Recent Reviews - ALadyofLeisure

The best luxury hotel Christmas packages 2020 – my epic festive round-up

by Sarah Bridge
added October 20, 2020

Luxury hotel Christmas packages are getting booked early this year and with good reason. With the coronavirus pandemic far from over, it is uncertain what kind of restrictions there will be come Christmas Day but now more than ever, people want somet...

view

Exploring the Cotswolds near Stroud with a stay at the Bear of Rodborough, Stroud

by Sarah Bridge
added September 18, 2020

After months of lockdown, exploring the Cotswolds near Stroud with a stay at the Bear of Rodborough hotel near Stroud, Gloucestershire was just the things to blow away the cobwebs. This 17th-century Cotswolds coaching inn, part of the excellent Fulle...

view

Relaxing in grand style in Cotswolds hotel the Hare and Hounds Tetbury

by Sarah Bridge
added September 18, 2020

Hotels in the Cotswolds are always a pleasure to discover and having stayed in a few places owned by Cotswold Inns pubs and hotels before - the Bay Tree and Lamb in Burford, the Manor House at Moreton-in-Marsh and most recently the Bear of Rodborough...

view

An Historic House Hotels hat-trick with my stay at Middlethorpe Hall York

by Sarah Bridge
added August 29, 2020

It is impossible to walk around the grounds at Middlethorpe Hall York and not take dozens of photos. While the front of the hotel is surprisingly close to the road, a quiet country lane just next to York racecourse, the rear of the hotel looks out ov...

view

A perfect Sunday roast and stay at Feversham Arms spa hotel in Yorkshire

by Sarah Bridge
added August 21, 2020

I had been told that the Sunday roast at Feversham Arms hotel and spa in Yorkshire was not to be missed and my informant had been bang on the money. It was pronounced: 'A ten out of ten, the best I've ever eaten' by my dining companion, who isn't giv...

view

Luxury after lockdown: a Covid secure stay at Fawsley Hall Northamptonshire

by Sarah Bridge
added August 11, 2020

After months of lockdown my first hotel was, reassuringly, at Hand Picked Hotel's flagship hotel Fawsley Hall hotel and spa in Northamptonshire near Daventry. This grand country house hotel and spa - we're talking at least 600 years old here - has wi...

view

UK hotels after lockdown: is it safe to stay in a hotel right now?

by Sarah Bridge
added August 11, 2020

UK hotels after lockdown might look different to before the pandemic so what can you expect from your stay? After four months of lockdown, to say that I was excited about getting back to hotel reviewing for ALadyofLeisure.com would be an understateme...

view

A luxurious foodie stay at Gravetye Manor, a West Sussex gem

by Sarah Bridge
added June 27, 2020

When I first arrived at Gravetye Manor, the Michelin-starred country house hotel with award-winning gardens, I soon decided that this was one of the best hotels in West Sussex and when I was fortunate to revisit recently, there was nothing to make me...

view

The Headland: luxury hotel at the heart of Newquay Cornwall

by Sarah Bridge
added June 19, 2020

Now that hotels are able to open after lockdown, the Headland hotel in Cornwall might just be the place to blow away the hibernation cobwebs. Perched right at the end of the glorious Fistral Beach in Newquay and surrounded by, well, nothing but coast...

view

Some of the best luxury hotels in England to visit after lockdown

by Sarah Bridge
added June 16, 2020

Some of us can't wait to stay in a luxury hotel after lockdown, while others are more cautious - and like me, you're probably a bit of both (check out my article on what to expect from a hotel stay during Covid here). However as UK luxury hotels - es...

view

A West Sussex spa hotel stay come rain or shine at South Lodge, Horsham

by Sarah Bridge
added February 28, 2020

Staying at a luxury country house hotel when the weather is terrible might seem like a bit of a waste – you can forget cocktails on the terrace, long country walks, or stunning photos to make your friends envious - so our trip to West Sussex spa hote...

view

New Hall hotel and spa in Birmingham – it has its very own moat!

by Sarah Bridge
added February 12, 2020

What is it like to stay at New Hall hotel and spa? There are probably many historic hotels in Birmingham with a spa and swimming pool but I can't imagine that many of them come with a moat. In fact, I was trying to think of any hotels with a moat wh...

view

11 incredibly romantic hotels in the UK for Valentine’s Day

by Sarah Bridge
added February 9, 2020

While everyone's idea of a romantic getaway weekend is different, I think it's fair to assume there are some things which you have to expect: gorgeous bedrooms, a top restaurant serving great food, spectacular gardens for a romantic pre-dinner strol...

view

What it was like spending Christmas at a luxury country house hotel

by Sarah Bridge
added January 21, 2020

There are many reasons to spend Christmas at a luxury country house hotel rather than at home, but you still want it to be special, personal and memorable. Thankfully for us (my mother and me), our festive stay at Ockenden Manor hotel in the village ...

view

Luxury in the Cotswolds at The Lygon Arms hotel, Broadway

by Sarah Bridge
added November 21, 2019

If you're looking for luxury hotels in the Cotswolds The Lygon Arms will be high on your wish-list, and in fact it was on mine for ages. This historic hotel has been a main fixture in the beautiful Cotswolds village of Broadway since its days as a ...

view

60 of the best British luxury hotels to stay in for New Year

by Sarah Bridge
added November 19, 2019

Read on for my utterly epic round-up of 60 of the best British luxury hotels to stay in for New Year... Knowing what to do for New Year's Eve is always a tough decision. There's an overwhelming choice out there but sometimes just the thought of gett...

view

My first week exploring Herceg Novi and Boka Bay, Montenegro

by Sarah Bridge
added November 7, 2019

Exploring Herceg Novi and indeed moving to Montenegro for five weeks was done on a whim. I wanted to live somewhere in mainland Europe for November as a) I hadn't got much planned either home or away for the month and b) I love Christmas but want to ...

view

A relaxing stay at Stapleford Park hotel, golf and spa in Leicestershire

by Sarah Bridge
added November 3, 2019

It was only when I heard the receptionist answer the phone at Stapleford Park hotel in Leicestershire that I realised I'd been saying its name all wrong and it was actually pronounced Stappleford, rather than Stapleford - but the friendly staff at th...

view

Cornish spa delight at Mullion Cove hotel in Cornwall

by Sarah Bridge
added October 31, 2019

Not having had the luxury of a clifftop spa hotel on the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall before, I didn't have much to compare Mullion Cove hotel with, but judging on my first visit I think it will be hard to beat. The location of Mullion Cove ho...

view

A room with a seaside view at Thurlestone hotel in south Devon

by Sarah Bridge
added October 15, 2019

Reaching Thurlestone hotel in south Devon is like going down Alice in Wonderland's rabbit hole. You plunge off the main road along one of those high-hedged, single-track lanes which Devon specialises in and can do nothing but blindly follow its windi...

view

A trip to Sherborne: an ancient castle and The Eastbury hotel

by Sarah Bridge
added September 26, 2019

My recent trip to Sherborne to review The Eastbury hotel was an unexpected delight. I had been looking forward to a stay at this luxury hotel as I'd heard great things about it but I knew almost nothing about Sherborne itself. I knew there was a cast...

view

Exploring Le Mans in 24 hours: a whistlestop tour of the city

by Sarah Bridge
added September 25, 2019

Exploring Le Mans in 24 hours: a whistlestop tour of the city The historic city of Le Mans is famous for its Le Mans 24 race and so it seemed appropriate that I was also doing a 24 hour race around Le Mans, the historic city in the heart of French r...

view

Finding sleep with Sleeptember: a stay at The Resident Covent Garden hotel

by Sarah Bridge
added September 18, 2019

In terms of location, The Resident Covent Garden in London is hard to beat. A hotel right on The Strand and possibly the closest hotel to Covent Garden, you’ll find several hundred restaurants and bars less than two minutes walk away. It’s one of tho...

view

The best luxury hotels for Christmas 2019 – my epic festive round-up

by Sarah Bridge
added September 5, 2019

Luxury country house hotels get booked up early for Christmas and with good reason: luxury hotels could be made for Christmas. Think of the best luxury country house hotels for Christmas and instantly you can picture the festive scene: comfy sofas, ...

view

Speed and saunas in a day at the Mercedes driving experience at Brooklands

by Sarah Bridge
added August 13, 2019

Driving full-pelt towards a solid-looking wall is both terrifying and exhilarating but that's exactly what you get from a day at the Mercedes driving experience at Brooklands in Surrey. With my pedal to the floor I could see the speedometer sw...

view

My stay in a chateau in France: relaxing in Le Mans at La Groirie chateau

by Sarah Bridge
added August 12, 2019

I've always wanted to stay in a chateau in France and to my good fortune I had the chance to while visiting Pays de la Loire this summer. Hotels in France are as varied as anywhere in the world but a stay in a French chateau promises something specia...

view

A most relaxing spa break at Ragdale Hall in Leicestershire

by Sarah Bridge
added August 8, 2019

There are some hotels with spas and there are some hotels which ARE spas. Ragdale Hall health spa in Leicestershire most definitely falls into the latter camp, making a spa break at Ragdale Hall a must for any spa fans. The moment you arrive you are ...

view

Trying out Park House hotel’s new Germaine de Capuccini spa treatments

by Sarah Bridge
added July 9, 2019

Fans of Germaine de Capuccini who are wondering where to get Germaine de Capuccini spa treatments in the UK, will be delighted to hear that award-winning hotel Park House hotel and spa in West Sussex is the latest hotel to offer the skin care special...

view

My stay at Cliveden House luxury hotel (favourite of poets, players and princesses)

by Sarah Bridge
added June 29, 2019

Throughout my own stay at Cliveden House luxury hotel, there was one question which I found almost impossible to answer. Would Cliveden still be as fabulous if it wasn't, well, Cliveden? Would it seem as special if it were just a very nice luxury cou...

view

Arranging a hotel and parking at Gatwick airport: testing the APH offer

by Sarah Bridge
added June 25, 2019

Arranging a hotel and parking at Gatwick airport - or indeed Heathrow, Luton or Stansted as well, I travel frequently from all of them - is always a major headache. This could be to do with the fact I usually leave it to the very last minute, pretty...

view

Bond, Bridget and me: my stay at Stoke Park luxury hotel

by Sarah Bridge
added June 21, 2019

It's where James Bond beat Goldfinger in possibly the most famous golf match in cinema history, where Bridget Jones ditched singleton life for a weekend away with boss Daniel Cleaver and where Teri Hatcher and Pierce Brosnan (as another Bond) danced ...

view

The Good Hotel Guide’s ten luxury hotels with swimming pools

by Sarah Bridge
added June 21, 2019

Guest post from the best-selling Good Hotel Guide - their top 10 luxury hotels with pools for the summer Summer’s here and with any luck we’ve all got summer holidays booked in. Come rain or shine, no holiday would be complete without a little swimm...

view

Drama and country house charm during a stay at Kilworth House hotel

by Sarah Bridge
added June 19, 2019

You don't often hear the cast of a West End musical warming up when going for a walk in the grounds of a country house, but that's what you're likely to get during a stay at Kilworth House hotel. The unique outdoor theatre in the grounds of this L...

view

A relaxing spa break at Corinthia London luxury hotel

by Sarah Bridge
added June 4, 2019

The first thing that struck me about the five-star Corinthia Hotel in London when I stayed there was how utterly huge everything is. From the vast central lobby lounge with its soaring dome and chandelier made of 1,001 crystal baubles, to the high-ce...

view

Medieval magic with a modern twist at The Swan hotel and spa in Lavenham, Suffolk

by Sarah Bridge
added May 29, 2019

Returning to The Swan hotel at Lavenham in Suffolk several years after my original stay, I was relieved to find that it was just as lovely as I remembered it. This time it also had the added attraction of its new (to me) Weavers' House Spa which had ...

view

Disco lights, friendly staff and great location at Point A hotel, Kings Cross, London

by Sarah Bridge
added May 17, 2019

It might possibly be the first hotel room I've stayed in which had a 'disco lighting' option but it was typical of this Point A hotel, which was full of quirky, thoughtful and useful touches. While I usually review hotels at the more luxury en...

view

The Crown and Castle Orford – it’s a Suffolk spot of food heaven

by Sarah Bridge
added May 1, 2019

The Suffolk village of Orford might be tiny but it packs in pretty much everything you'd expect from a classic English location. It's got a medieval church - the massive 14th century St Bartholomew's - a handful of shops (including an honesty box new...

view

Good taste in every sense at Adnams excellent Swan hotel in Southwold

by Sarah Bridge
added April 17, 2019

It does great food and excellent cocktails, it's got beautiful bedrooms, friendly staff and even has a brewery and distillery on site (it's owned by 147-year-old Suffolk brewer Adnams). Added to that, it's right in the heart of Southwold, one of Brit...

view

Curry, bagels, fish and chips and bacon butties on a food tour of London’s East End

by Sarah Bridge
added April 11, 2019

In just four hours I ate curry, fish and chips, stilton cheese, salt beef bagels, bread and butter pudding, salted caramel cheesecake and a bacon sandwich. With ketchup. Why? You might well ask. It was because I had decided to be a tourist in London ...

view

Relaxing in the slow lane at Brandshatch Place hotel and spa

by Sarah Bridge
added March 13, 2019

It shares its name with a famous motor racing circuit but guests at the Brandshatch Place hotel and spa will enjoy a relaxing stay away from the fast lane. As befits a hotel named after a racing circuit, guests to the Brandshatch Place hotel and s...

view

A seaside stay right on the Suffolk coast at The Brudenell hotel Aldeburgh

by Sarah Bridge
added March 13, 2019

There is something gloriously untamed about the British seaside on a blustery day and when I arrived at The Brudenell Hotel in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, the hotel building was receiving a severe battering from the elements. Situated just a few steps from t...

view

A charming luxury stay in Brockencote Hall hotel Worcestershire

by Sarah Bridge
added February 27, 2019

Brockencote Hall, set in several acres of lush green Worcestershire countryside, turned out to be an almost perfect stay, with the comforts and treats of a luxury country house hotel, from immaculate rooms, impeccable service and great food. Brock...

view

A relaxing stay at Mallory Court luxury hotel Warwickshire

by Sarah Bridge
added February 27, 2019

It isn't often I embrace a hotel gym so wholeheartedly but there was something about the brand spanking new spa Mallory Court luxury hotel Warwickshire which made it irresistible. As we'd just come from feasting at sister hotel Brockencote Hall in...

view

Kesgrave Hall hotel Suffolk: a friendly, lively, fun, quirky hotel stay

by Sarah Bridge
added February 8, 2019

There was far more to Kesgrave Hall than I’d expected. Having just come from its sister hotel, Maison Talbooth, a luxurious, refined, relaxed country house with outdoor pool and 12 beautifully designed rooms, I wasn’t sure whether the 23-room Grade I...

view

Maison Talbooth: an almost perfect stay at a lovely Essex country house hotel

by Sarah Bridge
added February 8, 2019

The key to a memorable hotel stay is a great welcome and such was my arrival at the excellent Maison Talbooth hotel on the Essex/Suffolk border was that within ten minutes I felt utterly at home. The signs were good from the start, with a smoo...

view

A spookily moving Halloween in Derry Northern Ireland

by Sarah Bridge
added January 14, 2019

If it's ghouls, ghosts and goblins you're after, then you have to spend Halloween in Derry Northern Ireland and experience its epic Halloween festival for yourself. Derry was voted 'Best Halloween destination in the world' by American newspaper USA T...

view

A festive round-up of the best luxury country house hotels for Christmas 2018

by Sarah Bridge
added November 13, 2018

Luxury hotels could be made for Christmas. Think of the best luxury country house hotels for Christmas and instantly you can picture the festive scene: comfy sofas, roaring fires, beautiful decorations and acres of grounds for the Boxing Day walk (o...

view

How to hike the Inca trail to Machu Picchu – and enjoy the journey!

by Sarah Bridge
added October 9, 2018

It had been a lifetime dream for me: to find out how to hike the Inca trail to Machu Picchu in Peru. Now, for the last four days, I had been hiking through stunning Peruvian mountains to reach my destination, the famous UNESCO World Heritage site of ...

view

Travelling alone but not on your own: making friends (and more) on a Club Mark Warner holiday

by Sarah Bridge
added August 20, 2018

Take dozens of single people, put them in a Club Mark Warner holiday beach resort for a week, add sun and alcohol, and it’s simply a matter of time before holiday romances start to flourish. It was just a couple of days into my Mark Warner holid...

view

The perfect Caribbean holiday on the island of Nevis

by Sarah Bridge
added August 17, 2018

'What did you do for your birthday?’ I was asked the other day. ‘Well,’ I said, trying to sound casual, ‘after a champagne breakfast in my luxury Caribbean condo, I went on a catamaran cruise along the coasts, snorkelled among tropical fish, trekked...

view

River-rafting and zip-lining, boat trips and beach cocktails, my perfect Jamaica holiday

by Sarah Bridge
added August 7, 2018

The child in front of me hurled himself off the tree-top platform high off the forest floor and sped through the air. I couldn't back out now. While zip-lining had long been on my wish-list, dreaming about it and actually standing on the edge of a s...

view

A timely jackpot at the Hippodrome casino, Leicester Square, London

by Sarah Bridge
added July 2, 2018

The timing couldn’t have been better, at least not for the Hippodrome. The moment I walked past the gaming area in the central London casino, one of the slot machines paid out the entire jackpot, handing the person playing on the machine a cool £12,5...

view

Skyros – the Greek island holiday which could change your life

by Sarah Bridge
added June 22, 2018

It is rare that a holiday actually changes your life, but a week on Skyros, the original 'alternative' holiday destination, can do just that. From changing jobs or learning new skills, to getting married, ditching bad relationships and embarking on n...

view

Rowhill Grange luxury hotel and spa: a relaxing stay in the Kent countryside

by Sarah Bridge
added May 21, 2018

It goes without saying that anyone doing battle with the traffic on either the M25, A2 or A20 routes is probably in need of some serious relaxation, but they might be surprised to learn that there is an oasis of calm just moments away. Thankfully due...

view

The Bull at Sonning: a perfect example of a great British pub

by Sarah Bridge
added April 10, 2018

If you were to try and describe a classically British pub, then you’d probably come up with something like The Bull Inn, Sonning, in Berkshire. It’s got roaring fires and low beams, it is more than 600 years old, does great food and drink and is at t...

view

How to declutter your wardrobe and give yourself (and your stuff) a chance to breathe

by Sarah Bridge
added April 9, 2018

'Clutter makes you reach for a biscuit,' says Anna, as she looks around my bedroom. I can think of no better way to convince me to embrace the popular decluttering trend which takes in everything from Marie Kondo to the tradition spring clean via new...

view

A memorable 48 hours on the Isle of Wight including blue cheese, garlic beer, beautiful beaches and charming B&Bs

by Sarah Bridge
added March 24, 2018

'We just fell in love with the Isle of Wight,' said owner David Barrett as he showed me around Haven Hall, one of the newest B&Bs on the Isle of Wight. 'It's exactly like England was, 40 or 50 years ago.' Now this could be a positive or a nega...

view

What’s it like to drive a £150,000 Aston Martin DB11?

by Sarah Bridge
added March 23, 2018

It's the car marque of dreams (and Hollywood folklore): Aston Martin cars have been super-cool ever since James Bond fired up an Aston Martin DB5 in Goldfinger. While Britain's top spy has also driven an Aston Martin DBS, an Aston Martin V12 Vanquish...

view

14 wines at dinner and a spa to recover in: a memorable stay at The Vineyard, Newbury

by Sarah Bridge
added March 20, 2018

Halfway through our meal at The Vineyard hotel and spa, Newbury, I was beginning to wonder if I knew as much about wine as I thought I did. Not only could I not guess what grape variety I was drinking or what country it came from, I couldn't even wor...

view

Make yourself at home at the grand but friendly Lewtrenchard Manor, Devon

by Sarah Bridge
added March 4, 2018

Lewtrenchard Manor is one of those classic country house hotels which actually feels like someone's home (a rather impressive stately home, that's true) rather than a hotel. Tucked away in the Dartmoor hills between Tavistock and Okehampton, Lewtrenc...

view

Stanwell House hotel, Lymington: a New Forest welcome

by Sarah Bridge
added February 17, 2018

While I've explored all over the New Forest for ALadyofLeisure.com, visiting hotels such as Chewton Glen, Lime Wood, Montagu Arms, Burley Manor and The Bell Inn, I had yet to make it all the way through the National Park to Lymington, right at the so...

view

Charming, boutique luxury at Daisybank Cottage bed and breakfast New Forest

by Sarah Bridge
added February 15, 2018

I'll be honest and confess I wasn't entirely sure about reviewing a B&B for ALadyofLeisure.com - not out of reasons of snobbery but because I usually write about hotels with massive restaurants, spa, acres of land and all the paraphernalia that c...

view

Burley Manor hotel New Forest: relaxing country charm

by Sarah Bridge
added February 12, 2018

The first time I visited Burley Manor Hotel in the New Forest I had absolutely no expectations - not because I thought it was going to be terrible, but because it had never even crossed my radar before. It turned out there was a reason for this: whil...

view

Bovey Castle: a friendly, historic, luxury Dartmoor hotel stay

by Sarah Bridge
added February 9, 2018

If you're going to spend the night in a castle, then it's appropriate to look the part, which is why it felt very fitting arriving at the luxury hotel Bovey Castle in the heart of Dartmoor in a £150,000 Aston Martin DB11. A trio of valets clad...

view

A romantic seaside stay in a beach suite at Cary Arms and Spa hotel, Devon

by Sarah Bridge
added February 6, 2018

I've been lucky to stay in some of the best hotel rooms in the country but for sheer romance it's hard to beat a Beach Suite at the delightful Cary Arms and Spa on Babbacombe Bay, Devon - in the heart of the 'English Riviera'. With a private terrace ...

view

The Pig near Bath: a heavenly, foodie, country retreat

by Sarah Bridge
added January 29, 2018

Arriving at The Pig near Bath It is always nice to be greeted on arriving at a hotel by someone saying enthusiastically: 'You're just in time for lunch!' and even better when you are promptly whisked off to sit in the sun with a large G&T while ...

view

My epic food tour of Japan: sushi, sake, puffer fish and bullet trains

by Sarah Bridge
added January 19, 2018

Japanese food can be some of the most intricate food in the world but can also be some of the most simple. I was lucky enough to go on a trip to Japan to learn all about Japanese food from top chefs and restaurants, from Tokyo to Osaka and the fishin...

view

Montcalm at the Brewery and The Jugged Hare: brewing history and the wow factor

by Sarah Bridge
added January 18, 2018

The joy of reviewing hotels and restaurants is that with every new visit there is often something which will surprise, delight or even shock you. The Montcalm at the Brewery hotel in Chiswell Street in central London and its adjoining gastro-pub, the...

view

Chewton Glen hotel, New Forest – luxury from spa to treehouse

by Sarah Bridge
added January 16, 2018

It isn't often you plan on spending the night at a rather grand country house hotel and find yourself sleeping in a treehouse on stilts in the middle of a forest. But the treehouses at Chewton Glen, the five-star hotel and spa located deep in the hea...

view

A relaxing stay at the historic Spread Eagle hotel, Midhurst

by Sarah Bridge
added January 15, 2018

Just one night at the Spread Eagle Hotel Midhurst felt like a really long stay - but in a good way. I arrived there on Sunday afternoon, and by the time I left 24 hours later I'd had a 90 minute massage, swam, sauna'd, steamed and lounged in the spa,...

view

Time for some serious pampering at Ockenden Manor hotel and spa

by Sarah Bridge
added January 13, 2018

Walking into a really gorgeous hotel room can be such a bittersweet moment. There is the initial reaction of 'Wow! This is really, really nice....!' and delight that this is actually all yours for the next 20 hours or so. Then there is the sudden rea...

view

A luxurious country escape at Bailiffscourt hotel and spa, West Sussex

by Sarah Bridge
added January 12, 2018

If the holiday season left you feeling in serious need of a relaxing break with country walks, a first-class spa and restaurant and cosy rooms to hide away in, then Bailiffscourt hotel and spa is the place for you. Tucked away down a little countr...

view

Langshott Manor, Surrey: regal luxury in an Elizabethan manor house

by Sarah Bridge
added December 15, 2017

To arrive at Langshott Manor hotel is to jump back in time. One moment you are in urban Surrey, passing through towns like Redhill and Horley and driving though a modern housing estate, and then all of a sudden you arrive at a building unlike no othe...

view

The Bell Inn: a cosy New Forest coaching inn perfect for country walks

by Sarah Bridge
added December 13, 2017

There's a warm glow which comes when reading a newspaper article called 'Cosiest pubs to stay in this winter' and realising you are heading off to stay in one of those featured that very day. This happened to me recently when about to head off to Th...

view

A Cape Verde holiday – winter sun on the island of Sal

by Sarah Bridge
added November 28, 2017

Feeling my car's clutch cable snap while driving to the airport was not the greatest of starts to our Cape Verde holiday, but after a several hours on the hard shoulder of the M1, a succession of train journeys and an impromptu overnight hotel stay a...

view

An unscheduled stay at former 18th century sugar house, Hotel du Vin Bristol

by Sarah Bridge
added November 28, 2017

With every cloud there comes a silver lining and the missing of our flight to Cape Verde meant an unexpected overnight stay in Bristol and my first experience of Hotel du Vin. I'd long been aware of the hotel chain founded by Gerard Basset and...

view

Park House hotel and spa: a West Sussex secret (but not for much longer)

by Sarah Bridge
added October 17, 2017

It's been receiving guests for more than 60 years but Park House hotel and spa is only now making the transition from well-kept local secret to firm fixture on the British country house hotel scene. With a new general manager - Mark Yates, formerly o...

view

Whatley Manor review: a Cotswolds gem revisited (with added oxygen)

by Sarah Bridge
added September 27, 2017

There is always a worry when it comes to revisiting a hotel which you totally adored on the first visit - what if it's not going to be as good as you remembered it? I know people who won't go to the same place twice for that very reason, and others w...

view

A classically English estate at Bowood hotel, spa and golf

by Sarah Bridge
added September 25, 2017

If you like visiting beautiful English stately homes but hate the queues, the drive, the parking and the general hassle which usually goes with such visits, then Bowood hotel, spa and golf in Wiltshire has the perfect solution: its own fleet of golf ...

view

Island-hopping (and relaxing) in the Aegean with SCIC Sailing

by Sarah Bridge
added September 1, 2017

Some holidays are so jam-packed with things to do, places to visit and sights to tick off that you end up needing a holiday afterwards to recover. A island-hopping voyage around the Aegean with SCIC Sailing (it stands for Sailing Cruises in Comfort a...

view

Setting sail in the Arctic on ‘the world’s most beautiful sea voyage’ (with eagles and dolphins for company)

by Sarah Bridge
added August 23, 2017

Being in the Land of the Midnight Sun can do strange things to you. A few days into my cruise along the Norwegian coast, I’d been chatting on deck after dinner with my fellow passengers. I went to bed thinking that it wasn’t a particularly late night...

view

Greenway hotel and spa, Cheltenham: a luxury hotel with the fizz factor

by Sarah Bridge
added August 21, 2017

I hadn't meant to embark on an impromptu Champagne cocktail-tasting session just after breakfast, but in keeping with the overall spirit of relaxation and pampering at The Greenway hotel and spa Cheltenham it seemed the right thing to do. It was m...

view

Fine dining and summer cocktails at the 600-year old coaching inn Bel and The Dragon, Cookham

by Sarah Bridge
added June 26, 2017

Exactly 600 years ago, the Bel and The Dragon coaching inn was built in the pretty Berkshire town of Cookham and six centuries later, I took a friend with me to stay at the pub and see what it was actually like. Well, you don't want to rush these thi...

view

A picture-perfect Cotswolds stay at The Manor House, Castle Combe

by Sarah Bridge
added May 27, 2017

If your idea of a perfect summer's day is afternoon tea (or a gin and tonic) on a beautiful lawn in the sunshine, The Manor House luxury hotel in the pretty Cotswolds village of Castle Combe, Wiltshire, is the place to be. There you can immers...

view

Pennyhill Park – a luxury hotel fit for the England rugby team

by Sarah Bridge
added April 4, 2017

If the England rugby team need somewhere to recharge their batteries after this year's bruising contest in which they finished a lowly fifth, then they needn't travel very far: their training ground at Pennyhill Park luxury hotel in Surrey is just a ...

view

In defence (and memory) of little yellow photobombing cars

by Sarah Bridge
added February 4, 2017

Back in January 2015 I wrote a blog post in defence of little yellow photobombing cars, as the car owned by Peter Maddox, 82-year old resident of Bibury village in the Cotswolds, had attracted the ire of tourists come to photograph Arlington Row, sup...

view

Rooftop cocktails and a spa make Montcalm Royal London House a top to toe destination

by Sarah Bridge
added January 31, 2017

There is something rather special about a rooftop bar in London. The views might not be spectacular - we're not taking Rio or Hong Kong harbour here - but to rise above the traffic and gaze down at the crowds from on high feels incredibly luxurious. ...

view

A review of 2016 – a year of excitement and adventure for ALadyofLeisure

by Sarah Bridge
added January 17, 2017

It's been quite a year! It started with an amazing culinary tour of Japan - a week full of sushi, puffer fish and bullet trains - and ended with a trip to Antarctica (which felt at times like a trip to another planet). During the rest of the year I ...

view

A stay at The Old Swan and Minster Mill, a classic Cotswolds country pub

by Sarah Bridge
added January 3, 2017

A trip to the Cotswolds is always a treat and if you're in need of some bracing countryside walks, a hearty pub meal and then a nightcap in front of a roaring fire, then The Old Swan and Minster Mill in the pretty Cotswolds village of Minster Lovell ...

view

Skiing on a Mark Warner ski holiday – on your own but never alone

by Sarah Bridge
added December 3, 2016

As skiing is such a sociable sport - there's the long lunches, the dancing-on-tables après-ski, the cosy chalet dinners and oh yes, the skiing itself (who wants to go on a ski lift on their own?) - going on a ski holiday by yourself with a tour opera...

view

A very Christmassy stay at The Royal Horseguards Hotel, London

by Sarah Bridge
added December 2, 2016

I was feeling rather Christmassy anyway after ambling through Covent Garden with a glass of mulled wine and admiring the Christmas lights, but even the most Bah Humbug of Scrooges would have felt full of festive cheer arriving at the five-star The Ro...

view

Cosy Cotswolds charm at The Painswick award-winning hotel

by Sarah Bridge
added November 11, 2016

Being named The Sunday Times' Hotel of the Year, which The Painswick was a few years ago, can be a double-edged sword. On the upside, the phone didn't stop ringing once the news came out, bookings went through the roof and for a newly-opened hotel, i...

view

A deeply relaxing day at Lime Wood hotel spa in the New Forest

by Sarah Bridge
added November 2, 2016

You have to be deeply relaxed to nod off during a massage, so falling completely asleep, not once, but twice, during my treatment at the Lime Wood hotel spa shows what an incredibly relaxing spa treatment it was. This was quite an achievement con...

view

The Montagu Arms, Beaulieu: a New Forest feast

by Sarah Bridge
added October 26, 2016

The brochure for The Montagu Arms in the New Forest encourages guests to 'take your cue from the ponies: graze, wander and enjoy the quiet.' I did all three during my stay at this 200-year old hotel and emerged feeling as relaxed and content as the b...

view

My stay at The Marylebone: a room with a view and a seriously nice roof terrace

by Sarah Bridge
added October 17, 2016

A definite perk of reviewing luxury hotels is that 'wow!' feeling when you walk into a hotel bedroom for the first time and find something completely unexpected. Unlocking the door to my suite at The Marylebone in central London was one of those mome...

view

Rockliffe Hall Darlington, County Durham – a relaxing spa escape

by Sarah Bridge
added September 23, 2016

After being trapped in for hours in Bank Holiday roadworks hell, the five-star hotel Rockliffe Hall Darlington in in County Durham was a more than welcome sight. Set in 375 acres of parkland, the original building dates from the 1800s, but over the y...

view

A cooling terrace (and a cocktail or two) at The Bloomsbury, London

by Sarah Bridge
added September 20, 2016

When it's hot in the city, your first instinct might be to run for the hills (or the coast) but just steps from the sweltering heat of Tottenham Court Road tube station, The Bloomsbury hotel is a great spot in which to cool down. Its hidden se...

view

The Gore Hotel: history, luxury and some rock and roll cocktails

by Sarah Bridge
added September 7, 2016

My bedroom at The Gore hotel in Kensington was definitely one with the 'wow' factor. There were oil-paintings and gilt-edged mirrors and the bed itself was so vast and so high it felt as if I needed a footstool to climb aboard. The epic theme ...

view

Something for everyone come rain or shine at Foxhills hotel Surrey

by Sarah Bridge
added August 17, 2016

Calling a hotel 'family-friendly' often means that those travelling without children run a mile in the opposite direction, but the luxury Foxhills spa and golf hotel is so vast that all ages and groups can thoroughly enjoy themselves without crashing...

view

A garden with a view at the Alexandra hotel Lyme Regis

by Sarah Bridge
added July 22, 2016

With the wildly inconsistent British summer, I was extremely fortunate to have timed my stay at the Alexandra hotel Lyme Regis for one of the hottest days of the year so far. While the hotel would be a perfectly nice place to stay in during all sorts...

view

It’s a day of tasty foodie firsts at the River Cottage cookery school

by Sarah Bridge
added July 19, 2016

Last week, at home, I had some of the best bread I'd ever eaten. It was a soft, brown loaf and tasted marvellous. Was it the ingredients, I wondered - organic wholemeal stoneground flour. Or was it the fact that I'd made the whole thing myself, under...

view

Valet parking – it’s supposed to be great but makes me panic

by Sarah Bridge
added June 29, 2016

This is probably one of those things that Americans are much better at than the Brits (they certainly have more practice at it), but valet parking always sends me into a panic. On the face of it, arriving at a hotel and having someone offe...

view

Quintessential Cotswolds retreat at Lords of the Manor, Upper Slaughter

by Sarah Bridge
added June 29, 2016

The man who described Bibury as 'the most beautiful village in England' surely never went to Lower Slaughter. I've often driven past the road signposted to The Slaughters on my way through the Cotswolds but had never taken the turning. It was only...

view

Brooklands Hotel, perfect location for car, spa and plane fans

by Sarah Bridge
added June 29, 2016

One massive advantage that non-London hotels have over their capital city rivals is space, and our suite at Brooklands Hotel in Weybridge, Surrey, was certainly one of the largest I've stayed in. The vast central lounge in our 'super suite...

view

Lunch with the Queen (and 10,000 other guests) at the Patron’s Lunch

by Sarah Bridge
added June 18, 2016

It was the most British of days. The Patron's Lunch last Sunday had the Royal Family, it had cucumber sandwiches, it had queues and Pimms and cups of tea. And an awful lot of rain. It was as if someone had tried to work out what would make the day as...

view

Luxury hotels reviewed by ALadyofLeisure.com – 2016 round-up

by Sarah Bridge
added June 3, 2016

ALadyofLeisure.com is the hotel, restaurant and spa reviews website from national newspaper journalist Sarah Bridge, read by thousands of industry professionals and travel enthusiasts every month. [Note: this round-up of luxury hotels reviewed by ALa...

view

Baths in hotel bedrooms and transparent loo doors – treat or travesty?

by Sarah Bridge
added June 3, 2016

Are baths in hotel bedrooms a great hotel treat or just a ghastly design nonsense? I only ask because almost every hotel I've stayed in recently has at least one room where the bath is in the bedroom - at the foot of the bed, sometimes, or in prid...

view

Which are the top luxury hotel spas around? Here’s some of the best to get you in the mood

by Sarah Bridge
added June 3, 2016

Spas in luxury hotels are big business and over the last few years owners have been making multi-million pound investments in providing the latest in pampering experiences. But like hotel bedrooms, hotel spas come in all shapes and sizes and if yo...

view

Danesfield House hotel and spa, relaxation on the Thames

by Sarah Bridge
added June 3, 2016

If your idea of a perfect country break is to have breakfast in the sun on a terrace overlooking a spectacular view, followed by a day lounging in a luxury spa, then Danesfield House hotel and spa in Buckinghamshire is just the place for you. ...

view

Sopwell House – a stay in my very own VIP courtyard

by Sarah Bridge
added June 3, 2016

My heart often sinks when I discover my room is in a separate building to the main hotel - this usually implies some modern, soulless extension - but at Sopwell House luxury hotel near St Albans, our room's outside location was really quite special. ...

view

Free Good Hotel Guide giveaway, top five Cotswold hotels, reviews of Whatley Manor and Noble Rot plus Is a hotel bedroom turn-down service a turn-off?

by Sarah Bridge
added May 18, 2016

view

The best luxury hotels in the Cotswolds – A Lady of Leisure’s favourite five

by Sarah Bridge
added May 18, 2016

Searching for luxury hotels among the beautiful rolling hills of the Cotswolds may sound like an easy task - there seems to be one round every corner. However with so many to chose from, it's easy to be overwhelmed. With most insisting on a two-night...

view

Turn-downs, coat hangers and posh loo seats – here’s what I think is essential in a luxury hotel room

by Sarah Bridge
added May 18, 2016

So we're all agreed that free, fast wi-fi and power points in handy locations are a essential in a luxury hotel room - and we all like soft, fluffy bathrobes (even if we don't always use them). But what are the little extras you hope for when you che...

view

Noble Rot on Lamb’s Conduit Street, a welcome addition to memory lane

by Sarah Bridge
added May 18, 2016

It is hard not to start off a review of Noble Rot restaurant - as practically every other reviewer has done - with a nostalgic look back at days gone by, spent in the various pubs and wine bars of Lamb's Conduit Street. It seems that every journal...

view

Whatley Manor hotel and spa – one of the best hotels in the Cotswolds

by Sarah Bridge
added May 18, 2016

Just when you think you've stayed in the best hotels in the Cotswolds, along comes Whatley Manor luxury hotel and tops the lot. From the moment the gates opened to reveal a beautiful cobbled courtyard, the entrance garlanded by wisteria and lavender,...

view

Review of the Kensington luxury hotel in South Kensington

by Sarah Bridge
added May 10, 2016

A night in Kensington luxury hotel in South Kensington I'd earlier I'd been at the Kensington luxury hotel in central London to drink cocktails at the launch of its bar, the K Bar. Now I was back at the luxury hotel close to many of London's museums...

view

In a Sin City stay, there’s more things to do in Las Vegas than gambling

by Sarah Bridge
added May 4, 2016

Things to do in Las Vegas come rain or shine... It was my fourth visit to Las Vegas, but the first time I'd seen it raining on the famous Las Vegas Strip. Unsurprisingly, Vegas, being in the Mojave desert, isn't used to rain. Neither were the holida...

view

Are hotel kettles essential in your luxury hotel bedroom?

by Sarah Bridge
added April 20, 2016

Is it a right or a privilege to be able to make tea in your hotel bedroom with your very own hotel kettle? I once spent the night at luxury country house hotel Cliveden and had a meeting with the chief executive of Travelodge the following day. The ...

view

A room (and cocktails) with some serious views at ME London luxury hotel

by Sarah Bridge
added April 14, 2016

The view from the top of the five star luxury hotel ME London is a tourist's delight, taking in the essential sights of London, from the London Eye to Big Ben, St Paul's, Tower Bridge, The Shard and everything in between. Having evening cocktails on ...

view

Hampton Manor hotel : top-class food and a step back in time

by Sarah Bridge
added April 6, 2016

It might be just a few miles from the M42 and Birmingham Airport but Hampton Manor hotel in the Midlands feels a hundred years from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Within a couple of hours of arriving at the 19th century gothic building - bu...

view

Dinner restaurant in Knightsbridge: Heston Blumenthal food for thought

by Sarah Bridge
added April 6, 2016

Turning up to lunch at Dinner restaurant in Knightsbridge - the restaurant from top chef Heston Blumenthal - with a copy of the menu from The Fat Duck at Bray (also by Heston Blumenthal, where my dining companion Simon had eaten just the week before)...

view

Hambleton Hall hotel Rutland: warm, welcoming and wonderful food

by Sarah Bridge
added March 25, 2016

Some hotels just get it completely right - and luxury country house hotel Hambleton Hall hotel Rutland is one of them. From the traditional and immaculate bedroom, to the excellent food, lovely gardens, cosy bar and superb attention to detail, I can'...

view

The Crab and Boar pub with rooms in Berkshire: classic country food pub (with hot tubs)

by Sarah Bridge
added March 4, 2016

If you are one of those people who love nothing more than to sit in a country pub in front of a roaring fire, working your way through the weekend papers while you also work your way through the selection of well-kept ales at the bar, then a stay at ...

view

The Levin hotel Knightsbridge: a luxury boutique hotel in London near Harrods

by Sarah Bridge
added March 4, 2016

It is just seconds from the shopping and traffic maelstrom which is Knightsbridge, but The Levin hotel Knightsbridge boutique hotel in central London is the very essence of calm and tranquility. If you are looking for a place where the party continue...

view

It’s Oscar time – but who is going to triumph in my very own ALadyofLeisure.com awards?

by Sarah Bridge
added February 29, 2016

Last year was a hectic one for ALadyofLeisure.com with 50 fabulous places reviewed, and with so many to choose from, it's hard to pick out the best. However some were so memorable that I wanted to single them out for special praise - and hopefully en...

view

Balans Soho Society restaurant Kensington- it’s smart, sexy and has its very own tree

by Sarah Bridge
added February 25, 2016

Returning to Balans Soho Society restaurant Kensington High Street was like visiting an old friend who had had a complete image change in the intervening years. My colleagues and I used to come here for a post-work glass of wine of two, sitting squas...

view

Ellenborough Park hotel and spa: the perfect place for a day at the races

by Sarah Bridge
added February 12, 2016

For horse-racing fans, the location of Ellenborough Park hotel and spa is hard to beat, being the closest hotel to Cheltenham Racecourse. Just a few hundred metres from the front door of the grand 15th century Cotswolds building is the racecourse its...

view

Dormy House hotel in the Cotswolds – so snug, you’ll never want to leave

by Sarah Bridge
added January 29, 2016

It isn't easy to stand out among such a competitive field - I'm talking about the 'best hotels in the Cotswolds' category, of which there are many - but the award-winning boutique hotel Dormy House more than meets the challenge. From the moment I wal...

view

ALadyofLeisure’s 2015 review of Britain’s best luxury hotels

by Sarah Bridge
added December 31, 2015

From Michelin-starred dining to London's most decadent pancake, grand country house hotels, brand new cruise ships, boutique hotels and celebrity hangouts (not to mention cocktail classes, private cinemas and hot tubs in the Cotswolds), it's been a l...

view

Calcot Manor luxury hotel: a family-friendly hotel in the Cotswolds

by Sarah Bridge
added December 31, 2015

For those who love the idea of staying in a luxury spa hotel in the Cotswolds (and who doesn't?) and are travelling with children in tow, Calcot Manor luxury hotel, just the other side of Circencester, is a great choice - a Cotwolds hotel and spa f...

view

Barnsley House hotel and spa – a wonderfully cosy Cotswolds hideaway

by Sarah Bridge
added December 19, 2015

Within two minutes of arriving at Barnsley House hotel and spa in the Cotswolds I had completely fallen in love with it - and that's before I'd even tried out the private cinema, outdoor hot tub or delicious food. All these things were yet to come, b...

view

Sexy Fish: Mayfair’s slice of loud, brash, bling and fun

by Sarah Bridge
added December 8, 2015

Sexy Fish, the newly-opened £15 million restaurant from Richard Caring (The Ivy, Le Caprice, J Sheekey) doesn't actually look very sexy from the outside. It's rather plain and square and dull and looks not dissimilar from the NatWest bank it used to...

view

The Arch hotel, London, unshowy but smart

by Sarah Bridge
added November 18, 2015

The Arch hotel is not a flashy hotel. For a luxury hotel near to Oxford Street and just across the road from Madonna's London home, the Arch is neat, calm, and quiet. It doesn't have the grand entrance or huge lobby of its immediate neighbours, th...

view

Bond is back! He’s bold, brilliant and BLOODY LOUD

by Sarah Bridge
added October 27, 2015

[no major spoilers but it is a Spectre film review all the same] If this is Daniel Craig's final film as 007 then it's a great way to go. Better than Quantum of Solace with its unfathomable plot; better even than Skyfall with its dodgy sexual polit...

view

The Capital hotel London: a luxury hotel stay with a cocktail masterclass

by Sarah Bridge
added October 15, 2015

Its claim to fame is that it is the closest hotel to Harrods, and it's true that less than 30 seconds walk will take you right into the iconic department store. But thankfully The Capital hotel, just next to Harrods on a quiet Knightsbridge street, i...

view

Bodysgallen Hall hotel North Wales: a country house with impressive views

by Sarah Bridge
added October 14, 2015

Bodysgallen Hall hotel North Wales was the starting point for my week exploring Wales and it was a great place to begin. One of the top luxury hotels in Wales, its location just outside Llandudno on the north coast is right at the top of Wales and ye...

view

Ynyshir in Wales restaurant with rooms: one of the best restaurants in Wales

by Sarah Bridge
added October 14, 2015

The wonderful thing about writing the ALadyofLeisure.com blog is that I've discovered so many new places which I would never in a million years have come across otherwise, and the award-winning restaurant Ynyshir in Wales - which now bills itself as ...

view

Percy & Founders restaurant Goodge Street: smart, modern food with style in Fitzrovia

by Sarah Bridge
added September 28, 2015

The part of London between Portland Place and Goodge Street near Goodge Street tube station has historically been a bit of a culinary no-man's land, with little to tempt you to eat in the estate-agent-christened 'Noho' unless you actually worked in ...

view

Discovering hidden treasures at The Stafford luxury hotel, St James’s

by Sarah Bridge
added September 3, 2015

One thing I've learnt from writing my ALadyofLeisure.com blog is that you never really know all about luxury hotels - and especially the one you're staying in - until you get someone to give you the Grand Tour. A typical hotel guest will see little m...

view

Gravetye Manor West Sussex – food heaven in a luxury country house hotel

by Sarah Bridge
added September 1, 2015

There are some places that are so lovely you can't stop thinking about them after you leave, and Gravetye Manor in West Sussex is most definitely one of those. [Note: this review of Gravetye Manor in West Sussex was first published in 2015 and som...

view

Lunch at two top London restaurants Kitty Fisher’s and Ham Yard

by Sarah Bridge
added August 24, 2015

They've both received glowing reviews and are two of the hottest places on London's restaurant scene at the moment, but Kitty Fisher's and Ham Yard restaurant are rather different culinary experiences. [Note: this review of top London restaurants ...

view

A stay at St James’s hotel and club in London: Michelin star in Mayfair hotel

by Sarah Bridge
added August 12, 2015

St James's Hotel in London might be five-star luxury but thankfully it has none of the formal starchiness you might expect from a super-posh hotel. The staff are so cheerful and relaxed that I found myself having all sorts of random conversations wit...

view

An indulgent evening at The Secret Garden, Clapham

by Sarah Bridge
added August 7, 2015

It is a bittersweet moment when you go to a new restaurant and discover that it has replaced an old favourite. However in the case of The Secret Garden, located just opposite Clapham North tube, London, where the highly-rated Four O Nine restaurant u...

view

‘My £125 million Travelodge transformation’: interview with Travelodge ceo Peter Gowers

by Sarah Bridge
added July 28, 2015

From basket case to billion pound business, Travelodge has undergone a remarkable turnaround in just three short years. The chain was on the brink of collapse with a debt mountain of £635 million in 2012. But last week its owners – led by Goldman Sac...

view

Drinking martinis at the best hotel bars in London

by Sarah Bridge
added July 24, 2015

'Don't worry, you won't get a hangover,' insisted Pleurat Shabani, the maker of Konik's Tail vodka and the host of our martini marathon. 'I've never had a hangover drinking martinis.' [Note: this review of drinking martinis at the best hotel bars ...

view

Cruising for the first time: a week on P&O Britannia luxury cruise ship

by Sarah Bridge
added July 23, 2015

There was something about P&O Britannia cruise ship which reminded me of Las Vegas, and it wasn't just the casino. It was partly the vast amount of food on offer on board at its 13 restaurants onboard P&O Britannia - the stories about gaining...

view

Qbic Hotel London City: friendly, fun hotel on a budget

by Sarah Bridge
added June 27, 2015

It might not be located in the most beautiful part of London, but Qbic Hotel London City in Aldgate, East London, scores highly on all the essentials for a budget hotel in London: price, location and cleanliness, not to mention a friendly and relaxed...

view

Ashdown Park hotel East Sussex: luxury hotel in beautiful grounds

by Sarah Bridge
added June 16, 2015

As beautiful settings go, Ashdown Park hotel East Sussex certainly has the 'wow' factor. It's easily one of the best hotels in East Sussex and a hotel with stunning views: walking through a stone arch to the garden terrace, the view suddenly opens ou...

view

Luton Hoo: a classic country house hotel (with Hollywood glamour)

by Sarah Bridge
added June 13, 2015

It isn't often you get to share a sink with Hugh Grant but the sign in our bedroom at the five-star Luton Hoo hotel and spa proclaimed it to be true: the rather quirky sink-in-a-cupboard in the corner was indeed the very same cupboard from Four Weddi...

view

Nirvana Spa: A hard day’s relaxing at this top day spa near London

by Sarah Bridge
added June 9, 2015

You would have to start pretty early and finish late to be able to squeeze in the maximum amount of relaxation possible at my Nirvana Spa day near Reading, the award-winning spa near London and one of the top day spas in the country. I spent the w...

view

Hartwell House Buckinghamshire hotel: a stay with the Downton Abbey factor

by Sarah Bridge
added May 13, 2015

You know you're in good hands when you arrive at a hotel spa and find Downton Abbey's head butler Carson (aka the terrific actor Jim Carter) lounging in the hot tub. While Hartwell House in Buckinghamshire is a luxury hotel and spa in Buckinghamsh...

view

Mark Warner holiday Rhodes: a week at the five-star resort in Greece

by Sarah Bridge
added May 13, 2015

It might surprise those people who associate Mark Warner holidays solely with families that around 40 per cent of the company's business comes from singles, groups of friends, and couples. And now the firm has expanded its adult-friendly Club Mark...

view

An interview with Sir Rocco Forte: politics, religion and luxury hotels

by Sarah Bridge
added May 7, 2015

Note: my exclusive interview with Sir Rocco Forte in Browns Hotel London was first published in 2015 Sir Rocco Forte is not shy about revealing his political opinions. As the nation approaches its most closely fought General Election in living memo...

view

Las Vegas food festival Vegas Uncork’d: it’s an epic Vegas food party

by Sarah Bridge
added May 5, 2015

Note: my article about the Las Vegas food festival Vegas Uncork'd was first published in 2015 so some of the details might now be out of date Mention Las Vegas and most people would immediately think gambling, casinos, showgirls, Mariah Carey, the...

view

The Grove Hotel near Watford: luxury country living at its finest

by Sarah Bridge
added May 2, 2015

There was nothing around to disturb the peace of my morning stroll around the 300 acres of Hertfordshire countryside which surrounds The Grove hotel near Watford; nothing, that is, until a helicopter suddenly swooped down and landed on the immaculate...

view

Amba Hotel Charing Cross: possibly the most central hotel in London

by Sarah Bridge
added April 14, 2015

One of the closest hotels to Charing Cross station in London, the Amba Hotel Charing Cross is surprisingly quiet, particularly for a luxury hotel in central London. In fact it turned out to be generally much nicer than I'd expected when I turned up a...

view

Pisco power! Getting into the spirit at London Peruvian restaurant Senor Ceviche

by Sarah Bridge
added April 14, 2015

As a late arrival to the cult of the Pisco sour cocktail I certainly plan to make up for lost time. I started and finished my evening at London Peruvian restaurant Senor Ceviche with a perfect Pisco Sour, the drink which has become one of my favourit...

view

Olivo restaurant in Victoria London: an Italian favourite revisited

by Sarah Bridge
added April 10, 2015

Olivo, the Italian restaurant in Victoria London, used to be a lunchtime favourite of mine but for some reason I haven't been back there for about ten years. However when I finally returned I was delighted to find it hadn't changed a bit, which isn'...

view

El Pirata Mayfair: the friendliest tapas in this part of London

by Sarah Bridge
added April 10, 2015

Tucked away behind the grey anonymity of Park Lane's high-rise hotel district which includes the Dorchester, the Intercontinental and the Athenaeum, El Pirata's tapas bar is a welcome sight. You might not think of tapas in Mayfair but in spite of ...

view

Review of Saatchi Gallery restaurant on Kings Road Chelsea

by Sarah Bridge
added March 28, 2015

For a restaurant attached to an art gallery, the Saatchi Gallery restaurant doesn't seem to have a lot of actual art going on. In fact, it was only when I went to find the Ladies at the end of the meal that I was able to see the rather impress...

view

When the Queen launched P&O Cruises new ship Britannia

by Sarah Bridge
added March 19, 2015

Note: this article about the launch of P&O Britannia was written in 2015 - how time flies! If you want to read about what it's like to stay on P&O Britannia then click here The day was bright and sunny for Her Majesty and Prince Philip as ...

view

Cheval Residences serviced apartments London; a home rather than a hotel

by Sarah Bridge
added March 18, 2015

For frequent travellers to the capital who find hotels increasingly soulless - or just miss being able to cook dinner - there is another option: staying in a serviced apartment in London. Rather than having to inhabit just one room and go out for ...

view

Rabbit Restaurant Kings Road Chelsea: hop this way for good food

by Sarah Bridge
added March 17, 2015

It promises to deliver 'British wild food' and while London's Sloane Square isn't known for being especially wild (except maybe in the sales), Rabbit Restaurant Kings Road Chelsea in London fulfils its mission admirably. Small on the outside but o...

view

First glimpse of cruise ship P&O Britannia

by Sarah Bridge
added February 25, 2015

It cost more than £520 million to build, weighs 141,000 tons and will carry more than 3,600 passengers. And this Friday the brand new cruise ship P&O Britannia will be making her way from the Fincantieri shipyard in Trieste, Italy, to her new hom...

view

Fifty Shades of Grey review: Blue Steel and an Ikea Room of Pain

by Sarah Bridge
added February 19, 2015

First, the good points about Fifty Shades of Grey, the film which has been greeted with massive under-enthusiasm by the critics (but which hasn't stopped it breaking box-office records, unsurprisingly given the books' massive fanbase). Dakota John...

view

The Botanist Sloane Square: posh pancakes for Shrove Tuesday

by Sarah Bridge
added February 12, 2015

The Botanist, Sloane Square was packed as the pre-theatre crowd were getting a few swift ones in before heading across the road to the King's Head Theatre. Thankfully the restaurant itself was rather quieter as we were here on a very serious quest...

view

My stay at the Compleat Angler Marlow: location, location, location

by Sarah Bridge
added February 10, 2015

The Compleat Angler, Marlow, is proof that some hotels don't need to have swimming pools, hot tubs and the very latest in beauty treatments - they just need to be in a great spot. Hotels in Marlow are blessed with a great location anyway as Marlow is...

view

Huntsham Court Devon: relaxed exclusive use country living

by Sarah Bridge
added February 7, 2015

Staying at Huntsham Court, an exclusive use manor house in Devon, provokes a mixture of emotions. Luxury wedding venue in Devon Two recurring regrets of mine are a) that my family is neither posh nor wealthy enough to have a massive ancestral home ...

view

What’s wrong with having a photobombing yellow car?

by Sarah Bridge
added January 30, 2015

What's wrong with having a photobombing yellow car, you might ask? Poor Peter Maddox. The 82-year old has been accused of allowing his little yellow Vauxhall Corsa to 'photobomb' otherwise picturesque shots of Arlington Row in Bibury, acknowledged as...

view

Four to Eight: high quality Italian food in Covent Garden

by Sarah Bridge
added January 29, 2015

[Note: this review of Four to Eight in Covent Garden was published in 2015 and the restaurant is now closed. I've let it up here though as my blog is like my diary!] The ever-changing nature of London's restaurant and bar scene means that not infr...

view

Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings: a hidden culinary gem

by Sarah Bridge
added January 21, 2015

It is located in the no-man's land of offices and parkland between Exmouth Market and Clerkenwell Green, but Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings is well worth the detour. Opened by the team which owned the subterranean Goodge Street drinking den ...

view

Lunch at Gillray’s steakhouse and bar: a London restaurant with a view

by Sarah Bridge
added January 10, 2015

London's South Bank is known for many things but a good steak was not historically one of them. However my visit to Gillray's Steakhouse and Bar was to change all that - for me at least. Restaurants near Waterloo station Long-time London dwellers s...

view

The Athenaeum hotel London: a charming boutique hotel in Piccadilly London

by Sarah Bridge
added December 31, 2014

All hotel visits linger in the memory afterwards but some leave a physical presence too - and in the case of the Athenaeum Hotel, a boutique hotel in Piccadilly London, it was Arthur. The teddy bear guarding my room was so sweet he just had to be lib...

view

One Aldwych hotel London: a Lion King-sized bite of luxury in a West End hotel

by Sarah Bridge
added November 19, 2014

As befits the London hotel nearest the Lyceum Theatre, there was a lion right outside my hotel room at One Aldywch hotel. Well, to be more accurate, a Lion King. The Lyceum theatre in Covent Garden, which has been home to the hugely successful Lio...

view

Volcanoes and fire-dancing: just a typical day exploring Papua New Guinea

by Sarah Bridge
added November 11, 2014

Swimming near a school of dolphins, walking on a recently-erupted volcano and diving to a wreck of a World War 2 Japanese fighter plane might seem like once-in-a-lifetime holiday but if you are exploring Papua New Guinea, it is just an average mornin...

view

What it’s like to go on a boot camp to lose weight

by Sarah Bridge
added November 3, 2014

It was when I was hiking along the North Devon coast in the rain that I started to question whether my plan to go on a boot camp to lose weight was worth its hefty price tag. Would I actually lose weight on a boot camp? I was halfway through a week a...

view

Exploring Majorca for the first time: by helicopter, road and luxury yacht

by Sarah Bridge
added October 25, 2014

To get my bearings on my first ever trip to this beautiful island in the Balearics, a helicopter ride seemed like the perfect way to exploring Majorca for the first time (Majorca is also known as Mallorca in Catalan). An aerial view of Majorca From...

view

A holiday of a lifetime learning to dive in the Cayman Islands

by Sarah Bridge
added October 25, 2014

It was an interesting introduction to my holiday of a lifetime learning to dive in the Cayman Islands: ‘The thing about the Cayman Islands is that the best sights are underwater,’ said my taxi driver as he drove along the dusty road from the airport....

view

Luckham Park luxury hotel near Bath: my very own Palladian mansion for a night

by Sarah Bridge
added August 28, 2014

It isn't every day I stay in a 17th century Palladian mansion but after just a few hours at Luckham Park luxury hotel near Bath I was walking around as if I had lived there for years. Staying at Lucknam Park I would grandly descend the staircase fr...

view

Aperitivo in the heart of (rather noisy) Kensington

by Sarah Bridge
added August 27, 2014

'Location is everything' so the saying goes - but when it comes to the afternoon drinks and Italian nibbles at the Baglioni hotel in Kensington, it seems location can be a double-edged sword. I was invited to come along and spend the evening in th...

view

Tylney Hall: great building but not a great stay

by Sarah Bridge
added August 4, 2014

I've been fortunate enough to stay in some lovely country house hotels recently - sadly, Tylney Hall was not one of them. [Note: this review of Tylney Hall was first published in 2014 and so some of the details might now be out of date] To clar...

view

Spending the day at Centurion Club St Albans

by Sarah Bridge
added August 2, 2014

There are worse things to do on a Monday morning spending the day at Centurion Club St Albans out in the glorious sunshine being taught how to play golf by a rather charming golf pro. Thankfully, said pro - Nick Ansell - who worked at this impress...

view

Review: Apero – below the street but still a cut above

by Sarah Bridge
added July 28, 2014

It is always a good sign of a hotel restaurant if you could imagine going back there without being an overnight guest and Apero definitely fits that description. Tucked beneath the Ampersand hotel and the South Kensington pavement - though designe...

view

Barts Speakeasy South Kensington – small but perfectly formed

by Sarah Bridge
added July 28, 2014

In spite of living and working just a mile away from South Kensington and passing through it most days, I never felt as if I really knew the area. To me it was a vague ensemble of various things - the museums, French people, a really good sheet mu...

view

The Swan at Lavenham: a pub as charming as its location

by Sarah Bridge
added July 8, 2014

[Editor's note: This review of the Swan at Lavenham was first published in 2014. For a more up to date review of this hotel click here or go to https://aladyofleisure.com/the-swan-at-lavenham-review/ ] The Swan at Lavenham is located in one of tho...

view

A trip round the Beefeater gin distillery visitors centre

by Sarah Bridge
added July 8, 2014

Vauxhall in London is known for many things - the Oval cricket ground, a permanently traffic-snarled gyratory system, a disused gas works - but a pleasant afternoon drinking gin and tonics is not usually the first thing that springs to mind. Howev...

view

No skimping on the apres-ski with Mark Warner Tignes

by Sarah Bridge
added June 14, 2014

A ski weekend in Tignes with Mark Warner You could never accuse Mark Warner of skimping on the apres-ski - or, for that matter, the pre-ski and the in-ski. A three-day trip to French Alpine ski resort Tignes to check out its newly refurbished chalet...

view

Center Parcs Woburn Forest: a reviewer-proof staycation destination

by Sarah Bridge
added June 3, 2014

Center Parcs is practically immune from criticism. With occupancy running at a staggering 97.2 per cent all year round, the private-equity owned leisure company is the envy of its peers. In spite of the complaints about high prices during school h...

view

Back in Berlin after 27 years – an emotional jump forward in time

by Sarah Bridge
added April 9, 2014

Berlin is the kind of city where even a seemingly mundane walk to the local supermarket can turn out to be an emotional experience. It had been 27 years since I was last in Berlin and was here to attend the travel industry trade show ITB. I was st...

view

Housetrip Berlin Kreuzberg – a home away from home

by Sarah Bridge
added April 9, 2014

It's amazing how quickly you can feel like a 'local' while staying somewhere completely new to you. For me it was when I came back from a trip to the supermarket with some eggs and milk and let myself in at my own front door with my own key. It w...

view

Holborn Dining Room review: adds class to commuterville

by Sarah Bridge
added March 19, 2014

The traffic-and-commuter-saturated High Holborn usually has little to recommend it, being full of gridlocked buses and office workers doing the twice-daily rat run to and from the tube. But an grand oasis of opulent charm and fine dining has just arr...

view

Cannizaro House Wimbledon: a country retreat in the city

by Sarah Bridge
added February 28, 2014

There is something rather delightful about packing to spend the weekend in a hotel just four miles from your home. It yields all the excitement and anticipation of a trip away without any of the angst and despair caused by realising you have to d...

view

Hop pockets, scotch eggs and Shoreditch blonde: beer-tasting just for girls

by Sarah Bridge
added February 20, 2014

It isn't often that you see a man wearing a hessian sack telling a room of beer-drinking women they would make better brewers than men. But Monday's 'Give Boys the Chop - beer dinner for girls only' event organised by Rupert Ponsonby and his g...

view

Equinox gym London: super-pricey but it will get you super-fit

by Sarah Bridge
added February 16, 2014

Equinox gym London could possibly be one of the most expensive gyms in Kensington or even one of the priciest gyms in whole of London. And as it's one of the most luxurious gyms in London, it is possibly one of the more expensive gyms in the country....

view

Gordon Ramsay London House Battersea Square review

by Sarah Bridge
added February 3, 2014

Any business owner will tell you that it's vital to get the local residents on side right from the very beginning to ensure success. And Gordon Ramsay did just that with the newest restaurant in his empire, London House in Battersea Square. ...

view

So it turns out I like drinking – just for its own sake. Who’d have imagined that?

by Sarah Bridge
added February 1, 2014

Well - I did it. An entire January's-worth of alcoholic abstinence. And yes, it was a VERY long month. But the surprising discovery for me is not only that I have far greater reserves of willpower than anyone, including myself, suspected, ...

view

Costa Book Awards: celebs, gossip and a worthy winner

by Sarah Bridge
added January 29, 2014

My taxi driver was very excited when I said there would be loads of celebrities at the Costa Book Awards 2014. 'Like who?' he asked, as he turned off Piccadilly to head towards the event venue, Quaglino's restaurant. 'Like, erm, Ian Hislop,...

view

My interview with Karen Forrester of TGI Fridays

by Sarah Bridge
added January 27, 2014

The TGI Friday’s restaurant chain turned itself around, thanks to a fire that gutted one of its flagship sites, I'm told in my interview with Karen Forrester from TGI Fridays. While most bosses would consider this an unmitigated disaster, Forr...

view

Why you’re never too old to visit Las Vegas

by Sarah Bridge
added January 22, 2014

You're never too old to visit Las Vegas - and here's the proof! Just a few days in Sin City brought about a miraculous transformation in my 72-year old mother. For several weeks before our Las Vegas holiday, her main activity had been fretting...

view

True grit: A first-time skier braves a British Military Fitness ski trip in Courchevel

by Sarah Bridge
added January 20, 2014

Being escorted off the mountain-side by a French hunk on a snowmobile was not the way I had imagined the end of my first ever day of skiing, but it was certainly exhilarating. I clung to him for dear life as we plunged and soared across the sl...

view

So it’s a bar – which doesn’t sell alcohol. Can this be a good thing?

by Sarah Bridge
added January 17, 2014

Visitors to Redemption, tucked away in the unfashionable corner of London between Westbourne Park and Ladbroke Grove, first have to walk past an array of Notting Hill's pubs and wine bars, packed with Bright Young Things knocking back the very la...

view

Review: Quidam, Cirque du Soleil, Royal Albert Hall

by Sarah Bridge
added January 16, 2014

Having just a few months ago seen the jaw-dropping, mind-boggling spectacle which is Cirque du Soleil's 'O' at the Bellagio, Las Vegas, the Cirque's Quidam show at the Royal Albert Hall certainly had a lot to live up to. But while the London s...

view

After the Fast Diet, there’s Fast Exercise, but aren’t we missing something?

by Sarah Bridge
added January 9, 2014

There's nothing more than the fitness industry loves than the newest fad, the latest trend, the 'next big thing'. It guarantees column inches in newspaper supplements and magazines as the new idea is relentlessly promoted in books and articles...

view

Sun, sea and romance on a Club Mark Warner singles holiday

by Sarah Bridge
added January 9, 2014

What is a Mark Warner singles holiday like? Take dozens of single people, put them in a beach resort for a week, add sun and alcohol, and it’s simply a matter of time before holiday romances start to flourish. It was just a couple of days into my Ma...

view

Dryathlon or Dry January: worth trying once

by Sarah Bridge
added January 2, 2014

My friends in the drinks industry won't thank me, but I've joined the growing ranks of those who have sworn off booze for January - hello Dry January! Swearing seems to be the appropriate word too, as it's what I've felt like doing every one of t...

view

Welcome to my luxury leisure reviews website ALadyofLeisure.com

by Sarah Bridge
added January 2, 2014

Welcome to my leisure blog ALadyofLeisure.com! As a journalist covering the leisure sector for a national newspaper, I am lucky enough to spend a lot of my time having amazing experiences and meeting fascinating people. From visiting new restaura...

view