Fodor's Expert Review Middlethorpe Hall & Spa

Aimed at visitors who prize period details like oak-paneled walls, four-poster beds, carved wood bannisters, and window seats, and whose idea of luxury is a bowl of fresh daffodils, this splendidly restored Queen Anne building with mid-18th-century additions feels less like a country-house hotel than an actual country house. Owned by the National Trust, it has perfectly chosen furnishings, textiles, and wallpaper. Plant enthusiasts won't want to miss the series of walled gardens landscaped in keeping with the period, as well as the mature oak, cedar, and sycamore trees dotted around the 20 acres of grounds. Former outbuildings and stables contain more cottage-style rooms. The pretty spa features Aromatherapy Associates treatments. There are two restaurants: the Oak, whose Modern British menu changes seasonally, and the less formal Pineapple, which offers lighter fare like sandwiches and salads.