F THE ELMS HOTEL
Nr Malvern, Worcestershire
or a calming escape in the Worcestershire countryside, look no further than The Elms. Not far from the sweet, green village of Abberley (around 40 minutes from Malvern) The Elms is a prime spot to unwind in Queen Anne grandeur surrounded by rolling hills. Rooms start from £99 per night, and are as homely as you would hope from a country house hotel. Expect traditional furniture and plenty of cosy throws in brushed wool. Meanwhile a drink in the downstairs Badger Bar is pure gentleman’s study.
The Greenhouse Spa is clean and verdant, tucked away behind the hotel in a glass-fronted building, which is ski chalet meets Victorian orangery. We recommend a brief meditation in the steam room, engulfed in eucalyptusscented vapour, and a Deeper than Deep hot stone massage with soothing frangipani monoi oil, followed by tea and cake in the spa cafe.
Just a short drive from the hotel, the spa town of Malvern is known for its excellent hiking routes and vibrant cultural scene. But, in Georgian and Victorian times, it was the perceived medicinal qualities of the natural springs that a racted visitors in their droves. Soon known as the ‘Water Cure Town’, an enterprising doctor duo introduced the Austrian art of hydrotherapy, opening a practice in 1845 that promised to relieve skin conditions with a quick dunk. The springs were also used by drinks giant Schweppes, which took to bo ling Malvern Soda in 1850. theelmshotel.co.uk