attractions

I’M a Travel Editor who also happens to be a London mum of a six-year -old – and while we spend plenty of time travelling the world, one of my favourite places to explore is my home city.

Because London is one of the best cities in the world for families, with stacks of free attractions, great parks, child-friendly restaurants and pubs.

In fact, I have spent whole days out with my son in London at museums, galleries and theatre shows, without spending more than £50.

So if you’re planning a family trip to London, here are some of my favourite places to go with kids in the city.

Free attractions

There are so many free attractions in London that you could fill a week’s worth of activities without spending a penny on tickets.

Of course, three of the biggest are always worth a visit – the British Museum, Natural History Museum and the Science Museum.

I’d say the earliest your child is like to be interested in the British Museum, near Russell Square, is around six years old.

The exhibits are better suited to older children and adults, but they have gone to great lengths to make things interesting to young children too, like museum explorer trail guides and the Gallery backpacks.

Inside the bags are a number of items and activities, including hieroglyphs, toy animals, amulets and even fancy dress.

Be sure not to miss the mummies in the Ancient Egyptian section, hugely popular with anyone aged 6 to 96. Although it does get very busy.

The Science Museum in South Kensington is perfect for kids of all ages, I’ve been taking my child there since he was a one-year-old, as the interactive ‘Garden’ in the basement is perfect for toddlers and pre-schoolers.

There are plenty of excellent free exhibitions around the museum – one of our favourites being the Space section – but the most popular (and deservedly so) is the Wonderlab, an interactive gallery featuring numerous experiments that will fascinate children aged 3-14. Tickets cost from £15 for this area.

The neighbouring Natural History Museum is another one with some excellent paying exhibits, but the dinosaur gallery is free and perfect for kids, as is the creepy crawlies gallery and the Earth Hall.

For more of an arty trip, try the Tate Modern – my son loves the Pop Art and the huge installations in the Turbine Hall.

But his favourite is Tate Draw, where kids can make their own creations on a bank of screens, an activity that kept him busy for over an hour.

Further down the South Bank is the Southbank centre, which offers some of my favourite free activities on weekends and in school holidays.

My son has been to Lego-building, screen printing and even helped to build a Moomin House with real saws, wood and hammers at the venue, all completely free.

It’s worth checking if you need to book in advance though, as tickets for the free events go very fast.

For an event they’re sure to remember forever – I still have a hazy recollection of my first Changing Of The Guard at Buckingham Palace when I was just seven years old, and my son went last year and loved it too.

The ceremony takes place at 11am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and it’s worth getting there early for a good spot.

For something considerably more modern, try the Outernet – the huge multi-screened space on Tottenham Court Road that claims to be the most visited cultural attraction in the UK.

The space shows a series of artist-made short films, some of which invite audience participation, and it’s so entertaining that my son and I are happy to sit there for an hour.

Pubs And Restaurants

Taking a child to a pub or restaurant can strike fear into the heart of any parent – will they sit still? Will they eat? It’s a culinary minefield.

Here are some of my favourite places that welcome children.

Brewdog Waterloo is easily my favourite pub in London for families.

It has an indoor slide, a duckpin bowling alley, scavenger hunts and face painting during school holidays, an ice cream van, ping pong tables and an extensive kids’ menu.

It gets quite busy after 5pm with post-work drinkers, but any time before that and you feel like it’s perfectly acceptable that your kid is doing their 20th lap of the pub to reach the two-storey slide.

Much like Brewdog, Sixes cricket bars have excellent activities for kids – their high-tech batting cages mean children can burn off some serious energy while you sip on a pint

They also have tasty food to suit everyone – my personal favourite is the flaming candy floss pudding in the giant martini glass.

As a Travel Editor who has taken my child to many restaurants over the years, I’ve recently hit upon a surprising winner – ramen.

Introduce a child to chopsticks and noodles in a bowl, and they’ll stay entertained for at least half an hour.

Tonkotsu has a chain of ramen restaurants across London, with both bento boxes for kids and non-spicy ramen bowls.

Particularly adventurous child who doesn’t mind a queue? Try Borough Market on a Monday or Tuesday, when it’s less crowded.

They’ll love the bowls of free bite-sized food the traders leave out to tempt you and the hot stations round the back really do have something for everyone.

You can indulge your love of Thai or Indian, while they chow down on pizza or fish and chips.

Then you can share some of those ludicrous strawberries in chocolate or a giant brownie for afters.

If you’re looking for a fancy restaurant, I can’t speak highly enough of the Rosewood Hotel’s Holborn Dining Room.

They have the most beautiful Rosewood-themed activity books for kids to fill in and the huge bowl of sausage and mash went down a treat, as did the chance to pet the very cute Labradors who stand on duty at the entrance.

Parks

London’s parks are second to none – I’ve never been to a city in the world that has so many, with such a variation.

Perfect if you’re paying a visit to Battersea Power Station, Battersea Park playground is excellent for many reasons.

Firstly, it has a Go Ape next door, so you can easily kill at least four hours in a 100-metre radius.

Secondly, the playground itself is excellent with two different areas for older and younger kids that feature huge slides, trapezes, massive climbing frames and plenty more.

It is particularly great for parents because the park cafe serves beer and pizzas, and you can grab a table with a perfect view of the playground – great for keeping an eye on your kid AND people watching, as I’ve never visited this playground without spotting a celebrity.

One of my favourite parks if you’re in the centre of town is Coram’s Fields, a seven-acre walled playground in the heart of Bloomsbury.

It feels particularly safe in the centre of busy London because they have a rule that ‘no adult can enter without a child.’

If you’re exploring the many attractions the South Bank has to offer, then it’s well worth stopping by the Jubilee Gardens playground, next to the London Eye.

Smaller than the others I’ve mentioned, it’s very well designed and perfect for those kids who need to run off some steam in between organised fun.

A little bit further out, Greenwich Park playground is possibly my favourite in London (while the Princess Diana Memorial Playground is closed for renovations).

It has all the usual suspects, as well as an excellent sand and water play area – so remember to bring some plastic cups and spades.

Plus afterwards, you can walk to the top of the hill in the park, for great views of the capital.

Paid for attractions

OK, there are many that I could have shared here, but these are some of the paid-for attractions that have been the biggest hits with my child from the ages of 3-6.

As every parent knows, attractions with lots of ‘look don’t touch’ rules are a nightmare for those with inquisitive kids which is why HMS Belfast is such a winner (adult tickets £26.35 and kids £13.15).

Built to last at sea in wartime, this Royal Navy ship moored on the Thames near London Bridge is not in the least bothered about curious little hands.

They have audioguides for older kids and activity packs for younger children.

My son spent three hours exploring every level of this battle ship and would easily have stayed for a further three.

Speaking of ships, the Golden Hinde further along the South Bank near the Globe Theatre is another hit.

A seaworthy reconstruction of the ship captained by Francis Drake when he sailed around the world in the 16th century, the attraction has particularly great value activities on during school holidays.

For just £8, my son took part in a 1.5-hour session onboard where they went on a scavenger hunt, learnt how to fire cannons, had a tour of the ship and practised (foam) sword fighting.

When it comes to the pricier attractions, one of our most memorable days out has been a ride on the Thames Rockets – the speedboat tours of the River Thames.

We went on their new 26-seater boat The Rocket Rebel, for a hair-raising trip accompanied by some of London’s best pop and rock music.

Then on the way back, the hilarious tour guide filled us in on some very interesting titbits about the capital as we passed the many famous landmarks.

With adults from £59.95 and kids from £49.95 it’s not cheap, but it is an absolutely brilliant way to sight see the city that guarantees the kids won’t moan about being bored.

Theatre Shows and Culture

This is a tricky one, because if you’re aiming for theatre that young kids will love then shows tend to be limited to school holidays.

But of the big budget ones that I’ve seen which will not disappoint – The Lion King and Starlight Express are perfect for all ages from 6 to 96.

Other than that, take a gamble by signing up to discount ticket websites like Show Film First and The Audience Club several weeks ahead of your visit.

They operate as seatfiller sites and I have found Band A and B tickets for £15 to huge shows on both websites.

Also, check out what the Southbank Centre has on offer. They have so many free cultural events aimed at families, from art to dancing, building and live music.

Plus, in the summertime your kid can play in the Jeppe Hein Appearing Rooms fountains, with views of the Thames.

There are heaps of fun theme parks and attractions in the UK to enjoy but there are a handful that would have been great yet unfortunately plans had to be abandoned

The UK is full of amazing attractions, both old and new, from historic palaces to theme parks and world-class museums. But not every idea manages to get off the ground.

There were many large-scale projects that could have potentially become major tourist landmarks, which sadly, either failed due to cost or logistics. We’re talking theme parks that were said to have the potential to rival Disneyland, weird and wonderful pyramids, and giant bridges that cost millions but never actually opened.

We look at some of the incredible attractions that could have been gamechangers, but sadly didn’t manage to see the light of day (even if we’re still hoping!).

Check out our top picks below…

WonderWorld theme park

In the 1980s, a £346m plan to turn an old quarry into the ‘British Disneyland’ was hatched. The site of this ambitious project was Corby, Northants, where the abandoned quarry was connected to the town’s closed steelworks. The collapse of the steelworks had led to 10,000 job losses, and with a third of the town out of work, the theme park was cited as a way to get locals back into employment.

WonderWorld is said to have been inspired by Disney’s Epcot, and was set to have 13 themed villages, the first six of which would have opened in 1992. The idea was to showcase the best of British design, with David Bellamy set to help devise a mock safari, while Sir Patrick Moore would have helped design an observatory.

There would be a mix of the educational and fun, high-tech rides, themed restaurants, shops, and much more, which it would estimate would bring in four million visitors a year through the park gates.

The ambitious plans also included a 10,000 seat stadium for sporting events, and a Disney-style family resort with seven hotels, which would eventually offer 6,000 rooms and 100 holiday villas.

Sadly, all that was ever built of WonderWorld was a sign and a wooden cabin. Planning delays and rising costs were blamed, with backers soon pulling out. The site which would have been WonderWorld is now a new build estate, with nothing to indicate that it could have been the site of a major British attraction.

Garden Bridge

While a failed project can waste a lot of time, London’s Garden Bridge project also managed to waste a lot of money along the way. £53.5m was spent on a bridge which never broke ground, after many years trying to turn the idea into reality.

London’s Garden Bridge would have been a pedestrian bridge set between Waterloo Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge. The idea was it would be covered in shrubbery and flowers, creating a sort of park area you could wander round, rather than just crossing from A to B.

The project was such a disaster that Transport for London (TfL) launched an inquiry, which concluded that £43m of the sunk costs came from the public’s pocket. The failed project’s spends included £21.4m in construction costs and £1.7m in executive salaries, according to BBC reports.

The Garden Bridge Trust also spent £161,000 on a website and £417,000 on a gala for the failed proposal. Had it been built, the project was projected to cost £175m overall.

The idea for the bridge dates back to 1998, when actor Joanna Lumley had the idea for a “floating paradise” that would be built in honour of Princess Diana. But it wasn’t until 2012, when Boris Johnson was Mayor of London, that the unusual project was picked up.

While they managed to secure planning permission in 2014, the project had a number of vocal critics who complained that it would have had an impact on sight lines of St Paul’s Cathedral and Monument.

When Sadiq Khan took over as mayor, he ordered a review as to whether the bridge would offer good value for money for Londoners, before withdrawing his support the next year. The cancellation of the project was officially announced on August 14, 2017.

Trafalgar Square Pyramid

Trafalgar Square could have looked very different if one MP and soldier had seen their plans come to fruition. After beating the French at the Battle of the Nile, Sir Frederick William Trench decided that what London really needed was a giant pyramid right in the middle of Trafalgar Square to really celebrate their military success.

The proposal, submitted in 1812, shows a 300ft pyramid with 22 steps, one for each year of the two Anglo-French wars. At the time, the tallest structure in London would have been the Dome at St Paul’s Cathedral which was 365ft, meaning the pyramid would have completely changed the London skyline.

One idea to turn the plan into reality was to use the labour of men who’d recently been discharged from the armed forces, giving them employment once the war was over. However, the only thing that was ever built was a scale model, which ended up in the home of the Duke of York. A few years later, the land was cleared and the version of Trafalgar Square that brings in millions of visitors a year was created. But there’s no doubt the giant pyramid would have brought in the tourists too.

London Paramount Entertainment Resort

A more recent attempt to build a giant theme park in the UK was the London Resort, which was announced in 2012. Its location in Swanscombe, Kent led to some dubbing it the ‘Dartford Disneyland’, and it was set to include Europe’s largest indoor water park, theatres, live music venues, attractions, cinemas, restaurants, event spaces and hotels.

The park would have had several worlds including a Spaceport, The Isles, The Kingdom, and High Street, all themed around the UK. Another planned attraction was a triple launched roller coaster that would reach speeds of 70mph.

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The park’s troubles continued during the planning process, when Natural England decided to designate a large portion of the planned park area as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

In 2022, it was reported that plans for the park were scaled back, and would be resubmitted the next year. Its company, London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH), then went into administration and faced a lawsuit from Paramount. Finally, in January 2025, it was reported that the High Court had ordered the company to be wound up, effectively killing off the dream of the £2.5b London Resort.

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LET the festive fun begin, with this year’s Christmas attractions bigger and brighter than ever.

Dazzling light and music trails, marvellous markets, winter wonderlands, super Santa steam trains, pantos and ice rinks have popped up all over the UK.

Trisha Harbord picks out a selection of events to make Christmas go with a ho, ho, ho.

LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE

ASHRIDGE HOUSE

SEE a stunning light trail from the air.

A 115ft observation wheel is at the heart of 20 spectacular displays at Ashridge House Illuminated this winter.

The sparkling one-mile trail winds through the estate’s beautiful gardens in Berkhamsted, Herts, with a super-festive food village.

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The big bonus is if the weather is bad, you can swap tickets for another day.

GO: November 27-January 1. Adult £23.50, child £14.40.

See ashridgehouse.org.uk.

LONGLEAT SAFARI PARK

WALLACE & Gromit are getting in on the fun at Longleat’s Festival of Light.

The characters will be shining bright along with Shaun the Sheep in his Mossy Bottom Farm.

Follow the lantern trail at the Wiltshire safari park to walk under a 50ft Tower Bridge, travel through Stonehenge and visit Blackpool seaside resort.

GO: Until January 11. Adult from £39.95, child from £20.95. Under-threes go free.

See longleat.co.uk.

GULLIVER’S WORLD RESORT

WANDER through a mile-long Land of Lights trail at Gulliver’s World resorts.

The theme parks, in Warrington, Cheshire, Milton Keynes and Rotherham, Yorks, have been transformed into 12 dream worlds, including a Jurassic zone, filled with glowing lanterns and installations.

Santa’s enchanted elevator will take you on a virtual flight to the North Pole.

GO: Until January 31. Adult from £39, and from £9 for child.

See gulliversworldresort.co.uk.

TWYCROSS ZOO

MARVEL at the Gruffalo lanterns experience.

The beloved book character is included in spectacular displays, featuring ten wild habitats from eight continents at Twycross Zoo, Leicestershire.

Lanterns Of The Wild has more than 2,000 lanterns in rainforests and oceans depicting thousands of animals and plants including elephants, monkeys and penguins.

GO: Until February 22. Adult from £19, child £13.95.

See twycrosszoo.org.

KENWOOD HOUSE

TINKERBELL will be scattering her fairy dust along a Peter Pan-themed trail this Christmas.

Dazzling lighting and atmospheric sound recreate the favourite children’s story at London’s Kenwood House.

You’ll be transported through the Lost Boys’ secret hideout, Captain Hook’s ship and the Darling family home with a feast of treats along the way.

GO: Until January 3. Adult from £20, child £12.

See neverlandatkenwood.co.uk.

SILVERSTONE

F1 fans will be racing to get to Silverstone for the return of its Lap Of Lights experience.

After a four-year hiatus, the festive display is back, with 7,000 LED panels and 35 lasers, transforming the British racetrack into a glittering wonderland.

Visitors can drive their own car around the track, before heading to the ice rink or chomping on some mince pies at the food and drink garage.

GO: From December 12 until January 3, £50 per car.

See silverstone.co.uk.

ICE AND EASY

PRESTON

PRESTON On Ice, a huge new rink has opened in the Lancashire town.

It sits under the 105-year-old market canopy with space for confident skaters and beginners.

There’s a ski chalet-style bar and live music at weekends.

GO: Until January 4. Adult from £12, child £10.

See prestononice.co.uk.

TORQUAY

THE English Riviera has a new ice rink among the Bay Of Lights celebrations.

Under a sparkling canopy in the heart of Torquay, there are hour-long sessions including parent and toddler slots.

Enjoy food and drinks and the Christmas market and illumination trail.

GO: November 28 until January 2. Adult £12.58, child £9.43, family £37.73.

See englishriviera.co.uk.

LONDON

SKATE in the shadow of one of London’s most iconic buildings, Somerset House, with Virgin Atlantic Holidays.

A massive rink with lights and DJs spinning the decks has taken over the gallery’s courtyard.

There’s a 40ft tree, food, drink and a pop-up boutique with proceeds going to charity.

GO: Until January 11. Adult from £15, children £10.

See somersethouse.org.uk.

BRIGHTON

GO green at Brighton’s Royal Pavilion.

The ice rink, in front of the 1787 palace, is powered by renewable energy.

Penguin skate aids are available and there’s a bar and cafe.

The city also has a light trail and drone show.

GO: Until January 4. Adult from £15, child £12.

See royalpavilionicerink.co.uk.

FULL STEAM AHEAD

NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS

STEAM along on a new Santa Express interactive adventure.

The ride on North Yorkshire Moors Railway, from Pickering, will be packed with games, songs and, of course, elves and the man himself handing out treats.

GO: Various dates until December 24, £29.50pp.

See nymr.co.uk/santa.

VICTORIA STATION

RIDE through the heart of London with Santa and his merry elves.

They’ll sing carols and tell stories in decorated 1950s or ’60s-themed carriages, with a snack and drink for kids and mince pies for grown-ups.

The steam train departs on a 90-minute round trip from Victoria Station.

GO: Four departures available on December 20 and 22, from £55pp.

See steamdreams.co.uk.

BURY BOLTON STREET

A MAGICAL talking tree, brass band and a carol-singing choir of polar bears.

That’s the scene at Bury Bolton Street station before hopping on East Lancashire Railway’s Santa Specials.

The 80-minute round trip includes mince pies and chocolate, kids’ activity books and gifts from Santa.

GO: Various dates until December 24, from £23pp.

See eastlancsrailway.org.uk.

KEIGHLEY & WORTH VALLEY

ENJOY a showstopping performance of a Christmas Carol at Keighley & Worth Valley Railway stations.

Families will find themselves in Scrooge’s candlelit office, in the grip of Marley’s ghost and watching the drama unfold on a five-mile steam train ride from Oxenhope or Haworth, West Yorks.

GO: Various dates and times until December 18. Adult £35, child £30.

See kwvr.co.uk.

SACKFUL OF TREATS

BLENHEIM PALACE

FOLLOW the Yellow Brick Road on a magical adventure inspired by the Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

The story — the highlight of Christmas at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire — is played out in the state rooms.

In the gardens, browse market stalls and walk the amazing light trail with huge sculptures and fountains.

Also, tuck into afternoon tea, go skating or on fairground rides.

GO: Until January 3. Prices vary, but for Palace of Oz, adult from £41, child £24. Under-twos go free.

For more information, see blenheimpalace.com.

SOUTHAMPTON MARKETS

SOUTHAMPTON is going Christmas crazy.

The main market in Above Bar Street has more than 20 wooden chalets packed with gifts, festive food, hot chocolate and mulled wine.

There’s a Ferris wheel and a new 200ft Star Flyer ride, fairground, light show, shops’ snow window trail, ice rink, Santa visits and shows including a panto.

GO: Market until January 4, free.

See visitsouthampton.co.uk/christmas.

KIELDER FOREST

ROAM around England’s largest forest to find Father Christmas and Mrs Claus in their twinkling hideout.

Kielder Winter Wonderland in Northumberland has fun for all the family.

Sing and dance with Mr and Mrs Beaver, meet the reindeer, birds of prey and snowy owl, enjoy a theatre show, help elves in their workshop or take a break in the bar and kitchen.

GO: Until December 23, £38.50pp, under-twos £5.

For more information, check out kielderwinterwonderland.com.

NATIONAL TRUST PROPERTIES

YOU can always rely on National Trust properties to provide all the wonder at Christmas.

There are markets, winter fairs, craft workshops, choir concerts, illuminations and Santa visits.

Dunham Massey in Greater Manchester, Blickling Hall, Norfolk, and Standen House in West Sussex, are among those holding fun events.

Go to the NT site for full details.

GO: Until early January, various prices.

See nationaltrust.org.uk.

CHESTER MARKETS

THERE’S a pressie for everyone at Chester Christmas Market.

Local producers, craftsfolk and artisans are among 80 stallholders in the Town Hall square selling gin, jewellery, candles, pottery, clothing and cosmetics.

The city also has a grotto and panto and the cathedral is aglow with nearly a hundred decorated trees.

GO: Market until December 22, free. See visitcheshire.com.

EDINBURGH MARKET & FUNFAIR

IT’S the most wonderful time of the year in Edinburgh.

The market, with Scottish and European crafts, fills East Princes Street Gardens.

There’s a funfair, undercover ice rink and light displays on the castle walls.

And a torchlight procession through the old town on December 29 kicks off Hogmanay.

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GO: Until January 4, market free.

See visitscotland.com.

CHELTENHAM is famed for its racecourse and its annual “Greatest Show On Turf”.

But there’s so much more to do in this pretty Regency spa town than have a flutter on the horses.

Emma Glanfield takes you on a tour of the best of the rest.

WHY SHOULD I GO? Sitting at the foot of the Cotswolds hills, Cheltenham is vibrant and buzzy, with a backdrop of well-preserved Regency architecture and rolling countryside.

And its abundance of quirky hotels, lively bars and boutique shops make it perfect for a weekend away.

There always seems to be something exciting going on, too, with the town hosting more than 30 festivals and events a year.

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Among these are the 80-year-old music festival and the world’s longest running literature festival.

And, of course, it is the home of National Hunt racing, with the Cheltenham Festival boasting pinnacle event the Gold Cup.

STREETS MADE FOR WALKING? The spa town is sprawling but walkable, and there’s plenty of gorgeous architecture to enjoy on the way.

Wander the elegant, tree-lined Montpellier district — one of the town’s most historic areas — and take in the surroundings while popping into boutique shops and cosy cafes.

The Grade I-listed Rotunda, inspired by Rome’s Pantheon, was once a spa pump room but is now a branch of The Ivy hotel. You can dine there amid the Art Deco-style interior.

It’s also worth a stroll around The Suffolks, a sought-after district with mid-19th century buildings, independent shops and cafes, plus a friendly pub called The Suffolk Arms.

ANYTHING FOR THE BUCKET LIST? It really is worth attending a Cheltenham race meet. There’s a reason the town is known for its horseracing, and you don’t have to be massively into the sport to enjoy it.

With food, drink and glam all on offer, it’s a great, fun-packed day out. Alternatively, take a walk up Cleeve Hill — the highest point in the Cotswolds — for breathtaking panoramic views across the town and towards The Malverns.

WHERE SHOULD I EAT? With burgers as big as your head, The Beefy Boys is not to be missed. It was buzzing on the Saturday night we visited.

The atmosphere was jolly but not so loud you couldn’t chat.

The award-winning Dirty Boy and Oklahoma Onion Boy are absolute beasts, but delicious. Go hungry!

For those wanting a more formal affair, or for a special occasion, Settebello, in Belgrave House, serves authentic Italian cuisine. We feasted on giant bowls of rigatoni with an ox cheek ragu, £18, and Spigola Puttanesca (sea bass with a punchy tomato sauce), £25. The two-course lunch menu at £19 is well worth the money.

FANCY A DRINK? There are stylish bars all over, but a visit to Mr Cambray’s Curiosity won’t leave you disappointed.

Cafe by day, cocktail room by night, it has five themed rooms to explore.

There’s also the recently opened Parler on Clarence Street, in the heart of town. This Georgian building has been reimagined into a Parisian-style cafe by day, and a Japanese listening bar come sundown, with a cosy retro vibe.

The Retreat Wine Bar in Suffolk Parade is a bit of an institution, having been serving drinks since 1982. For late-night entertainment, the Gin & Juice Bar has more than 400 gins on offer and regular live music.

WHERE SHOULD I STAY? For those wanting to be in the town centre, Hotel du Vin is a great choice. The 4H boutique hotel is set in the Montpellier district just a five-minute walk from The Promenade, a local shopping district.

Breakfast is a continental spread with hot plate options, taken next to the impressive underground wine cellars.

At night, guests can enjoy a glass of wine in The Laroche tasting room before diving into soft Egyptian cotton sheets in one of the hotel’s 49 bedrooms. Our room had a huge double bed and walk-in “monsoon” shower.

For those seeking pure relaxation away from the hustle and bustle, you won’t go wrong with The Greenway Hotel & Spa.

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The 16th-century manor house — an eight-minute taxi ride from the town centre — was once a grand family home before being taken over by The Eden Hotel Collection. A £1.2million makeover included 21 beautifully revamped bedrooms.

The in-house Elan Spa is not to be missed.