From an old-world city hideaway to luxury countryside escapes, as recommended by the Style Council.

With the opportunity to travel relatively inexpensively to every corner of the globe, and an unspoken competitive element to our vacationing (Instagram has a lot to answer for) – taking a week-long break on a beach in Gran Canaria can feel a little vanilla when your work mates are trekking in Peru or taking the 17-hour flight to Perth. But in a bid to make the most of our time out of the office, we often return from our trips jetlagged, exhausted, and, well, in need of a good holiday. With this in mind, for the upcoming Easter weekend, we’re relaxing – properly this time. To do so, we won’t be venturing far from MR PORTER HQ. We’re not on staycation as such, but we’re avoiding long-haul flights, strenuous activities and extreme weather. Here, as recommended by the Style Council, are five of the best places to stay on a mini-break in England.

**Kettner’s Townhouse, London **

The thought of quietude, solitude and an unreliable 4G connection can strike fear into the heart of even the steeliest modern man, so you might want to eschew the countryside in search of relaxation and stick to the city. This presents the opportunity to enjoy all the good bits – fantastic restaurants, great nightlife, the reassuring hum of metropolitan life – without any of the bad bits – going to work, public transport, having to look after yourself. Instead, let the staff at London hotel Kettner’s Townhouse do that. Having closed in 2016 after 149 years in business, it reopened this year and, with 33 rooms, a champagne bar and a restaurant, is a firm favourite for any fun and frivolity you desire.

**Find out more here **

Cowdray House, West Sussex

If you consider yourself more of a traditionalist, you may wish to drive a couple of hours outside London to the South Downs, having booked yourself in for a night or three at Cowdray House. This stately home situated on Viscount Cowdray’s West Sussex estate is home to the finals of the Gold Cup and is the de facto home of British polo (something you can take a lesson in while you’re here). If that doesn’t take your fancy, explore the 110 acres of private gardens and parkland on foot, or stay put and enjoy the food at the Farm Shop Café.

**Find out more here **

**Babington House, Somerset **

Style Council member and cyclist Mr David Millar says he likes Somerset hideaway Babington House because, “I appreciate its dreamlike Englishness.” Mr Markus Anderson, the global membership director of Soho House, describes it as, “the ultimate place to hide and shut off.” Given that Babington House is part of Soho House’s portfolio, Mr Anderson might be a little biased, but that doesn’t mean he is wrong, especially when you consider that this getaway is based on 18 acres of grounds, with a private lodge and spa. Perhaps the greatest attraction is its food – much of which is foraged from its impressive walled garden.

**Find out more here **

The Inn At Whitewell, Lancashire

If there was any snobbery about automatically heading south rather than north to get away from it all in England, a stay at The Inn At Whitewell will dissolve such notions. Based in Lancashire by the River Hodder, this “old-fashioned rural inn” offers 23 rooms (some with a water view) filled with antiques, a fuss-free, characterful atmosphere and a heavy emphasis on excellent food made with locally sourced ingredients. These are just some of the reasons why it appeared on the first series of Mr Michael Winterbottom’s The Trip.

**Find out more here **

Hotel Endsleigh, Devon

If you’re set on taking a break in the south, or more specifically the southwest, try Devon, and book a few nights at Hotel Endsleigh, one of the best in the county. And if your dream break involves the romantic idea of an English country house, this Grade-I-listed hunting lodge is as good as you’re going to get. Think: roll-top baths, charming décor and beautiful grounds (Style Council member Mr Anthony Quinn describes them as the best of any hotel in the country). A traditional English experience, indeed.

**Find out more here **