Mr & Mrs Smith

There had been so much hype around Babington House that we were worried that it wouldn't live up to our expectations. However, the minute we walked in, we could tell that it would be amazing. The house was calm and relaxed, with very friendly, casual staff, that were willing to get anything you want or need. We had one of the walled garden rooms, which are set away from the main house – a great choice for us. We wanted a quiet, child-free break, and these rooms were perfect. There was loads of space spread over three floors and everything you could need - and I mean everything: wood burner, hot tub, steam room, spa treatments in your room, bikes, a huge bed, every bathroom product you could ever want, SKY, and even hair straighteners for the ladies. We both had amazing spa treatments, and as the spa is joined to the walled garden rooms, the treatments were available in our room. Also, the spa staff were fantastic. The food was great, and the dining was more relaxed than I expected, but it was just what you want after a day of doing nothing. Warning, the meal for two is huge, and more like the size needed for three or four people. Our only small negative, and it’s a small niggle not a problem, was that the hot tub in our back garden was not private, so anyone could walk past while you’re soaking with a glass of bubbly. If there had been a fence, I would say that our stay was faultless.

Top tips: a soak in the spa overlooking the walled garden, complimentary afternoon tea, divine scones, cream and jam, don't just eat in the excellent restaurant but in the bar or the sitting rooms, it's very relaxed, take a bike and try the nearby national cycle network, a gentle ride through lovely countryside, use the in-room cocktail mixing service. Two niggles: breakfast is extra, which seems a little cheeky and there are additional service charges too. But Babington is a great escape.

Babington House was fantastic. We stayed in a walled garden room and couldn't have been happier. Well someone did take our bikes at one point and made off with our patio chairs, but that was easily remedied. The room was large and beautiful with free Wi-Fi and free bottled water which we really appreciated. The view of the grounds and pond from the restaurant was lovely and the food was great. Room service was wonderful as well. We really had no complaints and can't wait to come back with our children.

Another fantastic stay at Babington House. Great room, great atmosphere, great spa and great food. If you can drag yourself away from the grounds, there is a lovely walk down to Mells through the countryside. I can't wait to go back.

I took my partner here for his 31st birthday and we stayed in one of the Walled Garden rooms. The room was absolutely fantastic and we are intending on booking again for our anniversary in October. The outdoor private hot tub was lovely to enjoy just before breakfast overlooking the vegetable herb garden. Bring your swimming trunks even if you are not intending to go to the spa. We ordered the breakfast box using room service which was full of treats and definitely worth the few extra pounds to enjoy our room for a few hours longer, rather than getting dressed to go up to the main house for breakfast (the walled garden rooms are a short walk from the main house). We found the bar area very busy and noisy quite full of children on Sunday afternoon but it was much quieter before dinner if you want some peace and quiet then don't venture up to the house too early in the afternoon at the weekends. The Walled Garden rooms are children-free which means you can enjoy some couple's time. Throw in the private steam room in your shower and the massive and very comfortable bed on the mezzanine level, and you have all the elements for a truly memorable stay. Don't forget to bring your favourite romantic DVD or CDs to play on the entertainment system or an iPod, as the system allows you to pipe music into the bathroom or hot tub area outside.

If you have a mud treatment for two, pay the extra £20 for the relaxing bath afterwards: a massive steel tub for two (although my bet is you could fit at least 10 in it) overlooking the walled garden. Bliss.

We recently spent an amazing weekend at Babington House for our 1st Wedding Anniversary. The hotel was simply stunning, so much attention had been paid to every detail of the hotel. The atmosphere was so relaxed - you wouldn’t look out of place walking around the hotel in a bathrobe!

A nice touch was the complimentary Afternoon Tea which was served in the most gorgeous tea set (which I have since found out where the hotel purchased this - I will be making a purchase myself!). In true Babington House style, the staff will serve Afternoon Tea to you anywhere you like in the hotel!

The restaurant in the hotel was excellent. When you make a reservation ask for a table by the window to enjoy the stunning views.  We are already planning our next trip back there!

We had a delicious dinner at the Moody Goose at the Old Priory Hotel, Midsomer Norton (+44 (0)1761 416784). The food, service and wine were all excellent and the 15th-century priory were gorgeous – we highly recommend it.   

I was enjoying a honeymoon night with my husband and we wanted to make the most of it - the first night away together without our one year old daughter - and we didn't really have any plans as it was a last minute thing (wedding planned for a year but he didn't get around it...!)

My husband was a bit reluctant to have a spa treatment as it's not his 'thing' - "boring, pointless and waste of money". But the couples' mud treatment sounded like fun - and was something we could do together. Also "sensibly priced" compared to the rest of the spa menu, at £80 for two, for one hour.

Spa surroundings felt relaxed and comfortable and the attendant was friendly and not too in your face and talked through everything very clearly. She first showed us to our personal lockers and changing rooms (generously stocked, like all the hotel facilities, with free 'cowshed' goodies and teddy-bear like robes and towels). Then she took us to a tiled room with two seats, about the same size as a typical spa steam bath; also with a small ante room. There were 4 pots of mud - different colours and consistencies for face, torso, bum and legs and back. We had loads of fun plastering each other in the stuff, so we looked like some undiscovered tribe. The thinner muds dried quickly and cracked, but the back stuff stayed thick and cool - so you could draw on it with fingers! forget about naughty stuff though because this stuff got everywhere even without it.

We chose when to activate the steam... the lights dimmed, and we were engulfed in a cloud of damp heat. A lot nicer than it sounded, very relaxing in fact with twinkly lights and soothing (not annoying) music.

After the steam, we'd been warned that cold 'rainshower' showers would come on automatically - this added a certain frisson! but we managed to avoid being engulfed and used the controllable shower instead. We got all the mud off and exfoliated with the salt they provided (this would have been spearmint scented but on request they left this plain, simply because i hate the smell). Could have done with a couple of extra flannels at this point, and a mirror in the anteroom.

It's worth mentioning as an example of how helpful the staff are that normally the steam would have been lavender scented - since I'd mentioned that I'm allergic to creams containing this, the staff removed the lavender and on their own intiative, ran the steam twice before our treatment to ensure it was lavender-free)

Generally, at Babington House we really enjoyed the grown-up atmosphere and the feeling that nothing was too much trouble for the staff. Also delighted not just by the fabulous room, food and surroundings but also by the quirky touches like the knitted tea cosy on the teapot in our room.