THE FACTS ABOUT THE SERENITY SPA, SEAHAM HALL HOTEL, COUNTY DURHAM

England

Seaham Hall is a historic house on a stretch of the north-east coast next to a depressingly grey mining village. Unexpectedly, the hotel has bedrooms as slick as London's One Aldwych and a Feng Shui-designed Oriental spa. 19 suites (some with two-person baths) come with Bang & Olufsen TVs, 'intelligent' lighting too complicated to use, lone orchid stems and adjustable air conditioning (not seemingly necessary on this wind-blasted coastline). In the restaurant, the scallops are melt in the mouth and the service is immaculate. The drawing room, where Lord Byron married Annabella Milbanke, is licensed for civil weddings. The big draw here is the spa: Asian in style, it features statues of Buddha, a gym with chilled towels, outdoor hot tubs, a Turkish steam room with 'light therapy', a soundwave therapy lounge and an ozone swimming pool. The chocolate facial is delicious, but there are also traditional treatments on offer. Seaham Hall was featured in our special feature UK Hotels. Full board, including one treatment, is £170 per person per night www.seaham-hall.com