Ockenden Manor - West Sussex, Haywards Heath

Now that Spring has arrived and Summer has salaciously flashed a bit of skin, you may want to spend your weekends away from the pavement, noise and exhaust fumes. One of the best destinations for that purpose is Ockenden Manor, situated in the bucolic Tudor Village of Cuckfield in the heart of Sussex's South Downs. Originally an Elizabethan Manor House founded in the 16th Century, Ockenden Manor offers ample amenities and modern luxuries to match its storied history, including a Michelin-starred restaurant and a spa that rivals anything in the capital. 

The lauded Restaurant at Ockenden Manor has earned and retained a coveted star since 2004 under the supervision of Head Chef Stephen Crane. The kitchen exhibits talent in preparing Modern British cuisine with the finest British ingredients, sourced from Sussex producers whenever possible. Signature dishes include an assiette of longhorn beef with bresaola, brisket, potted, bone marrow and horseradish as well as pumpkin gnocchi with chicken oysters and wild mushrooms. Complemented by an extensive wine list with local options, dining at the Restaurant at Ockenden is an ineffably pleasant affair, regardless of whether it is spent in the modern-colonial dining room or with a private party in the oak panelled Burrell Suite. 

The Ockenden Manor Spa is located in what was formerly a 19th century walled garden and features amazing views of the 9 acres of parklands on which the hotel is situated, which can actually be enjoyed from the warmth of a spring-fed, river-stone floored indoor swimming pool with a swim-through to a heated outdoor pool. The spa also features an outdoor hot tub, indoor spa bath, walkthrough rain shower, outdoor sundeck and comprehensive gymnasium facilities. If you would rather opt for pampering than activity, there is a plethora of treatments running the gamut from reflexology to hot stone massages to isopod flotation. 

Ockenden Manor features 28 individually furnished rooms both in its original historic building and suites adjoining the spa. Every room is named for a members of one of the two families that have resided on the property since 1520, and each room exudes the plushness expected in a top-class hotel. Each room has its own personality and some have rather unique qualities, including private dining rooms, four-poster beds and expansive garden terraces.