Monkey Island

The spa was the one tricky part, as it books up well ahead and was difficult to reserve. The rest of our one-night visit was a pleasure. Our room had a beautiful, calming view, breakfast was generous and nicely prepared, and the Elemis products in the bathroom were a lovely touch.

The food was first class, and the staff were both professional and friendly throughout our private Christmas lunch for 12. We had a beautifully set table in a private room just off the main bar, with a lovely feel to it. Preselected Christmas menus can so often be disappointing, but that certainly wasn't the case at Monkey Island. We hope to come back next Christmas.

Nikii made our visit memorable with such warm, attentive service. She brought our drinks, kept the conversation lively, and had a lovely positive energy without ever hovering. The relaxed, welcoming atmosphere at Monkey Island in Maidenhead made it easy to unwind too. I'd happily come back for the setting and the service.

Long White Cloud is a spacious, beautifully furnished four-bedroom house beside the Monkey Island car park, reached from the island by a bridge. It has four reception rooms, a pretty garden, a small heated indoor pool, a well-equipped kitchen, and en-suite bathrooms and individual air conditioning in every bedroom. There are no laundry facilities. Stirling Moss and Edward Elgar were among its previous residents. Some snacks and drinks are included, but you need to drive about ten minutes to the nearest supermarket. The village has pubs and restaurants, but no shops or supermarket. The onsite bistro has a lovely setting and outlook, though we didn't have a good experience there: they refused our request for a toasted sandwich for a tired child.