Retreat East

Deep in the wilds of Suffolk countryside, you're in for a big surprise at this beautiful rural hotel, which takes relaxing country breaks to the next level. Indeed, tired city folk arriving at Retreat East from the big city may think they have died and gone to country heaven – this is not called a 'Retreat' for nothing. A former dairy farm, it's like a deconstructed country house hotel, made up of a series of self-contained barns, a self-catering farmhouse and a handful of luxury shepherds huts, generously spaced among gorgeous grounds. At its centre lies the purpose-built Great Barn, whose bar, restaurant and spa anchor a complex that is drenched in peace, calm and tranquillity.

Acquired by place-maker and Londoner Dominic Richards around five years ago, it's hard to think of anything they have got wrong at Retreat East. A graduate of the Prince of Wales architecture school, Richards saw this as a chance to put into practice some of the principles he had learned at Highgrove. As a result, not only are the barns decked out with flair and taste, and the location about as peaceful as you will find anywhere, the business is run with a keen eye on the environment. As well as charging points for your car, the hotel has its own bore-hole for water, an efficient and sustainable waste system,  power comes from solar panels and a lot of the ingredients for the restaurant come from their own kitchen garden. Their hives even deliver the honey for your toast every morning for your breakfast, so you can feel good about enjoying yourself while you're here! Perhaps not surprisingly, Retreat East was voted a 'Sustainable Hotel of the Year in the recent East of England awards, and 'Romantic Hotel of the Year' in the 2023 Times hotel awards, which tells you pretty much everything you need to know! Handily, It's also barely an hour and a half from London.

There are 29 barns in total, each containing one or two bedrooms: closest to reception, the original Dairy Barns have been beautifully converted, with open-plan kitchens and living spaces with TVs and Bluetooth speakers, stone-flagged floors, private terraces and large bathrooms with powerful walk-in showers and separate bathtubs; coffee and tea facilities are provided, along with fresh milk and other basics. All stays include a continental breakfast, use of the spa facilities and free bike hire. Further afield, there are the equally luxurious, purpose-built 'Field Barns', beyond which are five rather beautiful Shepherds Huts, which boast similar levels of comfort. There's also the original farmhouse, which has recently been stylishly refurbished, preserving its original features while making it thoroughly contemporary. It sleeps eight people in four bedrooms and has a private garden, and it would be hard to find a better self-catering option in this part of Suffolk.

Most of the barns are dog-friendly, and a couple are accessible, with parking right outside and extra-wide doorways for easy access. Children are welcome, but to be honest, the vibe is more one of adults kicking back and enjoying themselves, plus only some of the barns accept children. It's the sort of place where you would quite easily just stuff your car keys in the drawer for a couple of days and not go anywhere at all – perfect for lazing about, exploring the estate on undertaking undemanding country walks (of which there are plenty).  Breakfast is served every day in the Great Barn, as are lunch and dinner, and the food is delicious, locally sourced, very seasonal and always interesting.

The Great Barn also houses the hotel's spa, which has a sauna, steam room and various treatment rooms, and the hotel has a small gym and hosts regular outdoor events in one of the meadows – archery, axe-throwing and the like. They also lay on yoga classes, sound bath healing and other wellness workshops, and the estate is home to its own re-wilding project – something that can only make exploring the surroundings more interesting.