Aman-junkies no longer need to travel to far-flung locales to get their fix. London’s Connaught Hotel opened the celebrated Asian brand’s first spa. This little jewel on the lower ground floor of the Mayfair hotel has only five treatment rooms, a dark granite pool (not large enough for laps but perfect for a peaceful dip), a small gym and a relaxation area. The spacious treatment rooms all have separate dressing and shower areas, as well as attractive lattice screens, cedar flooring and footbaths with big stones. If money and time are no object, go for one of the four Rituals, two-and-a-half-hour treatments inspired by a different part of the world. To the other extreme, try the “to-go” treatment, where the therapist gives a fully-clothed guest a thirty-minute, loosening overhaul, the ideal warm-up for a flight home, for instance. Guest can also simply book a specific amount of time and the therapist will tailor a treatment to suit their individual needs and desires. Amen to Aman.

This polo club near Tetbury is one of the finest places in the country to take in a chukker or two. Founded in 1928 by the Duke of Beaufort, the club now boasts an expansive new field near the Westonbirt Arboretum and is thriving under the helm of the Simon and Claire Tomlinson, polo royalty.

These parks and gardens are home to over 50 aviaries and boasts the U.K.’s only king penguin colony.

The birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, Blenheim Palace is well worth a visit. This sublime Baroque masterpiece was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh (who was also responsible for Castle Howard), and boasts a multitude of exhibits and tours. The Churchill Exhibition, dedicated to the life of the former Prime Minister, is especially interesting.

This racing circuit allows visitors to take a fast car for a spin. You can also keep it simple and rent a go-kart.

The Charles Dickens Museum occupies the only surviving London residence of the famous author, and it includes a treasure trove of memorabilia, including the portraits, rare editions, manuscripts and furniture such as the desk. It was while living in this house that Dickens wrote Nicholas Nickelby and Oliver Twist, whose success enabled him and his growing family to move to a more substantial home. Specialist tours and private visits can be arranged.

The refurbished Covent Garden headquarters of Charles Worthington occupy a lovely five-story Georgian townhouse with original fireplaces. Customers can be forgiven for forgetting they’re in a hair salon. Services start at £10 for a fringe trim; £55 for a blow out. Additional locations: 7 Percy Street in Fitzrovia and the Broadgate Club at 1 Exchange Place in the City.

Acquired by the UK Land Trust in 1991, Chasleton House isone of England’s finest and most complete Jacobean houses. The Trust has taken a novel approach with Chastelton: they have chosen to conserve rather than restore the house, allowing visitors to feel like they have time traveled.

A former site for cockerel fights in the middle ages, the Cockpit Arts is now a warehouse building that serves as an arts and crafts incubator, where artists can rent studio space by the month. Today, many talented jewelers, furniture and hat makers, tailors, cobblers, sculptors and silkscreeners work from here. Twice yearly, they host an open house. Otherwise, you must make an appointment in advance to see them.

Columbia Road, located in London’s East End and not far from Shoreditch, is transformed every Sunday into a bright, beautiful flower market that sells everything from succulents to climbing clematis. Behind the stalls that line this quintessentially British road are permanent boutiques offering antiques, home goods and garden supplies, plus food and coffee (open Sundays from 8AM until 3PM).

Corsham Court is a privately-owned history house in north Wiltshire, close to Chippenham. The formal gardens, designed by Capability Brown, lead onto a large deer park. Inside, there is a significant art collection spanning many eras and styles, and if groups book in advance they can take a guided tour through the house’s private apartments.

This museum in Bourton-on-the-Water, is a great place to bring children. Among the vintage cars on display are Morris Minors, Austin Sevens and Jaguars, as well as a London taxi with more than 700,000 miles on the odometer (it’s been to most major cities in Europe).

Cotswolds Wildlife Park is a great option for those travelling with little ones; there are a plethora of different animal exhibits and daily activities that will keep young animal lovers occupied. The park also offers a variety of hands-on, personal experiences for adults and children.

The recipient of dozens of national and international awards, Daylesford Cookery School is a must-go for foodies visiting the Cotswolds. Housed in a restored stone barn, the school is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and is surrounded by acres of working farmland. With a plethora of courses, ranging from the art of foraging to artisanal bread making, students utilize the bounty produced by Daylesford Organic Farm. Helmed by Steve Brown, who cut his teeth in several Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe, the school emphasizes seasonal cooking with sustainable ingredients. There are also classes for children, where budding chefs get the chance to hone their skills.

The beloved gourmet kitchen shop offers great cooking programs for both adults and children. Among the recent options for serious chefs were classes with a Michelin-starred chef and a Borough Market tour with a noted chef and cookbook author. The children’s classes are referred to as the Growing Gourmet Series and are held only at the Marylebone shop. Chefs instruct kids around such themes as Pasta Pronto or Crazy Asian. Kids’ classes and master chef nights are limited to twelve, so it’s best to sign up far in advance.

One of London’s most acclaimed theaters, the Donmar Warehouse is perhaps best known for the heady period when Sam Mendes (of American Beauty and ex-husband-of-Kate-Winslet fame) was its artistic director in the 1990s. Creative mastermind Michael Grandage came on board in 2002, after Mendes left, and garnered rave reviews of such shows as Othello, with Ewan McGregor as Iago, and Peter Nichols’ Passion Play. Then in 2011, Grandage was replaced by Josie Rourke, formerly the artistic director of the Bush Theatre, who in turn was replaced by Michael Longhurst in 2018, whose previous credits include Constellations at the Royal Court Theatre and Amadeus at the National Theatre. The Donmar now produces shows in more than one location in London and is known for big-name shows with famous actors.

The Dorchester's glitzy spa, designed by Fox Linton Associates, is not a place to detox but to luxuriate. From petit-fours at the Art Deco-inspired Spatisserie to the floor-to-ceiling glass cabinets lined with fluorescent bottles of nail polish (a throwback to Damien Hirst’s Pharmacy installation?), there are plenty of details that set the Dorchester apart. If money is no object, this is the spa destination of choice.

The foundation of Erick Estorick, an American political scientist and writer, displays his collection of early 20th-century Italian art as well as temporary exhibitions. The collection includes works by Boccioni, Carrá, Serverini, as well as Modigliani, Sironi, and de Chirico.

The tenth-floor spa at the Four Seasons Park Lane is everything one would expect from the five-star deluxe hotel, namely friendly staff, quiet, gleaming white dressing rooms, granite steam, a sauna with a view and a vitality pool. But what sets this space apart from all other London spas is the view: guests can enjoy indulgent treatments while they gaze across the tree tops blanketing Hyde Park. Each treatment rooms comes with a private relaxation pod where the transition back into reality is softened with some peaceful relaxation over tea.

The spa by cult beauty brand Gazelli skincare is beloved by London beauty editors. Gazelli products (also sold in Harrods) were crafted by Dr. Zarifa Hamzayeva, an Azerbaijan-born leader in the field of genetics. The blossoming business is run by her charming daughter, Jamila Askarova. The plush South Kensington premises are designed to resemble a luxurious home; there’s no formal reception desk, just cozy décor, comfortable armchairs and arguably the best oxygen facials in London.

Imagination and creativity take center stage in this traditional English circus that has been touring the countryside every summer since 2000. With acrobats, musicians and jugglers, horses and dogs and dance, art and comedy, Giffords Circus is theatrical, dramatic, funny and even a bit life enhancing. Circus Sauce, the 60-seat restaurant housed in two showman’s wagons, follows the circus to each venue (it is the UK’s only traveling restaurant). The three-course menu uses seasonal, locally-sourced produce and changes weekly.

Hatfield House, a Jacobean home built in 1611, is one of the few stately estates people can easily visit by train. It’s only about an hour’s train ride from London’s King’s Cross station, and it also has a play area for children.

Global art dealers Iwan and Manuela Wirth opened their sixth gallery in an unlikely location—the gorgeous, rural Somerset two hours west of London.

Down the street from Kifsgate Court, Hidcote is the brainchild of American horticulturist Major Lawrence Johnson. Brimming with secret nooks and hidden mazes, the manor's garden is home to many plants collected by Johnson during his travels around the globe.

Since 1980, the Prince of Wales has worked to transform the Highgrove Gardens into one of the most creatively inspired gardens in the UK. Using organic and sustainable principles, HRH has helped create a rich and varied natural landscape. The gardens include a wildflower meadow, Beech trees and Hostas as well as vegetables and fruits. The gardens are open from April though October and tickets for tours must be purchased ahead of time.

One of the largest parks in central London, Hyde Park is famous for its Speakers’ Corner, an area in the north-east corner public speaking is allowed (as long as the subjects are lawful). The park, which seems to seamlessly merge with the beautiful Kensington Gardens, is a great spot for a stroll and for letting the kids explore. Each holiday season, there is a Winter Wonderland, a sprawling Christmas market with rides.

Take an early morning walk in Hyde Park, and you're likely to see smartly dressed equestriennes out for a ride. While they're most likely Londoners who have been approved to exercise the Queen’s Household Cavalry, it's possible for visitors to ride less-elegant steeds through the park as well. One of only two remaining stables in central London, Hyde Park Stables sits tucked in a picturesque mews just by Lancaster Gate, in Bayswater. You can sign up for a riding time online; either for a park ride or a lesson in a small arena (popular with kids). Depending on your ability, you'll be matched up with one of a dozen or so horses—typically Irish cobs—that are rotated into the city from the stables' country farm. Escorts accompany all riders, and only those who are proficient will be allowed off of a lead and allowed to trot or canter. There are multiple slots every day, year round, but as times do book up in summer, it's advised to reserve a few weeks in advance to be on the safe side. Boots and helmets are provided and rides range from £115 in a semi-private group to £145 for a private ride.