Something for the weekend: The Aviator, Surrey

Your guide to an instant weekend break. We paid a visit to The Aviator, a luxury, modern hotel which pays homage to the great days of travel.

By Debbie Djordjevic

In a nutshell...
A brand new hotel with lots of old-fashioned comfort and views over the runway at Farnborough Airport!

Where is it?
Farnborough, Hampshire - not far from the pretty town of Farnham.

Perfect for...
A romantic weekend that's a little bit different. Perfect for those who love planes (never fear however, the windows are all soundproofed). Although this is mainly a business hotel don't let that put you off, as at the weekend the bar and restaurant are busy with local people wanting a night out.

Liking...
The décor and building design are fantastic. Shaped like a propeller, the hotel is ultra-modern but somehow incorporates details that invoke the spirit of travel from earlier last century. The luxury is in the detail, from the comfortable beds, quality of the furnishings and expensive décor in the public areas to the free-to-view film channel, well-stocked minibar and bath with TV integrated into the wall. In fact if you stay in one of the luxury suites there is little reason to go out at all. We indulged ourselves watching the latest movies still on at our local multiplex at home, while sipping an aperitif before dinner in the Brasserie. The manager Michael Helling has come here from The Grove and The Hong Kong Club so standards are high from service by the professional staff and quality in the bar and restaurant to the comfort and attention to detail in the interior design which has been pulled together by Interior Designer of the Year, Amanda Rosa.

What to visit while you're there?
If you want to continue the theme of flight, next door is the Farnborough Air Sciences Museum, http://www.airsciences.org.uk/museum.html which presents a selection of the FAST collection in a historic listed building. The museum dates back to 1908 and was the headquarters of the Royal Balloon School - so flight has always been of focus here. For those who would rather spend the days browsing shops and sampling a historic country town then a 20-minute drive will find you in the heart of historic Farnham with a selection of up-market shops and boutiques, a range of restaurants and a small castle.

For more information visit www.avaitorfarnborough.co.uk, which is owned by the same company who owns Farnborough Airport and is managed by the McCulloch Unique Hotels group.

Have you been to The Aviator? Tell us what you think below. 

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