HOTEL OF THE WEEK Richmond Hill Hotel South West London

WHERE AND WHY

Overlooking Richmond Park and South West London’s lovely stretch of river, Richmond Hill Hotel is an ideal place for a scenic getaway – all within a 20-minute train ride from Waterloo.

This four-star Georgian villa has been refurbished with a modern look, complete with stylish restaurant, bar, and lounge areas. It boasts elegant bedrooms that make the most of their space, kitted out with espresso machines and Sky TV.

And while the retreat is great for couples, all rooms have desks to work from if you can’t get away from the grind.

Our room had a view of the Thames, a large bed and a huge bath.

ON THE MENU

The award-winning restaurant, bar and lounge have a bright 70s vibe, with feather details and touches of gold.

In the evening, the dining room is sumptuously lit, while in the daytime a huge sky lantern makes it a glorious sun trap. Restaurant 144 On The Hill offers classic European cuisine presented well, with a gin and cocktail list for those who want to indulge, or a glass of pinot grigio for £7.50.

There’s plenty to choose from on the a la carte menu, with generous portions and some excellent twists on the classics. For starters, we had a creamy, balsamic-infused burrata and a flavoursome pistachio and duck mousse. For mains, the jackfruit bonbon was a treat, while my dining partner loved the perfectly cooked spicy chicken with charred corn. We recommend the punchy rhubarb and ginger parfait for dessert. Starters are around £11, mains around £19, and desserts from £7.

The highlight of our stay, though, was a fry-up to rule all fry-ups, or you can opt for something from a generous breakfast buffet.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE

You’re just a two-minute hop from Richmond Park – complete with wild deer and plenty of fresh air – or you can take a boat tour on one of the many river services. Richmond has a wide range of cosy cafes and patisseries, several cinemas and a lively pub scene.

There’s no pool at the hotel, but if you’re not fussed about that there’s plenty on offer as the hotel goes big on spa treatments, including massages and facials from £55.

The lovely staff and beautiful surroundings made us want to come back.

WAKE-UP CALL

Rooms from £101 per night. richmondhill-hotel.co.uk