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The Grove – Hertfordshire, England

Sue Ostler packs her bags and escapes to a country manor with organic cider at the bar -and rainbow-coloured showers in a seriously good spa voted World’s Best by Daily Telegraph UK and in the Top 10 UK Hotel Spas by Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Spa Award.

The Grove is 20 minutes from London, but it’s hard to believe – especially after a ridiculously  tranquil walk through the Zen gardens, a mock game of grass croquet and a very silly game of golf.

All you have to do to get to this heaven-sent Country Manor is catch the over-ground train from Euston station to Watford Junction. Set your watch for the 16 minute train-ride and jump in into cab at the other end for a 5-minute ride. Voila – you’re arrived.

The Grove, set in the Hertfordshire countryside in the south of England, is a very special luxury hotel. From the weird art on every available inside surface, to the garden sculptures and installations, it feels like a giant Treasure Hunt for grown-ups – and it’s got to be the most fun you can have at a 5-star hotel. Seriously. The word on the street is that even Queen Victoria enjoyed regular weekend breaks here..

Plan an overnight stay and arrive by noon, to take full advantage of the games, books, libraries, pretty garden-rooms with indoor and outdoor seating everywhere and wacky forest lodge with its massive pool table. It’s the easiest place on the planet to work up a glow and got those endorphins flowing without actually feeling like you’re doing anything strenuous. Afterwards there’s still time to settle down in any one of the many bars or restaurants for a good cream tea or, in my case, a few chilled pints of organic cider.

The next morning simply retreat to Sequoia – The Grove’s much-awarded spa. You’ll have no problems at all repairing the damage from the night before, and burning those calories off will be a breeze as you run from room to room like an excitable five-year-old.

Have a mini workout in the gym. Throw yourself into the Steam Room followed by the Vitality baths and the massive mosaic-lined  heated pool; or shimmy under the magic Blitz Colour shower that massages and soothes in all the right places. Cocooned in warmth and luxury you can chill out in the Relaxation Rooms for as long as you please and try any of the dozens of treatments available (so long as you’ve booked in advance.) You may find, as I did, that you never want to leave, but when you do take that brave step, you will feel revamped, recharged and ready to rock.

The Grove
London’s Country Estate
Chandler’s Cross
Hertfordshire
WD3 4TG

Photo: Courtesy The Grove


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