Country chic U.K.

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30 OCTOBER 2003
Norfolk: The Hoste Arms, Burnham Market
This friendly inn has had a somewhat chequered history. It has variously been a brothel, livestock market, a courthouse and a post office where Admiral Nelson, who lived nearby, used to collect his dispatches. Its owner, the ebullient Paul Whittome, has now made it one of the magnets of north Norfolk. “Absolutely no dress code –though I'd love to ban ties,” he says. "It's all very informal and great fun for visitors.

There's a bar which remains more or less unchanged year-round, a restaurant serving Oriental and Western fusion cooking, a rambling lounge and courtyard. The main building houses 27 bedrooms – all comfortable rather than lavish, though in the new African wing, containing genuine African artefacts, the rooms are more luxurious.

Who goes: Stephen Fry, Amanda Holden and lots of blue-blood Labradors and their owners – dogs are welcome in the hotel.
What else to do: Burnham Market is one of the prettiest villages in the UK. Sandringham and a clutch of other stately homes are nearby – best of all, the fabulous beaches of north Norfolk are just three miles away.

Suffolk: The Ickworth, Bury St Edmunds
This 27-bedroom hotel, converted from the 18th-century Italianate east wing of the Marquess of Bristol's former home, simply exudes pedigree. A big plus point is that the hotel welcomes children - there's an adventure playground, nature trail, bicycle and horseback rides, a Four Bears den for toddlers and a club for older kids – without compromising on standards of luxury, food and decor.

Attractions for adults include tennis courts, an indoor pool, an Aquae Sulis spa and an incredible 1,800 acres of National Trust parkland to get lost in. Families can choose whether to eat in the main dining room, Fredericks, or go for buzzy Café Inferno in the old kitchens, which does great giant pizzas. The bedrooms range in style from cosy and traditional to contemporary and trendy, and there are 11 more apartments in the Dower House across the estate, all ideal for large families or groups of friends.

Who goes: The hotel is discreet about its celebrity guests – many of them famous footballers – because they want privacy for their families.
What else to do: Visit the attractive Georgian town of Bury St Edmunds, lovely old half-timbered Lavenham, plus Newmarket for racing fans.

Wiltshire: Whatley Manor, Malmesbury
If you're into chintz and horse-brasses, don't let the valet park your car, just rev up and beat a hasty retreat! This mellow old hunting lodge with its landscaped gardens may look as though it's straight out of a Jane Austen novel, but first impressions are forgotten once you've glimpsed the modern sculptures lurking among the antiques and wood panelling – not to mention the luxurious private cinema.

The state-of-the-art spa, Aquarias, has one of the largest hydrotherapy pools in the country and specialises in exclusive La Prairie body treatments including the ultra-pampering 90-minute "Caviar Body Care". In the dining room, classic French cuisine is on the menu, while in the brasserie-style Le Mazot, lighter, simpler fare is available. The 15 rooms and eight suites have all been individually designed, around an approach centred on style without stuffiness. As you'd expect, it doesn't come cheap.

Who goes: Darcey Bussell and the local country set. No children under 12.
What else to do: Highgrove, the home of Prince Charles is nearby, as is the Beaufort Polo Ground. The hotel is also beautifully placed for exploring the town of Bath and the surrounding countryside.