Weekend Escape : The Grove

There's nothing like throwing everything into an overnight bag, jumping in the car and driving off for a weekend in the countryside with the one you love. Especially if there is sunshine forecast and the destination of your weekend away is a luxury 5* spa and gold hotel only half an hour from London.... with a beach!

The Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire is a beautiful old country mansion, restored with a contemporary (yet tasteful) elegance, which had me lusting over it's beautiful interiors - making notes at every turn for my own home renovations. 

We spent the weekend lounging on sumptuous velvet sofas in the library drinking tea, playing giant games of chess on the lawn, dining in converted stables, wandering through the secret walled gardens and reading the Sunday papers on The Grove's home-made beach (then moving to sit by the swimming pool when we fancied a dip). 

There was so much more on offer we didn't have the time (or the energy!) to do; take their bikes out and cycle the acres around the hotel's grounds, play a round of croquet, make good use of the spa or the golf course, or even visit the local Harry Potter studios round the corner!

I guess that simply means we'll have to go back soon....