Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, Oxfordshire

Le Manoir is situated in the hamlet of Great Milton, deep in the Oxfordshire countryside. Both Bicester Shopping Village and stately Blenheim Palace are within easy driving distance.

By car: 1 hour 20 minutes from London and Birmingham, 25 minutes from Oxford and 3 hours from Manchester. Free on-site parking available.

By train: London Paddington and Birmingham to Oxford takes an hour; Manchester Piccadilly to Oxford takes 2 hours 40 minutes - after which, it's a 25-minute taxi to the hotel. Book trains to Oxford.

Combining an elegant, 15th-century Oxfordshire manor house with Japanese tea gardens, Provençal lavender paths and other flights of fancy may sound eccentric, but it works. The classic French restaurant comes with country house comforts.

Le Manoir offers a surprising number of facilities, everything from croquet to room-based spa treatments. The service is sophisticated and ever-present, from the dining room to the grounds.

• Two Michelin starred restaurant
• Bar
• Terrace
• Garden
• Free parking
• Free Wi-Fi

The hotel has three dog-friendly rooms, and provides chewy toys, a dog bed, bowls and sanitary bags.

Bedrooms are individually-designed and are dotted around the main manor house and outbuildings. The colour palette and styles vary and many of the features, such as open fires, spiral staircases and freestanding bathtubs, are one-offs.

Room types: Deluxe; Junior, Garden, Studio, One Bedroom, Deluxe Studio suites

Facilities include: ensuite bathroom with luxury toiletries, espresso machine, siting area, TV, free Wi-Fi

Raymond's Blanc's high standards have seen Le Manoir's restaurant retain its two Michelin stars for over 40 years. The menu uses locally sourced ingredients alongside the hotel's own garden-fresh produce.

Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons: Two-Michelin-starred dining, seasonal tasting menus. Open for lunch Thursday-Sunday and daily for dinner from 6pm.