St Mary's Hall Hotel, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly

Conveniently located at the top of Church Street, a short walk away from the centre of Hugh Town, Porthcressa Beach and the bustling harbour where you can catch inter-island boats to explore the rest of the archipelago. Wander the cobbled streets of Hugh Town and explore its artisan shops, cafés, delis, galleries and artist studios.

We took a tiny plane to the archipelago from Land's End, which gave us amazing views of the islands - and was quite an exhilerating ride.

By plane: Skybus flies to St Mary's from Newquay (30 minutes), Exeter (1 hour) or Lands End (15 minutes). The hotel is a 5-minute drive from the airport. Free parking available. Book flights to St Mary's.

By boat: the Scillionian III Passenger Ferry departs from Penzance (2 hours 45 minutes). The hotel is a 5-minute drive (10-minute walk) from the terminal.

Drenched in contemporary elegance and boasting many heritage features, this beautifully restored townhouse was originally built by Count Leon de Ferrari in 1938 for his Scillonian bride. Surrounded by stunning Mediterranean gardens, thoughtful interiors boast an oak-panelled entrance hall and staircase that has been thoughtfully restored.

Attentive staff pay attention to the finer details. The lounge and bar area is bright and cosy, with a log burner and a wide selection of speciality and local beers, ales, gins and wines. In warmer weather, guests can enjoy the decked area and Mediterranean gardens, while indoors, board games and a piano are available.

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Terrace
• Garden
• Family-friendly
• Pet-friendly
• Free parking
• Free Wi-Fi

Select from a range of rooms, from a standard double to a four-poster with a balcony or a roomy suite. The rooms feature a clean and neutral aesthetic, with high ceilings and large windows overlooking the gardens in the original part of the hotel and suites have a large living area and a galley kitchen.

Room types: Godolphin, Countess, Count Leon, Suite

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with Molton Brown toiletries, hairdryer, tea and coffee facilities, TV, free Wi-Fi

A field-to-table ethos presides here. You can watch the chefs prepare your meal from fresh island produce through the 'window view'.

The Hall: light bites and drinks. Open daily for dinner and drinks, Mon-Sat for afternoon tea.

Grill Room: Local and sustainable island produce, serving 28-day dry-aged steaks and local lamb to fresh lobster and crab. Open daily.

Everes's Room: formal dining. Open daily.