If there was ever a hotel that had the ability to make us fall
in love for the first time again, we’re fairly certain it would be
the Scarlet. Anchored on the craggy cliffs of North Cornwall’s
Mawgan Porth bay, the adults-only abode houses 37 sea-facing guest
rooms, a super-swish spa and stellar in-house restaurant. While all
rooms come complete with their own outdoor terrace, it’s the deep
relaxation room we’re obsessed with – a low-lit space where
suspended egg chairs stuffed with cushions and throws make for a
sublime nap spot. Flit between the barrel sauna, rooftop hot tub,
plunge pool and hammam, or settle down for a dual detox with your
main squeeze in a couple’s massage or guided meditation session.
Come sunset, get to work on the slow-grown, sustainable sharing
plates.

Located in the Scottish town of Braemar, cocooned by the rugged
Cairngorms National Park, this former coaching inn underwent a
sensitive renovation back in 2018, when owners Iwan and Manuela
Wirth set their design-driven sights on it – art enthusiasts will
recognise the dynamic duo as the creative powerhouse behind
world-renowned Hauser & Wirth galleries. Retaining many of its
original features, the quintessentially British bolthole sees antiques, opulent fabrics
and dark woods paired with art deco furnishings amid a happy
mish-mash of playful artwork. We suggest making one of the royal
suites your boudoir of choice, where four-poster beds are topped
with tartan quilts and plush armchairs perfectly positioned beside
a roaring open fire. An ever-changing events timetable sees bespoke
facials, whisky tastings, guided hikes and creative writing
workshops all at guests’ disposal.

If you’ve ever wondered where London’s coolest couples head for
a staycation, it’s Birch. Just a 30-minute drive from the capital,
the 140-key stay prides itself on looking like a hotel but behaving
like a festival – a union we can absolutely get on board with.
Interiors, crafted by the architecture studio Red Deer, made use of
existing materials in a bid to avoid waste and champion the beauty
of age. This concept plays out in minimalist bedrooms that choose
to prioritise practicality over decorative accessories. Elsewhere,
there are two farm-to-fork restaurants and an artisan bakery headed
up by award-winning chef Robin Gill, a wellness space offering
tailored facials and muscle mobilsing treatments, a chic co-working
den, stylish event studios, an old-school cinema decorated with
pin-striped deckchairs, baskets of popcorn on hand, and art rooms
for craft workshops. If, like us, you cringe at the thought of a
rose-petal bath, look to try one of the cooking classes, comedy
nights or journalling clubs.

Plotting a romantic escape to the characterful city of Cambridge? Make the University Arms hotel your sanctuary. Step past
its trio of handsome, forest-green front doors and you’ll find
carpets patterned with university ties and olive-washed walls
punctutaed by portraits of legendary Cambridge alumni. Upstairs,
period charm is effortlessly fused with contemporary flair across
all room types: think bookshelves stocked with the classics,
light-filled bathrooms showcasing huge claw-foot bathtubs, and
private balconies flaunting views across the famous Parker’s Piece
green. Locals have embraced the in-house restaurant, Parker’s
Tavern, where head chef Tristan Welch plates up the likes of spicy
tempura cauliflower, roasted squash wellington and cinnamon-laced
apple tarts. But it’s the recent addition of the treatment rooms
that we’re visiting for, specifically, the immune support massage,
during which breathwork and steam inhalation are used to combat
congestion.

It’s been seven years since King Street Townhouse floated
Manchester’s first rooftop pool, and we’re
still not over it. The inviting slate-grey installation can be
found gracing the hotel’s seventh floor, where it practically
kisses the spires of Manchester Town Hall’s clock tower. After a
dip, make a beeline for the state-of-the-art steam room, before
winding down in the relaxation area. Spa credits aside, the
property’s 40 rooms are light and airy, with floor-to-ceiling
windows and powder-blue walls. The best bit? The freestanding tubs,
just a towel’s throw from the king-size bed. If you’re in town on a
weekend, be sure to taste-test the brunch menu: we’re still
dreaming of the eggs benedict served atop a flaky croissant.

Sister property to Cornwall’s popular Watergate Bay Hotel,
Another Place sits on the banks of the
sail-flecked Ullswater lake, amid some seven hectares of the Lake
District National Park. Spread across two adjoining buildings, 47
bedrooms, two dining spaces and a super-slinky spa make for a
nurturing, nature-rich retreat. The Swim Club spa complex houses a
20m pool, treatment rooms, sauna and an outdoor heated plunge tub,
which changes temperature seasonally. You’ve also got the lake,
where kayaking, moonlit dips and stand-up paddleboard yoga take
place. For an off-grid getaway, go for one of the newly opened
couple’s shepherd huts. Highlights include a freestanding copper
bathtub, log burner, well-stocked pantry and snug sofa set-up, with
the added bonus of a private manicured garden – complete with an
enormous fire pit.

One glance at Beaverbrook’s state-of-the-art spa and you’ll be
turning the volume up on Marvin Gaye’s greatest hits. Right on the
doorstep of central London, this storied hideout was once home to
publisher – and close friend of Winston Churchill – Lord
Beaverbrook, who was known to host dinner parties for the high
society of the day. Today, the hotel has become something of a
honeypot for city dwellers seeking a countryside retreat, thanks to
its impressive dining options: there’s the Japanese Grill, plating
up vegetable tempura and spicy salmon sushi rolls; The Pizzeria,
serving stone-baked specials and ice-cream sandwiches; and garden
kitchens that put a devilishly indulgent spin on British classics.
Then, there’s the fantastical Sir Frank’s Bar, named after
Beaverbrook’s creative director, Frank Lowe, and its slick
signature cocktails. Chuck in an indoor and outdoor swimming pool,
gym, sauna and steam rooms, plus a slew of holistic treatments, and
you’re set for a seriously romantic rendezvous.

Food is our favourite love language, and no place sings the
language better than Thyme – a restored historic Cotswolds manor
and farm with a cookery school that’s spoken about far beyond the
honeycombed hamlet. Treat your partner in crime to one of the
two-hour classes, where you’ll cover everything from field-to-plate
farming to nailing the perfect dish presentation. After that,
you’ll want to muddle along the garden path to the Meadow Spa to
reward yourself with a soul-soothing treatment, followed by a dip
in the open-air, chlorine-free springwater pool. Rooms, meanwhile,
feature velvet headboards, vintage wallpapers, beaded mirrors and
the sort of stylish lampshades you’ll have to resist slipping into
your carry-on, all making for a luxurious rural retreat.