Sabi Phagura visits Pennyhill Park, the luxury country house hotel set within 123 acres of glorious Surrey parkland.

With the sun shining, reclining on a deck chair by the outdoor pool, with a refreshingly cool drink in hand, I could easily have been on a resort in Europe. Instead I was at Pennyhill Park, an Exclusive Hotel & Spa just 45 minutes outside London set in the English Surrey countryside indulging in a spa break. And it’s not just the spa that puts this unique place on the map, it’s the luxury country house, accompanied by Michelin starred restaurant amidst the 123 acres of rolling parkland that does.

In fact, so secluded is this hotel and spa, that you wouldn’t know it existed on a busy main road located between upmarket Ascot, Sunningdale and Wentworth. Yet mention it to a few people and most people will have heard of it, not least because the England rugby union team stays here. There’s a full size pitch in the grounds for them to train on, a gym so large that they can all exercise in there at once and eight swimming pools for them to relax in post a strenuous workout. And you can be sure of complete relaxation with its wide range of treatments at the spa not to mention that it is only open to those over the age of 16.

Luxuriating in pure indulgence is what Pennyhill Park does best, I found out very quickly – whether that was walking around the grounds, chilling in the outdoor pool, the indoor infinity pool with its underwater music system or indeed lounging around in my suite named ‘Snow Drop’. One of 123 rooms and suites, this newly refurbished suite is spacious making the handcrafted four poster bed with its incredibly thick mattress look tiny. With two oversized armchairs and a spread of magazines, I was spoilt for choice as to where to relax and read first. The bathroom was truly something else. The yin and yang bathroom consisting of a split his and hers bathtub was super indulgent and ideal for any romantic getaway.

Whether you’re a real huge foodie or just like good food, there is something to suit everyone’s palate and budgets at Pennyhill. There’s Michelin starred food with Michael Wignall heading up The Latymer restaurant, afternoon tea within the grounds, café style food at the spa and informal yet chic dining at The Brasserie. We dined in these relaxed surroundings where service was impeccable and the food delicious.

As a gluten free diner, I could choose whichever dish I wanted and the chef would make it gluten free. The a la carte menu features dishes from shellfish to game, grills to vegetarian options and if you’re a bit more health conscious, lighter options to keep your diet lifestyle in check.

Pennyhill Park is definitely more of a resort than a spa with such a diverse range of experiences to restore balance to mind, body and soul. So whether you want a challenging 9 hole golf course, a game of competitive tennis, taking in the scenes during a jog along the trails, a leisurely walk or just want to relax in the lap of luxury in the spa, a stay at this exclusive hotel and spa will make any staycation feel like it’s not.

For more information on Pennyhill Park or to make a booking, visit www.pennyhillpark.co.uk.

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