The Manor House Hotel is an excellent setting to do pretty much anything.

Nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds, this 14th-century setting is all charm and historic grandeur.

And the village of Castle Combe itself is often ranked the prettiest village in England.

I can imagine the weddings here are mesmerising, the weekend stays luxurious. It’s certainly an excellent place for afternoon tea.

What strikes me roaming the hotel, between its various elegant lounges and bars with their tasteful décor, is how it balances out that opulence we all crave for with a strong sense of cosiness.

And this level of warmth and plushness is perfect for our visit on a cold and wet February day.

As mentioned, there are various rooms to pick from to stage your delightful meal with many showing off views of the well-manicured grounds of the hotel.

Swindon Advertiser: Manor House Hotel is a wonderful setting to take an afternoon tea

Due to us bringing along our not so faithful 9-month-old cocker spaniel Indy, me and my partner took one of the cosy lounges by a fireplace.

The menu is set and offers the typical items served on a three-tier stand including sandwiches, scones and then a host of pastries and little desserts. With drinks served in lovely crockery fitting of the setting.

Put simply, it was delicious. All of it well-made and beautifully arranged. But special mention has to be given for the scones, which were worth the visit on their own. Flavoursome and with tasty jam and lush thick clotted cream. Perfection.

And no afternoon tea is complete without the tea. And you are spoiled for choice at Manor House with 19 choices available in a range of black, green, herbal and flowering teas.

If you fancy something a little different, I wholly recommend the Moroccan Mint which was a delightful infusion of gunpowder with the herb not overpowering.

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Of course there all sorts of fizzier or boozier options for drinks as well.

The portions proved just right with little if anything left to waste and both of us feeling truly satisfied with what was on offer.

At £45 a head it is not cheap, but for my part I would certainly recommend the splurge if looking to treat someone special.

Because the beautiful surroundings, the thoughtful setup of the meal and the tastiness of the spread put on do make it a destination for afternoon tea lovers, and I am already thinking of a visit in the summer to enjoy the views of the sunlight grounds.