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Travel reviews of hotels, holidays, food and drink and epic adventure holidays featured on luxury leisure reviews website ALadyofLeisure.com written by travel journalist Sarah Bridge

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9 great hotels with Michelin star restaurants

by Sarah Bridge
added August 24, 2021

Staying in a luxury hotel with a Michelin star restaurant turns a great trip into a truly memorable one. While most four and five star hotels will have their own fine-dining restaurants, many of them highly-rated by the AA, Sawdays, Tripadvisor and t...

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43 of the best hotels with swimming pools – a British holiday treat

by Sarah Bridge
added August 4, 2021

Hotels with swimming pools are much more than just a lovely place to stay for a night or two; it turns a short break into a real holiday. Staying in a hotel is a treat at any time, but sometimes a hotel stay comes with the feeling you should be visit...

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Summer drinks and a Sculpture Park at Bel and the Dragon Churt

by Sarah Bridge
added June 17, 2021

Proof that you don't have to travel far to enter a whole new world came with my recent stay at the Bel and the Dragon Churt, in Surrey. A quick drive around the M25 and along some pretty country lanes and before long I was sitting in a vast beer gard...

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Exploring Hampshire and a stay at The Old Vine Winchester

by Sarah Bridge
added June 4, 2021

Getting out on the open road after months of lockdown has never sounded more appealing and when tyre company Bridgestone offered me the chance to try out their new high performance Potenza Sport tyres in a BMW 318d Saloon 2.0 SE while exploring south...

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A week of writing and walking at Arvon Foundation writers’ retreat

by Sarah Bridge
added May 31, 2021

Choosing to spend my first week of freedom away from my full-time writing job by booking a week-long writers' retreat might seem a strange idea, but a week at the Arvon Foundation's writers' retreat in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire seemed just the th...

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Seven things which made lockdown bearable, says author Rachel Bridge

by Sarah Bridge
added March 12, 2021

Guest post from author and journalist Rachel Bridge It’s a been a truly horrible year for everyone but a few precious things have just about kept me on the right side of cheerfulness - here are my top seven lockdown treats. My pool I normall...

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Restaurant kits to make at home – Fuller’s Sunday Roast reviewed

by Sarah Bridge
added March 7, 2021

Enjoying the perfect Sunday roast at your favourite pub must surely be one of the weekend pleasures most missed during lockdown and here's where restaurant kits can come into their own. While I'm counting down the days until the pubs re-open (and I'm...

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Restaurant kits to make at home – Northcote’s Gourmet Box reviewed

by Sarah Bridge
added February 22, 2021

By ALadyofLeisure.com guest writer, food and drink journalist Stuart Peskett To say that the UK restaurant industry is in trouble is putting it mildly. Lockdowns due to the pandemic have seen bars and restaurants shutting up shop – many for good. ...

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7 of the best hotels in Mauritius to add to your wish list

by Sarah Bridge
added January 3, 2021

The stunning Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius is definitely a place to put at the top of your wish list for when we can start exploring the world again. Thanks to its location, an early lockdown and strict quarantine measures, Mauritius had ex...

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Dolphins, rum, yoga and sun: my action-packed Mauritius holiday

by Sarah Bridge
added December 22, 2020

A Mauritius holiday is probably what many of us are dreaming of right now - winter sun, sandy beaches, rum cocktails and luxury hotels being the perfect antidote to lockdowns, Brexit and freezing temperatures. While travel out of the UK is restricted...

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A luxurious five-star stay at The Stafford hotel London

by Sarah Bridge
added November 25, 2020

A stay at the Stafford hotel in central London is like discovering a secret gem just yards away from the bustling heart of the capital. With its American Bar, vast wine cellar, secret passages, World War 2 tributes and Game Bird restaurant, not to me...

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A birthday lunch for a Bridge (me) at the Pig at Bridge Place, Kent

by Sarah Bridge
added November 19, 2020

You never forget your first Pig, as the old saying doesn't go, and with such fond memories of my stay at The Pig near Bath (check out my review 'A heavenly, foodie, country retreat') I was very excited to discover on a recent trip to Kent that I woul...

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Lainston House hotel Winchester: a delightful autumn stay

by Sarah Bridge
added November 17, 2020

There are some hotel rooms which you could happily live in and my bedroom at Lainston House hotel near Winchester was one of those. Tucked up under the eaves of this excellent country house hotel, this room was vast, with high ceilings and enough roo...

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Travelling to the USA? How to apply for an ESTA (Sponsored post)

by Sarah Bridge
added November 5, 2020

Travelling to the USA – how to apply for an ESTA Planning on going on holiday to the USA soon? If your trip is for less than 90 days then instead of applying for a full US visa you can, under the Visa Waiver Programme, travel with an Electronic Sy...

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The best luxury Christmas hotel breaks 2021 – my epic festive round-up

by Sarah Bridge
added October 20, 2020

Christmas hotel breaks are special. If you think of the best luxury country house hotels for Christmas you can picture the festive scene: comfy sofas, roaring fires, beautiful decorations and acres of grounds for the Boxing Day walk. While many ho...

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Exploring the Cotswolds with a stay at the Bear of Rodborough, Stroud

by Sarah Bridge
added September 18, 2020

After months of lockdown, exploring the Cotswolds near Stroud with a stay at the Bear of Rodborough hotel near Stroud, Gloucestershire was just the things to blow away the cobwebs. A stay at the Bear of Rodborough This 17th-century Cotswolds co...

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Relaxing in grand style in Cotswolds hotel the Hare and Hounds Tetbury

by Sarah Bridge
added September 18, 2020

Hotels in the Cotswolds are always a pleasure to discover and having stayed in a few places owned by Cotswold Inns pubs and hotels before - the Bay Tree and Lamb in Burford, the Manor House at Moreton-in-Marsh and most recently the Bear of Rodborough...

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A historic hotel stay at the National Trust Middlethorpe Hall York

by Sarah Bridge
added August 29, 2020

It is impossible to walk around the grounds at Middlethorpe Hall and not take dozens of photos. While the front of the hotel is on a quiet country lane just next to York racecourse, the rear of the hotel looks out over a beautiful lawn containing a s...

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A perfect Sunday roast at Feversham Arms Helmsley, North Yorks

by Sarah Bridge
added August 21, 2020

I had been told that the Sunday roast at Feversham Arms hotel and spa in Helmsley, North Yorkshire was not to be missed and my informant had been bang on the money. It was pronounced: 'A ten out of ten, the best I've ever eaten' by my dining companio...

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Luxury after lockdown: a Covid-secure stay at Fawsley Hall hotel Northants

by Sarah Bridge
added August 11, 2020

After months of lockdown my first hotel was, reassuringly, at Hand Picked Hotel's flagship hotel Fawsley Hall hotel and spa in Northamptonshire near Daventry. This grand country house hotel and spa - we're talking at least 600 years old here - has wi...

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UK hotels after lockdown: my hotel experiences after the first lockdown

by Sarah Bridge
added August 11, 2020

UK hotels after lockdown will look rather different to before the pandemic so what can you expect from your stay? After the first four months of lockdown in 2020, to say that I was excited about getting back to hotel reviewing for ALadyofLeisu...

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A luxurious foodie stay at Gravetye Manor, a West Sussex gem

by Sarah Bridge
added June 27, 2020

When I first arrived at Gravetye Manor, the Michelin-starred country house hotel with award-winning gardens, I soon decided that this was one of the best hotels in West Sussex and when I was fortunate to revisit recently, there was nothing to make me...

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The Headland hotel Newquay: luxury spa stay in Cornwall

by Sarah Bridge
added June 19, 2020

Now that hotels are able to open after lockdown, The Headland hotel Newquay might just be the place to blow away the hibernation cobwebs. Perched right at the end of the glorious Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall and surrounded by, well, nothing but...

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Some of the best luxury hotels in England to visit after lockdown

by Sarah Bridge
added June 16, 2020

Some of us can't wait to stay in a luxury hotel after lockdown, while others are more cautious - and like me, you're probably a bit of both (check out my article on what to expect from a hotel stay during Covid here). However as UK luxury hotels - es...

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A West Sussex luxury hotel spa staycation at South Lodge hotel, Horsham

by Sarah Bridge
added February 28, 2020

Staycations are the theme of the summer and South Lodge hotel and spa West Sussex ticks all the staycation boxes by being a great destination hotel. During your stay you might want to explore the nearby South Downs or delights of Sussex towns includi...

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New Hall hotel and spa in Birmingham – luxury rooms and a moat

by Sarah Bridge
added February 12, 2020

There are probably many historic hotels with a spa and swimming pool but I don't think many of them can say they have their own moat, which makes New Hall hotel and spa in Sutton Coldfield, just a few miles from the centre of Birmingham, a rare hotel...

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11 incredibly romantic hotels in the UK for Valentines Day

by Sarah Bridge
added February 9, 2020

While everyone's idea of a romantic hotel is different, I think it's fair to assume there are some things which you have to expect: gorgeous bedrooms, a top restaurant serving great food, spectacular gardens for a romantic pre-dinner stroll and a cos...

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What it was like spending Christmas at a luxury hotel

by Sarah Bridge
added January 21, 2020

There are many reasons to spend Christmas at a luxury hotel rather than at home, but you still want it to be special, personal and memorable. Thankfully for us (my mother and me), our festive stay at Ockenden Manor hotel in the village of Cuckfield, ...

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Luxury in the Cotswolds at The Lygon Arms Broadway

by Sarah Bridge
added November 21, 2019

If you're looking for luxury hotels in the Cotswolds The Lygon Arms Broadway will be high on your wish-list.This historic hotel has been a main fixture in the beautiful Cotswolds village of Broadway since its days as a coaching inn back in the 17th...

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60 of the best British hotels for New Years Eve (and beyond)

by Sarah Bridge
added November 19, 2019

Knowing what to do for New Years Eve is always a tough decision. There's an overwhelming choice out there but sometimes just the thought of getting there and back - the crowds, the transport, the overall hassle - means you might be tempted just to st...

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My first week exploring Herceg Novi and Boka Bay, Montenegro

by Sarah Bridge
added November 7, 2019

Exploring Herceg Novi and indeed moving to Montenegro for five weeks was done on a whim. I wanted to live somewhere in mainland Europe for November as a) I hadn't got much planned either home or away for the month and b) I love Christmas but want to ...

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A relaxing stay at Stapleford Park hotel and spa in Leicestershire

by Sarah Bridge
added November 3, 2019

Stapleford Park hotel in central England was a real treat; a combination of traditional stately home and modern spa, with all the trimmings of a luxury hotel: staff happy to drive you to the spa at the other end of the hotel grounds in little buggies...

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Cornish spa delight at Mullion Cove hotel in Cornwall

by Sarah Bridge
added October 31, 2019

Not having had the luxury of a clifftop spa hotel on the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall before, I didn't have much to compare Mullion Cove hotel with, but judging on my first visit I think it will be hard to beat. A stay at Mullion Cove hotel ...

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A room with a seaside view at Thurlestone hotel Devon

by Sarah Bridge
added October 15, 2019

Getting to Thurlestone hotel Devon is like going down Alice in Wonderland's rabbit hole. You follow one of those high-hedged, single-track south Devon lanes, praying not to meet any oncoming tractors, until, half an hour later, you pop up into the op...

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Exploring Le Mans in 24 hours: a whistlestop tour of the city

by Sarah Bridge
added September 25, 2019

Exploring Le Mans in 24 hours: a whistlestop tour of the city The historic city of Le Mans is famous for its Le Mans 24 race and so it seemed appropriate that I was also doing a 24 hour race around Le Mans, the historic city in the heart of French r...

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My stay in a chateau in France: relaxing in Le Mans at La Groirie chateau

by Sarah Bridge
added August 12, 2019

I've always wanted to stay in a chateau in France and to my good fortune I had the chance to while visiting Pays de la Loire this summer. Hotels in France are as varied as anywhere in the world but a stay in a French chateau promises something specia...

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My stay at Cliveden House hotel (favourite of poets, players and princesses)

by Sarah Bridge
added June 29, 2019

Throughout my own stay at Cliveden House hotel, there was one question which I found almost impossible to answer. Would Cliveden still be as fabulous if it wasn't, well, Cliveden? Cliveden house history The thing about Cliveden, which i...

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Arranging a hotel and parking at Gatwick airport: APH parking Gatwick

by Sarah Bridge
added June 25, 2019

When asked to review APH Parking Gatwick I didn't think twice. Arranging a hotel and parking at Gatwick airport - or indeed any London airport - is always a major headache. This could be to do with the fact I usually leave it to the very last minute,...

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The Montagu Arms, Beaulieu: a New Forest feast

by Sarah Bridge
added October 26, 2016

The brochure for The Montagu Arms in the New Forest encourages guests to 'take your cue from the ponies: graze, wander and enjoy the quiet.' I did all three during my stay at this 200-year old hotel and emerged feeling as relaxed and content as the b...

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My stay at The Marylebone: a room with a view and a seriously nice roof terrace

by Sarah Bridge
added October 17, 2016

A definite perk of reviewing luxury hotels is that 'wow!' feeling when you walk into a hotel bedroom for the first time and find something completely unexpected. Unlocking the door to my Terrace Suite at The Marylebone in central London was one of th...

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Rockliffe Hall hotel in Darlington, County Durham – a relaxing spa escape

by Sarah Bridge
added September 23, 2016

After being trapped in Bank Holiday roadworks, the five-star hotel Rockliffe Hall hotel in Darlington, County Durham was a more than welcome sight. Set in 375 acres of parkland, the original building dates from the 1800s, but over the years the 61-ro...

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A cooling terrace (and a cocktail) at The Bloomsbury hotel London

by Sarah Bridge
added September 20, 2016

When it's hot in the city, your first instinct might be to head for the coast but just a short walk from Tottenham Court Road tube station, The Bloomsbury hotel London is a great spot in which to cool down. Outdoor terrace at The Bloomsbury ...

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The Gore Hotel London: history, luxury and some rock and roll cocktails

by Sarah Bridge
added September 7, 2016

While some hotels try and emulate the look and feel of a historic country house, The Gore hotel London, which opened in Kensington in 1892, can't help but feel seeped in history. Many of its paintings and furniture date back to the 19th or early 20th...

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Something for everyone come rain or shine at Foxhills hotel Surrey

by Sarah Bridge
added August 17, 2016

Calling a hotel 'family-friendly' often means that those travelling without children run a mile in the opposite direction, but the luxury Foxhills spa and golf hotel is so vast that all ages and groups can thoroughly enjoy themselves without crashing...

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A garden with a view at the Alexandra hotel Lyme Regis

by Sarah Bridge
added July 22, 2016

With the wildly inconsistent British summer, I was extremely fortunate to have timed my stay at the Alexandra hotel Lyme Regis for one of the hottest days of the year. While the hotel would be a perfectly nice place to stay in during all sorts of wea...

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It’s a day of tasty foodie firsts at the River Cottage cookery school

by Sarah Bridge
added July 19, 2016

Last week, at home, I had some of the best bread I'd ever eaten. It was a soft, brown loaf and tasted marvellous. Was it the ingredients, I wondered - organic wholemeal stoneground flour. Or was it the fact that I'd made the whole thing myself, under...

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Valet parking – it’s supposed to be great but makes me panic

by Sarah Bridge
added June 29, 2016

This is probably one of those things that Americans are much better at than the Brits (they certainly have more practice at it), but valet parking always sends me into a panic. On the face of it, arriving at a hotel and having someone offe...

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Quintessential Cotswolds retreat at the Lords of the Manor hotel

by Sarah Bridge
added June 29, 2016

The man who described Bibury as 'the most beautiful village in England' surely never went to Lower Slaughter. It might have a slightly alarming name but Lower Slaughter, all lush green fields, yellow Cotswold stone houses and a babbling brook running...

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Brooklands Hotel Surrey; the perfect location for car, spa and plane fans

by Sarah Bridge
added June 29, 2016

One massive advantage that non-London hotels have over their capital city rivals is space, and our suite at Brooklands Hotel Surrey near Weybridge, was certainly one of the largest I've stayed in. Bedrooms at Brooklands Hotel The vast c...

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Lunch with the Queen (and 10,000 other guests) at the Patron’s Lunch

by Sarah Bridge
added June 18, 2016

It was the most British of days. The Patron's Lunch last Sunday had the Royal Family, it had cucumber sandwiches, it had queues and Pimms and cups of tea. And an awful lot of rain. It was as if someone had tried to work out what would make the day as...

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Luxury hotels reviewed by ALadyofLeisure.com – 2016 round-up

by Sarah Bridge
added June 3, 2016

ALadyofLeisure.com is the hotel, restaurant and spa reviews website from national newspaper journalist Sarah Bridge, read by thousands of industry professionals and travel enthusiasts every month. [Note: this round-up of luxury hotels reviewed by ALa...

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Baths in hotel bedrooms and transparent loo doors – treat or travesty?

by Sarah Bridge
added June 3, 2016

Are baths in hotel bedrooms a great hotel treat or just a ghastly design nonsense? I only ask because almost every hotel I've stayed in recently has at least one room where the bath is in the bedroom - at the foot of the bed, sometimes, or in prid...

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Which are the top luxury hotel spas around? Here’s some of the best to get you in the mood

by Sarah Bridge
added June 3, 2016

Spas in luxury hotels are big business and over the last few years owners have been making multi-million pound investments in providing the latest in pampering experiences. But like hotel bedrooms, hotel spas come in all shapes and sizes and if yo...

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Danesfield House hotel and spa, relaxation on the Thames

by Sarah Bridge
added June 3, 2016

If your idea of a perfect country break is to have breakfast in the sun on a terrace overlooking a spectacular view, followed by a day lounging in a luxury spa, then Danesfield House hotel and spa in Buckinghamshire is just the place for you. ...

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Sopwell House hotel – a stay in my very own VIP courtyard

by Sarah Bridge
added June 3, 2016

At Sopwell House hotel near St Albans, Hertfordshire, our bedroom's location was really quite special. Arriving at Sopwell House hotel Just across from the hotel reception, a quick tap of our room card opened up a gate beyond which was a to...

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Free Good Hotel Guide giveaway, top five Cotswold hotels, reviews of Whatley Manor and Noble Rot plus Is a hotel bedroom turn-down service a turn-off?

by Sarah Bridge
added May 18, 2016

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The best luxury hotels in the Cotswolds – A Lady of Leisure’s favourite five

by Sarah Bridge
added May 18, 2016

Searching for luxury hotels among the beautiful rolling hills of the Cotswolds may sound like an easy task - there seems to be one round every corner. However with so many to chose from, it's easy to be overwhelmed. With most insisting on a two-night...

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Turn-downs, coat hangers and posh loo seats – what I think is essential in a luxury hotel room

by Sarah Bridge
added May 18, 2016

So we're all agreed that free, fast wi-fi and power points in handy locations are a essential in a luxury hotel room - and we all like soft, fluffy bathrobes (even if we don't always use them). But what are the little extras you hope for when you che...

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Review of the Kensington luxury hotel in South Kensington

by Sarah Bridge
added May 10, 2016

The Kensington hotel in South Kensington is one of the closest hotels to the National History museum, V&A and Science Museum, but is far removed from the school trips of my past. The hotel, part of the family-owned Doyle Collection, has 12...

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In a Sin City stay, there’s more things to do in Las Vegas than gambling

by Sarah Bridge
added May 4, 2016

Things to do in Las Vegas come rain or shine... It was my fourth visit to Las Vegas, but the first time I'd seen it raining on the famous Las Vegas Strip. Unsurprisingly, Vegas, being in the Mojave desert, isn't used to rain. Neither were the holida...

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Are hotel kettles essential in your luxury hotel bedroom?

by Sarah Bridge
added April 20, 2016

Is it a right or a privilege to be able to make tea in your hotel bedroom with your very own hotel kettle? I once spent the night at luxury country house hotel Cliveden and had a meeting with the chief executive of Travelodge the following day. The ...

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A room (and cocktails) with some serious views at ME London luxury hotel

by Sarah Bridge
added April 14, 2016

The view from the top of the five star luxury hotel ME London is a tourist's delight, taking in the essential sights of London, from the London Eye to Big Ben, St Paul's, Tower Bridge, The Shard and everything in between. Having evening cocktails on ...

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Hampton Manor hotel : top-class food and a step back in time

by Sarah Bridge
added April 6, 2016

It might be just a few miles from the M42 and Birmingham Airport but Hampton Manor hotel in the Midlands feels a hundred years from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Arriving at Hampton Manor Within a couple of hours of arriving at the 19th...

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Hambleton Hall Rutland: warm, welcoming and wonderful food

by Sarah Bridge
added March 25, 2016

Some hotels just get it completely right - and luxury country house hotel Hambleton Hall Rutland is one of them. From the traditional and immaculate bedroom, to the excellent food, lovely gardens, cosy bar and superb attention to detail, I can...

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The Capital Townhouse Knightsbridge luxury hotel near Harrods

by Sarah Bridge
added March 4, 2016

It is just seconds from the shopping and traffic maelstrom which is Knightsbridge, but The Capital Townhouse hotel Knightsbridge boutique hotel in central London is the very essence of calm and tranquility. If you are looking for a place where the pa...

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It’s Oscar time – but who is going to triumph in my very own ALadyofLeisure.com awards?

by Sarah Bridge
added February 29, 2016

Last year was a hectic one for ALadyofLeisure.com with 50 fabulous places reviewed, and with so many to choose from, it's hard to pick out the best. However some were so memorable that I wanted to single them out for special praise - and hopefully en...

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Ellenborough Park hotel and spa: the perfect place for a day at the races

by Sarah Bridge
added February 12, 2016

For horse-racing fans, the location of Ellenborough Park hotel and spa is hard to beat, being the closest hotel to Cheltenham Racecourse. Just a few hundred metres from the front door of the grand 15th century Cotswolds building is the racecou...

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ALadyofLeisure’s 2015 review of Britain’s best luxury hotels

by Sarah Bridge
added December 31, 2015

From Michelin-starred dining to London's most decadent pancake, grand country house hotels, brand new cruise ships, boutique hotels and celebrity hangouts (not to mention cocktail classes, private cinemas and hot tubs in the Cotswolds), it's been a l...

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Calcot Manor luxury hotel: a family-friendly hotel in the Cotswolds

by Sarah Bridge
added December 31, 2015

For those who love the idea of staying in a luxury spa hotel in the Cotswolds (and who doesn't?) and are travelling with children in tow, Calcot Manor luxury hotel, just the other side of Circencester, is a great choice - a Cotwolds hotel and spa f...

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The Arch hotel, London, unshowy but smart

by Sarah Bridge
added November 18, 2015

The Arch hotel is not a flashy hotel. For a luxury hotel near to Oxford Street and just across the road from Madonna's London home, the Arch is neat, calm, and quiet. It doesn't have the grand entrance or huge lobby of its immediate neighbours, th...

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Bond is back! He’s bold, brilliant and BLOODY LOUD

by Sarah Bridge
added October 27, 2015

[no major spoilers but it is a Spectre film review all the same] If this is Daniel Craig's final film as 007 then it's a great way to go. Better than Quantum of Solace with its unfathomable plot; better even than Skyfall with its dodgy sexual polit...

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The Capital hotel London: a luxury hotel stay with a cocktail masterclass

by Sarah Bridge
added October 15, 2015

Its claim to fame is that it is the closest hotel to Harrods, and it's true that less than 30 seconds walk will take you right into the iconic department store. But thankfully The Capital hotel, just next to Harrods on a quiet Knightsbridge street, i...

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Ynyshir restaurant with rooms in Wales: one of the best restaurants in Wales

by Sarah Bridge
added October 14, 2015

The wonderful thing about reviewing hotels for ALadyofLeisure.com is that I've discovered so many new places which I would never in a million years have come across otherwise, and the award-winning restaurant Ynyshir restaurant in Wales - which bills...

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Discovering hidden treasures at The Stafford hotel London

by Sarah Bridge
added September 3, 2015

If you're planning a stay at The Stafford hotel London then you have to ask for a tour of this luxury five-star hotel. All sorts of treasures will suddenly be revealed, from an epic wine cellar and a World War 2 exhibit to the penthouse suite, conver...

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Gravetye Manor West Sussex – food heaven in a luxury country house hotel

by Sarah Bridge
added September 1, 2015

There are some places that are so lovely you can't stop thinking about them after you leave, and Gravetye Manor in West Sussex is most definitely one of those. [Note: this review of Gravetye Manor in West Sussex was first published in 2015 and som...

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A stay at St James’s hotel London: Mayfair luxury with a Michelin star

by Sarah Bridge
added August 12, 2015

St James's Hotel in London is a true five-star luxury hotel but thankfully it has none of the formal starchiness you might expect from one of the most expensive hotels in central London. A stay at St James's hotel London The staff are so cheerf...

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Drinking martinis at the best hotel bars in London

by Sarah Bridge
added July 24, 2015

'Don't worry, you won't get a hangover,' insisted Pleurat Shabani, the maker of Konik's Tail vodka and the host of our martini marathon. 'I've never had a hangover drinking martinis.' [Note: this review of drinking martinis at the best hotel bars ...

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Cruising for the first time: a week on P&O Britannia luxury cruise ship

by Sarah Bridge
added July 23, 2015

There was something about P&O Britannia cruise ship which reminded me of Las Vegas, and it wasn't just the casino. It was partly the vast amount of food on offer on board at its 13 restaurants onboard P&O Britannia - the stories about gaining...

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Qbic Hotel London City: friendly, fun hotel on a budget

by Sarah Bridge
added June 27, 2015

It might not be located in the most beautiful part of London, but Qbic Hotel London City in Aldgate, East London, scores highly on all the essentials for a budget hotel in London: price, location and cleanliness, not to mention a friendly and relaxed...

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Ashdown Park hotel in Sussex: luxury hotel in beautiful grounds

by Sarah Bridge
added June 16, 2015

As beautiful settings go, Ashdown Park hotel in East Sussex certainly has the 'wow' factor. A stay at Ashdown Park hotel Ashdown Park hotel is easily one of the best hotels in Sussex and is a hotel with stunning views. Walking through a stone a...

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Nirvana Spa: A hard day’s relaxing at this top day spa near London

by Sarah Bridge
added June 9, 2015

You would have to start early and finish late to squeeze in the maximum amount of relaxation possible at Nirvana Spa day near Reading, the award-winning spa near London and one of the top day spas in the country. A day at Nirvana Spa I spent th...

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Hartwell House Aylesbury, Bucks: a hotel with the Downton Abbey factor

by Sarah Bridge
added May 13, 2015

You know you're in good hands when you arrive at a hotel spa and find Downton Abbey's head butler Carson (aka the terrific actor Jim Carter) lounging in the hot tub. Arriving at Hartwell House, Aylesbury While Hartwell House in Aylesbury is a l...

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Mark Warner Greece: a week at the five-star resort in Rhodes

by Sarah Bridge
added May 13, 2015

It might surprise those people who associate Mark Warner holidays solely with families that around 40 per cent of the company's business comes from singles, groups of friends, and couples. Mark Warner Greece holiday And now the firm has expande...

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Las Vegas food festival Vegas Uncork’d: it’s an epic Vegas food party

by Sarah Bridge
added May 5, 2015

Note: my article about the Las Vegas food festival Vegas Uncork'd was first published in 2015 so some of the details might now be out of date Mention Las Vegas and most people would immediately think gambling, casinos, showgirls, Mariah Carey, the...

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The Grove Watford: luxury country hotel life just outside London

by Sarah Bridge
added May 2, 2015

There was nothing to disturb the peace of my morning stroll around the 300 acres of Hertfordshire countryside which surround luxury hotel The Grove Watford; nothing, that is, until a helicopter suddenly swooped down and landed on the immaculate lawn ...

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Amba Hotel Charing Cross: possibly the most central hotel in London

by Sarah Bridge
added April 14, 2015

One of the closest hotels to Charing Cross station in London, the Amba Hotel Charing Cross is surprisingly quiet, particularly for a luxury hotel in central London. In fact it turned out to be generally much nicer than I'd expected when I turned up a...

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El Pirata Mayfair: the friendliest tapas in this part of London

by Sarah Bridge
added April 10, 2015

Tucked away behind the grey anonymity of Park Lane's high-rise hotel district which includes the Dorchester, the Intercontinental and the Athenaeum, El Pirata's tapas bar is a welcome sight. You might not think of tapas in Mayfair but in spite of ...

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When the Queen launched P&O Cruises new ship Britannia

by Sarah Bridge
added March 19, 2015

Note: this article about the launch of P&O Britannia was written in 2015 - how time flies! If you want to read about what it's like to stay on P&O Britannia then click here The day was bright and sunny for Her Majesty and Prince Philip as ...

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Cheval Residences serviced apartments London; a home rather than a hotel

by Sarah Bridge
added March 18, 2015

For frequent travellers to the capital who find hotels increasingly soulless - or just miss being able to cook dinner - there is another option: staying in a serviced apartment in London. Rather than having to inhabit just one room and go out for ...

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First glimpse of cruise ship P&O Britannia

by Sarah Bridge
added February 25, 2015

It cost more than £520 million to build, weighs 141,000 tons and will carry more than 3,600 passengers. And this Friday the brand new cruise ship P&O Britannia will be making her way from the Fincantieri shipyard in Trieste, Italy, to her new hom...

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Fifty Shades of Grey review: Blue Steel and an Ikea Room of Pain

by Sarah Bridge
added February 19, 2015

First, the good points about Fifty Shades of Grey, the film which has been greeted with massive under-enthusiasm by the critics (but which hasn't stopped it breaking box-office records, unsurprisingly given the books' massive fanbase). Dakota John...

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My stay at the Compleat Angler Marlow: location, location, location

by Sarah Bridge
added February 10, 2015

The Compleat Angler, Marlow is proof that some hotels don't need to have swimming pools, hot tubs and the very latest in beauty treatments - they just need to be in a great spot. Location of Compleat Angler, Marlow You could say that hotels in ...

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What’s wrong with having a photobombing yellow car?

by Sarah Bridge
added January 30, 2015

What's wrong with having a photobombing yellow car, you might ask? Poor Peter Maddox. The 82-year old has been accused of allowing his little yellow Vauxhall Corsa to 'photobomb' otherwise picturesque shots of Arlington Row in Bibury, acknowledged as...

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The Athenaeum hotel London: a charming boutique hotel in Piccadilly London

by Sarah Bridge
added December 31, 2014

All hotel visits linger in the memory afterwards but some leave a physical presence too - and in the case of the Athenaeum Hotel, a boutique hotel in Piccadilly London, it was Arthur. The teddy bear guarding my room was so sweet he just had to be lib...

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One Aldwych hotel London: a Lion King-sized bite of luxury in a West End hotel

by Sarah Bridge
added November 19, 2014

As befits the London hotel nearest the Lyceum Theatre, there was a lion right outside my hotel room at One Aldywch hotel. Well, to be more accurate, a Lion King. The Lyceum theatre in Covent Garden, which has been home to the hugely successful Lio...

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Volcanoes and fire-dancing: just a typical day exploring Papua New Guinea

by Sarah Bridge
added November 11, 2014

Swimming near a school of dolphins, walking on a recently-erupted volcano and diving to a wreck of a World War 2 Japanese fighter plane might seem like once-in-a-lifetime holiday but if you are exploring Papua New Guinea, it is just an average mornin...

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What it’s like to go on a boot camp to lose weight

by Sarah Bridge
added November 3, 2014

It was when I was hiking along the North Devon coast in the rain that I started to question whether my plan to go on a boot camp to lose weight was worth its hefty price tag. Would I actually lose weight on a boot camp? I was halfway through a week a...

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Exploring Majorca for the first time: by helicopter, road and luxury yacht

by Sarah Bridge
added October 25, 2014

To get my bearings on my first ever trip to this beautiful island in the Balearics, a helicopter ride seemed like the perfect way to exploring Majorca for the first time (Majorca is also known as Mallorca in Catalan). An aerial view of Majorca From...

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A holiday of a lifetime learning to dive in the Cayman Islands

by Sarah Bridge
added October 25, 2014

It was an interesting introduction to my holiday of a lifetime learning to dive in the Cayman Islands: ‘The thing about the Cayman Islands is that the best sights are underwater,’ said my taxi driver as he drove along the dusty road from the airport....

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Tylney Hall: great building but not a great stay

by Sarah Bridge
added August 4, 2014

I've been fortunate enough to stay in some lovely country house hotels recently - sadly, Tylney Hall was not one of them. [Note: this review of Tylney Hall was first published in 2014 and so some of the details might now be out of date] To clar...

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Barts Speakeasy South Kensington – small but perfectly formed

by Sarah Bridge
added July 28, 2014

In spite of living and working just a mile away from South Kensington and passing through it most days, I never felt as if I really knew the area. To me it was a vague ensemble of various things - the museums, French people, a really good sheet mu...

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The Swan at Lavenham: a pub as charming as its location

by Sarah Bridge
added July 8, 2014

[Editor's note: This review of the Swan at Lavenham was first published in 2014. For a more up to date review of this hotel click here or go to https://aladyofleisure.com/the-swan-at-lavenham-review/ ] The Swan at Lavenham is located in one of tho...

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A trip round the Beefeater gin distillery visitors centre

by Sarah Bridge
added July 8, 2014

Vauxhall in London is known for many things - the Oval cricket ground, a permanently traffic-snarled gyratory system, a disused gas works - but a pleasant afternoon drinking gin and tonics is not usually the first thing that springs to mind. Howev...

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No skimping on the apres-ski with Mark Warner Ski Tignes

by Sarah Bridge
added June 14, 2014

You could never accuse Mark Warner ski of skimping on the apres-ski - or, for that matter, the pre-ski and the actual skiing. A ski weekend in Tignes with Mark Warner Ski Holidays A three-day trip to French Alpine ski resort Tignes to check out its...

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Center Parcs Woburn Forest: a reviewer-proof staycation destination

by Sarah Bridge
added June 3, 2014

Center Parcs is practically immune from criticism. With occupancy (in normal times) running at a staggering 97.1 per cent all year round, the private-equity owned leisure company is the envy of its peers. In spite of the complaints about high ...

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Back in Berlin after 27 years – an emotional jump forward in time

by Sarah Bridge
added April 9, 2014

Berlin is the kind of city where even a seemingly mundane walk to the local supermarket can turn out to be an emotional experience. It had been 27 years since I was last in Berlin and was here to attend the travel industry trade show ITB. I was st...

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Housetrip Berlin Kreuzberg – a home away from home

by Sarah Bridge
added April 9, 2014

It's amazing how quickly you can feel like a 'local' while staying somewhere completely new to you. For me it was when I came back from a trip to the supermarket with some eggs and milk and let myself in at my own front door with my own key. It w...

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Cannizaro House Wimbledon: a country retreat in the city

by Sarah Bridge
added February 28, 2014

A stay at Cannizaro House Wimbledon There is something rather delightful about packing to spend the weekend in a hotel just four miles from your home. It yields all the excitement and anticipation of a trip away without any of the angst and despai...

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After Dry January: so it turns out I like drinking – just for its own sake!

by Sarah Bridge
added February 1, 2014

After Dry January - what happened? Well - I did it. After Dry January I could look back on an entire January's-worth of alcoholic abstinence. And yes, it was a VERY long month. But the surprising discovery for me is not only that I have far...

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Costa Book Awards: celebs, gossip and a worthy winner

by Sarah Bridge
added January 29, 2014

My taxi driver was very excited when I said there would be loads of celebrities at the Costa Book Awards 2014. 'Like who?' he asked, as he turned off Piccadilly to head towards the event venue, Quaglino's restaurant. 'Like, erm, Ian Hislop,...

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Why you’re never too old to visit Las Vegas

by Sarah Bridge
added January 22, 2014

You're never too old to visit Las Vegas - and here's the proof! Just a few days in Sin City brought about a miraculous transformation in my 72-year old mother. For several weeks before our Las Vegas holiday, her main activity had been fretting...

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Learning to ski: a first-time skier braves a BMF ski trip in Courchevel

by Sarah Bridge
added January 20, 2014

Being escorted off the mountain-side by a French hunk on a snowmobile was not the way I had imagined the end of my first ever day of skiing, but it was certainly exhilarating. Learning to ski in France I clung to him for dear life as we plunged...

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So it’s a bar – which doesn’t sell alcohol. Can this be a good thing?

by Sarah Bridge
added January 17, 2014

Visitors to Redemption, tucked away in the unfashionable corner of London between Westbourne Park and Ladbroke Grove, first have to walk past an array of Notting Hill's pubs and wine bars, packed with Bright Young Things knocking back the very la...

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Review: Cirque du Soleil Quidam, Royal Albert Hall

by Sarah Bridge
added January 16, 2014

Having just a few months ago seen the jaw-dropping, mind-boggling spectacle which is Cirque du Soleil's 'O' at the Bellagio, Las Vegas, Cirque du Soleil's Quidam show at the Royal Albert Hall certainly had a lot to live up to. Cirque du Soleil Q...

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