Nice weekend away for birthday

[Babysharkdoodoodood]

My birthday falls on Good Friday this year so DH has suggested taking me away

I don't know where to go though. His idea of a nice break is somewhere up north so he can see relatives, which is nice for him, but not my idea of a nice boutique hotel with some shopping thrown in.

I had a look at Bath hotels but they're all 'classic' type old hotels and I want something more cutting edge. I love hotel du vin/Malmaison but we've been to quite a few now.

I think the problem is that I won't know what I like until I find it IYSWIM? I would love a spa treatment but not a spa weekend. I never use the pool or gym. I hate the countryside as it reminds me of growing up in the midday of nowhere.

Any ideas, please?

The Varsity in Cambridge

The Rose in Deal. They have cocktails on the breakfast menu.

York!!!!

I love Harbour hotels.

If you still fancy a trip to Bath, this hotel has parking and is a 5-10 minute walk from the centre of town and 10 mins walk (albeit uphill) from the canal and National Trust land:

www.thebirdbath.co.uk

Number 15 (Great Pulteney St) has toned down their rooms since I was last there:

www.guesthousehotels.co.uk/no-15-bath/bedrooms/

Also look at the Abbey Hotel and Hotel Indigo.

What sort of nightly budget?

The Harbour Hotel in Christchurch is gorgeous. I don't know about the shopping bit near there but the hotel and area are lovely.

Near Bath, I've stayed at The Wheatsheaf in Coombe Hay which has nice rooms and lovely food about 15 mins outside the town.

I assume if you were going to Bath you'd go to the Thermae spa, which was lovely the last time I went, but that was a long while ago.

Bloody 'd' h is now grumping and moaning because I don't want to do his plans. So I think it'll be a solo night away
£300/night budget.

On Good Friday, might you have trouble with a single night booking in a posh place?

Look at stow on the wold/bourton on the water

Where up north does your DH want to go? Lots of really beautiful places you could go to with shopping/spas nearby so you could stay together and separate off while you have an indulgent day and he can do rellies by home self

Try the chapel in Harrogate? Lovely town for a browse and beautiful but quirky boutique place to stay. Or I second the bird in Bath and Christchurch harbour. Bath's better for shopping... or hotel indigo in Durham is absolutely lush!

Brooks Guesthouse in Bristol is nice rather than fancy. It’s in a great location for exploring the centre of Bristol and eating nice food.

The Sands in Margate - book a room with a balcony and sea view. Lovely hotel with views over the beach. Margate itself is fun with Dreamland, Vintage shops, the Turner Gallery, Harbour Arm, cafes etc.

We're going to Winchester! Whoop whoop!
My son lives in Portsmouth so we're going to nip down there for dinner with him and gf then spend the morning in the city (town?) & pop into Bicester village on the way home. No spa but seeing my son tops that

Winchester is lovely. There are fabulous cafe/bar type places opposite the theatre. I only work there so don't know it as well as I'd like to - if you want recommendations, it's worth putting a new thread just for Winchester. The White Horse at Otterbourne is a fabulous pub that does really lovely lunches if you want either a Saturday or Sunday lunch before heading back.