THE GREAT BRITISH Weekend .sx Going away for the weekend is a British institution .sx In Victorian times , the new railways made it easy for friends and relatives to go to stay in the great Victorian country houses .sx The house party was a special favourite of the Edwardian upper classes .sx Today , most of us try to get away for a day or two at some time during the year because a weekend break brings welcome relaxation from work and city stresses .sx But where to go ?sx Here's our first-hand report of some great British weekend choices .sx Champagne break in the Cotswolds .sx Arline Usden .sx From the first , it was apparent that the Lygon Arms puts great emphasis on good service , as befits a recent member of the Savoy Hotel Group .sx Set in Broadway , one of the Cotswold's loveliest villages , the inn exudes the special charm of 450 years of English history - it is , after all , one of the oldest and most famous country hotels in England - and the tone of friendly hospitality and care was set from the moment we arrived .sx The attention to detail was impressive :sx fresh flowers in our room ; a bowl of fruit ; a built-in hairdryer ; trouser-press ; and various sundries such as pincushion , cotton wool as well as tissues , emery boards and cotton buds .sx The Daily Telegraph was delivered without asking every morning , and a glass of sherry was served on a silver tray in our room at 6pm each evening .sx The bath robes were indulgently thick , and the television/radio had a remote control .sx We started off with a delightful tea on the patio , then had drinks before dinner by the open log fire and studied the menu .sx .. eating is naturally an important part of a weekend break , so forget dieting here , though slimmers can find less rich choices .sx Our first three-course dinner ( pounds26 .sx 50 ) offered us asparagus and spinach soup , smoked chicken with thyme and honey dressing or a terrine of fresh salmon and smoked salmon with a tomato relish , as a starter .sx I settled for a main course of grilled medallions of venison with garlic flavoured lentils and fried celeriac , but I could have had a panache of red mullet and turbot on an orange and anchovy sauce or roast sirloin of Scottish beef with woodland mushrooms and port , plus a selection of vegetables which included gratin of potatoes and leek .sx In such a typically old - fashioned English setting , we had to try the traditional pudding of the day :sx baked syrup and marmalade tart with marmalade ice-cream .sx It was delicious English food with a difference and superbly presented .sx Built of handsome Cotswold stone , furnished with antiques collected by the Russell family - who originally owned the Lygon Arms , having bought it at the turn of the century - and with real log fires , this country hotel is a very special Cotswold jewel .sx King Charles I conferred with his confidants here and Cromwell actually slept at the inn .sx We were also pleasantly surprised to find we were driving down empty country roads , when we got off the main route from London , even though it was a Bank Holiday weekend .sx Broadway itself , of course , is full of delightful houses and antique shops , and there's a long uphill walk to the Broadway Tower , a folly , through fields of sheep , if you want to get some exercise .sx But there was much to do inside , too , because a fine new country club has been opened at the hotel , with well-equipped gymnasium , galleried swimming pool and spa bath and a range of excellent beauty treatments .sx I had a very good massage with aromatic oils which chased all my tensions away .sx There is a splendid billiards room , and we could have played tennis , but we settled for a walk in the delightful grounds , and visited the famous gardens at Hidcote , and Sudeley Castle , the home of Katherine Parr , Henry VIII's last and surviving wife .sx Stratford is just 15 miles away and other places to visit include the Slaughters ( see cover ) , Blenheim Palace , Bourton-on-the-Water , and Chipping Campden .sx Fact File .sx Champagne Weekend pounds195 per person , two nights to include Friday , Saturday or Sunday .sx A chilled bottle of champagne is served in your room when you arrive , and there is a table d'h o-circ te dinner each evening , fruit and flowers in your room , early morning tea with a complimentary newspaper , continental breakfast and a gift to serve as a momento of your stay .sx If you can take advantage of a midweek break , minus the champagne , you pay pounds185 per person .sx Golfing Break is pounds225 ; a Clay Pigeon Shooting Break , pounds270 .sx Contact :sx The Lygon Arms , Broadway , Worcestershire WR12 7DU .sx Telephone :sx 0386 852255 .sx Canal Cruising in the Midlands .sx Amanda Brooks .sx Life on the ocean wave has always been a favourite pastime of mine although it can be rather energetic , so I decided to plump for a more relaxing weekend , although still on water .sx Arriving at Club Line Cruisers base in Coventry with parents and dog in tow , we were shown to our accommodation :sx a 47-foot Ace of Spades narrowboat .sx Modern conveniences were quite adequate and included a fridge , gas hob and oven , bathroom and shower .sx The galley was stocked with all the necessary utensils and had hot and cold water .sx Once we had unloaded the essentials such as bottles of wine and bread and milk , a member of the company came to give us a brief lesson on how to drive the boat , work the locks and grease the stern gland .sx Safely through the first loch at Hawkesbury on to the Oxford Canal , the scenery opened up ahead of us , complete with wild iris growing on the banks , cows munching in fields of buttercups and families of new born cygnets on the move .sx This really was enforced relaxation , travelling at four miles an hour with no one else in sight and only the gentle rumble of the engine coming between us and the canal life .sx On this type of weekend you can do as much or as little as you want .sx We opted to see as much as possible , and sample the local fare .sx Stopping at Ansty to explore we discovered Ansty Hall where they do a superb lunch in very plush surroundings .sx On to Brinklow where we found a delightful old-fashioned tea shop in the village , and dinner at the friendly Boat pub in Newbold-on-Avon .sx Then the inevitable happened .sx Rain .sx In fact it was like a monsoon .sx That really was the only complaint I have against narrowboats .sx When it rains you have to stand outside to steer the boat , there is no getting away from it .sx Canal life is far different from the rivers and sea in every way .sx The boats are extremely colourful and the people on the whole very friendly .sx Perhaps I could get used to this slow pace , it certainly captivated us for a weekend .sx Fact File .sx Weekend breaks are available all year round , departing on Fridays at 3pm and returning to base on Sundays at 4pm .sx Rates start at pounds130 for a two berth and increase to pounds310 for a 12 berth ( fuel included) .sx Bedding is supplied at pounds2 per berth if requested when booking .sx Contact :sx Club Line Cruisers , Swan Lane Wharf , Swan Lane , Stoke Heath , Coventry , telephone 0604 258864 .sx Guernsey Gourmet Weekend .sx Emma Bromidge .sx Gentle Guernsey is an idyllic setting for a weekend away , situated in the Gulf of St Malo off the Normandy coast of northern France , 80 miles from England , but resolutely British .sx Here I hoped to find a flavour of France without requiring a passport .sx The Air UK flight from Stansted took just one hour , so very soon we were experiencing our first sights of Guernsey , with its green fields , winding lanes , and glasshouses .sx As there are few signposts it is best to take a taxi or hire a car and make good use of a tourist map to reach your destination .sx We were staying at Guernsey's four-star St Pierre Park Hotel on a special gourmet weekend break .sx This includes two nights luxury accommodation , a full English breakfast , a five-course dinner at the hotel's elegant Victor Hugo restaurant and use of the recently refurbished Le Mirage health suite , which includes a luxury 25-metre swimming pool .sx For informal eating we found the hotel's new Caf e Renoir was ideal , with views across the lake to the nine-hole golf course beyond .sx Renoir spent a month in Guernsey in 1883 , and painted about 15 pictures of the island .sx The artistic theme is used for the table decoration , service style and menu .sx Each dish is described as a portrait to be observed and enjoyed .sx I recommend the starter of deep-fried mushrooms served with a garlic mayonnaise , or a tender melon boat lightly dusted with sienna ginger .sx Main course specialities include fresh caught Guernsey plaice , char-grilled and served with an ' appliqu e ' of melting herb butter .sx Aspiring artists can compose their own still life study from the array of colourful salad vegetables , or you may prefer to let the crispy base of a pizza act as a 'canvas' for the chef's creative talents .sx Sweets are served with a generous helping of fresh Guernsey cream , and there is a 'private collection' menu of the hotel's ice-cream specialities .sx But the highlight of our stay was the gourmet meal in the Victor Hugo restaurant .sx We chose diamant d'asperges et champignons des bois , a delightful puff pastry basket filled with fresh asparagus and tasty woodland mushrooms to start , a cassis sorbet , then for the main course , tournedo de boeuf au vin rouge et confit d'oignons , saut e ed beef fillet served with an onion marmalade and red wine sauce , accompanied by seasonal vegetables and to drink , fine red wine .sx This was followed by a good selection of French cheeses and a tarte du cerise floating in Guernsey cream , coffee and special petits fours .sx This was a meal worthy of the attention of the great Victor Hugo himself !sx .sx Daniel Malherbe , the executive chef , trained at Versailles and has held senior positions at the London Waldorf and Kensington Hilton hotels .sx He feels that he is lucky to be able to make use of the island's abundance of fresh herbs and vegetables and local fishermen provide him with excellent seafood .sx After eating alfresco at the hotel's Sunday lunch barbecue it was hard to go .sx Guernsey , we were told , would be easy to get to and difficult to leave .sx They were right .sx Fact File .sx A Gourmet break costs pounds127 per person .sx Contact :sx St Pierre Park Hotel , Rohais , St Peter Port , Guernsey , Channel Islands , tel .sx 0481 728282 .sx We flew to Guernsey from Stansted's new air terminal , courtesy of Air UK .sx A new Stansted Express rail link runs every half an hour from London's Liverpool Street Station to give an efficient service which links directly in with the new space-age terminal coined the 'silent airport' .sx Air UK fly to Guernsey twice daily at 12.10 pm and 7.20 taking about 1 hour-1 hour 20 minutes .sx The return fare is pounds95 if you book 14 days in advance , otherwise pounds134 .sx Oxford Culture .sx Sally Bodsworth .sx Spend the weekend in Oxford , and immerse yourself in the finest of British culture .sx For the first time , Oxford boasts a hotel that is both upmarket and relaxed , and an ideal base from which to explore and enjoy this lovely city .sx The 17th-century , Cotswold stone Old Parsonage Hotel is situated off St Giles , Oxford's famous wide avenue of plane trees , and looking across the hotel's delightful gardens to St Giles' Church , it is hard to believe that the city centre is so close .sx Leave your car in the hotel car park and you won't need to use it again until the journey home .sx Two minutes walk takes you to the city centre and all its attractions .sx Of course the colleges are beautiful and to step from the hustle bustle of Oxford into their serene courtyards and gardens is wonderful .sx New College has grand rolling gardens with a medieval wall and magnificent Chapel .sx Merton College is home to England's oldest library built in the late 14th century and Magdalen College , as well as educating the notorious Oscar Wilde , has a serene deer park in its grounds .sx