Perfect places to get away from it all

Good Housekeeping - October 2008

A long Weekend in an extra- special hotel can be as restful as two weeks in the sun, so break the long stretch between summer and Christmas with a refreshing short stay.

Stylish townhouse. Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

This lovingly restored 100-year old stone building, set in a quiet, leafy street, is a remarkably stylish place for a weekend getaway. With 23 rooms, the new Balmoral Hotel fuses classic features and cutting-edge design. With dark- wood floors, plush velvet carpets, real fires, moody wallpaper, red furnishings and seductive bathrooms, it’s a triumph of style. Room types range from bijoux studios to four-poster doubles and large two-room suites – each with the latest hi-tech gizmos- while its Harrogate Grille restaurant has become one of the local hotspots. Stroll five minutes to the town centre, famed for its natural spa waters, or take a day to drive or walk in the Yorkshire Dales.

The Balmoral Hotel, Harrogate, Yorkshire: 01423 508208