Places to Stay: The Feversham Arms, North Yorkshire

I adore a romantic (see term; dirty weekend...) break with the boy, and its often refreshing to opt not for a city break, but for a gorgeous rural hotel in the country with nothing but an amazing room, spa, restaurant and each other  In the pretty (up)market town of Helmsley, The Feversham Arms is made up of a cluster of rustic pale stone cottages arranged around a heated outdoor pool, this place has it all.

For me, the highlights of staying here include, but aren't limited to, the gorgeous champagne afternoon tea by the fire, Aroma Stone massage and Anti-Ageing Smoothie facial in the Verbena spa, our amazing suite - Room 22 – a galleried poolside suite with a wood-burning stove and the Poached white peach, vanilla shortbread and lemon verbena granite. As amazing as it sounds.

Michelin-starred chef Chris Staines (formerly of Marco Pierre White’s Oak Room) is now at the helm, alongside head chef Simon Kelly (ex The Waterside Inn, Bray and Nico at Ninety Park Lane). Dinner is served in the hotel restaurant between 6.45 and 9pm with a choice between a five-course tasting menu and a three-course a la carte. The restaurant has a modern take on fine dining and comes with a real sense of occasion, so pack heels and your favourite clutch. The five-course tasting menu is treat not to be missed. Dishes such as lemon-baked halibut with chervil hollandaise and asparagus keep the local foodie fraternity flocking here (and my chef beau happy!).

Places to Stay: Five Favourites | Britain's Sexiest Hotels

t h e  g r o s v e n o r  ,  l o n d o n  . . .

The Cora Pearl Suite at London's Grosvnor Hotel is named after a famous courtesan, at one point the toast of Paris with several wealthy lovers. In the 1870s she visited London and booked a suite at The Grovesnor (we won't say who she was visiting, but Buckingham Palace is very close by). The hotel refused her entry. They've made up for it now though, the suite that bears Cora's name has a beautiful free-standing bath, a chaise lounge and is decorated to look like a boudoir. The Cora Pearl Package, including cocktails and a seven-course dinner, is priced at £1862 for two people over two nights.

l e  m a n o i r  ,  g r e a t  m i l t o n  . . .

Raymond Blanc is best known as a chef but he's also dished up seriously sexy hotel rooms at his Oxfordshire hotel and restaurant, Le Manoir. Each room was created by French-born Blanc, who counts the Opium Suite, pictured, among his personal favourites. Le Manoir, Great Milton, double rooms from £515 per night.