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Here is a full list with comments:-

Lime Wood - absolutely excellent, but in the summer stay in one of the anexes, not the main house, as it gets too hot and there is no air-con. Spa opens in October, and is looking good. One of my favourites.

Chewton Glen - Very accomplished indeed. Quite traditional, but with very good service. The newer rooms/suites are best as they are more contemporary. Majority have the best bathrooms in England. Has very good air-con, good spa, indoor and outdoor pools, landscaped grounds etc etc

Whatley Manor - Excellent food. Rooms can be a bit eclectic and bathrooms generally are small, but very good service, great gardens and public rooms.

Four Seasons Hampshire - Great for families with young kids or for a conference venue, but less so for couples. Main pool is right next to spa, so when it is full of kids it is hardly restful. Good service, OK food, but ultimately, the hotel is too big for a genuine English country house hotel escape.

Cliveden - pretentious, pseudo English pile with historic interest but little else of note.

Babington House - Fine if you have young kids and don't mind a mess and a touch of chaos.

Manor House Castle Combe - very four star. Some interesting rooms, but painful service at times and not great food.

Amberley Castle - designed for people who are gullible about ghosts and history, but not top notch in terms of hotelkeeping. Food has improved lately, but it's a bit suffocating to stay there.

Barnsley House - Vastly improved since it was taken over by the owners of Calcot Manor, who have refurbished and instilled real service standards. Hotel also operates The Village pub, which is across the road. food here is exceptional. main hotel is in grounds of Rosemary Verey's famed gardens. A very pretty, Cotswold haunt.

Gravetye Manor - just been sold to new owner, so probably not a great time to go. It needs loads of work, apart from its lovely gardens. Best wait until they decide what they are doing.

Lucknam Park - Good in some ways (food & service) but not so good in others. Bathrooms are mostly very dated, no air-con. New spa with indoor pool, nice gardens, good equestrian centre. Bit stuffy.

Lords of the Manor - no idea why anyone even talks about this place. Tatty and tired.

Calcot Manor - very well run, but decidedly 4-star and aimed at families with young kids. Not luxury bracket.

Hotel Endsleigh - very good food and reasonable service but terrible rooms, especially bathrooms, which are truly dated. Lovely gardens, but not anywhere you would want to return to.

Hotel Tresanton - delightful Cornish seaside hotel. No pool but simple, clean rooms with lovely views of the harbour, very good service and terrific food. Best go here in summer though.

Gidleigh Park - buried in the heart of Dartmoor national park and much improved. Amazing food and great newly done accommodation. No spa, but plenty of fabulous walks. Roaring log fires etc etc.

Cowley Manor - owned by Jessica Sainsbury and just refurbished, so much better than it was a couple of years ago. indoor & outdoor pools, spa and contemporary take on Cotswolds.