Congham Hall

Renowned for its herb garden, with some 400 varieties, this Georgian merchant's manor house is set in 30 acres of Norfolk parkland. The country theme is continued throughout – garden herbs are used in the spa, bedrooms are named after plants, and cabins with freestanding tubs on the terrace overlook the orchard. ‘A charming place to stay, with an atmosphere to stir the imagination,' writes a reader. All bedrooms have an espresso machine, fresh milk, home-made biscuits. House bedrooms, ‘decorated in restful tones’, have a classic feel, in keeping with the building. Dandelion suite has a sitting room, balcony, wet room and in-room feature bath. More contemporary dog-friendly rooms around the spa garden have a private terrace, a bath and waterfall shower. In the airy restaurant, home-grown produce inspires dishes such as roast monkfish, choi sum, curried potato, coriander, lime. For readers returning after some years, dinner did not live up to their memories. However, the gardens and accommodation were 'as delightful as ever'. An ‘excellent breakfast’ includes kipper with mustard butter; smoked salmon, pumpernickel, avocado.