Taunton and South Somerset Living Apr - May 2020

Glorious walks from the Highbullen Hotel, Devon
STYLISH Staycations
Whether you want the buzz of the city or a
complete country retreat, here are our pick of
UK staycations...
the best of the city and west end at
THE STRAND PALACE, LONDON
Having welcomed guests since 1909, the Strand Palace is surrounded by
the best London has to offer - located just minutes from Covent Garden.
Having recently undergone a large-scale multi million pound renovation,
myself and my partner decided to tie in a spot of winter shopping/
sightseeing in with a stay in what is most definitely the heart of London.
The Strand Palace creates a fabulous impression the minute you meet the
doorman! The front entrance, lobby and reception are one large, bright,
open spaced hub, featuring art deco influences that create a very relaxed
and sophisticated atmosphere. We checked in and made our way up to
our room, which was a tranquil, comforting retreat from the hussle and
bustle of the street below.
It is at this stage that I feel I must confess: I am a bit of a tourist when it
comes to London. In the past I have found myself booking into hotels that
seem to be on the other side of the city in location to all the spots I wished
to visit, and although there’s the tube, it’s still nice to be situated near
the action. This is what makes The Strand Palace so perfect. Its location
is brilliant - right in the heart of the West End, and with Covent Garden
a mere two minutes away you really have got it all on your doorstep.
I couldn’t believe our luck when a trip to The National Portrait Gallery
took....seven minutes on foot!
We made our way back to the hotel after a spot of lunch, opting for the
pre-theatre menu which is brilliant value for money if you are trying to
keep costs down. Pre 7pm, you can indulge with 2 courses for £20, so
we tucked into some crispy lime squid, followed by fish and chips, with a
lovely light batter. All washed down with a bottle of red. Delightful!
The city felt like ours for the taking! We took ourselves off for a stroll around
Covent Garden, closely followed by a visit to a couple of ‘proper’ London
pubs. If you are after a weekend away in the city and want to make London
your own, The Strand Palace offers a truly unbeatable location.
Sam Norris | strandpalacehotel.co.uk, rooms from £175 per night
escape to the country at
UPPER TETCHWICK
HOUSE, NR AYLESBURY
There is surely no better ointment for the weary
soul than a weekend in pristine countryside
with your closest friends. I found that sense of
reatreat at the beautiful Upper Tetchwick House,
booked through holidaycottages.co.uk.
With a whole host of different holiday
accommodation options to suit couples, families
and large or small parties, holidaycottages.co.uk
was the perfect site through which to book our
little staycation. We settled on Upper Tetchwick
House, which sleeps 12.
In a rural location on the outskirts of Aylesbury,
the property is a home away from home - if your
home is a resplendent country pad complete
with six bedrooms, a swimming pool, a billiards
room and a duck pond, with far reaching views
across the countryside! It’s a house that would
cater in any season - with a huge garden and
pool for the warmer months and a wonderful
wood burning stove when the chill sets in.
The whole process was easy as anything -
meaning we all felt immediately on holiday - that
was in part thanks to the lovely locally-sourced
welcome hamper waiting on the counter.
The house had the added benefit of being dog
friendly too, meaning my pooches didn’t miss
out on any of the holiday action.
Katie Thomson | holidaycottages.co.uk,
a three night stay costs £1,568 total
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