented bath salts next to the bathtub, along with a bath pillow so you could really get that full relaxation. It’s the little things that count, right?
Where will you choose for your next weekend break in the UK?
Don’t forget to find me on Instagram @beautyrocksblog for all of my latest travel pics!
