Festive fun
THE CARY ARMS, BABBACOMBE BAY
How about Christmas on the Devon coast? The Cary Arms offers a three-night Christmas House Party, from £1,450 per room (all packages based on double occupancy). This includes welcome Devon cream tea, cocktail party and Christmas Eve supper, English breakfast with buck’s fizz, five-course festive lunch and evening buffet on Christmas Day, English breakfast and dinner accompanied by a jazz band on Boxing Day and English breakfast to set you up for the drive home on the 27th.
01803-327110, www.caryarms.co.uk
ILSINGTON HOTEL, DARTMOOR
Or celebrate in country-house style at the Ilsington Hotel in the heart of Dartmoor. The hotel’s fournight Christmas package, arriving on 24 December, costs from £670 per person and includes cream tea on arrival, breakfast and dinner each day, plus six-course Christmas lunch, birds of prey display, a visit from Father Christmas, tickets to the pantomime and evening entertainment from a pianist and magician. Between meals, enjoy a walk on the moor or swim off some calories in the indoor pool.
01364-661452, www.ilsington.co.uk
OLD SWAN & MINSTER MILL, COTSWOLDS
Located in Minster Lovell, the three-night Christmas House Party costs from £1,325 per room. On Christmas Eve, enjoy welcome afternoon tea, drinks reception with canapés and three-course dinner, followed by a candlelit walk to midnight mass, followed by hot chocolate and mince pies. Start Christmas Day with a hearty Cotswolds breakfast with buck’s fizz, then a Champagne reception followed by traditional five-course Christmas lunch. An evening farm buffet features local produce. On Boxing Day there’s a treasure hunt and farewell dinner and dance.
01993-774441, www.oldswanandminstermill.com
WHATLEY MANOR, WILTSHIRE
A bottle of Champagne awaits Christmas break guests at the manor in Easton Grey, arriving on 23 December, followed by a gourmet set dinner. Christmas Eve highlights include afternoon tea, a Champagne and canapé reception and candlelit four-course dinner. On Christmas Day enjoy a traditional five-course lunch, use of the cinema (with complimentary popcorn) and a light evening buffet with entertainment. A champagne breakfast is served on Boxing Day. Package from £2,430 per room.
01666-822888, www.whatleymanor.com
LE MANOIR AUX QUAT’SAISONS, OXFORDSHIRE
Finally, push the boat out at Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Oxfordshire. Each room will have its own Christmas tree and, on Christmas Eve, a personalised gift will be delivered to the door. Other activities include a cookery demonstration with a festive cocktail, Christmas wine tasting and Midnight Mass. The luxurious three-night break, from 24 December, costs from £3,160 per room. For non-resident guests, Christmas Day lunch costs from £255 per person.
01844-278881, www.belmond.com
Contact Wendy at wendy.gomersall@lady.co.uk
Prices are correct at the time of going to press.
How about Christmas on the Devon coast? The Cary Arms offers a three-night Christmas House Party, from £1,450 per room (all packages based on double occupancy). This includes welcome Devon cream tea, cocktail party and Christmas Eve supper, English breakfast with buck’s fizz, five-course festive lunch and evening buffet on Christmas Day, English breakfast and dinner accompanied by a jazz band on Boxing Day and English breakfast to set you up for the drive home on the 27th.
01803-327110, www.caryarms.co.uk
ILSINGTON HOTEL, DARTMOOR
Or celebrate in country-house style at the Ilsington Hotel in the heart of Dartmoor. The hotel’s fournight Christmas package, arriving on 24 December, costs from £670 per person and includes cream tea on arrival, breakfast and dinner each day, plus six-course Christmas lunch, birds of prey display, a visit from Father Christmas, tickets to the pantomime and evening entertainment from a pianist and magician. Between meals, enjoy a walk on the moor or swim off some calories in the indoor pool.
01364-661452, www.ilsington.co.uk
OLD SWAN & MINSTER MILL, COTSWOLDS
Located in Minster Lovell, the three-night Christmas House Party costs from £1,325 per room. On Christmas Eve, enjoy welcome afternoon tea, drinks reception with canapés and three-course dinner, followed by a candlelit walk to midnight mass, followed by hot chocolate and mince pies. Start Christmas Day with a hearty Cotswolds breakfast with buck’s fizz, then a Champagne reception followed by traditional five-course Christmas lunch. An evening farm buffet features local produce. On Boxing Day there’s a treasure hunt and farewell dinner and dance.
01993-774441, www.oldswanandminstermill.com
WHATLEY MANOR, WILTSHIRE
A bottle of Champagne awaits Christmas break guests at the manor in Easton Grey, arriving on 23 December, followed by a gourmet set dinner. Christmas Eve highlights include afternoon tea, a Champagne and canapé reception and candlelit four-course dinner. On Christmas Day enjoy a traditional five-course lunch, use of the cinema (with complimentary popcorn) and a light evening buffet with entertainment. A champagne breakfast is served on Boxing Day. Package from £2,430 per room.
01666-822888, www.whatleymanor.com
LE MANOIR AUX QUAT’SAISONS, OXFORDSHIRE
Finally, push the boat out at Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Oxfordshire. Each room will have its own Christmas tree and, on Christmas Eve, a personalised gift will be delivered to the door. Other activities include a cookery demonstration with a festive cocktail, Christmas wine tasting and Midnight Mass. The luxurious three-night break, from 24 December, costs from £3,160 per room. For non-resident guests, Christmas Day lunch costs from £255 per person.
01844-278881, www.belmond.com
Contact Wendy at wendy.gomersall@lady.co.uk
Prices are correct at the time of going to press.