Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons
One of the original gastronomy-focused hotels, Le Manoir was opened in 1984 by chef Raymond Blanc, whose culinary talents have earned the hotel's restaurant two Michelin stars, now held for an incredible 39 years and running. The fixed-price menus start at a steep £245—with a six-course £220 lunch that's marginally easier on the wallet—and offer a culinary tour of innovative French creations concocted by Blanc and his team. There's a separate vegetarian menu as well. With more than 1,000 wines in stock, mostly French, you'll find the perfect glass to accompany your meal. You need to book up to three months ahead in summer. Elegant guest rooms are available, but at upwards of £1,000 a night in summer for even a standard double, you could just as well get a taxi back to almost anywhere south of Scotland. The pretty town of Great Milton is 7 miles southeast of Oxford.
