Luton Hoo Hotel

The Mansion House, Luton, Bedfordshire

A grand mansion house turned golfer’s bolthole and spa retreat, there’s more than a touch of oldschool glamour to this former private estate. The work of architects Charles Mewes and Arthur Davis – who decorated The Ritz – the interior has not so much been designed as lavishly bedecked with velvet upholstery, gilded coving and crystal chandeliers. If the insides are Edwardian in style, the exterior is classic French: sculpted gardens, perfectly symmetrical rose beds and rippling fountains transport you to the gardens of Versailles, while acres of untouched woodland are a playground for clay pigeon shooters. There’s nothing casual about Luton Hoo, but Adam’s Brasserie, housed within the Grade II-listed stable building, is more relaxed than the formal dining room in the main house – the chunky seared scallops with apple crisps and rhubarb caramel are exactly what you want after a day spent perfecting your shot. JB. Doubles from £280.