Stanbrook Abbey

Our guess is that this somewhat breathtaking huge neo-Gothic Victorian abbey is like nowhere else you have ever stayed before. Situated in the Malvern Hills not far from Worcester, it has 57 high-end rooms with the addition of an attached Georgian Manor House that can accommodate a further 10 guests, and a host of activities that you can get up to in its roughly twenty acres of grounds – and you do come for activity rather than peace and quiet. It's a perfect venue for a large group of friends or family, with clay pigeons and archery, rifle shooting and (yes, really) ice sculpting, wine-tasting, cocktail-making and more. It's also ideal for a wedding, not least because it has its own rather beautiful private chapel. The rooms make the most of the building's Victorian heritage too, with stained glass and appropriate furniture and fittings, as do the public areas with all the facilities you’d expect from a five star venue such as a swimming pool, spa, tennis courts and outdoor dining area.