Curated luxury hotels in Chester

• State-of-the-art spa
• 3 restaurants
• Great for business retreats

Thornton Hall Hotel and Spa has to be one of the number spa destinations in the UK. So if you’re looking for some pampering? Stop your search. The hotel’s nestled between Liverpool and Chester – around half an hour’s drive from both. But you won’t want to leave the hotel, thanks to its award-winning spa and first-rate dining options.

The pool in the spa sets the bar high – it’s inspired by Roman baths with its gold columns and tiled walls. There’s a hot tub, sauna and steam room, as well as a load of unique facilities that you won’t find in many hotel spas. We’re talking a snow room, a Himalayan salt wall, an infrared wall, and an experience shower with tropical rain, monsoon and cold waterfall settings. Outside, there’s a barrel sauna with scenic countryside views and a couple of hot tubs, surrounded by loungers.

For food, you’ve got the Lawns Grill for stuff like caviar, oysters and grilled meats. The Lounge for more relaxed fare, with sandwiches, sharing platters and mains, plus a cocktail happy hour. It lines up a terrace for al fresco wining and dining. And, finally, The Brasserie, in the health club, for brunch or tapas bites after a gym workout or spa treatment. The facilities list is rounded off with a gym, hair salon, make-up studio, nail bar and meeting rooms.

When you stay at Village Hotel St David's, Nr Chester in Deeside, you'll be in the suburbs, within a 15-minute drive of Chester Racecourse and Chester Zoo. This eco-friendly hotel is 8.2 mi (13.1 km) from Chester City Walls and 9.8 mi (15.8 km) from Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet.

With a stay at Carden Park in Chester, you'll be 6.9 mi (11.1 km) from The Ice Cream Farm and 8.8 mi (14.2 km) from Beeston Castle. This family-friendly hotel is 12.2 mi (19.7 km) from Grosvenor Museum and 12.4 mi (20 km) from Chester Castle.

When you stay at Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel & Spa, Chester in Ellesmere Port, you'll be in the historical district, within a 10-minute drive of Chester Zoo and Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet. This eco-friendly hotel is 13.2 mi (21.3 km) from Royal Albert Dock and 20.1 mi (32.3 km) from Anfield Stadium.

Located in Wrexham, Rossett Hall Hotel is within a 10-minute drive of River Dee and Wrexham Industrial Estate. This hotel is 6.1 mi (9.8 km) from Grosvenor Museum and 6.1 mi (9.8 km) from Chester Golf Club.

When you stay at Nunsmere Hall Hotel in Northwich, you'll be on a lake, within a 5-minute drive of Cheshire Falconry and Little Budworth Country Park. This hotel is 13.9 mi (22.4 km) from Chester Zoo and 13.4 mi (21.5 km) from Chester City Walls.

Located within the Cheshire countryside, The Macdonald Portal Hotel is 10 miles from Chester. It offers 3 golf courses, an indoor pool, a spa and an award-winning restaurant.

Rooms at The Macdonald Portal Hotel Golf & Spa feature spacious bathrooms with baths and walk-in showers. They also have flat-screen TVs and WiFi access.

The spa centre has a sauna, salt and ice rooms and a wide range of beauty treatments. There is an air-conditioned gym and one of the golf courses is of Championship standard.

Ranulf Restaurant serves traditional cuisine and has an emphasis on organic food. The Lounge Bar brews fresh coffee and has a light snack menu.

Oulton Park Race Circuit, which hosts events such as the British Touring Cars and British Superbikes, is only 2 miles away. Free parking is available at the Portal Hotel.

Located in Ellesmere Port, Inglewood Manor is in the historical district, within a 15-minute drive of Blue Planet Aquarium and Chester Zoo. This hotel is 7.9 mi (12.8 km) from Chester City Walls and 8.3 mi (13.4 km) from Chester Racecourse.

With a stay at Crowne Plaza Liverpool - John Lennon Airport by IHG in Liverpool (Speke), you'll be a 2-minute drive from Speke Hall and 5 minutes from Calderstones Park. This hotel is 3.9 mi (6.3 km) from Otterspool Adventure Centre and 4.3 mi (6.9 km) from Sefton Park.

With a stay at The Ship in Neston, you'll be a 3-minute walk from Parkgate Seafront and 9 minutes by foot from The Wirral Country Park. This inn is 12.4 mi (19.9 km) from Royal Albert Dock and 11.4 mi (18.4 km) from Chester Zoo.

When you stay at The Lion at Malpas in Malpas, you'll be within a 10-minute drive of BeWILDerwood and Victoria Jubilee Park. This hotel is 4.7 mi (7.6 km) from Carden Park Golf Club and 4.8 mi (7.7 km) from Stretton Water Mill.

• Grade I-listed surroundings
• Romantic wine cellar bar
• Four-poster bed rooms

Hotels don’t get much more romantic than Peckforton Castle, in Cheshire. I mean, it’s a castle. So your surroundings will include arrow slides, spiral staircases, suits of armour and French tapestries. It’s easy to see why so many celebs have got hitched here. And why it’s the backdrop for TV series, like Robin Hood, Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Who.

It’s not all looks and no substance, though. The 48-bedroom castle hotel has nailed dinner and drinks, as well. There’s the award-winning 1851 Restaurant, which blends the best of French and British. Or, fancy dining in the castle’s former kitchens? Head to 2010 Brasserie for a more informal meal of burgers, fish and chips, or pasta. The pièce de résistance is the wine cellar bar. It oozes ‘date night’ with its lantern lighting and dramatic vaulted ceiling.

You don’t come here for the location. It’s the kind of place you go to drop off the map and spend all weekend in bed. And they’ve got some seriously impressive ones of those. The Four Poster rooms give off fairytale vibes, while Executive rooms come with charming rolltop baths. And some of the rooms even have fireplaces that can be lit in the chillier months.

Located in Wrexham, Ramada Plaza by WyndhamWrexham is a 3-minute drive from Racecourse Ground and 9 minutes from Wrexham Industrial Estate. This hotel is 7.4 mi (11.9 km) from Coed Llandegla Forest and 9.8 mi (15.7 km) from Pontcysyllte Aquaduct.

Located in Runcorn, Holiday Inn Runcorn by IHG is within a 15-minute drive of Walton Hall and Gardens and Delamere Forest. This hotel is 10.3 mi (16.6 km) from Manley Mere and 10.6 mi (17 km) from Blue Planet Aquarium.

Set in Frodsham, 8.7 km from Delamere Forest, Original Glamping Pod with Hot Tub offers accommodation with a terrace, free private parking, a restaurant and a bar. The property is located 21 km from Chester Zoo, 23 km from Chester Racecourse and 25 km from 20 Forthlin Road. Offering free WiFi throughout the property, the non-smoking hotel has a hot tub and nightclub.

All guest rooms at the hotel come with a seating area. At Original Glamping Pod with Hot Tub the rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV, a shared bathroom, and a patio with a garden view.

The accommodation offers a children's playground.

Mendips John Lennon Home is 26 km from Original Glamping Pod with Hot Tub, while Sefton Park is 30 km from the property. Liverpool John Lennon Airport is 23 km away.

Located in Kingsley, 8.5 km from Delamere Forest, Dog Friendly Stagecoach Glamping Pod with Hot Tub provides accommodation with a terrace, free private parking, a restaurant and a bar. Located around 22 km from Chester Racecourse, the hotel with free WiFi is also 25 km away from 20 Forthlin Road. The property is non-smoking and is set 21 km from Chester Zoo.

Guest rooms at the hotel are equipped with a seating area and a flat-screen TV.

Dog Friendly Stagecoach Glamping Pod with Hot Tub offers 4-star accommodation with a hot tub.

Mendips John Lennon Home is 26 km from the accommodation, while Sefton Park is 30 km away. Liverpool John Lennon Airport is 23 km from the property.

Located in Frodsham, 8.6 km from Delamere Forest, Superior Glamping Pod with Hot Tub provides accommodation with a garden, free private parking, a terrace and a restaurant. This 4-star hotel features free WiFi and a bar. The hotel features family rooms.

At the hotel, every room is equipped with a balcony.

At Superior Glamping Pod with Hot Tub guests are welcome to take advantage of a hot tub.

Chester Zoo is 21 km from the accommodation, while Chester Racecourse is 22 km away. Liverpool John Lennon Airport is 23 km from the property.

Located in Tarporley, Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf and Spa is in a rural location, within a 5-minute drive of Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre and Oulton Park Circuit. This golf hotel is 11.7 mi (18.9 km) from Chester Zoo and 11.5 mi (18.5 km) from Chester City Walls.

Located in Northwich, Hartford Hall on School Lane is within a 5-minute drive of River Weaver and Blakemere Village. This inn is 2.5 mi (3.9 km) from Marbury Country Park and 4.1 mi (6.7 km) from Cheshire Falconry.

• Fairytale castle
• Escape room
• Themed events

With its towers, grand interiors and rooms fit for royalty, the Lumley Castle Hotel is like something out of the fairytale books. It sits on a hill surrounded by parklands, between Durham and Newcastle. It’s also opposite Durham County Cricket Ground, so you can walk to matches. You can spend your days exploring the North East England, or making yourself at home in its beautiful rooms, restaurants and bars.

You can choose to stay in the castle itself, or the courtyard. And upgrades to one of the three suites really are worth it for the four poster beds, rolltop or jacuzzi baths and countryside views. When you’re not in your room, there’s a cosy library bar to chill out in – even in winter, there’s often a log fire going. They serve brunch, as well as bits like toasted ciabatta sandwiches, sharing platters and soups for lunch. In the main Knights restaurant, meanwhile, you can dine on duck breast, monkfish or rump of lamb under a dramatic vaulted ceiling.

There’s always something going on at Lumley Castle. The hotel runs lots of fun events, from Elizabethan banquets and Motown nights to 80s-themed bingo and breakfast with Santa. And did we mention the escape room? Yep, you can book in to play Lily of Lumley without leaving the castle walls.