Magic and culture, with a splash of undeniable luxury, executed the perfect careertraveller potion for a fabulous family weekend combining a stay at the stylish Grove Hotel and sneak preview of the Warner Brothers Studio Tour of The Making of Harry Potter. Irresistible!

Driving into 300 acres of verdant green and blossoming Hertfordshire Park and woodland was our justifiable excuse to explore and indulge this enchanting country estate, which with subtle swish extras, make it such an eminent hotel.

A floral pilgrimage from reception to the West Wing provided a stunning artistic display of McQueens alliums and lilies, which set within a light and contemporary ambience, enhanced a beloved careertraveller sensation of being somewhere uniquely special. Breathtaking views from our room exposed all The Grove has to offer from formal waters and mansion to state-of-the-art sculptures in the grounds representing their future Expression of Movement exhibition. Bewitchingly charming!

Further beyond, landscape displaying 7,152 yards of Kyle Philips designer championship golf course, ranked in Golf World’s Top 100 UK courses, gave us an extra reminder of the Grove delights.

A walk around this Grade II listed mansion, former home to the Earl of Clarendon, produced an abundance of complimentary yelps from the children who delighted in the range of glamorous drawing rooms offering displays of antiques and art. A combination of sumptuous and fashionable hip décor created a relaxed atmosphere with contrasting colours from midnight blues and black to subtle greys and stone – unique! The careertraveller favourite “Blue Room” was a flamboyantly snazzy haven offering afternoon tea in the most opulent setting, exceptionally tasteful!

Drinks from the Glasshouse Terrace provided an appetising backdrop to this stylish amphitheatre of pleasure, which offers endless leisure, romance, fun and allure. Fuelled with inspiration and curiosity was the children’s cue to take charge of the day’s itinerary by activating a programme of cycling, swimming and pure pitch and putt playtime. Time on the beach; a “knock –out” of a idea filled with pure white imported Brazilian sand, entertained us for hours in the sun within the most visionary urban style luxury on the outskirts of London.

Dinner in the Glasshouse was a fashionable cosmopolitan affair of East meets West cuisine, all beautifully served and presented in front of the eye. A gastronomic theatre prepared the children for le piece de résistance: chocolate fountain, which centre stage, provided them with lashings of marshmallows and fruit to lavishly devour.

Our oasis of a room provided the perfect sleep required for 10 minute drive to the WB Studio Tour of The Making of Harry Potter, which a Second World War aerodrome on the outskirts of London, infused a cauldron-like mix of J.K. Rowling intrigue, suspense and sorcery of the most mystical itinerary!

Entry was a tardis-like sensation of dazzling Harry Potter images unravelling a legendary journey of filmmaking, production, theatre, art, craftsmanship, animatronics and cinematography, which tributes the British Film Industry and of course literary works of author J.K Rowling. Spectacular!

A five minute tour induction was enough to capture, arouse and inspire the imagination before entering the imposing and illustrious Hogwarts Great Hall. Breathtakingly magical and haunting we were spellbound by the magical props, costumes, lighting and Hogwarts staff, reviving scenes from The Philosophers Stone et al.

Relishing the unique silence from the little uns was our Harry Potter tour initiation, made from fairy tale dreams, fantasy and pure genius! From the Grand Hall we entered the illusory world of film from the Hangars, which previously used for filming soundstages and workshop constructing sets, introduced us to a cinematic space designated to Harry Potter themes, locations, props and scenes across seven books. Clever!

Whilst props from the Chocolate Feast, Yule Ball and hidden golden snitches dazzled the children, the Gryffindor Common Room and Potions Room with gilded archways arrested my careertraveller curiosity with their associated discoveries.

A stroll through Diagon Alley, a Charles Dickens inspired design set of colour, texture and quirkiness, displayed phenomenal humour, mischief and great attention to detail with the infamous Wesley Puking Pastilles to Extended Ears!

The careertraveller favourite was the Creature Shop, providing a decorative display of animatronic creatures such as Aragog the spider covered by hand with yak hair, sisal and hemp to intricate prosthetics including Lord Voldemort’s snake-like face with temporary tattoos for veins and false nails, teeth and contact lenses. An educational masterpiece!

The Tribute Room alias “Ollivanders” electrified the children, who thrilled to hold a real resin coated wand, became familiar with all 4000 + of them dedicated and named after all Harry Potter film and production staff. Ingenious right to the end!

A special thanks to The Grove Hotel for their hospitality and luxuriously aesthetic hotel experience. Fashionably unique!

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A celebration of spring and Mothers’s Day were the ultimate careertraveller trigger to plot something extraordinarily special with the family. A bouquet of dramatic coastline, family fun and splendour became apparent as we approached The Grand, rather aptly named “The White Palace”.

Overlooking the Riviera-like seafront surrounded us with the most intoxicating mix of heritage, health and beauty. Hypnotically majestic in stature, we were dazzled by this 19th century hotel, glowing with historical charm.

Our voyage from the lobby to our suite displayed scenes of a luxurious labyrinth of space, light and antiquity, understandably entertaining the likes of Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin and Debussy from a bygone age. Clearly an elite hotel.

Our suite was a regal playground; sumptuous and breathtakingly grandiose. A monumental view from the balcony surrendered magnificent views of the English Channel, glistening in the sunniest place in the UK 2011! Undeniable gasps of wholesome joy gave our little sailor his cue to commence his cruise and set sail, with of course his junior crew rucksack and goodies inside; nice touch!

Euphoric and exhilarated we relaxed luxuriantly in true king and queen style in the Chatsworth Lounge, an elegant haven for celebration, relaxation and afternoon tea, which with a connecting cocktail bar, offered something for everyone. A complete careertraveller tonic!

The most palatable light lunch of beautifully presented ham hock and homemade piccalilli in Tegolino bread with crisp shredded lettuce was our signal to book family dinner in the Garden Restaurant before disembarking.

A stroll along the promenade, dotted with carpet gardens resembling oriental patterns, was an effervescent introduction to Eastbourne’s award winning seafront for clean seas and Quality Coast winning beaches.

Decorated with tasteful beach huts and seafront cafes we discovered a range of attractions from the Lifeboat Museum and Bandstand to Treasure Island theme park and beautiful Helen Garden, a Pleasure Ground overlooking the sea from a cliff top. Noting the children’s attractions and Kidzsafe wristband scheme it became clear why this is such a popular family holiday destination.

A careertraveller favourite was the stunning Victorian pier, which amongst the traditional amusements, tearoom and shops, offered visitors a magical view of the seafront with the Camera Obscura, an original 360 degrees Victorian projector.

Next came the piece de résistance, an official tour of Eastbourne via the famous City Sightseeing Open Topped Hop On-Hop Off Bus. Not to be missed this provided a fantastic commentary of Eastbourne and national gem of a location Beachy Head. This unique tour took us through an aesthetic journey of rolling grassy fields and stunning coastline, which cinematically delivered an inspiring introduction to the unspoilt beauty of South Downs, England’s 10th National Park. Awesome!

A hop off at Beachy Head or in ancient French “beautiful headland” was an insight to arguably one of the most inspiring places of the world. Spectacular cliff top views executed dramatic chalky coastline views, not forgetting the magnificent Belle Tout lighthouse, most recently restored.

Our next hop off was Birling Gap, an unspoilt pebbly beach set below the Seven Sisters cliffs, offering one of the longest stretches of undeveloped coastline on the south coast. Sensational!

Elated and thirsty with little explorer in tow was our excuse for the next hop off in the pretty quintessential village of East Dean, winner of several Best Kept Village Awards, where a well-deserved sample of the CAMRA award winning “Legless Rambler” ale at the acclaimed Tiger Inn was mandatory!

Our tour was complete with a hop off outside The Grand where luxury awaited us in the form of an underground spa, which with gym, beauty treatments, hairdressing salon, swimming pool, Jacuzzi and sauna made this a perfect family excuse to stay in!

Family dining was a show of first class cuisine and hospitality in the most exquisitely beautiful Garden restaurant, which oozed genuine class and elegance most befitting of a White Palace! A well planned children’s menu, background pianist and outstanding service with attention to detail was the careertraveller “crème de la crème” moment, which makes writing and travelling exciting and inspirational.

Therefore, a very special thank you to The Grand Hotel for providing excellent leisure and hospitality in the most enchanting palace. Truly memorable.

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Wellbeing, health and relaxation were the perfect New Year ingredients for a careertraveller spa adventure to revitalise and rejuvenate the senses, sans la famille!

Driving through fields and fields of Bedfordshire countryside heightened the beginning of my spa quest, offering masses of wild open space and a complimentary en route introduction to a luxury rural retreat. Entering the striking grounds on a crisp winter’s day provided a dramatic photo shoot of history, heritage and grandeur, creating a blanket of excitement, inner peace and warmth.

A gallant concierge opened the door to the beginning of my spa journey, which at the sight of a roaring fire in the lobby, kindled a sense of comfort, igniting a wholesome sensation of “coming home”. Irreplaceable.

An introductory health check in a grand reception room was the moment to melt in the knowledge that I was in luxuriously safe hands and ready for a day of unique pampering, tranquillity and Elemis nirvana!

A tour of the grange, with historical roots dating back to 11th century, displayed a beautifully striking environment from which to gather respite and notably unravel the meaning of the word “spa”. Observing the 25 metre turquoise swimming pool, boutique – like treatment reception and sparkling Thalassotherapy pool was enough to put a quick step in my stride and locate my gown and slippers!

My room, room 41, echoed hints of Virginia Woolf’s “A room of Ones Own”; a peaceful haven with breath-taking views of the weir and river Hiz. The words “let the line of thought dip deep into the stream” resonated, with permission to stop, stare and indulge just being in the moment. Poetic!

With an enlightened sense of “spa” I set off to sample the Henlow delights, which include a glamorous “Parisian-like” boudoir of a demonstration suite, offering make up presentations. Nice touch. Further on I explored the laconium; a luxuriously tiled dry heat treatment room with heated ceramic couch, before irresistibly indulging a swim in the magnificent oasis of a pool in miles and miles of bright palatial space.

In true spa spirit, a green tea in the botanical like conservatory prepared me for the Thalassotherapy pool, which effervescently radiated a sense of wellbeing, healing and inner calm. Exposed to jets of warm water massaging the feet to the shoulders gave me an unforgettable hypnotic “sea” or “thalassa” like treatment of essential minerals; zinc, magnesium, potassium, silicon, copper, iron, iodine and sodium.

Lunch was a vivid mix of hot and cold gastronomy with first class service. An informal arena of healthy eating offered a huge variety of freshly prepared and cooked cuisine, packed with distinguishing protein and carbohydrates. An educational and mouth watering careertraveller favourite!

A rose scented Champney’s facial was rhythmically soothing, enhanced by a professional sleep inducing facial and palm massage. A sample of dandelion root, liquorice, red clover flower and basil detox tea was just the tonic needed for a justifiable Elemis Musclease body wrap! An aromatic neck and shoulder massage with Maritime Pine, Sea buckthorn, Rosemary and Sea Fennel was a nurturing and therapeutic sensation. A further scalp massage with Frangipani Monoi oil was an elevating exotic experience of coconut Coprah oil and sweet scented frangipani flowers. Fabulous!

Hydrated and restored I reflect upon the established Champneys philosophy of taking time out to re energise the mind and body in peace and luxury. The ease at which everything runs, staff friendliness and attentiveness explains why customers return each year to trial the interesting range of treatments, fitness, and personal development programmes they offer in the most beautiful grounds.

A special thank you to Champneys Henlow for truly understanding customers, excellent service and most of all, human beings. Great spa day!

For more information visit Champneys.

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History, romance and art were the perfect cultural ingredients for a careertraveller city of London adventure. Approaching this architectural masterpiece from Kings Cross St Pancras station was enough to captivate the children, who thought they were visiting a “royal museum!”

Entering the grand lobby, an eclectic fashionable mix of glamour, business and leisure within a railway station was enough to wet my “Tintin-like” thirst for travel and adventure with an extraordinary classical and contemporary twist.

Luxurious seating and tasteful Christmas décor encompassed a rainbow assortment of “ Alice in Wonderland” patisserie delights, which artistically displayed, echoed hints of Lewis Carroll’s “Mad Hatter Tea Party”. Sensational!

Encapsulated in a stylish station of eighteenth century Butterley ironwork, Edward Gripper bricks of Nottingham and original tall glass ceiling, we began to unravel the Renaissance story. Buzzing with activity this hotel provided us with a historical playground from which to indulge and appreciate 5 star hospitality of an intriguingly discrete nature.

Momentarily suppressing my Tintin urge to explore gave us time to flirt playfully with the exquisitely fresh and child friendly pastries with intense gusto. Delectable!

Fuelled with cake and notably freshly squeezed juice and caffeine of a detectable refined Arabica bean, we began our historical tour of Renaissance with hotel historian Royden Stock, an impressively informal and entertaining tour guide.

Gothic archways and the most strikingly majestic staircase, lit by cathedral – like cast iron windows, bewildered the children and dazzled the adults. A spiral “stairway to heaven”, spanning four levels, became a pilgrimage as we observed the spectacular vaulted ceiling displaying nine panels.

Discovering eight contained figures of the virtues designed by Edward William Godwin with the ninth depicting the Midland Railway armorial device felt like “hidden treasure” and gratified my investigative impulses, with of course Snowy in tow!

The Sir George Gilbert Scott sitting room was a reflective step back in time, epitomising historical features of the Victorian era such as the “Gillows”mirror restored by Lincoln university, Friedrick Sang scheme ceiling from 1873 and original pine floor, cleaned and sanded. All restored in their natural glory justified the hotel’s name Renaissance or “rebirth” and it’s iconic reputation across the globe, making our tour rather special.

In true reporter style, I was keen to capture a further essence of this titanic hotel, which with 245 bedrooms, including 38 grand suites, was befitting of royalty, giving careertraveller mischievous thoughts of a return stay before catching the Eurostar to Brussels. Formidable!

One glance of the Booking office was enough to justify a gin fizz cocktail and extra -ordinary bar snacks which oozed originality, sophistication and detail; haggis bonbons and truffle and parmesan chips. A revived version of the bygone station café with it’s high ceiling, dim lighting and 29m-long bar captured the final ingredients of a sensationally unique city adventure of travel, hospitality and culture, all in the confines of a beautifully restored 18th century aristocratic hotel. Truly educational and “museum-like”.

A special thanks to the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel for providing superb hospitality and restoring the natural heritage of this magnificent building. Travel will never be the same again!

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A stay at The Pier Hotel was a perfect excuse to revisit Essex and capture some careertraveller pre festive and well-deserved sea air whatever the weather.

Driving towards the quay in Harwich filled me with just the level of mystery and excitement needed for a unique coastal break. Arriving at night gave us the privileged opportunity of seeing this eighteenth century grand hotel ablaze with light. Overlooking the Victorian Ha’ Penny Pier and passing ships it oozed sheer atmosphere of a true romantic and maritime appeal.

From the moment we entered the hotel our stay became an exhilarating adventure of history, luxury and sense of being somewhere “special”. Stylish lighting, warm staff and “nautically themed” gave this hotel our immediate approval. Doors with portholes and gleaming windows everywhere gave us a momentary feeling of being on a ship; clever!

The Harbourside restaurant sparkled in the distance, beckoning us to unpack and grab some sea air before embarking upon our culinary journey. Opening the door to the “Mayflower Suite” gave my son the instant pleasure of becoming “captain of his own ship!” Sumptuous, elegant and majestic, offering direct views across the harbour, was enough to take style, originality and good hospitality to the next level.

Truly spectacular and captivating, with it’s own telescope, our suite gave us a real sense of old Harwich and the travel and excitement associated with a port. Steeped in history the Ha’ Penny Pier prompted us to inhale some sea air and watch the Stena Line ship glide out to sea, giving careertraveller exciting thoughts of a return stay and trip to Hoek van Holland!

Intoxicated with grandiose thoughts of sleeping in the Mayflower was our call to visit the Harbourside restaurant and continue our nautical adventure. Almost “show like”, a combination of spectacular harbourside views and fine dining provided a theatre of first class service and culinary sophistication.

Menu indecisiveness gave us time to revel in thoughts of Colchester Native oysters and Pier seafood platter “served on ice”. Opting for Timbale of scallop mousseline, topped with seared scallops, with coriander butter sauce was a textural delight.

Next came Pan fried local seabass fillet on a bed of caramelised red cabbage with calvados and lobster cream sauce, which delivered with finesse, left me greedily elated and ready to study the artistically colourful pudding menu.

Whilst the white chocolate and orange torte with orange and grand marnier jelly oozed pure class, the brandy snap of pears, poached in red wine with a mulled wine sorbet echoed hints of a seasonally festive nature. Warm stem ginger pudding with toffee sauce and honeycomb ice-cream settled the culinary dispute with a heavenly hot and cold mix of real decent pudding!

Our outstanding harbourside experience was an excuse for a late night, allowing us time to revisit the Ha’ Penny Pier for an après dinner stroll. Peaceful and luxuriously content in the glory our Mayflower suite was beckoning, provided just the impetus any six-year needs to go to bed!!!

Waking up to the sound of seagulls with an early morning misty cinematic view of the sea was a memorable November tonic, reminding us how travel and good hospitality refresh and revive the senses.

After a hearty breakfast in the Ha’ Penny Brasserie and a fond farewell to The Pier Hotel we “set sail” for a brisk walk by the sea. Passing the Royal National lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Station, Lifeboat Museum and Maritime Museum unravelled the history and community of Harwich, giving us an insight to the Maritime Heritage Trail and second largest port in the UK.

Thanks to the Pier Hotel who made our November coastal break a unique and very special stay.

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