The Lygon Arms

Centuries of additions have turned The Lygon Arms into a warren of low-ceilinged snugs and larger, grander rooms, all dark paintwork and ceiling beams softened by firelight. A vaulted, 16th-century hall hosts the restaurant, The Grill, serving an excellent menu inspired by the seasonal best of Great British produce, but sandwiches and cakes are served throughout the day in various lounges. On the High Street, The Tavern serves local ales and blackboard food and in summer, the courtyard opens for al-fresco dining.

Choosing a room here takes some time! The Charles I Suite, where the sovereign slept before battle in the 1640s, has a four-poster and original panelling and is a fabulous choice, but the Junior Suites are just as comfortable, albeit with a little less history! Elsewhere, main house rooms range from cosy to grand, with the recently refurbished ones adorned in rich tweeds and deep colours rather than period pastiche. If you'd rather wake up to a garden, the courtyard rooms have private terraces and a degree of calm.

Broadway itself is always worth a wander. The Gordon Russell Design Museum is a genuine find for anyone interested in 20th-century furniture, and the High Street has several independent shops for pottering in. Head up to Broadway Tower, ten minutes by car, for views across thirteen counties on a clear day. Chipping Campden, one of the Cotswolds' finest market towns, is just three miles away, too. Back at the hotel, the spa, with its swimming pool, hot tub, two saunas and eucalyptus-scented steam room is reason to stay longer!