Smitten by an out-of-town escape

Now my daughter has left home, I’m loving the quiet and the extra time to myself…

Now my daughter has left home, I’m loving the quiet and the extra time to myself. But I miss our long, cosy chats on the sofa – something that phone calls, text messages and emails can never properly replace. Now I’ve found the perfect vehicle – and venue – for a mother-daughter catch-up: a spa day at Luton Hoo.

I’d originally planned to take Amy to The Sanctuary Spa in central London where I’d had my own first day spa experience. But it can get quite crowded and I find the lack of windows a little claustrophobic. Space, privacy and panoramas are never a problem at Luton Hoo Spa. There are just six treatment rooms using the hotel’s own range of products, created in association with Circaroma. There’s also a sauna, steam room, saunarium, gym and stunning 18-metre infinity pool surrounded by oak-framed glass.

I had the sybaritic Five Senses Body Signature Treatment (£125, 80 mins) and Amy the Five Senses Signature Facial (£115, 70 mins). It was her first facial and she was totally smitten: “I never wanted it to end.”

For lunch, Adam’s Brasserie has a tasty and very reasonably priced menu. Its walls are lined with stills from the films shot at Luton Hoo (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Never Say Never Again, Eyes Wide Shut and many more).

Luton Hoo is a 40-minute train journey from London St Pancras. Get there early, so you have time to walk in the 1,000 acres of parkland and Capability Brown gardens and explore the spectacular mansion which opened as a hotel in 2007 after a £60m refurbishment.

Fact Box:

Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa, The Mansion House, Luton, Bedfordshire LU1 3TQ (01582-734 437; www.lutonhoo.co.uk). Spa day packages are also available, from £230.