There’s something rather special about arriving at Crewe Hall Hotel & Spa. Hidden away in the Cheshire countryside, the Grade I-listed 17th-century Jacobean mansion makes quite the first impression.
The grand architecture of the hotel building and the history of the estate spill out into the grounds, including a beautiful chapel tucked away near the main building, where stunning stained glass adds another impressive detail to an already spectacular setting.
But perhaps the biggest surprise comes when checking into one of the hotel’s rooms, if you end up (as we did) in the room that once played host to King George V and Queen Mary during their royal visit in 1913 – meaning guests can quite literally spend the night where royalty once slept.
That’s not the main reason we’re here though – Crewe Hall also has its own spa, offering the perfect excuse to slow down for a few hours and make the most of the facilities.
Kick off with a 50-minute ‘Relaxing Face and Back’ treatment, using Elemis products, before heading into the jacuzzi whirlpool, steam room and sauna.
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It’s the sort of addition that turns an overnight stay into a proper treat.
Dinner at The Brasserie brings a menu packed with dishes that feel just as indulgent as the surroundings, with pan-fried scallops served with confit red pepper and Vietnamese soft-shell crab among the starters.
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Beautiful treatment roomsThe chapel at Crewe HallThe incredible spaces at Crewe HallThe incredible spaces at Crewe HallDinner at Crewe HallA four-poster bedroom with a royal historyMore magnificent interiors
For mains, sirloin steak and lamb rump arrive cooked to perfection, with chocolate brownie and white chocolate crème brûlée to finish off.
After dinner, the grand surroundings give way to a much more peaceful side of Crewe Hall, with four-poster beds and views across the gardens making for a particularly relaxing end to the evening, and start to the next day.
Morning brings another highlight in the form of breakfast, with a generous spread offering everything from a full English and hot breakfast favourites to breads, pastries, cereals and more.
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It’s this combination that makes Crewe Hall Hotel & Spa stand out.
There’s the history and grandeur of the Jacobean mansion, the chance to stay in a room with a royal connection, a spa designed for switching off and a restaurant that delivers when it comes to dinner, all wrapped up in the peaceful surroundings of the Cheshire countryside.
And throughout it all, the team, including Kerry, Tony and the wider Crewe Hall staff, add to what feels like a genuinely memorable stay.
For anyone looking for a countryside escape that offers a little more than simply somewhere to spend the night, Crewe Hall Hotel & Spa might be the one for you.
Popular pumpkin patch attraction describes ‘catastrophic’ impact of Storm Boelo
Daisy Jackson
Bates Farm, one of the most popular pumpkin patch attractions in the North West, has shared its heartbreak after Storm Boelo forced its closure on the busiest day of the season.
The Warrington-based family farm said the financial impact has been ‘honestly catastrophic’, after they had to cancel all tickets for Sunday.
Sisters Ali and Fiona Wilshaw, who run the farm, said it was simply not safe to allow members of the public onto the farm in the storm, with ‘crazy’ gusts of wind.
They later shared a video that showed their marquee was badly damaged and many footpaths turned to deep mud.
The sisters said they were ‘heartbroken’ to have to close at such a busy time, but stressed to followers that ‘your safety and our integrity will always come first’.
On Saturday, as Storm Austen and Storm Boelo chased each other across the UK, several people shared videos of themselves getting battered by the weather at Bates Farm.
And it’s pretty clear from that why Ali and Fi decided to cancel all tickets and close for the day on Sunday.
They wrote: “We have put in so much love, energy and investment putting on this event at this scale. The cost to cancel and refund everyone today on our busiest day of the season is honestly catastrophic, but business aside, your safety and our integrity will always come first.
“To think last night we were running round Tesco trying to stock up on milk and now we are in the depths of recovering the site to go again tomorrow. All emails and enquiries are being responded to as quickly as possible and we are doing our best to open up more available slots next week.
“We are being tested like never before, but pulling together in true force. Huge shout out to the whole team and Farmer Fi the absolute queen in any crisis.
“Thank you all for your patience and especially thank you to those who have sent such kind words and support, we are so grateful to have customers like you.
“We will be back tomorrow to enjoy the remaining of this tough season, we are putting in so many provisions with wood chip paths, undercover seating and an indoor barn to make your visit as enjoyable as possible. Ali & Fi.”
Anyone who had tickets to visit Bates Farm on Sunday will be refunded, and can book in for another date.
Bates Farm has safely reopened its autumnal experience and pumpkin patch today.
EasyJet is paying for passports for newborns to help families take their first holidays
Daisy Jackson
EasyJet has announced a new scheme where the airline will cover the cost of a baby’s first passport, allowing young families to take those memorable first holidays.
The company has announced that it will pay for a child’s passport (£66.50) when parents book an EasyJet holiday, making it a little easier to start those travel adventures sooner.
Research conducted by the airline and easyJet Holidays has found that 75% of parents agree the move would make a holiday with a baby feel a bit more affordable.
Their surveys also found that four in five parents believe a baby’s first holiday is a landmark family moment, and more than half called it one of their proudest parenting milestones.
But parents also said that they needed an average of four attempts to get an approved passport photo of their baby (have you tried making a newborn follow instructions…?).
easyJet holidays has reported – even this early in the year – a 10% increase in infants travelling this year compared to 2025.
And now, the thought of a holiday with your newborn is more tempting than ever, with the offer to get a free passport for your baby from easyJet.
To claim it, and save £66.50, you can use the code FIRSTPASSPORT until 26 November – find out more HERE.
easyJet Captain Kate West, said: “We carry millions of families across Europe every year, and we know that travelling with a baby brings a whole series of exciting firsts.
“We want to make travel as easy and accessible as possible for everyone, including young families, so they can enjoy all the experiences and memories that travel can bring.
“We hope that covering the cost of a baby’s first passport goes a small way towards making that first family adventure a little easier and gives our youngest travellers a warm welcome to the world.”
Stuart Wright, Customer Director at easyJet holidays, said: “Travel has a unique way of bringing families together, and a baby’s very first holiday is often one of those moments parents remember for years to come.
“By covering the cost of a baby’s first passport, we’re helping more families start making those memories that little bit sooner.”
Aimee Woodcock -
6th October 2026 
