Homewood

Expect the unexpected at this luxurious spa hotel just outside Bath; nothing about the gabled Georgian mansion is quite what it seems.

Roll up to the entrance to be welcomed by Oswald, a giant monkey deep in thought. Check in amid a reception area dominated by a wall of antique clocks. And book one of the best rooms to discover artistic flourishes and a host of modern amenities – plus a private hot tub, barrel sauna and icy plunge pool.

For a more communal thermal experience, Homewood’s spa offers an outdoor vitality pool, indoor and outdoor saunas, hydrotherapy pool, steam room, plus outdoor hot tub and swimming pool with views of the Avon Valley.

The playful indulgence continues in the luxurious Olio restaurant. Here, Jamie Forman’s menus showcase British dishes with a Mediterranean twist, made using local and kitchen-garden-grown produce. Explore dishes such as the South West spare-rib pulled pork, whole branzino sea bass and ember-roasted beets.

Or take a table at its Med-inspired feasting space, La Taberna, a vibrant canvas orangery bedecked with chandeliers and colourful fabrics. Begin with a glass of Champagne while taking a whistlestop tour of the kitchen garden, then dive into bountiful sharing boards brimming with hand-picked veg and freshly baked breads. Follow with stuffed lamb and porchetta, cooked on the grill in front of guests and accompanied by masses of veg from the no-dig garden.

Trencherman’s tip

Overnight guests can take advantage of a communal larder and variety of complimentary snacks and drinks.