We all know that with winter, comes cloudy skies, less sunlight, and a cold breeze that will send you running back indoors. After the holidays, we often find ourselves daydreaming of spring and the next holiday we can plan away. What if we could make February just as exciting as May? This year, you can take a weekend trip away filled with excitement and relaxation without even hopping on a plane. We’ve complied our top 3 hotels and Airbnbs in the city for end-of-winter escapes in the UK , or just a stone-skip away that will cure your winter blues.
1. THE VARSITY HOTEL & SPA
This boutique hotel in the heart of Cambridge offers more than your standard hotel.
The moment I walked through the doors, I was immediately greeted by the lovely front desk staff that showed me to my room. The room was quirky and pleasant, with colourful wallpaper and filled with all the nibbles and beverages you could need.
What really caught my eye was the menu to the rooftop-terrace restaurant (SIX Brasserie). After preparing for dinner, I made my way to the top floor and was seated at the table with the best view of the city. Now for the best part… the food! The menu had a great range of dishes for both vegetarians and meat-eaters a-like. I settled for the Pan Seared Scallops starter, Vegan burger for the main, and cheese board to finish. I can truly say the dinner did not disappoint.
Complimented by fantastic service and wonderful beverages, this was the best part of the stay.
That is until I arrived at The Glassworks Gym & Spa the following morning. Being a fitness enthusiast, the gym was beyond what is offered at most hotels. This gym had all the equipment you could need, and had a stunning, loft-like interior. What better way to start you morning off than a spa treatment right after showering off a great workout? Naturally, I had to check out the spa and treatments. I booked in the Elemis Facial & Massage and stepped into the sauna waiting area to sit back and relax before my appointment began.
The facilities were extremely lovely, comfortable and clean.
After my treatment, I couldn’t have felt more relaxed and it was certainly hard to leave this lush spa. The products used during my treatment made my skin clear, even and soft. I certainly looked like I had been on a holiday retreat. With this hidden gem being only an hour and a half away from London, this is the perfect weekend escape to relax, and enjoy the historic city. I’d highly recommend The Varsity Hotel and all of it’s wonderful quirks and luxuries.
Rooms starting at £139.
2. THE ATHENAEUM
Red Letter Days provided us with an unforgettable stay at this stand-out hotel in the heart of the city.
You can spot this hotel just across from Hyde Park. It is sure to fit the standards of those looking for a quiet, luxurious weekend away with options for relaxation from the spa facilities and sauna, to someone looking for excitement in the city. Come bedtime, you can get cosy in your room. Making use of the flat screen TV, Nespresso maker, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi and much more. The crowning glory is the supremely comfortable Hypnos bed, guaranteeing the very best night’s sleep. Wake up to a hearty full English breakfast in the morning. For those seeking a delightful retreat, a night at this 5-star sanctuary is the perfect treat.
This fabulous luxury break for 2 makes the perfect weekend get away and starts at £336.
3. WOODHOUSE SPACE (AIRBNB)
Tucked away in the countryside of Northamptonshire, we found a stunning home that will be sure to getting you packing your bags for a weekend away.
To get a more personal view of what makes this home so special (outside of its marvelous exterior) we went to the host Jess, to get all the details on what to expect on your stay away.
Q&A
Q: What makes your home a unique/special place to visit for the winter months?
A: Whatever the winter throws at us, you can still enjoy the feeling of being outside on even the most squally day. The sunken seating area, with bean bags and cushions has both underfloor heating and the funky log burner stove, meaning that the house is cosy and comfy despite the outside. It’s great to look up at the trees blowing in the wind or watch the rain coming down.
Q: What are some cool features?
A: The house is a unique mix of the old and the new, the huge glass atriums and floor to ceiling first floor woodland window are spectacular. Being in the middle of nature is a big draw at the house, the private gardens, with enclosed garden, meadow, orchard, woodland glade and woodland clearing there are so many areas to explore. Plus there are some fine countryside walks to be had. The Woodland spa can be used year round, both are wood fired and so very quick to heat up and use.There’s nothing like being in a hot tub in the rain and the sauna and outdoor cold shower are a perfect combo.
Even try out the Ice Barrel for the ultimate in kick starts for your immune system!
We have a projector with big cinema size screen and surround sound speakers for night time entertainment, plus a well-stocked games cabinet for rainy days and a Foosball Table.
The snug can be set up as a gaming room for those hard-to-entertain kids.
Q: Is it easy to get to from London?
A: The house is easily accessible from London, either a short drive up the M1 to Junction 14 (Milton Keynes / Newport Pagnell). There’s ample parking available or the train is just 34mins from Euston to Central Milton Keynes, and from there, we are a short 10-15 min taxi ride.
Q: Are there any great restaurants/pubs you can recommend nearby?
A: There’s Paris House in Woburn which is in the Michelin Guide. We can also offer some incredible private chefs, including one with a superstar list of clientele. The Brother Supper have cooked at our property a lot so know it well. We have two kitchens here as well. The Breakfast Bar can also be used for teas, coffees and a bar area.
After going through our host’s list of all the home has to offer along with local places to explore, we realised we may want to stay more than a weekend!
You can check out the available dates to book Woodhouse Space here.
Where’s your favourite end-of-winter escapes in the UK? Let us know in the comments below.
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