Your first glimpse of the five star Seaham Hall and Serenity Spa will take your breath away. As you make your way up the drive to this white mansion there’s an air of peace and tranquillity interrupted only by the gentle noise of the sea.

This former Georgian Mansion, set in 37 acres of gardens is the epitome of sophistication and style and has a hugely romantic ethos.

Seaham Hall is where the poet Lord Byron courted his future bride Anne Isabella Milbanke and married there in 1814.

The immaculate landscaped gardens are sheer bliss with summer houses, woodland escapes and trails, sunken gardens with fountains, a lily pond with a floating pier and the largest terrace you could wish for all accompanied by the sound and views of the sea.

Enter this haven of luxury, classical elegance and old world charm and be ready to be blown away for what you are about to experience in this, one of the finest five star spa hotels I have stayed in – and I have stayed in a lot all over the world.

The marbled entrance hall and antique reception table say it all. This place has ultimate sophistication and class. It’s a place where you know you are going to be spoiled and pampered.

But the most treasured thing that Seaham Hall has is the friendliness and efficiency of its staff and their genuine desire to do everything for your comfort and make your stay something special.

The back of the hotel is as impressive as the front with an enormous terrace that leads out from the elegant cocktail lounge. On the terrace there’s comfy cushioned sofas and chairs where you can relax, all expertly choreographed so you can have as much or as little seclusion or privacy as you want and through the balustrade there’s a view of the sea.

We stayed in a spacious junior suite with floor to ceiling windows giving wonderful views over the garden. The chic, fresh design décor and colour schemes were all beautifully curated in amazing luxury fabrics. With a king-size bed, a large and comfortable seating area and luxurious bathroom this was a room to remember

But for a truly romantic special experience, honeymoon or just a celebration the Ada Lovelace Suite excels

My spa experiences have taken me round the world, but I can say this was one of the best. From the outside even at night its just so beautiful

The thing that sets it apart from all others in the UK is the seamless entrance for residents to the spa. We’ve all experienced and dreaded walking down corridors in our dressing gowns or across a foyer even at the most prestigious spa hotels but not here.

Step out of your suite into the marbled atrium and down a staircase with its own water feature. Suddenly as if by magic when you reach the bottom doors open – it’s like the entrance to Narnia or Aladdin’s Cave.

Soft purple lighting, music and a wooden walkway with water running gently over pebbles at each side until you are faced with a magnificent golden elephant – this is the ultimate in a spa experience.

Like the hotel the Spa is winner of numerous awards and accolades. Serenity is an apt title for this Spa with its 20 metre pool, outdoor balcony, hot tubs, roof garden, hydrotherapy pool, manicure and pedicure stations and multi treatment rooms designed for a variety of therapies and treatments. It even has its own cocktail bar and restaurant serving pan-Asian cuisine.

This is the place to relax and escape from the everyday pressures and we certainly did so much so after my pampering I fell asleep in one of the many relaxation areas overlooking the parkland area.

Later all refreshed we had  cocktails on the terrace and ate in  the Dining Room , one of the best on the Durham restaurant scene.   The menu is packed with  tantalising seasonal favourites from handpicked local suppliers.  After dinner our evening ended as it began with drinks on the terrace in the moonlight until long after the bewitching hour.

Next morning after a great Durham breakfast we decided to stretch our legs before the long drive home so we passed through the hotels wonderful entrance and took a walk down Byrons Walk, named after the poet, who walked this way most days on his way to the cliff top.

I wished we had had more time to explore Seaham and the Durham coast but our next adventure beckoned and soon it was time to say goodbye to the wonderful Seaham Hall.

Seaham Hall, Lord Byron’s Walk, Seaham Co. Durham SR7 7AG

Tel: 0191 640 7505. Website: www.seaham-hall.com

If you want to learn more about what the Durham Coast has to offer visit The Official Tourism Website for Durham | An Amazing County (thisisdurham.com)