Country escape of Queen Victoria

THE Grove, once favoured by Queen Victoria, offers a wonderful respite from city life.

The Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire is an elegant country retreat

THERE is in London “all that life can afford”, wrote Samuel Johnson.

All that life can afford, however, is often exhausting. On a recent trip to London, WISH discovered The Grove in Hertfordshire and found it an excellent rest stop to recover from a hectic week in the English capital before heading home. The Grove is a country estate set on 121ha just 30 minutes from Heathrow Airport. The hotel has a championship golf course, extensive manicured gardens and an impressive range of sporting facilities, including a tennis court, indoor and outdoor pools and, naturally, a croquet lawn (there’s also a kids’ club and creche). The hotel’s original 18th-century building, once a country retreat favoured by Queen Victoria, was added to in 1996 and offers guests a choice of 215 rooms and 12 suites. For total country relaxation try The Grove’s extensive Sequoia spa. To book: [phone]; thegrove.co.uk. Or through Leading Hotels of the World on 02 9377 8444 or lhw.com/thegrove

Another world

THE World, the palatial privately owned residential yacht that is Gina Rinehart’s home away from home, is visiting Australia this month. The newly refurbished, 200m-long ship contains 165 luxury residences, and features restaurants, nightclubs, two swimming pools, tennis court, jogging track and a retractable marina for water sports. The ship visits Sydney from May 11-16 followed by calls at Brisbane, Hamilton Island, Port Douglas and Cairns. The itinerary then takes in an exploration of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, Japan, South Korea and China, and even an overland visit to North Korea and circumnavigation of Russia’s Sea of Okhotsk.

Modern British style

FIRMDALE Hotels opens its eagerly awaited Ham Yard Hotel next month. Situated in the heart of Soho, Ham Yard will be Firmdale’s eighth London property (the company also owns the Crosby Street Hotel in New York) and its biggest with 90 rooms and suites as well as 24 residential apartments and a collection of 13 retail stores. Ham Yard will connect Great Windmill and Denman streets with a public thoroughfare, and Firmdale owners Tim and Kit Kemp have commissioned a large bronze sculpture by Tony Cragg for the new public space. As with all Firmdale hotels, the interiors have been designed by Kit Kemp in her trademark eclectic and colourful style. As well as a 176-seat cinema Ham Yard will also house a four-lane bowling alley. firmdale.com

One & Only Hayman

GLAMOROUSLY pale interiors will characterise the reborn Hayman Island Resort, which is set to open on July 1 as Australia’s first One & Only resort. One & Only Resorts, the most prestigious brand of international resort developer and operator Kerzner International, is assuming management after a $50 million refurbishment. There is a new family pool area and there iconic Hayman pool has been transformed and includes cabanas and day beds. The Beach Wing will offer grater privacy in the Kerry Hill-designed villas and one, two and three-bedroom penthouses. Food will range from modern Asian to Italian. The Pool Wing is now all-suite accommodation; the number of rooms has halved and they have doubled in size. Room rates start at $730 a night twin share but an opening special offers a 25 per cent saving until September 30.