I was delighted when the travel company Laterooms approached me and asked me to contribute to a book they were compiling called 52 Sleeps. The idea of Laterooms 52 Sleeps was to compile a comprehensive guide to 52 of the quirkiest and best hotels in the UK – one for every day of the week. Yes they did pay me for my reviews, *disclosure claxon here* but given that 52 Sleeps is full of hidden gems, some of which already feature here on my blog, I had no qualms in affiliating My Hidden Gems to the book as taking part was a natural fit.

In the grounds of Carhall Castle, Halifax, one of Laterooms 52 Sleeps

As well as my contributions on Oxford’s quirkiest hotel the Malmaison and the Enchanted Manor, Laterooms 52 Sleeps also features another of my hidden gems, the Clink 78 hostel in London’s Kings Cross. Plus there are a selection of gorgeous hotels and B&Bs I can personally vouch for, having previously stayed at some of these hidden gems. St Brides hotel in Pembrokeshire, with its the outdoor infinity pool is a perfect example of a hidden gems in Wales. And it truly is a hidden gem as I seem to recall it taking me 10 hours to get there by train from London (various changes were involved along the way) but it was worth it.

52 Sleeps – spend one in a prison at the Oxford Malmaison

Carhall Castle, winner of Channel 5’s best home is another of the Laterooms 52 Sleeps I’ve been lucky enough to visit – my brother got married there last year. And as you can see from my pic it’s not just the accommodation that’s first-rate. The grounds are pretty special too – there’s even a water wheel and you there’s plenty of opportunity for deer spotting on the drive up to the entrance. I’ve also had dinner at the Priory Bay Hotel, Seaview, Isle of Wight. If the quality of the locally sourced produce is anything to go by then an overnight stay would be heavenly. Priory Bay also has its own private beach, and to make the most of this the hotel has the option to book a stay in a luxury yurt as well as its hotel rooms.

An utterly indulgent stay at the Crazy Bear is on my wishlist

And of course there’s a host of 4* and 5* accommodation in 52 Sleeps I’ve always been meaning to check out. The Feversham Arms in Helmsley North Yorkshire, the West Usk Lighthouse in St Brides, Newport, Wales and the decadent boudoirs of the 5* The Crazy Bear Hotel in Beaconsfield (there’s a Thai massage with my name on it) are just a few. Click on the logo below to download a copy of Laterooms 52 Sleeps for free here or you can download it as an e-book for free from Google Play or on Amazon Kindle for £1.29.

I’d also like to say a massive thank you to Laterooms for making St Ann’s Hospice in Manchester one of their chosen charities of the year. Sadly my mum has just been admitted to their hospice in Little Hulton and the support and help the hospice offers to both patients, and carers, is truly remarkable. The hospices are registered charities and incredibly underfunded, relying on donations. It’s thanks to companies like Laterooms, and the selfless people who give up their time to volunteer, that St Ann’s Hospice is able to carry on with their amazing work. Hospice staff ensure all patients are as comfortable and pain-free as possible. thanks to their kindness and dedication they allow people to retain their dignity towards the end of their lives.

If you would like to make a donation to St Ann’s Hospice or if you’re interested in volunteering you can find out more here.