This 17th-century former manor house is in beautiful countryside less than two hours' drive from central London. The 18 recently refurbished bedrooms are all chic and sleek with huge bathrooms (some have a roll-top tub, others a Jacuzzi or a twin bath). The Stableyard Suites are split-level, with galleried sitting rooms and a bathtub at the foot of the bed. Known for its Rosemary Verey-designed gardens, the hotel also has a small cinema, a tennis court, a croquet lawn and an Aromatherapy Associates spa with six treatment rooms and a hydrotherapy pool. Barnsley House owns the nearby Village Pub - also recently refurbished - which has six additional rooms as well as a menu of classic English food. X-factor No two rooms at Barnsley House are the same, but all feature stylish contemporary furniture and a home-cinema, plus a surround-sound hi-fi system.
