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.

 

 

HotelTonight, the app for last-minute hotel stays, launches new destinations

hotelHotelTonight, the app for last-minute or spontaneous hotel stays,

launches new destinations in France, Italy, Spain and Mexico

 

HotelTonight, the first ever last-minute hotel booking app, has recently added more than fifteen new destinations to its roster of vibrant cities worldwide. This brings the total reach of the app to 12 countries and 100 destinations worldwide.

 

To tie in with the peak travel season in Europe, HotelTonight is adding popular European destinations, including Lille, Lyon, and Marseille in France; Barcelona, Madrid, and Malaga/Costa del Sol in Spain and Florence, Rome and Milan in Italy. The last minute hotel booking app is also offering its over five million global users new destinations in Ireland, Mexico and for those who prefer holidaying closer to home, HotelTonight has added Brighton to its list of best UK hotel deals.

 

This recent international expansion is part of its pledge to be ubiquitous and accessible to all last minute travellers and follows last week’s global announcement of new features including “Snap Your Stay” which allows customers to photograph and share images of their hotel with friends and other HotelTonight users, and the “HT Price Guarantee,” which guarantees its rates against competitors’ offerings.

 

HotelTonight is now partnering with almost 2500 hotels across the globe in the  ‘hip’, ‘luxe’, ‘charming’ and ‘solid’ categories. Hotels include the stunning 5 Star The First Luxury Hotel in Rome, and the charming Palazzo Vecchietti in Florence, the Kempinski Hotel Bahia Estepona on the Costa del Sol and the hip Music Hotel in Marseille. These hotels and others across Europe are perfect for an impromptu weekend break. There are also many more hotels more on the mid to basic level which are perfectly suited to business travellers’ needs.

 

At the same time as adding these new destinations, the company has also expanded its European operations, relocating to a new, larger office in London’s Covent Garden and building out the team with new Country Managers for Italy and Spain.

 

The Hotel Tonight app offers unbeatable deals on hand-picked hotels, with bookings opening at midday and closing at 2AM. Last minute travellers can book a hotel in less than ten seconds with three taps and a swipe, starting that day for one night or more.

Visit www.hoteltonight.com for more information and to download the free app.

 

For staycations, in the UK, cities include Birmingham, Brighton, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London and Manchester.

Inspired by the Olympics? Try a Sports Holiday in Lanzarote!

Nicknamed ‘Europe’s Hawaii’, Lanzarote is blessed with strong Atlantic winds and year round warm waters– the perfect combination for activity based breaks. Lanzarote holidays are just a four hour flight from London and boast a combination of long sandy beaches and sheltered bays. With the Olympics fast approaching everyone is a little bit more conscious about being healthy so why not incorporate it into your annual summer holiday?

 

Surfing

 

Lanzarote is one of Europe’s top surfing destinations. In summer the waves can reach heights of 4ft and in winter they’re even bigger. Experienced surfers head for the northern and north eastern shores of Lanzarote. The beaches near Jameos Del Agua are particularly popular, the waves break across a volcanic reef and shouldn’t be tackled by beginners. Famara’s award winning beach is another top spot. This large bay has consistent conditions and enough space for both beginners and experts.

 

Whether you’re a first timer or if you want to improve your skills, there are plenty of surf schools on the island, such as Surf School Lanzarote. You can rent boards and equipment from any places from around €10 a day.

 

Windsurfing

 

Lanzarote is also ideal for windsurfing. In fact, it is so good that Costa Teguise regularly plays host to the PWA World Windsurfing Championships. Both beginners and experts can windsurf in Lanzarote, although beginners are advised avoid the afternoons when the wind gets really strong. Afternoon windsurfing really is just for the experienced, especially in May, June, July and August when conditions are at their best.

 

If you’ve never windsurfed before or you want to improve your technique, then there are a number of schools and board rental outlets on Lanzarote. Head for Playa Blanca, Tias, or Las Cucharas. Companies like Windsurf Paradise can rent boards and provide tuition.

 

Kite Surfing

 

Lanzarote’s Atlantic swells and winds are perfect for kite surfing. Popular locations include Playa Honda, near the airport, and Matagorda, north of Puerto del Carmen, although Famara Beach is the most famous location for kite surfing. There are a number of operators who rent to equipment or run courses, including Surf and Kite Lanzarote in Famara.

 

Diving

 

Lanzarote’s Atlantic waters are home to some stunning underwater scenery. Add to that visibility of 20 meters and an average year-round temperature of between 17 and 22 degrees and it’s easy to understand why diving is so popular here. There are a number of PADI registered dive operations on the island, including The Dive Shop Lanzarote and Manta Diving Lanzarote. The south and south eastern coasts are particularly good for diving as the waters are calmer. Underwater treats include wrecks, volcanic caves and the man-made reef at Puerto del Carmen

 

When it comes to action and adventure in the water it doesn’t get much better than holidays to Lanzarote. Whether you fancy surfing, kite surfing, windsurfing or diving, there’s something for every level of experience.