The Globe Trotter: 30 November
A feast of mince pies, turkey and all the trimmings is a highlight of Christmas, but if you don’t want to spend all your time in the kitchen, it’s not too late to let someone else cater for you. Pride of Britain Hotels has a range of two- and three-night breaks.
Lake Country House Hotel and Spa, Mid Wales
This hotel, near Hay-on-Wye, has a stylish spa with an outdoor hot tub and 50 metre indoor pool. A three-night stay, arriving on Christmas Eve, from £650 per person (two sharing), begins with afternoon tea, followed by dinner and the option of local Midnight Mass. After a Christmas Day breakfast, savour champagne and canapés, a five-course lunch, afternoon mince pies and Christmas cake, then supper. On Boxing Day, guests can use the spa, play billiards or stroll in the grounds; breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Children up to 12 sharing with parents will be charged 50 per cent of the adult rate.
Dial House Hotel, Cotswolds
With its award-winning restaurant The Dial House Hotel, Bourton-on-the-Water, offers a three-night stay arriving on Christmas Eve, from £448.50 per person; it includes mince pies, hot drinks or mulled wine on arrival, champagne and canapés reception and three-course dinner. On Christmas Day, a full English breakfast is followed by champagne and canapés, a three-course lunch and a light supper. Brunch is served on Boxing Day, followed by afternoon tea and later, a five-course gourmet dinner.
Stapleford Park, Leicestershire
This 17th-century stately home near Melton Mowbray is set in 500 acres of parkland created by Capability Brown. A two-night stay arriving on Christmas Eve, from £620 per person, includes mulled wine and mince pies, afternoon tea and carols, pre-dinner drinks and canapés, and later a gourmet buffet. On Christmas morning, full English breakfast is followed by mince pies and sloe gin, with a champagne reception before a traditional lunch. Enjoy the spa facilities, Christmas cake and tea and later, a light buffet.
The Swan at Lavenham, Suffolk
Listen to carols at The Swan while enjoying champagne and canapés on Christmas Eve, then head to the local church for Midnight Mass. A three-night stay arriving 24 December, from £685 per person, also includes mulled wine on arrival, afternoon tea, dinner and mulled wine and mince pies. Christmas Day starts with a full English breakfast, followed by champagne, a five-course lunch, and evening buffet with a quiz. Boxing Day includes breakfast, three-course lunch and candlelight supper.
South Lodge, West Sussex
Christmas breaks in the heart of the South Downs start with mulled wine and mince pies. Each bedroom has its own Christmas tree and families can enjoy the games room and arts and crafts. On the 25th, join in the hotel’s duck-herding challenge before lunch. Afterwards, enjoy the gardens, the cinema or watching TV. A two-night stay arriving on Christmas Eve costs from £650 per person, including meals and activities.
To book any of these Christmas breaks (subject to availability) at the time of going to press, call Pride of Britain Hotels on 0800-089 3929 or visit www.prideofbritainhotels.com
Contact Wendy on wendy.gomersall@ lady.co.uk
Citalia is offering a threenight break in Rome from just £285 per person: departing 12 December and including return flights from Gatwick with easyJet, and accommodation at the fourstar Starhotels Metropole, with a free night included and free room upgrade. u 0844-415 1956, www.citalia.com
Dance cruises
Stars from Strictly Come Dancing will be joining seven Mediterranean and Canary Islands P&O Cruises in 2013, offering passengers a chance to enjoy special performances and participate in a dance competition, too. u 0843-374 0111, www.pocruises.co.uk
Yoga break
Get ready for Christmas on Tatra Yoga’s two-night yoga break, 7 to 9 December, at the four-star Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells. The weekend, from £299 per person, teaches techniques to help you stay calm and healthy throughout the busy festive season. u 0161-408 8988, www.tatrayogaholidays.com
Lake Country House Hotel and Spa, Mid Wales
This hotel, near Hay-on-Wye, has a stylish spa with an outdoor hot tub and 50 metre indoor pool. A three-night stay, arriving on Christmas Eve, from £650 per person (two sharing), begins with afternoon tea, followed by dinner and the option of local Midnight Mass. After a Christmas Day breakfast, savour champagne and canapés, a five-course lunch, afternoon mince pies and Christmas cake, then supper. On Boxing Day, guests can use the spa, play billiards or stroll in the grounds; breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Children up to 12 sharing with parents will be charged 50 per cent of the adult rate.
Dial House Hotel, Cotswolds
With its award-winning restaurant The Dial House Hotel, Bourton-on-the-Water, offers a three-night stay arriving on Christmas Eve, from £448.50 per person; it includes mince pies, hot drinks or mulled wine on arrival, champagne and canapés reception and three-course dinner. On Christmas Day, a full English breakfast is followed by champagne and canapés, a three-course lunch and a light supper. Brunch is served on Boxing Day, followed by afternoon tea and later, a five-course gourmet dinner.
Stapleford Park, Leicestershire
This 17th-century stately home near Melton Mowbray is set in 500 acres of parkland created by Capability Brown. A two-night stay arriving on Christmas Eve, from £620 per person, includes mulled wine and mince pies, afternoon tea and carols, pre-dinner drinks and canapés, and later a gourmet buffet. On Christmas morning, full English breakfast is followed by mince pies and sloe gin, with a champagne reception before a traditional lunch. Enjoy the spa facilities, Christmas cake and tea and later, a light buffet.
The Swan at Lavenham, Suffolk
Listen to carols at The Swan while enjoying champagne and canapés on Christmas Eve, then head to the local church for Midnight Mass. A three-night stay arriving 24 December, from £685 per person, also includes mulled wine on arrival, afternoon tea, dinner and mulled wine and mince pies. Christmas Day starts with a full English breakfast, followed by champagne, a five-course lunch, and evening buffet with a quiz. Boxing Day includes breakfast, three-course lunch and candlelight supper.
South Lodge, West Sussex
Christmas breaks in the heart of the South Downs start with mulled wine and mince pies. Each bedroom has its own Christmas tree and families can enjoy the games room and arts and crafts. On the 25th, join in the hotel’s duck-herding challenge before lunch. Afterwards, enjoy the gardens, the cinema or watching TV. A two-night stay arriving on Christmas Eve costs from £650 per person, including meals and activities.
To book any of these Christmas breaks (subject to availability) at the time of going to press, call Pride of Britain Hotels on 0800-089 3929 or visit www.prideofbritainhotels.com
Contact Wendy on wendy.gomersall@ lady.co.uk
NEWS IN BRIEF
Italian jobCitalia is offering a threenight break in Rome from just £285 per person: departing 12 December and including return flights from Gatwick with easyJet, and accommodation at the fourstar Starhotels Metropole, with a free night included and free room upgrade. u 0844-415 1956, www.citalia.com
Dance cruises
Stars from Strictly Come Dancing will be joining seven Mediterranean and Canary Islands P&O Cruises in 2013, offering passengers a chance to enjoy special performances and participate in a dance competition, too. u 0843-374 0111, www.pocruises.co.uk
Yoga break
Get ready for Christmas on Tatra Yoga’s two-night yoga break, 7 to 9 December, at the four-star Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells. The weekend, from £299 per person, teaches techniques to help you stay calm and healthy throughout the busy festive season. u 0161-408 8988, www.tatrayogaholidays.com