QUINTESSENTIALLY | Insider | luxury

There are remarkably few hotels that offer the so-called holy trinity of a great spa, fantastic accommodation and brilliant food along with that impossible to define sense of welcome and great service that elevate a visit from the great to the exceptional. Lucknam Park, situated a few miles away from Bath, is such a place. Less high-profile than a Babington House or a Cliveden, it’s nonetheless remarkably successful with its discerning clientele, and it isn’t at all hard to see why.

The first thing that strikes you approaching its long, sweeping drive are the horses. Not wild horses, mind, but part of the remarkably well equipped equestrian centre that’s part of the hotel. Then, when you arrive at the reception, the atmosphere’s like nothing so much as coming to a spectacularly beautiful and friendly private house. Keys are offered on proper fobs (not the plastic key cards apparently de rigeur everywhere else), and the rooms, whatever their size, offer tastefully decorated and luxurious accommodation, where flat screen TVs and Anne Semonin products jostle for space with antiques and even an in-room visitors’ book, where comments tend to be along the lines of ‘another wonderful stay’.

The recently opened spa, carefully designed to be in architectural sympathy with the rest of the property, offers a fantastic range of treatments, including a ‘made to measure massage’, in which your aches and pains are first carefully assessed, and then taken away by a more than experienced masseuse. Tea and a rest follow in the so-called relaxation area, or alternatively you can explore the delights of the various swimming pools and saunas, including a partially outdoor hydrotherapy pool, which provides some much-needed jets of water to jolt you from a pleasant torpor.

And then, as if these delights weren’t enough, there’s the possibility of dining in the Michelin-starred Park restaurant. In true old-school style, jackets and ties are required for gentlemen, who assess the menu over a cocktail in the superbly decorated formal lounge . To be fair, you’re almost spoilt for choice by Hywel Jones’ cooking. Starters could include thinly sliced Norfolk eel and grilled Cornish mullet with potato and horseradish risotto, or compression of pork with langoustines, followed by braised turbot with hand rolled macaroni or loin of Wiltshire lamb with white asparagus and morel mushrooms. There are even vegetarian and non-vegetarian gourmet menus that allow a Cook’s tour of the delights on offer. Whatever you order, the more than knowledgeable sommelier can match your choices with a range of divine wines, available either by the bottle or the glass, at a range of prices.

There is much more to commend here – I’ve not even mentioned the excellent breakfasts, or the super library, tailor-made for a relaxing cup of tea or something stronger – but it’s really best that you see it for yourself. You won’t be disappointed.

Room only rate is from £295 per room per night (include VAT and is subject to change) This includes full use of the hotel spa facilities, bicycles, tennis courts, croquet, walking trails, trim trail and five a side football pitch.  A minimum two night stay is required for weekends.

Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, Colerne, Chippenham, Wilts. www.lucknampark.co.uk