Like many Londoners I don’t run a car. Anywhere, like Farnham that’s out in the country and can easily be reached by train becomes a very attractive destination for an escape.

The Bush is excellent value too.

In complete contrast is industrial, grimy Coventry. Not much greenery there but a heroic cathedral rebuilt from the ruins of the Second World War. Plenty of history about as Coventry was at the heart of the British motor industry and the birth of two-tone music too.

Yes, it’s a menu that suits many people.

Whilst out and about I overheard a conversation between locals over coffee in The Maltings. One couple had been invited by friends to dinner at The Bush and almost didn’t go. When they turned up they were astounded by the quality of the food and how much the hotel had improved in the last few years.

Farnham obviously qualifies as a hidden gem. Has anybody got any other recommendations for towns that would make for a surprisingly good weekend or midweek break?

If you’ve got a sweet tooth then a visit to the patisserie is a non-negotiable. It was one of the highlights of our trip to Farnham. We couldn’t resist buying a lot more delicious little cakes to take home with us.

Personally, I would argue that a well-timed and well-chosen short-break has a lot of benefits for your well-being.

Although working from home has its advantages it does mean that for many people work and home become the same thing. It does you good to escape from both for a few days.

There’s an incredible variety to the sculptures on display which you’d expect as the pieces come from hundreds of different sculptors.

The variety of the landscape helps too with the backdrop, especially the reflections from the ponds. As it’s set in a densely wooded valley the park seems to have its own warm micro-climate with bamboo thriving.

If your partner’s that keen on crafts you ought to take a look at the programme of arts and crafts workshops at The Maltings and build that into your visit.

Let’s hope that The Bush stays as it is and that developers don’t target the grounds. As the hotel is Grade 2 listed and Farnham seems very intent on preserving its heritage I would hope that The Bush can continue to celebrate its rich history for many years to come!

Yes, The Bush is definitely thriving and the owners seem very willing to invest. From the pictures of the public areas you can see that they are determined to create a relaxed and welcoming sense of luxury.

Surprisingly Jeff, Farnham isn’t that busy. It’s still something of a secret. The accolade of Craft Town is fairly recent and to use a travel cliche it is an “undiscovered gem.”

I’ve got to admit to not having heard that it’s a craft town. It certainly seems to have lots of attractions and the Bush Hotel has to be the place to stay.

With my commercial hat on it’s hard to even estimate how much that prime site must be worth today.