Pass through the imposing wrought iron gates, sweep around the drive and pull up to the elegant Queen Anne red brick building and you can’t fail to be impressed by the quintessential country house hotel that is Lainston House.

Its surroundings are no less captivating - 63 acres of well tended grounds that include a kitchen garden, some chapel ruins and a magnificent avenue of lime trees that provides incredible views from the back of the hotel.

Inside, the reception rooms are spacious, light and decorated in a luxury classic country style that feels both comfortable and welcoming.

Lainston House has 50 rooms of varying sizes - ranging from ‘shoebox’ to ‘signature.’ The room decor has a country house hotel vibe - think floral fabrics and wood panelling - often with traditional features like four posters and roll top baths. There are coffee machines and a mini bar plus Molton Brown goodies in the bathrooms. Our room, Spurwing, was in the family junior suite category and was so big it fitted two king-sized beds in comfortably. The fanciest rooms have extras like outdoor access and hot tubs.

There’s also a well-equipped gym with an array of weights and treadmills.

Lainston House is made for special occasions with The Avenue restaurant offering a 3 AA Rosette fine dining experience. Headed up by Tom Hamblet, the 2023 winner of Masterchef: The Professionals, it’s famed for taking a seasonal approach with much of the produce used coming from the kitchen garden. There’s also an option to eat at the chef’s table where six guests can dine in the heart of the kitchen.

The Wellhouse is the more relaxed restaurant offering with the emphasis on wood fired dishes with smoky flavours. As expected, it’s strong on meat dishes, but there are plenty of vegetarian options too.

On rainy days go for drinks in the wood-panelled, book-lined Cedar bar before dinner or if the sunshine is out head onto The Terrace for spectacular views. Afternoon tea is also a treat here.

The Season Cookery School offers fun and informative sessions - either in a Bake Off style kitchen (complete with enormous islands and KitchenAids) or in the kitchen garden where the barbecuing classes come to life. Options are available for all skill levels and you can either go for the day or combine with a stay.

So much! There’s fly fishing in the streams and lakes in The Test Valley - only ten minutes from the hotel. For young guests there’s Paultons Park (home of Peppa Pig World) or Go Ape. We went to the very pretty village of Stockbridge and wandered around the shops. Jane Austen’s house is also nearby.

A gin & tonic on the terrace looking down the avenue of limes

There’s no spa or pool.

Prices start from £246 for bed and breakfast. exclusive.co.uk/lainston-house