Gothic grandeur at Ettington Park Hotel

Is there something a little mysterious about Ettington Park Hotel with its gothic arches and the raven swooping over its spires and turrets? Before it became a luxury hotel the estate was owned by the Shirley family as far back as the doomsday book and Shakespeare was a friend of the family. Perhaps he wandered through these pretty formal gardens? And so we climbed the stairs to our first floor bedroom, a touch of the gentleman's club in its classic mahogany furniture and colour scheme. It had all the comforts that you might want, a large wardrobe and the means to make yourself a nice cup of tea, although we enjoyed the local apple juice and cookies and tried not to get crumbs on the bed. There's free internet access and a spacious marble bathroom with a large Edwardian sink and plenty of toiletries to spoil yourself. We loved the pretty touches in our room, oh and don't forget to have a swim before breakfast. The rather grand drawing room leads out to a flower-filled terrace where you can have a drink with a view of the old parish church now in ruins after the estate was enclosed in the 18th century. Ettington Park is a place to relax and perhaps connect with the ghosts of the people who lived here over the centuries.