With travel plans on hold for many, we explore the best short-hop staycations on offer in East Anglia
The Angel Hotel, Bury St Edmunds
The Angel Hotel has certainly seen some sights in the more-than-six centuries it’s served as an inn on Angel Hill, imperiously overlooking Bury’s Abbey Gardens. From serving as King Louis Phillipe’s bolthole during the French Revolution to giving a young Charles Dickens a bed for the night while he penned The Pickwick Papers, it boasts so many claims to fame it must have other hotels seething. The Georgian, ivy-clad façade cuts a grand figure, but inside is modern and playful, with clusters of bright paintings, deco velvet and a sweeping installation of a floating feathers along the spot-lit ceiling. The restaurant serves crowd-pleasing dishes with a high-end spin (think steaks, moules mariniere and pies), and the ornate copper bar is always abuzz with guests and locals on a Friday or Saturday night. If you fancy a chance of scene, the town offers plenty of great gastro experiences: mere steps away from the Angel’s entrance, you’ll find 1921, which serves exquisite tasting menus, while Cannon Street’s Pea Porridge is a famously good bistro. theangel.co.uk
Wyboston Lakes
If you need to unwind and de-stress (who doesn’t after the last few months), there are some great value spa-cations on offer at the Wyboston Lakes resort in Bedfordshire. Prices start at a very reasonable £180 per person for the Two–Night Hideaway Spa offer, which includes two nights’ accommodation at the luxurious Waterfront Hotel, a three-course dinner and breakfast on both nights of your stay and a buffet lunch at the 1 Rosette Waterfront Brasserie. You also get to visit the amazing Y Spa, both on the evening of your arrival and in the morning of your middle day, enjoying facilities including a spacious outdoor hydrotherapy pool, numerous saunas and steam rooms, a ‘frost wall’, mist and glacier showers and an awesome array of relaxation rooms – plus they’ll even throw in a gift from Elemis or Murad. thewaterfronthotel.co.uk
The Lodge, Duxford
For a bit of escapism right on your doorstep, set your sat-nav to Duxford and discover South Cambs’ hippest hotel, The Lodge. A co-working space and cafe by day which transforms into a cocktail bar, restaurant and alfresco pizzeria by night, this boutique bolthole has 17 stylish bedrooms and interiors to die for (think pink spiral staircases, neon lights and dark, moody walls). To eat, you can enjoy artisan pizzas, and an ‘off the grill’ menu, with dishes including steaks, spiced chicken kebabs and pulled jackfruit burgers. thelodgeduxford.com
The Three Hills, Bartlow
Priding itself on offering guests ‘the warmest welcome in Cambridgeshire’, The Three Hills is found nestled on the Cambs-Essex border in Bartlow, a stone’s throw from Linton. There are six individually designed bedrooms, all beautifully appointed and brimming with character and delightful touches like goose down bedding, fresh flowers, fluffy robes and complimentary White Company toiletries. For dinner, you can enjoy classic pub fare or a fine dining feast from the restaurant, which boasts two AA Rosettes. The cosy, country-chic interiors make The Three Hills a prime spot for a wintery feast, but with its charming terrace and large garden (with canopied area), extending all the way down to the river, it’s a venue for seasons. If you’re after an indulgent night away, surrounded by peaceful countryside, make The Three Hills top of your minibreak wish list. thethreehills.co.uk
Fuller’s Hill Cottages
If you’re looking for a self-catering staycation without the hassle of a long journey, you can’t go far wrong with Fuller’s Hill Cottages. Nestled on a farm in the South Cambs countryside, just 25 minutes from Cambridge, these stylishly renovated cottages have all the ingredients for a fun, relaxing weekend. Whether you want to cook up a feast in the fully-equipped kitchen, play some board games, ramble in the surrounding countryside, hop in your hot tub, catch the sunset with a glass of wine at the sundown spot, or simply laze about in the super plush beds – the cottages provide a luxurious home-from-home to help you get away from it all. fullershillcottages.co.uk
The White House, Norfolk
Buried within an estate between Burnham Market and the windswept beauty of Brancaster Beach, The White House hotel is the stuff that minibreak fantasies are made of. Immaculately restored by owner Alison, this country manor was given a new lease of life a few years back, transformed from derelict outbuilding to glamorous boutique hotel and wedding venue. There’s no restaurant at The White House, but that gives you an opportunity to explore the many local eateries that give this part of Norfolk a reputation as a gastronomic destination – with such great options in all directions, choosing can be a challenge, but we recommend The Hero in Burnham Overy and The Duck Inn, Stanhoe for a memorable feast. Rooms are gorgeous, with freestanding bathtubs, winged armchairs and sash windows, and breakfast – the one meal of the day served at the hotel – is feast of delicious local produce. stayatthewhitehouse.co.uk
The Swan, Lavenham
Under an hour away by car from central Cambridge, you’d be hard pushed to find a quainter, more chocolate box setting for a weekend getaway than Lavenham in Suffolk. One of the UK’s best-preserved Medieval villages, there are wonky timber-framed houses, a gothic-style church and magnificent limewashed guildhall to explore. Sitting at the heart of this charmingly lopsided village is The Swan, a stunning 15th century hotel where historic charm meets contemporary luxury. A big draw is The Gallery, the in-house restaurant, which offers a gigantic wine list and dishes that showcase the finest Suffolk produce. For after dinner drinks there are nooks aplenty to cosy up in, plus next-level nightcaps from the Airman’s Bar, a drinking den packed with mementos from Lavenham’s military history. Bedrooms continue the luxuriously furnished, timber-beamed charm of downstairs, and come with all mod-cons. The ace up The Swan’s sleeve is Weaver’s House, a sleek spa found at the end of a tangle of creaky corridors, which offers treatments, a hydrotherapy pool and sauna, and goes the extra mile for guests with thoughtful touches like smoothies, macarons and herbal teas. theswanatlavenham.co.uk
The Swan, Southwold
Suffolk’s most glamorous seaside town, Southwold has much to offer as a minibreak destination, from the fantastic food to the quirky pier and the pretty beach lined with colourful huts. The town’s most famous hotel is The Swan, which dates back to the 1600s and is owned by Adnams, which has a brewery on site that you can take a tour of. Located steps away from the beach, the hotel boasts a great restaurant, The Still Room, which offers contemporary dining in a chic setting, and a range of room options that includes colourful suites and charming garden rooms (two of which are well-suited to those with special accessibility requirements). Be sure to grab some treats from bakery par excellence Magpie, a scoop of ice cream from Harris & James, and fish and chips from The Little Fish and Chip Shop: best enjoyed with a bottle of Adnam’s finest on a seafront bench. theswansouthwold.co.uk
Titchwell Manor
A stunning, 26-bedroom retreat offering relaxed fine dining, Titchwell Manor in Norfolk has a deserved reputation as one of the top hotels in East Anglia. Dining is taken care of by owner and acclaimed chef Eric Snaith (of Eric’s Fish and Chips fame), and head chef Chris Mann, who have devised a menu that makes a worthy centrepiece of excellent local produce. There are two restaurants to choose between, with the sophisticated Conservatory serving up modern cuisine overlooking a walled garden, and the bright and bold Eating Rooms offering a more informal menu. There are 31 rooms in total, with some offering sea views, and the most luxurious of all (the Signature rooms) boasting private hot tubs. For a bit more privacy, check out the Potting Shed, a spacious, standalone room on the edge of the garden complete with log burner, roll top bath and complimentary drinks, which is a favourite with honeymooners. titchwellmanor.com
The Grove, Cromer
Escape to the North Norfolk coast with a trip to The Grove in Cromer, a luxury hotel set in four acres of peaceful countryside. This glamorous Georgian abode has all you could desire for a weekend of R&R, with an award-winning restaurant, heated swimming pool, glamping field and even a private woodland path down to the beach. Guests can choose to stay in the house itself, in the recently added Orchard Rooms overlooking the gardens, or in one of six self-catering cottages in the adjacent barn conversions; all are bright, airy and fully equipped with all mod-cons. thegrovecromer.co.uk
