The famous Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa in Bath, our first destination on a two-day get-away, has more than 250 years of history and charm and from the moment we arrived, the concierge greeted us, took our bags and handled the valet parking for our car, the tone was set for a seamless and luxurious experience.

We were guided from reception through a beautiful cottage garden, to our elegant suite complete with handmade chocolates and fresh fruit to nibble on as we sat on its balcony, overlooking the glorious gardens.

The lobby at Bath's Royal Crescent Hotel.The lobby at Bath's Royal Crescent Hotel. (Image: Courtesy of Royal Crescent Hotel) Flower-filled Bath is the perfect city for a staycation with its lovely architecture and interesting shops.

The Spa and Bath House at the Royal Crescent has first-class facilities including a 12-metre heated relaxation pool, vitality pool with massage jets, sauna, steam inhalation room and fully equipped fitness room.

The Bath House at the Royal Crescent Hotel. The Bath House at the Royal Crescent Hotel. (Image: Courtesy of Royal Crescent Hotel) I enjoyed the Templespa – In Good Spirits Massage, an invigorating massage designed to leave you full of vitality, using an uplifting blend of Mediterranean essential oils including ginger, lemon and bergamot to refresh the skin, body and soul. It encourages circulation and leaves you feeling full of life. My wife, Alison, had the Templespa – Vitamin C Radiance Facial, a skin-transforming treatment that gives instant, visible results for firmer feeling, brighter and healthy-looking skin.

We dined at the hotel's exceptional Montagu's Mews restaurant and then to bed, where we were greeted with soft music playing, silk mats on each side of the bed with our slippers placed on them, and a bottle of lavender mist on the pillow. The attention to detail here is superb.

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Pretty Whatley Manor in its Cotswold setting. Pretty Whatley Manor in its Cotswold setting. (Image: Courtesy of Whatley Manor) Breakfast offered a wide continental selection along with the full English and vegetarian choices we enjoyed before packing and asking for our car to be returned for the next step of our journey – the 40-minute drive to Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa, set in 12 acres of Cotswold countryside near Malmesbury, one of the oldest market towns in England dating back to the middle ages. The narrow streets are lined with independent shops, boutiques, tearooms and inns.

Service and attention to detail is a priority and comes with a smile at Whatley Manor too. We started our stay with treatments in the Aquarias Spa with its hydrotherapy pool complete with an airbed, airtub, neck massage jets and air bench. There is a tepidarium with heated stone recliners, a flotation pod, thermal cabins, calidarium, steam grotto, laconium and infrared sauna. The gym and studio is fully equipped and there are Pilates and yoga classes.

Pre-treatment, we had a complimentary salt scrub and experience shower. I booked Sensations Orientales, a 60-minute spa ritual inspired by ancestral Oriental rites and suitable for all skin types. An unctuous, enzymatic syrup prepares your body for exfoliation with a terracotta stone, followed by a Sothys body modelling massage. Alison booked the Tailormade massage, which includes a consultation with the therapist to decide the best focus on areas of tension, stress and concern.

Each suite at Whatley Manor has a distinctive style. Each suite at Whatley Manor has a distinctive style. (Image: Courtesy of Whatley Manor) Each of Whatley Manor's 23 bedrooms and suites have their own character. Ours had a feature bathroom with heated floor and Molton Brown toiletries, a large bedroom with super-king-size bed, and a sitting room and study overlooking the beautiful gardens and Cotswold countryside. There were brownies in the fridge, lime cordial for the bottles of water, homemade biscuits, crisps and coffee and tea-making facilities.

The Michelin-star dining room provided an experience we will never forget and the following morning's hot breakfast was a lovely way to start the day.

Several things will take us back to Whatley Manor – more time to spend in the garden, the spa, the 40-seat cinema and the fine dining – but most of all the people who work there. And on our way, we'll spend another night at the Royal Crescent. These are two supremely good English spa hotels presenting good food, ambience and service. Thanks to both for our absolutely sparkling getaway.

The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa: Room rates start from £405 per night, including breakfast. royalcrescent.co.uk

Whatley Manor: Room rates start from £354 per night, including breakfast. whatleymanor.com