MISSION To escape the chaos of London to a country retreat for serious pregnancy pampering, while keeping the kids happy (a difficult challenge as the girl is 2½ and the boy is 47!).

AMBIENCE Calcot Manor aims to achieve that delicate balance of keeping children and adults happy, and creating a real home-from-home. A 14th-century English farmhouse, set around a pretty courtyard of outhouses and surrounded by 220 acres of lush countryside, the atmosphere is happy and relaxed.

This came as a big relief as the thought of staying in a country hotel for a weekend since having a little one fills me with trepidation. I have images of my toddler running rampage in some formal, chintzy enclave; less of a mini-break and more of a mini breaking vases, teapots and nerve endings.

Calcot Manor, however, manages to blend sophistication and warmth without the dreaded British snobbery and austerity. The spa especially has been designed to maximise light and airiness. The views from the pool are beautiful and the outside hot tub, situated in a paved and decked garden, with a real log fire behind it, is the stuff of movies.

Expert View

My daughter was asleep, bottom in the air, within ten minutes of her treatment

Alice Miles

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QUALITY OF EXPERIENCES My facial was sublime. It had the combined effect of being both invigorating and relaxing. My husband actually said that he thought I looked ten years younger after it. I couldn’t work out which was the more extraordinary; me looking younger or my husband volunteering a compliment. I put it down to the lovely setting – on returning home he was back to normal and I had to remind him of my name again.

Being seven-and-a-half months pregnant, I also opted for the “smoothie pregnancy treatment”, which started with an exfoliation and was followed by a dreamy moisturising massage that made me feel like a floaty fairy and to temporarily forget that I am the size of a whale. The treatment was finished off with a scalp massage, which made the baby kick with delight.

Of course, the reason I was allowed to enjoy such treatments was because I knew that my toddler was having a great time in the excellent Ofsted-registered crèche. Older children, can take advantage of a cinema, Play-Stations, X-boxes and computers.

PRODUCTS The spa uses Renée Guinot skincare products for its facials, a sure sign of quality. The maternity spa treatments use products by the excellent Mama Mio range. Food Calcot Manor has two restaurants: the Conservatory and the Gumstool Inn. The former is the more formal option.

We had some delicious roasted ceps with a parsley risotto, followed by a melt-in-the-mouth Dover sole and an equally impressive cut of Duchy beef, served with an artichoke purée. The dessert menu was a joyous cacophony of loveliness. I opted for the hot chocolate fondant pudding. It was well worth the pontificating. I had to build a napkin wall around my plate to fight off my husband’s wandering spoon.

Rather impressively, the Gumstool Inn serves children’s meals (from 5.30pm) with healthy choices that put the usual orange breadcrumb-coated kids’ menus to shame.

IN-CROWD Mostly young to middle-aged professional couples – generally in the 30-50 age group – many with children.

WALLET WATCH Calcot Manor is not a cheap option but there are a variety of good-value packages. A standard double room is £278 a night inclusive of breakfast and dinner. Family rooms start at £245 for bed and breakfast. There is a children’s supplement of £25 per child per night, but this includes breakfast, supper from the children’s menu and childcare, whether in the crèche or the playzone.

NEED TO KNOW Calcot Manor, near Tetbury, Gloucestershire (01666 891225; www.calcotspa.co.uk ).

For more reviews of spas and retreats: timesonline.co.uk/goodspaguide

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