Jesmond Dene House

Jesmond Dene Road (Newcastle upon Tyne) NE2 2EY

Overlooking the wooded valley of Jesmond Dene, this beautiful hotel guarantees peace and escapism and a refreshing change. Fresh and light interiors, are set against the fine rich features of this historical house. Big beds, big bathrooms, space to work and space to relax. There are handsome rooms for meeting, dining and celebrating, from the wood panelled Great Hall to the light filled garden room. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly but with a passionate attention to detail. No gimmicks, no fuss, just a genuinely warm welcome and an invitation to indulge. The restaurant has two dining areas, the former music room with its delicate plasterwork and dramatic colours, and the oak floored light and leafy garden room.
Polished oak floors, huge windows, lashings of space - the ground floor is a sweep of grand but comfortably modern rooms buzzing with gentle activity. Sip cocktails or coffees in the lounge, a bright, light room on the garden side, and once the Nobles’ dining room. Plump sofas, Italian leather chairs, colourful fabrics and a granite topped bar create a handsome contrast with the oak panelling and Arts and Crafts tiled inglenook fireplace. Double doors lead into the restaurant. Alternatively, the Billiard Room has a carpeted, clubby atmosphere, newspapers and magazines, another grand fireplace and a fine, glazed roof (but, regrettably or thankfully, no billiards). A good place to curl up with a book, meet friends or laze over afternoon tea.

Only a five-minute drive and compact enough to make walking a pleasure, the city centre has a surprising amount to discover. The bridges, quayside, sweeping Georgian streets, Castle Keep and St Nicholas’ Cathedral are legendary landmarks. But alongside these are the modern, must-see landmarks of the Baltic contemporary art centre, Sir Norman Foster’s billowing glass concert hall, the Millennium Bridge and, three miles to the south, Antony Gormley’s Angel of the North. Museums - from the Life Science Centre to Egyptian treasures - galleries, sculpture trails, designer shops as well as the fabled bar and café society will leave few idle moments. Within walking distance of the hotel, Jesmond has its own neighbourhood scene of specialist shops, lively bars and cafés. Beyond the city - Durham Cathedral, Hadrian’s Wall, Alnwick Garden, Holy Island, Northumberland’s beaches, to name just a few attractions - is a whole other country…

Trees, garden, rooftops - no two bedroom views are the same. Indeed, no two bedrooms are the same. Open the door and you might step into a space of lofty ceilings and grand mullioned windows. Or the room might be low and intimate with deep-set windows and cosy window seats. A flight of steps might take you high into a hidden love-nest that sprawls among the eaves. There might be a fireplace, a timbered ceiling or a Mary Poppins view over chimney pots. Some rooms surprise with a curved bath, four have private terraces.

All have a modern sense of comfort: space, handsome looks, sleek furnishings. Muted colours are mixed with bold wallpaper and shots of pink, aubergine or turquoise; fun but not too startling. Furniture is uncluttered and understated with hints of velvet, silk and suede to make you feel cosseted. Big beds wrap you in Egyptian, cotton pique bed linen; white, soft and cool. In the New House, the rooms and suites spoil with even more space and a private sitting area.

Bathrooms are generously designed with a crisp, clean functionalism. Big mirrors, big baths, big shelves. Most have windows, too. Polished granite, taupe and cream colours, chrome and frosted glass shades; there is a hint of 1930s New York. Some have walk-in showers, others have baths with garden views. All have under floor heating.

Jesmond Dene House is one and a half miles north of Newcastle city centre. By car from the south and west: follow the A1 by-pass round the west of the city to the second exit for Gosforth, marked Wideopen, Killingworth, Gosforth (B1318) taking the B1318 through Gosforth towards the city centre. Once on the Town Moor, take the first exit at the first roundabout, marked Jesmond and Ashington A189. After a pedestrian crossing and two sets of traffic lights, take the first turning right (marked by 20 mph speed signs) as the main road bends sharp left. Jesmond Dene House is 150 metres on the left. By train: from Newcastle Central Station, a taxi takes around five minutes. Or you can take the Metro underground to Ilford Road station from where the hotel is a 15-minute walk. By air: Newcastle International airport is six miles to the north-west, on the outskirts of the city. A taxi takes around 15 minutes or you can take the Metro underground to Ilford Road station from where the hotel is a 15-minute walk.