Castle Bromwich Hall Hotel, BW Signature Collection

Set in restored formal gardens on Chester Road, the Castle Bromwich Hall Hotel is a Grade I-listed Jacobean manor in Birmingham with an illustrious past: Elizabeth I is said to have stayed within these sixteenth-century walls. Original features survive throughout, from the grand staircase and intricate stone carvings to roaring log fires, and you can dine beneath the oak panelling of The Great Hall. The forty-odd bedrooms have been carefully refreshed while keeping their period character, the grander suites looking out over the grounds. For all the history, Birmingham city centre is only about six miles away, putting the Bullring, Symphony Hall and the Jewellery Quarter within easy reach. The gardens are the quiet star. The neighbouring Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens are a rare survival of a formal English garden from the turn of the eighteenth century, brought back to life by a charitable trust. Wander them in the morning before the day warms, when the walled enclosures hold the cool and the birdsong, then return to the hall for breakfast. Book your stay at the Castle Bromwich Hall Hotel, BW Signature Collection.