The Queens Hotel, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

The Queen's Hotel is located beside the Imperial Square and Gardens, close to the upscale shops, restaurants and other hotels of the Montpellier area, and just a few minutes' walk from Cheltenham's city centre. It's just a few minutes on foot to the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham Town Hall and the Pittville Pump Room entertainment venues.

By car: around 1 hour from Bristol, 2 hours 45 minutes from London, 3 hours 30 minutes from York. There is parking on site at £14 per day.

By train: trains run to Cheltenham Spa from Bristol (40 minutes) Birmingham (40 minutes), York (3 hours 10 minutes). The hotel is a 5-minute taxi ride from Cheltenham Spa station. Book trains to Cheltenham Spa.

This Grade II-listed English Heritage property was built in 1838 on the site of the original Sherborne Spa on the Promenade and named after Queen Victoria. After a recent extensive refurbishment, the hotel has a wonderfully opulent feel, with beautiful wallpapers, elegant but characterful art and artefacts, and tasteful and stylish furniture.

Service is efficient, polite but welcoming, as you'd expect from a hotel of this calibre - advice on which cocktail to choose from so many on offer was particularly welcome. There's an emphasis enjoying being looked after. Private parking is available, but there is a charge for it.

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Terrace
• Afternoon tea
• Wheelchair accesible
• Paid parking

• Free Wi-Fi

The rooms are gorgeous, with big comfy beds and plenty of amenities such as flatscreen TV, tea and coffee making facilities, iron and board, Egyptian cotton linen, robes and slippers, complimentary water, vanity kits and hair dryers, making you feel totally spoilt.

Room types: Superior and Deluxe rooms, Renascence Suite

Key amenities: ensuite with walk-in shower and The White Company toiletries, queen-size bed with Egyptian cotton sheets, tea and coffee-making facilities, TV, free Wi-Fi

Victoria's restaurant showcases classic British and seasonal cuisine - Beef Wellington, a signature pork pie, braised lamb shepherd's pie and an awesome raspberry ripple knickerbocker glory. Duke's Tea Room offers a splendid Queens Tiffin Afternoon Tea, and the Gold Cup Bar has a great cocktail menu.

Victoria's: formal, fine dining, modern British cuisine. Open daily 12-5pm and 6-9pm. Dinner mains from £14.

Duke's Tea Room: refined, intimate. Open 12-4.30pm. Queen Tiffin Afternoon Tea £21.50.