There’s country house hotels, and then there’s Gravetye. This spectacular Elizabethan manor, set in 1,000 acres of Sussex countryside, oozes pure luxury making it the perfect choice for an romantic getaway, a wedding or special celebration, or just a super-indulgent break.

Gravetye’s raked in fistfuls of awards, including AA Hotel of the Year, and its Michelin-starred restaurant was voted one of the top ten in the entire UK by TripAdvisor users this year. Yep, it really is that special.

The 17 beautiful rooms, furnished with period features, original artworks and lovingly restored antiques, range from cosy singles overlooking the acres of formal gardens to deluxe rooms with four-poster beds and the Robinson Suite, complete with a sunny sitting room with stunning garden views.

The gardens were originally created by visionary garden designer and former Gravetye owner William Robinson and are considered some of the most historically important in England. Muddy reckons they’re also some of the most romantic, you’ll have to excuse us while we drift off into the world of wandering hand-in-hand through the orchards, stolen kisses under the pergola and gambolling among the wildflower meadows. You can even book a tour just of the grounds.

Produce grown in the walled kitchen garden makes its way into the restaurant where it is used as inspiration for gourmet seasonal cooking. Floor to ceiling glass walls mean you can gaze out at the gardens while you enjoy the equally stunning cuisine. Under executive chef George Blogg, whose resume includes stints under two Michelin-starred chefs and at high-end eatieries Le Manoir au Quat’Saisons in Oxon and The Ledbury in Notting Hill, the emphasis is on food that reflects the environment and seasons, and every ingredient is either home-grown at Gravetye or locally sourced.