Caroline talks us through the simple joys of a country house hotel stay in the Cotswolds…

No matter how well organised I try to be for Christmas I always seem to feel pretty tired and stressed in the run up so when my husband decided to treat us to two nights away at Lords of the Manor in the Cotswolds last week, I was delighted.

This country house hotel in the picture postcard village of Upper Slaughter has a Michelin starred restaurant which we sampled on both evenings and we were not disappointed. The food is classically French influenced but highly innovative and service was friendly but professional. The evenings were made all the more enjoyable by a leisurely aperitif and lovely canapés in the lounge whilst we studied the menu.

It was the ideal place for a relaxing break. In fact it was easy to see why it had won the 2015 Good Hotel Guide award for the best country house hotel.

Roaring log fires to sit by with a drink and a good book or a game of Scrabble, wellies to borrow if you fancied a wander round the eight acres or indeed one of the walks detailed in the information in the suites and lovely little towns such as Burford and Stow on the Wold a short drive away: there was something for everyone whether they wanted activity or plain chilling.

For those wanting a facial or massage, although there is no spa, it is possible to book a treatment in your room.

The atmosphere throughout the hotel was one of peace and tranquility – no piped music, no traffic noise, no noisy voices: all in all balm for the soul at a time of year when tempers are so often frayed and the hurly burly can become all too much. It’s just a shame the doctor can’t prescribe a stay at Lords of the Manor!