Best for culture: The Halyard Liverpool, Vignette Collection

A city of sound with a colourful street-art scene, Liverpool is the perfect cultural weekend break. New to the cityscape but not without a Liverpudlian spirit, The Halyard Liverpool, Vignette Collection’s first UK hotel, is inspired by the maritime history of the Ropewalks district.

Guests are welcomed with a velvety shot of Champurrado in honour of Liverpool’s long-standing importation of chocolate to the surrounding warehouses, before sinking into a Deluxe, Queen Deluxe or King Suite. Each of its 133 guest rooms has an Art Deco flair and pays tribute to the city’s creative character with soft furnishing colours and patterns referencing Liverpudlian toy manufacturer, Meccano.

Bringing together flavours beloved by passing sailors and the different cultures that make up the city, The Halyard’s restaurant and bar, Voyagers, offers a selection of high-quality sharing platters, including Tandoori-spiced monkfish and saffron-infused risotto topped with orange glazed fennel.

And while the city is imbued in every design of The Halyard, it is the hotel’s setting – a mere 15-minute stroll to the birthplace of The Beatles at the Cavern Club, as well as the Tate Liverpool art gallery and the Royal Albert Dock – and its ability to inspire guests to discover local culture that makes this a true Liverpudlian luxury experience.

ihg.com

Best for history: Beaverbrook

Walk in the footsteps of history at Beaverbrook. Dating back to 1866, the English country house has played host to iconic British figures, from Winston Churchill to The Jungle Book author Rudyard Kipling and HG Wells. In the heart of the Surrey Hills, the 470-acre estate offers four locations for guests to stay: The House, The Garden House, The Coach House and, Beaverbrook’s latest addition, The Village.

Inside, expect all-out grandeur with elevated cottagecore, a collection of historical treasures and alluring antiques, and a classically British culinary affair. Named after the Victorian author of one of the most famous cookery books, Mrs Beeton’s Restaurant offers a taste of traditional cuisine, including saddle of English lamb and Orkney scallops.

In the grounds, however, sights turn overseas with a Japanese dining experience, given a Riviera twist. Rose-and-raspberry-striped stationary hot air balloons decorate The Italian Garden for the estate’s annual summer dining experience: “A Sky Full of Stripes”. With a specially curated menu by executive development chef, Wojciech Popow, the alfresco venture sees the return of a Yakiniku grill, allowing guests to get close to the action. Available until the end of September.

beaverbrook.co.uk

Best for scenery: Lindeth Fell Country House

You can bet on a renowned architect, embarked on a pet project, to create something truly special. Proof – Lindeth Fell Country House, which was built as a private residence in 1909 by George Henry Pattinson. He was known for a quintessential Arts & Crafts style, manifested in the property’s gabled roofs and round chimneys, all presiding over colourful gardens designed by Thomas Mawson.

It was originally leased to well-to-do Edwardians who enjoyed activities like tennis and croquet on its grounds. To those with busy, metropolitan lives, this remains England at its best: quaint serenity nestled into a hillside overlooking Lake Windermere and the Coniston mountains it foregrounds.

The five-star B&B boasts 14 individually designed bedrooms joined together by their warm, neutral tones. Each room is bathed in light cast through windows framing views of the lake and gardens. Despite its B&B status, Lindeth Fell serves up a scrumptious afternoon tea and a restaurant menu at lunchtime and early evening, meaning you can spend the whole day basking in the place’s splendour.

Otherwise, the hospitable team here have created a number of themed itineraries for local excursions. One enumerates the best culinary spots in the area (Michelin stars are dotted all over Cumbria), while another recommends local gardens and plant centres bound to delight those interested in rare species and unique topiary. Yet another details a scenic drive that makes for a spectacular day trip, whose first two stops alone include the fittingly named Ambleside and the viewing station at Rydal Hall, where William Wordsworth and John Constable were moved to depict the same waterfall through poetry and drawing, respectively.

lindethfell.com

Best for bohemian allure: The Mandrake

On one of Fitzrovia’s quiet streets, an observant passer-by might spot above its entrance The Mandrake’s intriguing eye, its logo almost reminiscent of a certain secret society.

You needn’t be a conspiracy theorist, however, to obsess over this artistic, bohemian idyll. Folkloric art and other decorations transform the hotel into an otherworldly space. The rooms are arranged around an open-air atrium festooned with jasmine and passion flowers. Above the lower courtyard’s Tasmanian ferns, you can find Jurema on the first-floor terrace, which serves cocktails inspired by ethnobotany (the study of a region’s plants through the lens of traditional uses and local knowledge) and dishes from Yopo, the hotel’s mezcal and taco bar, a paradise for epicureans with penchants for South American flavours.

And while The Mandrake is named after the hallucinogenic, delirium-inducing root, there’s no need to worry about bad trips here. The hotel is oriented around wellness and residents can enjoy complimentary weekend yoga and access to a Spiritual Concierge menu inspired by meditative practices particular to far-flung corners of the world. There’s even a weekly Spiritual Wellbeing programme entailing esoteric transformative experiences, from shamanic ceremonies to stress-combating Reiki sessions. If you’re a creative, you should make sure to check out the hotel’s Artists in Residence programme. For music lovers, enjoy performances by international and up-and-coming artists.

themandrake.com