With King George VI Weekend fast approaching you may be on the hunt for somewhere to unwind in between the drama and tension of the races.

Macdonald Berystede Hotel & Spa is the closest four-star hotel to the racecourse but is set away from the bustle of the town centre surrounded by lovely landscaped gardens and with plenty of parking.

It is also within easy reach of family attractions such as Legoland and glorious Windsor which offers history and plenty of shopping.

We had a quite a long walk to our double room but we were impressed by the elegant decor and large en suite with a bath and walk in shower. After scoffing our pillow chocolates and wrapping up in our robes we headed back to reception and down several flights of stairs to the spa.

After welcoming smiles from the staff we made a quick change and left our belongings in the lockers, which were secured and accessed using a self-generated code. A seemingly clever system but one staff can override and we returned at one point to find our doors ajar so I would recommend leaving valuables somewhere safer.

The spa favours function over fancy design but this works to attract a quieter crowd who respect the peaceful atmosphere meaning you can truly escape the everyday chatter and relax.

The 18-metre pool is meant for swimming rather than idling so with relaxation on our minds we made a beeline for the outdoor heated hydropool , leaning back in the bubbles gazing at the leafy surrounds and massaging away our knots in the powerful jets. It was wonderful to be out in the fresh air and helped any troubles drift away.

Lunch was served in the bar of the hotel which was quite strange as, dressed in robes, we came face to face with slammed up wedding guests. We also had a more than 30 minute wait for the pre-ordered cold lunch I thought rather excessive.

Back down in the spa, we entered the sauna and steam area set in a separate space to the side of the pool. Tension melted away as we made our way through the dry heat of the infra-red sauna, the wonderfully fragrant aromatherapy room and the invigorating ice cave and rainforest showers before reclining on the heated loungers as we waited for our treatment times.

My friend had chosen an Exotic Frangipani Body Nourish Wrap (£57) and I had opted for an Exotic Coconut Rub and Milk Ritual Wrap (£52) for which I had to strip off and don paper underwear before sliding under a towel on the treatment couch.

The therapist started by body brushing and then rubbing the scrub over my skin. Once buffed I was drizzled with coconut goodness and wrapped up in foil and towels which felt blissful.

I had expected a facial and scalp massage but instead my therapist gave me a mini facial complete with mask which was a nice surprise.

I then had to hop in the shower next door and rinse off the scrub while she cleared the couch ready for me to be moisturised. I wondered why she missed my hands and feet but left feeling extremely relaxed and pampered.

It was only when I got back to my room I detected a very obvious smell and realised she had applied tanning moisturiser. Suffice to say I was not happy as the smell wafted around me throughout dinner at the AA Rosette Hyperion Restaurant, where the food was delicious but the service was very sluggish, and I awoke to discover myself with an extremely patchy tan.

Breakfast was also extremely busy but one of the best buffets I have had with eggs fried before your eyes and plenty of choices.

It was nice to end on a high and with spa day packages starting at £49 I would return for some relaxation. Just minus the fake tan.

Click here for hotel details.