How The SheerLuxe Team Would Spend A Weekend At A Luxury Hotel

Now my kids are older, weekends away look very different to the days of soft play and organised entertainment – but I still love hotels that genuinely cater to every age group. That’s why The Grove works so well. My ideal stay here is less about packed itineraries and more about everyone naturally finding their own rhythm.

My son would absolutely make the most of the activity-led side of the hotel – things like axe throwing, air rifle shooting and bike rides through the woodlands feel much more appealing when you have older teenagers in tow. I’d probably join in for some of it before peeling off for coffee and a wander through the Walled Garden.

That’s the thing about staying here in summer: it genuinely feels like a holiday despite being less than an hour from London. The atmosphere around Ralph’s Beach has that escapist feel – striped loungers, sandy areas, sushi arriving poolside and families settling in for the afternoon around the heated outdoor pool. I’d happily spend hours there with a book while everyone else does their own thing.

While my children are well past the crèche stage, it’s such a bonus that Anouska’s – the hotel’s OFSTED-registered kids’ club – is on hand for younger families wanting to properly switch off and enjoy the spa.

Dinner for us would definitely be at The Glasshouse. There’s a reason it’s become TikTok-famous – the live cooking stations make it feel far more elevated than your average buffet. I love the sushi counter and the huge dessert selection, while the outdoor terrace makes it feel especially relaxed on a summer evening.

I’d kick things off with an alfresco breakfast at The Stables overlooking the gardens, before spending the afternoon in the Walled Garden. In summer, it becomes such a social hub – people stretched out on daybeds by the outdoor pool, cocktails arriving throughout the day and groups settling in for the outdoor cinema later on. It feels lively and buzzy without ever becoming chaotic.

Lunch would be sushi on the terrace, followed by a long afternoon by the pool and drinks as the sun starts to go down. The whole place has that long-summer-evening atmosphere where nobody’s in a rush to be anywhere.

Before dinner, I’d take a stroll around Jemima’s Kitchen Garden. I love that so much of the produce grown there finds its way onto menus across the hotel, making it feel like a real part of the experience rather than just a beautiful backdrop.

For dinner, I’d settle in for the plant-focused menu inspired by the garden’s seasonal harvest, before ending the night with a film at Everyman in the Garden. It’s such a fun way to experience everything The Grove does best in summer – great food, outdoor dining and cinema under the stars.

Before check-out the next morning, I’d make one final stop at The Glasshouse for its famous breakfast buffet.