The Manor Hotel by Laura Ashley, Elstree, Hertfordshire – save 32%

Set in 10 acres of gardens and natural woodland, The Manor Hotel could be from the pages of a storybook. Dating back to 1540, this impressive Tudor building was bought by Laura Ashley in 2012 and is the first boutique hotel by the brand. True to Laura Ashley's distinctively ladylike style, the hotel embraces the quintessentially English to create a charming and luxurious country retreat, just minutes from London.It's so close to London in fact that the city's impressive skyline can be enjoyed from the hotel's Terrace Bar or from the manicured gardens – on a clear day you can spot The Shard, the BT Tower and even Wembley Stadium. The building itself is steeped in history – the front door was inherited from Lewes Castles' dungeons and some of the hotel's supporting beams are said to have been salvaged from ships that fought in the Spanish Armada.An afternoon stroll around the garden will take you from the exquisite lawn to the romantic Rose Arbour where you'll want to wander for a while to take in the fabulous fragrances. Amble around the impressive pond that occupies the lower part of the garden before a game of giant chess or checkers. Finally enjoy the unusual shapes of The Manor Hotel's perennial trees before heading back to The Terrace Bar for afternoon tea…. more

£119.00