-Celebrate a traditional Christmas at Hartwell House in leafy Buckinghamshire

-Bodysgallen Hall is the perfect setting for Christmas with a Welsh flavour

-See in the New Year to a jazz band at Middlethorpe Hall near medieval York  

Historic House Hotels are a collection of three very special places - Hartwell House, Bodysgallen Hall and Middlethorpe Hall. Staying in these beautifully restored stately homes, now owned by the National Trust; guests can feel they are in a private house rather than a hotel. Where better to indulge in fine festive food, wine and spa treatments in luxurious surroundings in the British countryside.

HARTWELL HOUSE

Hartwell House is an impressive stately home in the Vale of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire once graced by Louis XVIII, exiled King of France. The grade I listed house has both Jacobean and Georgian facades and ornate interiors rich with rococo ceilings, antiques and paintings.

Christmas is a special time at Hartwell House and a wonderful way to enjoy the festive season with luxurious dining and relaxation. Menus at Hartwell feature local and seasonal produce as well as vegetables, fruit and herbs from the estates own orchards. The Hartwell Spa has an indoor heated pool with steam room, sauna and all weather hydrotherapy hot tub on the spa sun terrace with Aromatherapy Associates treatments.

Christmas

Two or three night breaks available from 24 – 26 December. Christmas Eve kicks off with a black tie reception followed by Christmas carols and a four-course dinner with wines. On Christmas Day there's a four-course lunch with Champagne cocktail and wines, afternoon tea with Christmas cake and buffet supper. Guests staying the night on Boxing Day will enjoy a cream tea, three-course dinner and casino evening. Two nights from £1,500 per double room including early morning tea, cooked breakfast, afternoon tea, WiFi and all of the above.

Twixmas

Unwind after Christmas with a relaxed night or two in the grandeur of Hartwell House. Take a turn around the vast surrounding landscaped parkland, visit the gym or indulge in the spa with its galleried Spa Café and Bar.  Doubles from £330 dinner, B&B and use of the spa.

New Year

New Year celebrations begin with an afternoon cream tea followed by a Champagne reception, fireworks and a five-course black-tie, candlelit dinner with wines and dancing until the early hours. A leisurely brunch is served on New Year's Day. Guests have full use of the Spa. Double or twin rooms from £800 per night including all of the above.

www.hartwell-house.com Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP17 8NR Tel: 01296 747444

BODYSGALLEN HALL

Set on a hill above the seaside town of Llandudno, Bodysgallen Hall is a restored 17th house with spectacular views across Snowdonia and Conwy Castle from the Main Hall, which dates back to the 13th century. The 200 acres of parkland include follies, a walled garden and a rare 17th century parterre of box hedges filled with sweet herbs. Imaginative menus feature largely local and seasonal fare. A restored stone farmhouse holds the Bodysgallen Spa with a large indoor swimming pool, steam room and sauna, gym and treatment rooms. The perfect setting for a Christmas with Welsh flavour.

Christmas

Start with a Champagne reception on Christmas Eve before a three-course dinner. Transport can be arranged to Midnight Mass with mince pies and port on your return. On Christmas Day a traditional three-course lunch will be served with a light buffet supper in the evening. Boxing day is the perfect opportunity to swim in the heated pool or be pampered in the spa with a Champagne reception in the evening followed by a Welsh harp player and a four-course dinner. Double rooms from £850 per night including the above and breakfast based on two sharing.

Twixmas

As the Christmas crowds leave, indulge in the serenity of the house, gardens and spa with indoor swimming pool, steam room, sauna and gym with personal trainer if required. Treatments from Environ, Caci and Decleor. Or visit the many historic castles and stately homes in North Wales. Double rooms from £179 per night with early morning tea and breakfast based on two sharing.

New Year

The New Year House Party break ranges from one to three nights with afternoon tea, Champagne reception and a five course dinner with wines on New Year's Eve with brunch on New Year's Day (dinner and breakfast on the other days). Double rooms from £650 per night based on two sharing.

www.bodysgallen.com Llandudno, North Wales, LL30 1RS Tel: 01492 584 466

MIDDLETHORPE HALL

Middlethorpe Hall is a 17th century William and Mary country house standing in 20 acres of manicured gardens and parkland just outside of the historic city of York. Once the home of the famous diarist Lady Mary Wortley-Montagu, Middlethorpe has been restored with carefully chosen antiques and art work.

Middlethorpe is the perfect setting in which to enjoy a traditional Christmas with its open fireplaces, panelled dining rooms with candlelit tables overlooking the magnificent grounds and excellent award winning food using fresh, local produce.

Christmas

On Christmas Eve a buffet of afternoon tea delicacies is served with a Champagne and canapés reception in the evening followed by carols sung by a local choir.  A three-course dinner can be followed by attending midnight mass at York Minster with mince pies and port on your return. Christmas Day brings a Bucks Fizz reception followed by a traditional four-course lunch with the Queen's Speech shown in the Drawing Room, and tea, coffee and mince pies followed by an evening buffet. Boxing Day allows guests time to visit the spa, a pantomime at York Theatre Royal or the Yorkshire Dales with a picnic returning for a black tie four-course dinner accompanied by a jazz pianist and Casino tables. A three night Christmas break is priced from £1395.00 based on two sharing including the above.

Twixmas

Treat Middlethorpe as a peaceful rural retreat – cosy up in front of a fire with a Christmas book, unwind in the spa or walk off the Christmas excess with urban walks around York – guided and non-guided (see Yorkshire.com) – or a rural ramble in the surrounding countryside. Double rooms from £159 B&B with WiFi and use of the spa.

New Year

Stay from one to three nights (guests staying three or more receive a complimentary bottle of Champagne). New Year's Eve starts with a cream tea with a Champagne and canapés reception in the evening. A six-course black tie dinner will be followed by a firework display with a jazz band playing until the early hours. Consomme and sandwiches served around 1am. New Year's Day brings a Bloody Mary brunch. Double rooms from £700 per night including the above (three-course dinner on other evenings).

www.middlethorpe.com York, Yorkshire, YO23 2GB, Tel: 01904 641241