Hotel Reviews

Bath is an always-popular spot for a weekend break or an extended staycation, but we’ve just experienced another reason to visit the spa town: the Gainsborough. It’s the only hotel in the UK to use local mineral waters in its hotel spa, its five-star service is up there with the UK’s highest, and it’s a well-located sanctuary for exploring the town. For couples and groups who can’t quite agree on what to do with a night or two away, the...

In the centre of the expansive country of India, is a city coming into its own. Over the last 15 years, Hyderabad has turned from a cluster of traditional villages centred around the historic Golconda Fort and Charminar Mosque, to India’s buzzing new Silicon Valley with the likes of Facebook, Apple and Google’s Indian HQs in its midst. These shades of old and new India blend beautifully into each other, and it’s no surprise to see Hyderabad excel in modernity...

By Maggie Majstrova As we rattle through the English countryside in a rather crowded train carriage, I’m struck by the number of weekend trip destinations afforded to my fellow Londoners by the UK’s extensive rail network. Having spent most of my life in the capital, I suspect I haven’t explored the rest of the country nearly as much as it deserves. Well, now’s a good a time as any. Located in the rural village of Barnby Moor on the border...

Shilpa Ganatra takes a trip up north to check out the UK's very first Radisson RED The vibe Radisson RED is the contemporary boutique arm of the brand, and as it’s well-received in its other five locations across the globe – we went to the Brussels location for its Christmas markets – it’s finally received its first UK version. Stepping in on a mild autumn day, it has all the vibe of a slick bar: think pumping music, wrought-iron fittings...

Words by James Thompson The white pony sitting in the middle of the road had the right idea. Unhurried, unflustered, refusing to move for any of the honking cars that were quickly backing up behind him. Though why should he? This little corner of the New Forest belongs to him, and things move at a decidedly different pace around here. So, we carefully inched around our supine new friend and turned up the long driveway to the Burley Manor Hotel,...

The Lakes is always the perfect gateway, but it seems so easy to get there, that I don’t bother as much as I should. So I was overjoyed to set off to the on the train to visit a place I had not been to for almost a decade. The Lake District National Park is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for its natural beauty and cultural landscape. We were staying at Low Wood Bay a hotel overlooking...

By Anna Power The Spread Eagle Hotel and Spa is a truly historic hotel dating back to Tudor times, in the lovely English town of Midhurst, in the heart of the South Downs. Though the spa and parts of the hotel are clearly more recent additions, its original building, housing its lounge bar, restaurant and suites above, are beautifully preserved examples of the period, oozing charm and character with every creak of its timber frame, wobbly floors, latticed windows and...

Utopia is one of the most misused words in the book when it comes to hotels and spas. High street salons that claim to offer a slice of heaven as the number 62 bus wizzes by and overzealous hotels with a hot tub and sauna insisting they pertain a certain shangri-la are all culprits of making a beautiful word sound so meaningless. But amidst the sham utopians spare a thought for the genuine artefacts, because if you look in the...

Review: URSO Hotel and Spa, Madrid The URSO Hotel and Spa, named after Ursalia (the name given to Madrid during the Roman Empire), couldn't be better located. It lies in the Las Saleas area close to Madrid’s quirky, gay-friendly Malasaňa neighbourhood - known for its hipster bars, independent shops and cool cafes. Its proximity to the chic Chueca district and Gran Vía (Madrid's answer to Oxford Circus) makes it a prime location for getting to know both sides of Spain’s capital...