Ellenborough Park

This majestic 15th-century mansion, set in wide-open country, offers 61 individually designed rooms, mixing original fittings with features like underfloor heating and Nespresso machines. Some, still characterful, sit in modern annexes. The restaurant uses ingredients from the on-site kitchen garden, and there’s a heated pool and serene spa. It’s 3 miles northeast of the centre, via Prestbury Rd.