Where? On the Holkham estate in Norfolk, on the east coast of England.
Sounds rather grand? Grand and romantic. Home to the earls of Leicester since the 1700s, Holkham is a 10-minute walk from the long, sandy beach used for the final scene of Shakespeare In Love.
So Gwyneth Paltrow's a fan? Sadly not. Run by Viscount and Viscountess Coke (pronounced 'Cook'), the Victoria opened as a funky rural hotel in 2001 - three years after the film was released.
To similarly ecstatic reviews? Absolutely. The kind of place where guests feel comfortable wearing dirty boots or Jimmy Choos, the Victoria is a must for anyone wanting a country house vibe without the stuffiness.
Chintz is off the menu, then? The look is Victorian colonial with an exotic Eastern spin: the furniture comes from Rajasthan, the walls are painted in jewel-bright shades and the cushions are covered in delicate sari silk.
Rambling or intimate? There are 11, faintly louche bedrooms - each designed on a different theme, including Colonial, Holkham, Stone, Marsh, Wash and North Sea. All rooms have satellite television, cosy duvets and bathrooms with rolltop tubs and handmade soap.
Which room is louchest? The Raj Room, which has lime green walls, a teak four-poster bed, Indian artefacts and a seductive navy and black slate bathroom.
Who goes there? Down-to-earth 30- to 40-somethings, often with children in tow (the Victoria is seriously kidtastic). And foodies. The cuisine is absolutely fabulous.
Examples, please. The hotel describes its menu as 'comfort food' but it's more than that: the fish and chips (wrapped in the Daily Telegraph) rival the famous Harry Ramsden. Breakfast is among the best in Britain and the game is shot on the owner's estate. Venison burger, anyone?
Anything else we should know? The Victoria was nicely summed up by one guest: 'When you walk in, you feel like it is your home. When you leave, you wish it were.'
Double room, #140-#210 (HK$1,740-$2,611) high season; #60-#230 low season. Park Road, Holkham, Wells-Next-The-Sea, Norfolk, NR23 1RG. Tel: (44 1328) 711008;
