Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant and Spa (to use its full name!) is a boutique hotel set in a renovated Georgian Manor in the Dorset countryside. Made famous by its links with Thomas Hardy, Summer Lodge has been sympathetically restored to its gorgeous original state. Guests love the surroundings and the friendly service the most: this boutique hotel has buckets of old English charm.

The facilities

Summer Lodge restaurant serves up European-influenced English cuisine to views of the boutique hotel's manicured lawn and gardens. The sommelier is sure to find a wine in the well-stocked cellar that complements your meal.

The boutique hotel's heated indoor pool with sauna/steam room is perfect for relaxing. The spa offers face and body treatments, as well as massages, for those after a bit more pampering, and gym bunnies can get their fix in the state-of-the-art fitness room.

The rooms

Each of the boutique hotel's 24 bedrooms are individually designed with a cheeky, contemporary take on country house decor: bombastic flowery prints and period furniture are offset by plasma screens, high speed Wi-Fi and DVD players. Other in-room goodies include bathrobes and scented candles, as well as fresh fruit and homemade shortbread to snack on.

The thatched roof cottages on the edge of Summer Lodge's grounds make extremely romantic retreats for newlyweds.