Babington House

Hip London club meets Georgian house and super spa in the Somerset countryside

First impressions arriving at the end of the long driveway: "We'll need to come back here again". This is a beautiful Georgian house with 32 well-designed and very comfy rooms plus an award-winning spa, set in rolling Somerset countryside. It's owned by London's Soho House, so there's a vibrant media flavour in the restaurant and bar. You'll want for nothing - probably because many who stay demand it all: spa, lake, croquet, tennis, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, an immaculate walled herb garden, even a 45-seat cinema where you can see pre-release screenings.

The décor crosses traditional English with rustic chic: expect deep leather sofas, fireplaces and a relaxing library. It's the sort that weathers well, and everything looked as appealing when we revisited in 2012 as it did when we first stayed. This is a benchmark for how to balance old and new. Despite its more glitzy side (there's a glam bar, the odd crystal chandelier and the occasional svelte customer), it's great for kids and there's a deliberate aversion to formality. Drink where you like, dress up, dress down, get on down. From the moment they whisk your bags away and park your car for you, you know it's a well-oiled machine. Service does not falter. Nobody does it better.

Highs

• Beautifully styled bedrooms - some over 2 floors, some with fireplaces, and most with freestanding bathtubs
• Superb Cowshed spa with exceptional treatments and fabulous indoor and outdoor heated pools
• Tasty modern British fare (Devon crab, lamb cutlets, organic salmon) served in the elegant Orangery or the fire-lit Log Room, plus complimentary afternoon tea
• Acres of outside space to roam around, plus fun vintage-style bikes to borrow
• Ideal for those who want to switch off and relax (mobile phones are discouraged in communal areas)
• Child-friendly, with a 2-storey crèche and kids’ menus, though families are normally restricted to rooms in the Stable Block or the Lodge

Lows

• It can get busy at weekends, when Soho House members often come for the day with their kids
• And it gets booked up long in advance for weekends and holidays, especially the family-friendly Stable Block rooms
• Costs can mount up (breakfast isn't usually included in room rates)
• It's tricky to find first time as they avoid displaying roadside signs
• If you'd prefer not to bump into well-known faces, this may not be the place for you