RAVENNA, FORLI AND RIMINI...

Last week we went on a little trip to Northern Italy to visit Ravenna, Forli and Rimini and explore just what the Northern region of Italy has to offer tourists. A short flight over the Alps from London Gatwick and we'd touched down in Bologna airport, from which we headed to Ravenna stopping off for a light lunch on the way. We say light lunch, technically it was a three course meal but given the other lunches we had this was most definitely light.

Once checked-in at Ravenna we headed out to explore the historical city centre, first stop gelato, well it was 32 degrees! The small town with it's pretty cobbled streets and open plazas is an easy place to while away an afternoon exploring and if history and mosaics are your thing you'll also find churches filled with impressive mosaics from different periods.


That night we had dinner La cucina dell'Acciuga, a popular seafood restaurant with nautical decor where we ate a varied selection of different fishy dishes from octopus and squid to fresh sea bass generously topped with a mound of truffles.

The next day it was up and off to school, mosaic school where we learnt how to make our very own mosaic - It's hard than it looks folks! Then it was on to Faenza, another historical city where everyone cycles the streets, old and new with a pace of life we could get used to...

Lunch was at a charming restaurant with a huge deli shop at the front, La Baita Osteria where we tasted olive oils from around the region before moving on to the local wines. Here we indulged in beautiful cold meats, tagliatelle ragu (just don't call it bolognese), spinach and ricotta ravioli and rabbit. Dinner was at Casa Artusi cookery school, named after Pellegrino Artusi who wrote “The Science of Cooking and the Art of Eating Well” a compilation of recipes from different Italian homes during the 1800s. The book is more of an insight into the Italian way of life than just a simple recipe book with family recipes collected from all around the country. Just like mamma used to make!


Our last day was spent around Rimini and after exploring the picture perfect town we headed to San Leo a beautiful village in the countryside which has been known to inspire painters throughout history. After another huge lunch - seriously these guys know how to eat - we headed up to investigate the impressive castle and torture equipment that lies within.

That night we went to “Artisti in Piazza”, a festival of street art located in a medieval town that rises on two beautiful hills in the greenest heart of Italy. Slightly surreal but this place rocked, the atmosphere was jumping, the Aperol Spritz were in full flow, there was plenty of different acts to choose from and the partying went on all night!


A little hazy from the night before the next morning was spent catching a few rays on Rimini beach before heading back home feeling pretty satisfied having eaten 9 pasta courses in three days. When in Emilia-Romagna...

We were guests of the tourist board.

REVIEW: THE GALLIVANT

The Gallivant is located in Camber Sands, just a 1 hour train journey from London to Rye, a short cab ride and you're there, minutes from one of the best beaches in England. The hotel has 18 rooms and the decor is rustic chic, think drift wood furniture, pale blues and creams and simple touches.

The rooms are pretty small but this makes them uber cosy, especially as all feature homely touches from the homemade biscuits to the retro looking phones, soft cotton robes and White Company products. Outside of the rooms the restaurant is the heart of the hotel and attracts both locals and people from out of town.


After arriving we headed straight into dinner to try out the tasting menu which features the best local produce from the area paired with local wines (bar one). The meal starts with a glass of Chapel Down Brut and a Smoked Duck salad followed by the fish soup which was our favourite course. The rich, full flavoured soup is served in teacups on a board and comes with garlic rouille, crispy croutons and gruyere. Rye bay scallops, roast salt marsh lamb and a pear tarte tartin with candle - yes they remembered our birthday - completed the meal. Not forgetting the Somerset Cider Brandy which has quite the kick...

After dinner we strolled along the corridor to bed, before rising just in time for breakfast. Two huge bacon sarnies with homemade ketchup and we were ready to go exploring over the dunes to the beach, which stretches as far as the eye can see. Brisk beach walk done we hit Rye to potter around the antique shops, eat some freaking amazing carrot cake in The Cobbles Tea Room and explore the town.


For a quick, gourmet break from London The Gallivant ticks all of the boxes.

B&B from £115 per night
New Lydd Road, Camber, East Sussex TN31 7RB ‎
www.thegallivanthotel.com

MAINPORT HOTEL OPENS IN ROTTERDAM,,,

Rotterdam has a new hotel, the Mainport which opened earlier this month design by MAS architecture. The Mainport's black glass and aluminium exterior combined with floor to ceiling windows certainly makes it stand out from the crowd. With a holistic focus dominating throughout, each room has its own in-room spa with walk-in showers, anti-fog mirrors and a whirlpool for total relaxation. The spa suites even have their very own Jacuzzi - hot tub party anyone?

The Spa itself complete with Finnish panorama sauna and Turkish steam room is sure to leave you feeling totally chilled. Whilst in the bar guests can pay homage to Sydney in "On The Rocks" and eat some tasty Australian-Asian dishes in restaurant "Down Under", which is located at water level and headed up by chef Sander Jongenotter. The hotel is situated in Leuvehaven, by the harbour, and provides the perfect base for exploring the city - ask the staff at the hotel for their insider tips on what's hot and what's not without feeling like an idiot as the vibe here is all about bringing locals and travellers together. A perfect place to let your inner culture vulture be free!

Rooms from 150 Euros
Leuvehaven 77 3011 EA Rotterdam, Netherlands
www.mainporthotel.com

COLOMBIA: TCHERASSI HOTEL & SPA

The coastal town of Cartagena in Northern Colombia is a laid back colonial village which thrives on tourism. It has an authentic feel, with narrow roads and old buildings, street sellers and an average all year round temperature of 30 degrees. There's an old saying that the beggars here don't ask for money they ask for ice-cold lemonade...

The old town is fun and friendly, the most difficult aspect is simply navigating around its streets and turning down the offers of Charlie which come once the street sellers hear your British accent. Food can be found at amazingly cheap prices if eating where the locals eat or you can simply be blindsided into the tourist traps and eat disappointing food at four times the price. There are some quirky perks too, a bookshop come coffee shop, a 50`s style ice cream parlor and a German ran restaurant with decent grub.

The boutique Tcherassi Hotel & Spa is located right in the heart of the old town, owned by Colombian-born fashion designer, Silvia Tcherassi. It's housed in an 18th-century mansion with just seven individually designed rooms and suites, one even has a private pool and decking area - perfect for some romancing. The giant front door leads you into a world of white, from the table cloths, walls, floors and staff uniforms broken up only by the cascading glass waterfall and living wall which features no less than 3,000 plants.

Upon arrival guests are treated to an ice-cold flannel alongside a kiwi and mint frozen cocktail, and in the heat that frequents this place, it's a pretty welcome touch. Each room has a name, our suite for the stay was the Peau de Soie on the first floor with two small balconies overlooking the two pools below, the water fall and living wall. The room benefits from a king-sized bed, walk-in rain shower, double basin, widescreen TV, iPod deck and products from the in-house spa. The room air con and fan can blast the room into sub zero temperatures in minutes too. Awesome!

One of our favourite things about this hotel is the rooftop deck with small but adequate pool. Perfect for soaking up the rays, relaxing in the coolness of the pool and looking out over the views of the town and ocean. We visited just before peak season so had the luxury of having this space to ourselves throughout the whole stay, what's more the team of 30 strong staff are more than on top of their game when it comes to service, even when we used the rooftop intercom system to refresh the drinks by the pool #showingoff.

Breakfast options were top notch and included a full basket of freshly baked breads and pastries, along with scrambled eggs or huevos revueltos to those speaking the lingo. With complementary Wi-Fi throughout, a destination restaurant and bar, library and Spa the hotel is equipped to deal with your every need. Visiting Cartagena and want somewhere cool to retreat to? Then this is your place.

Room start from $300 (approx £190) per night and does include breakfast.

Calle Del Sargento Mayor N 6-21,Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
www.tcherassihotels.com

ATLAS HOTELS...

We recently paid a visit to Israel where we discovered the boutique hotel chain Atlas Hotels. The small group have 11 hotels and have recently opened another one (The Arthur) in Jerusalem and the Hotel Bay Club in Haifa. Whilst the hotel group could be described as a chain in reality the buildings are far from chain like, all individually designed with different themes.

The one thing they do share however is the added value ethos with free wifi in every property, big breakfasts and happy hours every day when guests can take advantage of a selection of snacks, wine and soft drinks all complementary of course!

We stayed in the Center Chic Hotel, which is cool enough to be in East London, the decor has a vintage feel, the lobby is stocked with trendy books and there are some groovy guest bikes. We also checked into The Arthur located in the heart of Jerusalem which has an old worldly feel with patterned tiled floors, rich fabrics and a cracking selection of teas.



We'd definitely recommend checking the hotels out, boutique hotels in the Middle East with the style and substance of London hotels. Who'd of thought it...

www.atlas.co.il

HORROR CAMP LIVE 2013

Calling all horror movie buffs! No longer do you need to scream at the dumb heavy chested blonde that there's a masked psycho hid in her back seat with a knife. You can now be that dumb blonde (hair colour permitting). Oh yes. Pack your overnight bag and get ready for a night you'll never forget at Horror Camp Live.

For a whole 13 hours you will take the leading role in your own interactive horror game which has been inspired by the likes of Blair Witch, Friday the 13th and Cabin Fear. As darkness falls you will meet your fellow campers and be served a two course buffet meal around the camp fire, but there's no 'Kum Bah Yah' to keep you entertained here, oh no you will be watching a good classic horror film to get you in the mood!

During the night you horror heads will be put through a series of dare games, be warned word is some of you unlucky campers will be dragged from the group for your own personal dare experience....sounds scary doesn't it, might be worth packing an extra pair of pants. The event which is scheduled to take place on 24th & 25th of May at Scare Kingdom, Hawkshaw Farm Park in Lancashire. It will cost £90 per camper but remember this ain't your back garden, and that isn't your gran...Be afraid, be very afraid!

Fri 24th May & Sat 25th May
www.terrorattractions.co.uk

SPONSORED POST: FROM LONDON TO THE LA: THE US BY TRAIN

There is no better way to cross this great country than on a holiday that transports you from the UK over the Atlantic to the USA.

Adventure

Many families may well have ancestors or relatives that took this route in days gone by, but the immigrant ships of Victorian times were very different to the splendid luxury of crossings in the 21st century. One of the best ways to experience this magnificent country is to have a look at rail holidays in the USA – but just what is on offer?

Epic

The United States of America is a huge country. The distance between New York and LA is over 2,448 miles and one of the easiest ways to make this epic journey is to take an organised train trip.

The journey is like a trip through American history. You’ll stop off at Washington DC, having first spent some time sightseeing and shopping in New York. After visiting Washington’s historic monuments, you’ll then be whisked off by train to Chicago, where your great journey across the West will begin.

When in Washington, you should try and visit The Smithsonian. This magnificent museum contains countless photographs and films about the inhabitants of the States, early photos of Native Americans, as well as pictures of some the country’s infamous gangsters and cowboys, to give you a quick and easy briefing about the territory you are about to explore.

Beauty

The beauty of the USA can be truly overwhelming and the trains that you will use on your journey will be equipped with an observation deck, so that you can really experience the awe of the mountain ranges that you’ll pass.

Most of the trips across the country take around 21 days, but this will vary on your actual selection of destination route. That being said, you will be given enough time to enjoy the Grand Canyon, Denver and Monument Valley.

Once you reach Los Angeles, there’ll be plenty of exploring to do. LA is a large city, which is world famous for its association with Hollywood and the film world. You should definitely go and see the smart shops on Rodeo Drive and take a trip around the stars’ houses to get your celebrity fix.

The smog of the city can be a little overwhelming, so make sure that you go and chill out in one of the city’s many famous eateries and don’t forget to visit Grauman’s theatre, looking out for the prints of your favourite Hollywood icon.

REVIEW: STAYCITY SERVICED APARTMENTS

We're big, big fans of Manchester, being Northern and all, which is why we frequently head to the city for a weekend break. This time we gathered up the girls and decided to stay in an apartment rather than hotel. After hours of research we came across the Staycity Serviced Apartments, a block of apartments located just 5 minutes walk from the train station and 10 - 15 from the town centre.

The apartments start from just £69 a night for a one-bed which sleeps 3 people, the biggest is a three-bed which sleeps 8 and starts at £125 - that's around £15 a night each - bloody bargain. We stayed in one of the Tower Block apartments with 2 beds, 2 bathrooms, a huge living room and kitchen area with dining table, floor to ceiling windows and a small balcony with cracking views over the city.

The apartments are spacious, modern and come with everything you need to stay for a weekend or a couple of weeks. The kitchen has a kettle, teabags, coffee, milk and cooking utensils in case you feel the need to cook. There's free WiFi throughout, a widescreen TV, car parking and vending machines in the corridors in case you get the midnight munchies.

If you're in a group we'd seriously recommend checking out these pads, as well as Manchester they have blocks in Birmingham,  Birmingham, Dublin, Edinburgh, Liverpool, London and Paris.

Laystall Street, Manchester, M1 2JZ
www.staycity.com

THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD

Remember back in 2009 when the Oz tourism board started advertising what they called the ‘Best Job in the World’, Well now it's up for grabs again and this time there are 6 positions available. Each are six-month contracts with a salary package worth AUD $100,000 (approximately £67,380*).

Ben Southall, the original successful candidate worked for six months as Caretaker of the Great Barrier Reef but this time the jobs up for grabs are in different areas: Applicants can take their pick from various positions including a Lifestyle Photographer (Melbourne), Chief Funster (New South Wales), Outback Adventurer (Northern Territory), Park Ranger (Queensland), Wildlife Caretaker (South Australia) or Taste Master (Western Australia).

Applications for the roles open today, and candidates need to register their interest at either facebook or www.australia.com/bestjobs. Applicants will be notified as to the next stage in the recruitment process within 48 hours of registering.

Just imagine the pub conversations, "so what do you do?" "I, my friend have the best job in the world"

For further details of the competition visit facebook.com/australianworkingholiday or www.australia.com/bestjobs

REVIEW: HOTEL AUSTRIA

The hills are alive…with the sound of Euro-Pop! We love skiing and whilst we're no pros we're definitely better than Eddie the Eagle…

Destination Austria. Salzburg Airport, surprisingly warmer than London, we’re met by Neilson Rep Ryan - Joey Essex on skis. It’s all pretty quick and straight on to the coach, great stuff. Then it’s an hour sat on the coach waiting for the flight from Manchester to land. Not so good. The 2 hour journey into Niederau is spent with an extended family who are ‘Mad for it’. Thankfully the stunning view, which gets snowier with every mountain turn and an IPod on max, passes the time.

Hotel Austria offers a warm and cosy welcome. The décor is very traditional but still offers the luxuries of a heated swimming pool, sauna and steam room. The food, when booking half board (£485 per person for 7 nights – a steal in comparison to the French resorts) consists of a breakfast buffet, and a 4 course hearty evening meal is perfect after a day on the slopes. The hotel also has a ski hire shop and store in the basement but do be careful on the concrete stairs down to the lockers in your ski boots! No one needs a holiday injury.

Hotel Austria, sits at the base of the gondola station which cuts out any extra travelling. It's perfect for beginner skiers, the slopes are ‘family friendly’ and are ideal for learning the basics and perfecting skills. Whilst Niederau has a few red and black runs, the slopes here will only keep the adventurous occupied for a day or two. The free ski-bus to Auffach, which stops directly outside the hotel, takes around 15 minutes. It gets super busy (people + skis + snowboards = cramped) so we'd recommend getting up a little earlier before the main rush, that way you also get the best slope conditions, win - win!

The bus passes through pretty villages with their ‘onion’ domed churches and traditional wooden houses which make it worth while. Auffach is the gateway to the recently joined Ski Jewel ski area, almost doubling in size, and brand new for the 2012/13 ski season giving you access to 47 lifts, 18km of Black runs and a whopping 78km of Red runs with 29 restaurants and bars scattered throughout. The lift pass cost £165 (6 days) and gives you full access to the 145km of piste. Ski Jewel is now one of the largest places to ski in the Austrian Tirol. 

If skiing is not your thing, or your legs need a day off, you can book yourself on free snow-shoeing tours through the valley. At night you can enjoy flood-lit tobogganing (Cool Runnings anybody?) and horse drawn sleigh rides through the forest. Niederau is a small, quiet, snow covered town which comes to life at night. The après here is fun – ever seen the ‘Spice Girls’ singing into a tinsel covered toilet brush? Moving swiftly on…

Schnapps is a favourite here for locals and skiers alike, We tired cranberry, cherry, raspberry, hazelnut and erm, turnip which is apparently a Niederau delicacy. Every bar is within walking distance, we're talking steps not feet, which is a good thing and they all have a fondness of terribly catchy euro-pop and don’t even get us started on Gangnam Style! The conditions in Austria were a skiers/snowboards dream, heavy snow every evening, and almost perfectly clear skies during the day. In a snowflake - Super skiing and amusing après, a shining jewel in Austria’s crown.

We booked with: www.neilson.co.uk

HOTEL SEZZ SAINT-TROPEZ...

Did your dry January not quite go to plan? Still can't manage to shift the Christmas podge? Then why not book yourself onto the wellbeing programme at Hôtel Sezz Saint-Tropez. Because let's face it, detoxing in the South of France is soooo much better! The Holistic Detox Treatment combines physical, mental and spiritual health to naturally detox the body, lift your mood, improve your metabolism and repair the skin.

The package can be booked for three, five or seven days - we'd say go for the full seven days - and includes accommodation in one of the stunning bungalows, all meals, fresh juices, bio-energy analysis, a cooking and nutrition workshop, yoga classes every morning and hikes with experts. You'll end up thin and trim in no time.

Hôtel Sezz Saint-Tropez belongs to the Design Hotels collection, so as you can imagine it's pretty chic with just 37 rooms, spa, central pool area, Dom Pérignon champagne bar and Restaurant Colette. The Holistic Detox package starts at 2,392 Euros per person and can be booked from Fri 26th April - Sun 12th May and from Mon 7th Oct -Sun 20th Oct.

HÔTEL SEZZ SAINT-TROPEZ, 151 Route Des Salins, 83990, Saint Tropez, France
www.designhotels.com

THREE WEEKS IN INDONESIA...

Stepping off the plane and handing over your passport to a ex-indo millitary commando is always a little daunting, especially after a 18 hour flight when it's four in the morning. Damn those cheap flights. Then out of the ten thousand taxis available we pick the one with a driver who knows not one word of English. Heart in our hands and after spending £50 on our emergency only mobiles trying to explain to ten of his mates where the hell we were going we finally pull up to the hotel.... Our adventure begins...

JAKARTA: Smog smog and more smog, at first glance this place is the concrete jungle and it doesn't get much better, with its constant stream of heavy traffic you don't see people just the fumes coming from the back of the tucks tucks and endless mopeds, cars and lorries clogging up the 6 lane roads. Or is that the hard shoulder... Word of advice one night at the most, shopping is good if you have got the cash, but nothing you couldn't get at home, may be worth checking the shopping malls stashed full of the Fakey Jakes, Roy Ban and Gurci they seem to do well here. Splash out on a nice hotel with a roof top bar, on the night the view is amazing.

YOGYJAKARTA: Or yogy as the locals call it has its charm, it's hot as hell and being the cultural capital of Java has a more commercial feel . Check out the bird market (it's not to be missed) and the Borobudur temple at sunrise is stunning. Some good restaurants offering endless amounts of tempura and Nasi goreng but if your after the vino be warned it's pricey. At £30 for a bottle of Echo Falls you might want to opt for a bingtang. We did. If your on a heavy one head down to Hells Kitchen were you can experience Indo's take on the Beach Boy's.

BALI: After a short flight to Bali we arrived to find a Starbucks and a KFC? Not the tropical paradise you would imagine although we have to say the green tea frappe was pretty good. Avoiding the party scene we headed to Ubud, famous for hosting Julia Roberts in the film Eat Pray Love. If you're one for activities this is the place, white water rafting and cycling were our personal favourites.

Endless beauty salons offering cheaper than cheap Balinese massage aren't too bad either. Monkey forest is another must, if you do take bananas you won't have them for very long. In the hope of spotting a dolphin or two we ventured to Lovina where if you get up at the crack of dawn and clamber onto a three man fishing boat that looks like it would struggle to keep a float in regents canal never mind when fighting 6 foot waves then you are pretty much guaranteed to see a school or three of these bad boys. But don't be thinking romance and wonder there's about 60 other boats out there with you. All the same we loved it!

LOMBOK AND GILLIS: The only western couple on board we took the 5 hour ferry to Lombok in true backpack style. Not the most comfortable, we'd probably recommend the quick boat if you're not there to rough it and have the dosh. Hitting sengigi there are a good selection of hotels and guest houses to suit every budget, we stayed in the Batu Bolong beach front Cottages which we would highly recommend. Staff were great and the place was spotless but do watch out for the local del boy Tony who will try to sell you anything including the shirt off your own back!

Hire a moped if you dare and explore the island or take a fishing boat to Gilli Trawangan which is known as the party island! It's also one of the best places to dive in the world so well worth fishing your Padi out for. Snorkelling is also amazing here we saw turtles along with fish of every colour, much better than an evening with David Attenborough! Avoid the beach front restaurants and head to the food market for your evening meal of fresh fish, it's cheap, cheerful and where the locals eat. Oh and there are plenty of Happy Shakes on offer for those looking to indulge.

We recommend the dream cottages but book early as they are popular. The island is becoming increasingly populated although there is still a strict rule which allows no cars or mopeds but there are new luxury hotels popping up everywhere killing the Robinson Crusoe dream. You might want to head over to Gilli Meno if your looking for the deserted island experience where electricity is a luxury so don't go expecting a hot shower. We stayed in Paul's Guest House which was actually a wooden shed opening out on to the beach but for £3 per person it was a bloody bargain!

CELEBRATE NYC IN STYLE X EDINBURGH

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is one of the world’s best New Year parties out there. The event includes four upbeat days of music, theatre, dance and street attractions, all of which attracts massive crowds.

The famous street party with its breathtaking fireworks display is not to be missed. With a view of Edinburgh Castle, this astounding performance is truly spectacular.

Train fares to Edinburgh can be acquired online; this is however an extremely popular event, it is therefore wise to book in advance.

Must-try activities include Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Candlelit Concert is a festive celebration that showcases St Giles’s Cathedral Choir in a new light. This year Michael Harris, complete with Camerata leader Angus Ramsay, directs the event.

The Concert in the Gardens, which takes place in the Garden Area, is another not-to-be-missed affair. Here takes place a music and fireworks extravaganza with a number of renowned headliners. This exact concert is displayed beneath a stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. New Year will be welcomed with a number of special guests including Simple Minds. Then there are the stunning fireworks to look forward too. A bar and food section will feature at this event, which will be located within the concert and gardens arena.

Scotland, as usual, intends to put on a great show this year and one that will certainly welcome the New Year with a bang.

Rail travel to Edinburgh is a great alternative to driving; it is an easy and hassle-free way to gain access into this magical city.

Dining out in Edinburgh is another great experience, with a number of taste-tantalising venues to choose from. After a meal in the town, why not visit one of the many cocktail bars on offer?

Spas are another great option in this city and there are a number of inviting venues dotted around on the picturesque outskirts. Combine a spa break with New Celebrations for the ultimate party come relaxation escape.

Other events to look forward to in Edinburgh include Film and the Military tattoo, both are famous in this city and both guarantee to put on a great performance.

With so much attention, this city is certainly prepared for guests and as such, there are a number of hotels to choose from. Opting for a city centre hotel will ensure that you have access to all of the main amenities.

Sponsored listing

NEWS: ART'OTEL AMSTERDAM OPENING 2013

A new hotel is set to open its doors in Amsterdam, the art'otel which is part of PPHE Hotel Group - particularly interesting for you Londoner's as it will be sister to the art'otel which is opening in Shoreditch and is rumoured to have a Banksy inside.

The Amsterdam art'otel, which opens in Summer 2013, has 107 stylish rooms including 4 suites and a gallery including original works of art by the hotel's signature artists. Located directly opposite Amsterdam Centraal Station, the hotel has excellent transport links and is within walking distance of the Royal Palace, Dam Square and the Jordaan district.

There is also a lobby lounge with fireplace, open plan bar, library, fitness and swimming pool, bar and destination restaurant. Lovely!

www.artotels.com

REVIEW: ROCKLIFFE HALL

Rockliffe Hall's reputation as a luxurious retreat with top notch food precedes it having picked up an impressive selection of awards since it opened back in 2009. Located just outside of Hurworth village in the heart of County Durham the five-star hotel and spa sits in beautiful grounds in a stunning Victorian building. Inside the building has been lovingly restored but still retains some of the original features with an extension added to house extra rooms.

We recently had the joy of attending a wedding and took the opportunity to stay over night and experience the spa. Arriving at the hotel to check-in we were greeted by a friendly member of staff and before we knew it we were in our room. We were in one of the twin rooms which come with two double beds rather than singles - full marks! The room was extremely spacious and had a terrace overlooking the golf course as well as a bath which came with a TV in case you want to take a soak without missing your favourite TV show.

The room was spotlessly clean, the beds were extremely comfortable and the robes were fluffy soft. Whilst we didn't get to eat in the hotel's acclaimed restaurant we did get to sample lunch as part of the wedding. The food was exceptional and we also indulged in a full English breakfast and Afternoon Tea the next day. 

We managed to spend some time in the spa, the huge spa which has the country's largest hydrotherapy pool, spa butlers, a juice bar, swimming pool and gym. The ultimate in relaxation this place thoroughly deserves its place in the Top UK Spas list. For a country retreat, spa break or a romantic getaway Rockliffe Hall ticks all of the boxes. Whoever said it was grim up North had obviously never been to Rockliffe Hall.

Rooms from £270 per night.

Hurworth-on-Tees, Darlington, DL2 2DU
www.rockliffehall.com