Seaham Hall & Serenity Spa is aluxury hotel and spa, located 20-minutes by car from Newcastle. It is regarded as one of the top health retreats in Northen England; indeed, the Serenity Spa is something of a destination in itself. The hotel is steeped in history and the literary-minded will know Seaham Hall as the place where Lord Byron married Annabella Milbanke.

The facilities

Seaham Hall is linked to The Serenity Spa by a unique underground tunnel. It has a feng shui-inspired, oriental design and offers a complete range of indulgent treatments. Relax in the black granite steam room and the Hydrotherapy pool, or get active in the aerobic rooms and the state-of-the-art gym. There's all the expected range of wraps, facials, massages, manicures and tanning treatments, all excellently done.

Ozone restaurant offers pan-Asian cuisine with a western twist; tuck in and enjoy, safe in the knowlege you've detoxed all the bad stuff away at the spa! The White Room, is the only Michelin star restaurant in County Durham and offers fine dining with superb quality fresh produce for lunch and dinner.

The rooms

There are 19 rooms at Seaham Hall, in five different categories, starting with 'Cool' functional standard rooms and ending with the suitably decadent 'Tops' Penthouse suite. For a luxurious compromise, we recommend an Escapist room or Decadent suite. Escapist rooms are in the older part of the hotel, with some rooms featuring limestone fireplaces and Room 11 boasting its own two-person freestanding bath. Decadent suites have more space, with a quirky touch in every room - Room 14 has a Juliet-style balcony, and room 4 has a private garden terrace.