Rating: Four stars

We often overlook the beauty of staying within the UK for a nice weekend break.

These surrounding areas, especially, have many wondrous establishments and stunning views, and Phyllis Court, in leafy Henley-on-Thames, is one of them.

The building itself gives off a sense of prestige, and its close proximity to both the River Thames and the centre of Henley only adds to overall luxurious ambiance.

We were put up in room four – one of the 17 individually styled rooms – which was spacious, attractive and, most importantly, comfortable. We both had a fantastic night’s sleep and woke up feeling refreshed.

Dinner was in The Orangery, and we chose from the seasonal menu. For starters, I had the leak and potato soup (£6), which was hearty and wholesome, and the perfect start to a chilly evening.

My wife had the wild mushrooms on toasted muffin which comes with a truffle hollandaise (£8), which she described as tasty and well-seasoned, with no flavour overpowering any other.

If there was one slight blemish on the overall experience, it would be the lack of vegetarian main meal options, as we found ourselves restricted to ordering the smoked aubergine, spinach and lentil cake with feta cheese and smoked pepper chutney (£12).

While I found the dish to be exquisite, full of flavour and well-cooked, it was a little too strong for my wife. An additional vegetarian dish, possibly pasta or something similar, would be a good addition to the menu, giving all patrons a wider range of dining options.

It was a carnivore’s dream menu, however, with a pie of the day with seasonal vegetables and potatoes (£12), king prawn tagliatelle with chilli, crab and white wine sauce (£14) and, for steak lovers, an Aberdeen angus sirloin steak with chips, grilled mushrooms and vine tomatoes (£26).

The dessert options were also bountiful. We enjoyed mouthfuls of chocolate brownie (£6, pictured) and sticky toffee pudding with a delectable butterscotch sauce (£6), both sweet to just the right amount and both complimented with a cold partner – a raspberry sorbet with the brownie and fresh vanilla ice-cream with the pudding. They were perfect, that’s all I can say.

Breakfast the next day was also in The Orangery, with plenty of hot and cold options to choose from.

The staff at the hotel are a true credit to their institution – friendly, courteous, willing to help and able to deal (diplomatically) with the most difficult of demands.

I would recommend it highly. Prices start at £140 per night for a queen room during the week (higher at the weekend), so it is not the cheapest, but it could be perfect for a special birthday or anniversary treat for a loved one.

It is also not a stuffy private members’ club, as it might come across, but a gorgeous edifice in the heart of one of the UK’s most glorious locations.