Gorgeous retreat in Surrey, within easy reach of London. The England rugger buggers apparently use this place but don't let that put you off.

The rooms are the height of luxury. We stayed in a suite where the bed was massive, the bathroom opulent and the room bigger than some of the flats I've lived in.

The spa, which you get into for free if you're staying overnight in the hotel, features saunas, steam rooms, massage chairs and plenty of jacuzzis, pools and the like. You can pay for treatments, too, and I'm reliably informed that they are the business but if you're only staying for the one day, you should be happy enough larking around in the various watery bits like the outdoor heated pools.

The restaurant maintains the consistent feel of luxury, with a nicely obsequious staff paying just the right level of attention. We had the tasting menu here, including a very large cheese course (it took about 10 minutes for the cheese waiter just to describe what the various cheeses were), which left us barely able to walk back to our rooms. A bit of advice - if you're here for a - ahem - romantic weekend, you will not feel like doing much on your bed apart from laying on it like a beached whale, waiting for your gorgeous meal to be digested.

Highly recommended, and a surefire winner as a surprise weekend away for a loved one.