"A dream five-star retreat, The Grove, once home to the Earls of Clarendon, is close to London (just 18 miles) but feels plenty far away, amid 300 acres of Hertfordshire countryside. The grounds are gorgeous, from the Walled Garden to the picturesque woodlands—you can take bikes or Segways along forest trails, and there are three pools, the most exciting of which has to be the black mosaic-tiled one in the expansive Sequoia Spa. The Grove caters to families with plenty of kid activities, has two great restaurants, and is also good for a golf weekend away (there’s an 18-hole course here, too). The rooms are cleverly restored, with light textures, massive comfy beds, open baths, and luxurious soft furnishings alongside Espa toiletries. You won’t be disappointed whichever room you stay in. Then there’s the afternoon tea, which is decadent and delightful and not to be missed." - CNT Editors