Imagine embracing long walks, quaint local pubs, lots of fresh air, and a fabulous selection of country comfort at Britain's finest luxury hotels.
Lap up the history and culture and take part in traditional pastimes such as whisky tasting in Scotland and Ireland. Cream teas in Devon or Cornwall or just relaxing in one of many luxury hotels and resorts throughout the UK.
Let's take a look at some of the unusual places to visit and formal events throughout the UK, starting with the beautiful Cliveden House in Berkshire.
Cliveden House, Berkshire
Cliveden House was once home to the Astor family and was instrumental in the downfall of the British Government thanks to the infamous John Profumo and the scandal that rocked the 1960s.
Now privately owned, Cliveden House is one of Britain’s most luxurious hotels, set in over 370 acres of National Trust-owned parkland. Many famous people have spent nights at Cliveden including Meghan Markle who stayed here the night before her wedding.
The hotel typically attracts a wealthy international client, looking for a slice of Downton Abbey drama set in the beautiful English countryside.
Cliveden has a private helipad and easy access to nearby Gatwick Airport.
Coworth Park, Ascot
Ascot is the home of horse racing, but you don’t have to love horse racing to love Coworth Park Hotel and Resort. If you love horses, Coworth Park has an onsite equestrian centre that offers lessons on its 240-acre estate.
The ivory country house provides a picturesque backdrop. The country house decor continues indoors, featuring equine artwork on the walls and embroidered bed linen featuring horseshoes and various horse-themed reading and relaxing areas.
Part of the well known Dorchester Collection owned by the Brunei Investment Agency, Coworth Park is a former Georgian manor house turned into a luxurious, five-star golf resort.
If you love the great outdoors, embrace the countryside in designer wellies, go on a tour in one of the hotels owned 4x4 that waits on the large gravel drive.
In total there are 70 rooms and suites, some have copper roll-top baths, all have antique butterscotch coloured furnishings and far-reaching views from the windows of the hotel's manicured parklands.
If you love food, Coworth Park is the place for you. Choose from three restaurants, including Restaurant Coworth Park, where Michelin-starred chef Adam Smith serves delicious food. For a more relaxed dining experience, jump on a golf buggy to the Barn, which serves charcuterie boards, juicy lamb cutlets and crispy game chips by a roaring open fire.
Why not spend an afternoon In the eco-friendly spa, the base and sides of the pool is lined with amethyst geodes, semi-precious stones, music is piped underwater to promote stress relief. Expect gorgeous candles and luxurious smells from essential oils and spa products.
The Idle Rocks, Cornwall
Cornwall is the home of the cream tea, and one of the best places to experience the scone, jam and cream sensation is the Idle Rocks hotel. Located in St. Mawes since 1913 the hotel is on the site of an old local bakery.
The hotel was established as a luxury coastal hotel back in the 1930s, the hotel was bought by its current owners in 2010, after refurbishing the entire property, it reopened into great acclaim in 2013.
The Idle Rocks is a Relais & Châteaux hotel, each one of the 19 bedrooms takes inspiration from its coastal location and Cornish design. The hotel offers guests south-facing views across the sea and an award-winning restaurant led by head chef Dorian Janmaat.
Are you bored with luxury hotels? How about a whisky tasting and distillery tour in Scotland?
Laphroaig, Port Ellen, Isle of Islay
The remote Isle of Islay is the home to Laphroaig. Laphroaig is one of the best-known single malts available and the only whisky in the world to bear the Royal Warrant of the Prince of Wales.
Located in the picturesque Islay town of Port Ellen, Laphroaig takes its name from Loch Laphroaig on the south coast of the island, where its distillery still stands.
If you’re considering a visit to Islay for your whisky tasting holiday, confirm to read abreast of the buddies of Laphroaig – a community of Laphroaig lovers from around the world.
When visiting Scotland fly in to Glenegedale Airport which is northwest of Port Ellen on the island of Argyll and Bute, off the rugged West Coast of Scotland.
Stay at Bridgend Hotel, Inner Hebrides
Situated on the island of Islay, this cosy hotel offers proper Scottish cooking, which is most welcome after a day of whisky tasting. The restaurant’s daily-changing menu includes plenty of local produce: Loch Gruinart oysters, venison and game from Islay estates and vegetables from the community garden.
From the Isle of Islay to Glenfiddich, Dufftown, Banffshire
Glenfiddich, Banffshire
Glenfiddich is one among the foremost renowned whiskies and therefore the world’s best-selling single malt. The distillery was founded in 1887, Glenfiddich is a family-run business, with their distillery situated half a mile away from Dufftown, the family home of founder William Grant, in Speyside.
Dowans Hotel & Restaurant is a great place to stay close to the distillery, overlooking the Spey Valley, this sophisticated family-run hotel in a grand 1888 Victorian mansion is 9 minutes' walk from Aberlour Distillery.
We are moving on from Scottish whiskey on to Irish whiskey tours. Ireland is a fantastic place to visit and the home to some of the world’s finest whiskey distilleries.
Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery, Tullamore, Offaly
Founded in 1829, the Tullamore D.E.W. Tullamore was the first Irish whiskey distillery to produce a blended whiskey. The Tullamore distillery offers visitors an authentic taste of the nearly 200-year-old distillation process.
We hope you have enjoyed your staycation, it’s unlikely that you will be able to experience these venues all in one go, so why not make each location your staycation for a long weekend every month?
