Retreat to the castle

NOD TO THE PAST Lodges with a literary theme

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Waking on the waterfront, watching the ducks and geese glide by as you languish in a super-comfy Art Deco-inspired bed complete with Egyptian cotton bedding and furs... am I selling it?

There are four literary-themed lodges right on the water at Leeds Castle in Kent - Ian Fleming, Noel Coward, Daphne du Maurier and our one, Gertrude Lawrence.

All four were guests of the castle's former owner, Lady Olive Baillie, at some point and the lodges can be accessed through a private walkway through her Mediterranean garden on the estate.

Inside are cute little touches, like old-fashioned binoculars, handy for watching the aforementioned wildlife, books, ornaments and Art-Deco decor. Things are bang up-to-date though in the bathrooms, which have walk-in rain showers and gorgeous-smelling spa toiletries.

A floor-to-ceiling glass wall makes you feel you are truly immersed in nature but before you panic, there is good wi-fi and a TV too.

Outside there is a bath on the deck. All very sexy in theory but perhaps not in March... I'm a game old bird so I ran the bath, poured in a bottle of the spa shower gel and stepped in.

It could be fabulous but only if they up the temperature of the water somewhat. It does need to be steaming hot in Britain and it was a little on the tepid side to be honest. I sat there for a shivery 10 minutes in the name of research and a glass of bubbly helped take the chill off.