Milsoms Kesgrave Hall

Situated on the eastern edge of Ipswich, this rather grand building used to be a school and was also once owned by the local Tolly Cobbold brewing dynasty, but nowadays Kesgrave Hall is a country-house retreat that's part of the small but perfectly formed East Anglian boutique hotel group, Milsoms.

It sits in expansive grounds, and has just 27 guest rooms, all on the spacious side, around half of which are in the main house, with the rest in the former headmaster’s quarters and various outbuildings – including the recently built Gatehouse, which can be booked as 4 separate rooms, as a ground-floor apartment for 2, or as a dog-friendly self-catering house sleeping 8 people. In the main house, the rooms range from ‘Classic (with back views and no separate shower), through ‘Superior’ to‘Deluxe’ and ‘Executive, which are very large and have freestanding baths and separate showers. The rooms in the grounds have separate entrances and a secluded feel, and range from ‘Superior’ to ‘Deluxe Family’ rooms. All rooms have complimentary water and soft drinks, fresh milk, fast WiFi, TVs with full satellite access, rain showers and either air-conditioning or Dyson fans.

Downstairs there's a bar and lounge that are relaxed rather than stuffy, and a two AA-rosette brasserie restaurant that is deliberately accessible (no reservations, no dress code), staying open all day and featuring stripped pine tables, an open kitchen and a quirky way of ordering – just write what you want on the pad provided. Brunch isn't just for weekends at Kesgrave Hall, which is great if you've done a midweek bunk from work, while summer means drinks on the outdoor terrace, a read of the book and a stroll in the grounds, making sure you're back in time for a proper afternoon tea, served from 3pm to 5pm every day. Like we said, cool, relaxed and boutique, and all super-friendly too.

Finally there is a lovely standalone spa in the grounds, with light streaming through large windows, five double treatment rooms and a sauna, and sunbeds and a large hot tub and log-burning fire on a south-facing deck, making it a great place to relax and enjoy the outdoors and woodland setting. As for things to do nearby, you're as well placed for the centre of Ipswich as you are the Suffolk Coast, with Woodbridge, Orford and other coastal hotspots within easy reach.