Charlton House

Highly recommend Goodfellows in Wells with International chef Adam Fellows (former Head Chef at Charlton House, coincidentally). Just fabulous, intensely flavoured fresh fish, beautifully presented, wonderful friendly staff, great atmosphere, and terrific value – a really lovely evening out. We ate in the restaurant, but there is a sister bistro for slightly more casual menu (bet the food's great there too, though!)

We took a trip to Wells, the smallest city in the UK, to admire its pretty little main street with a nice art gallery and some boutique shops, then a stroll down the river – really tranquil and pretty. Best kept secret: a recomendation from one of the staff at the hotel (who were all wonderful) was to seek out Vicars Close, a tiny cobbled street tucked in behind the cathedral almost opposite the clock chimes. Also for a very English experience of tea and cake, the café just inside the farm shop at Kinver Park was lovely – very nostalgic with chalk boards, stripes and flowers and great coffee.

Lovely hotel, with fantastic staff and stunning rooms. The pools and spa area are very relaxing and very quiet. Ask Dan on reception for advice on local activities, such as horse riding and shooting – both are highly recommended.

During our weekend trip to Charlton House we took a drive to the nearby City of Wells, recently made famous by the film Hot Fuzz. While there we stumbled across a fantastic restaurant called The Old Spot (+44 (0)1749 689099) which catered for my boyfriend, an ardent meat eater, and myself, a strict vegetarian. Although it was fully booked on the Saturday night that we turned up, the owner, a friendly Irish woman, managed to squeeze us in. The food was amazing and the wine list comprehensive. I highly recommend a visit.

For whiling away a lovely hour or two then the gardens at Kilver Court are very pretty and, dare I say it, romantic. When we went, they had a travelling boutique on, which was good for some additional browsing. Afterwards, the Harlequin Café serving Sharpham Park-grown foods is an excellent re-fuelling stop for something light or not-so-light.

The Old Spot (+44 (0)1749 689 099‎) in Wells is simply outstanding. We ate there for dinner on the Saturday night of our stay and the food was simply superb. There are only six choices for each course but the variety and quality of food are second to none and there are some of the more unusual yet incredibly tasty items on the menu such as smoked eel and skate wing. The restaurant itself is only small (about 15 tables) but is very smart and quirky with a mosaic tiled bar and a fantastic view of Wells Cathedral from the tables at the back. Staff are friendly and unassuming but are always on hand to provide knowledge where required. In short, I would eat here every weekend if it were not for the fact thatIi live 150 miles away