Middlethorpe Hall & Spa

Middlethorpe Hall is a restored William III country house, run as a hotel by the Historic House Hotels of the National Trust, and its traditional afternoon tea from an indicative £42 per person is the pick for a milestone occasion. Served Monday to Saturday in panelled rooms with gardens and parkland outside, it trades on setting and atmosphere in a way the city-centre options can't. It sits behind The Grand largely on convenience: the hall is around two miles south of the centre near the racecourse, so you'll need a taxi or car, and the lunchtime-to-late-afternoon service is more restricted than the walk-in options lower down. Choose it over The Grand when the surroundings matter more than being able to arrive on foot; booking is strongly advised.