THE BEST PLACES TO STAY IN FEBRUARY

Emma Love

Back to Inspirations
With winter still in full swing, now’s the time to plot an uplifting escape. From cosy, country house hotels with crackling log fires and fine dining, to rejuvenating spas for some serious pampering, or an off-season beach break, here are our suggestions for a UK break this February.
Sopwell House, St Albans, Hertfordshire
Sopwell House, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Sopwell House, St Albans, Hertfordshire

An easy escape from London, this family-owned Georgian hotel is surrounded by 12 acres of countryside. The majority of the contemporary rooms and suites are in the original mansion house but, for those wanting more privacy, there are also 16 Mews Suites in the old stable blocks. The latter share a communal hydrotherapy pool, set in a beautiful botanical garden designed by Chelsea Flower Show gold medallist Ann-Marie Powell (some also have a fireplace, four-poster bed, in-room bath, kitchenette, and a private terrace). Kick off evenings with cocktails at the grown-up Octagon Bar before dinner at Omboo, which specialises in Asian sharing plates (think dishes such as seared wagyu, honey-soy roasted Chilean seabass and shrimp tempura). The Brasserie is the place for all-day British-Mediterranean dining while the light-filled Conservatory is a relaxing space overlooking the gardens. Don’t miss the Cottonmill Spa either, with its vitality pools, sauna and steam room.

Ragdale Hall Spa, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
Ragdale Hall Spa, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire

Ragdale Hall Spa, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire

An adult-only destination spa hotel ideal for a mid-winter reset. Spend days drifting between the six pools, including one that’s cavernous and candlelit, another with invigorating massage jets and a third on the rooftop with showstopping views of the Leicestershire countryside. There is also a serious thermal set-up with a ‘thought zone’ (serene visuals and sounds encourage the mind to wander), a nature-scented room, hot stone herbal sauna and a ‘colour flow cave.’ Plus, bicycles you can borrow to explore the grounds and a daily schedule of over 20 complimentary fitness classes and workshops to dip into – tai chi, ballet fit and HIIT say, or crystal meditation, a Pilates reformer taster and sound bathing. Most packages include one or more treatments, plus a three-course lunch or evening dinner in the Dining Room (for bistro-style lighter bites there is the Verandah Bar). Rooms range from cosy singles to terrace suites with garden or courtyard views.

The Cary Arms & Spa, near Torquay, Devon
The Cary Arms & Spa, near Torquay, Devon

The Cary Arms & Spa, near Torquay, Devon

There’s something special about a beach break in the off-season when you can clear the cobwebs away on bracing sandy strolls without the crowds. This hotel, in sheltered Babbacombe Bay, has a mix of sea-facing rooms and suites in the original 19th-century inn, plus restored fishermen's cottages, and upscaled beach huts designed with a nod to their coastal setting, each with its own terrace. There’s a glass-fronted spa with a steam room, sauna, Gaia treatments on the menu and more watery views from the hydrotherapy pool. Food is simple and made with local ingredients, from Devon beef and Lyme Bay lobster to Brixham battered cod and chips. If the weather is fine, try your hand fishing for mackerel from the pier or sailing; or explore the nearby town of Torquay.

Five Acre Barn, Aldeburgh, Suffolk
Five Acre Barn, Aldeburgh, Suffolk

Five Acre Barn, Aldeburgh, Suffolk

When owners Bruce Badrock and David Woodbine swapped south London for Suffolk, they tasked Blee Halligan Architects to remodel this 19th-century barn and add a new guest wing (it was a RIBA National award winner in 2018). Now, there are five contemporary, Scandi-style suites within the shingle- clad extension, all with white walls, concrete floors and accents of eclectic art and ceramics. In most rooms, the bed is upstairs on a plywood mezzanine level. Below is a living area with mid-century furniture, graphic print cushions and throws; all have direct access to the garden and an outdoor deck. Breakfast is served in the dining room and there’s an honesty bar for drinks. The five acres of grounds are split into various zones, including a ‘white garden’ in front of the barn, a cottage garden wrapping round the end of guest wing, a prairie of ornamental grasses and an area with a firepit for toasting marshmallows on winter evening. A tranquil spot to unwind, near to the seaside towns of Aldeburgh and Thorpeness.

The Greenway Hotel & Spa, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
The Greenway Hotel & Spa, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

The Greenway Hotel & Spa, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

Just outside Cheltenham, this 16th-century Elizabethan manor house hotel and spa is surrounded by eight acres of countryside – making it a brilliant base for both a rural and urban winter getaway. Elegant, recently refurbished rooms range from Classic (exposed brick walls, original beams, courtyard or garden views) to a Manor Four Poster looking out to the Cotswold hills. Manor Suite rooms are best for families; some rooms are dog friendly. There are plenty of glorious walks nearby if the weather is fine – such as the circular Crickley Hill trail or a Winchcombe hike that takes in Sudeley Castle – or simply stay put and indulge in afternoon tea at the Orchard Brasserie. Afterwards, relax in the hotel’s Elan Spa, which has a hydrotherapy pool, alfresco hot tub, steam room and sauna as well as Temple Spa treatments. Fine dining restaurant The Garden celebrates modern British fare: splash out on the five or seven course ‘Taste of the Season’ menu which includes smoked ham hock, roast venison saddle and chocolate delice.