WHEN it comes to a relaxing spa weekend, Lancaster House Hotel has everything you need to unwind and indulge.

Set in picturesque grounds on the outskirts of the city, the hotel offers the perfect surroundings to sample the finer things in life.

Add to this the Foodworks Restaurant, which showcases some of Lancashire’s best local produce, a luxurious spa offering premium treatments and sumptuously decorated bedrooms and suites, it’s ideally placed for a weekend getaway.

The hotel is part of the family-run English Lakes Hotels group, which has another hotel in Lancashire plus three others in the Lake District.

The journey from Bradford was just as enjoyable as the weekend itself, taking around three hours with a stop at picturesque Kirkby Lonsdale.

We headed out towards Skipton before heading through the stunning Yorkshire Dales countryside.

After our quick stop in Kirkby Lonsdale – which has a lovely selection of shops, boutiques and cafes – it was on to Lancaster House to enjoy our long weekend.

The hotel itself is beautiful. The welcoming reception features a comfy seating area next to an open fire, which I imagine would be delightfully cosy in the winter months.

I already felt relaxed and couldn’t wait to explore all the hotel had to offer.

We were greeted with a warm welcome by friendly reception staff before being handed the keys to a luxurious suite.

Decorated in tasteful tones of blush pink and grey, the room featured its own seating area, plush bed and huge bathroom.

After quickly unpacking, we headed downstairs to the Sandpiper Health Club, where we were lucky enough to have an afternoon of spa treatments booked.

It was a real highlight of the weekend, particularly as I had never visited a spa before.

The staff couldn’t have been friendlier and the treatments, which included an exfoliating scrub, a facial and a massage, felt completely decadent.

The use of luxurious Elemis products made my first spa experience all the more enjoyable.

I emerged from the treatments feeling completely relaxed and rejuvenated, which was just what I needed after a busy week at work, and I wouldn’t hesitate to try some of the other treatments on offer. The health club also includes a pool, outdoor hot tub, a fitness suite and a beauty salon.

Such a calm afternoon set the perfect tone for our evening plans.

We had a table booked at the hotel’s stylish Foodworks Restaurant and we felt spoilt with the choices on offer.

We opted for a rib eye steak and lamb shank for our main courses – both which were delicious – followed by an espresso coffee custard and a chocolate and banana bread and butter pudding.

And for those who feel like splashing out for a special occasion, an eight-course tasting menu, pre-book only, is available.

Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets catered are also catered for.

After breakfast, where an extensive menu featuring classic continental and full English options was on offer, we decided to take advantage of the fantastic weather with a trip to the Lake District.

We parked up in pretty Bowness-in-Windermere and took a boat trip across to Ambleside, which offered beautiful views of Lake Windermere.

After a wander around Ambleside, complete with a stop for a drink and ice-cream, we boarded the boat back to Bowness.

The scenery was truly stunning and after a lovely Sunday exploring the area, I couldn’t wait to get back to the hotel for our second evening.

As we’d sampled the Foodworks Restaurant the previous night, we decided to dine in the Sandeman Bar.

The bar area had a slightly more informal feel, but the quality of service and food was in no way compromised and we were delighted with what we chose from the menu - a burger and fish and chips.

Classy touches at the hotel made the stay feel all the more special and it was particularly lovely to see a pianist performing in the reception throughout the evening.

On our final day we enjoyed a relaxing morning before checking out.

We found ourselves in the Sandeman Bar once again to enjoy a spot of lunch before heading home, opting for the chicken and bacon and steak and onion sandwiches. Both were really tasty and enjoying lunch in such serene surroundings was the perfect finish to our stay at Lancaster House and I was sad our break had to end. The hotel really is the perfect place to get away from it all. Set in a lovely part of the world, with both the lovely city of Lancaster and the stunning Lake District National Park on its doorstep, the hotel offers luxurious surroundings, beautiful rooms and delicious food.