Littlecote House Hotel

History seeps from the very stones of this glorious Tudor country-house hotel on the fringes of the Cotswolds. This is where Henry VIII pursued Jane Seymour in 1535 on the rebound after Anne Boleyn lost her head, and Cromwell's soldiers were billeted here in the Civil War. Named after the regicidal puritan himself, Oliver's bistro takes a bang up-to-date line in its culinary output with a well-judged spread of contemporary classics, brought to table by smiling, attentive staff. You might start with seared scallops on celeriac purée with truffle dressing, as a build up to cannon of Gloucestershire lamb with basil and black olive potato cake and ratatouille dressing. Hot chocolate fondant with blood orange sorbet and caramelised orange is a fine way to finish.