British travel is on the rise, and the staycation trend seems set to stick around. The MGallery by Sofitel hotels around Britain are offering something even more special to tempt you into booking a mini-break in Bath, Windsor or Cheltenham, three of the UK’s most charming destinations. I visited the grand Queen’s Hotel in Cheltenham to find out more.

This imposing regal property opened its doors in 1838, named in honour of Queen Victoria. It was one of the first purpose-built hotels in Europe, and was built on the site of the old Sherborne Spa. There are many period features which remain untouched in the hotel, like the magnificent Georgian staircase and original Pugin wallpaper.

In 2015 the hotel was renovated and became part of the MGallery by Sofitel group. This refreshed new look has updated the hotel, with new luxurious amenities and thoughtful touches.

To complement the long and intriguing history, Lizzie Ostrom (a perfume obsessive and self taught scent historian), has worked with the Queen’s Hotel to create three perfumes to flavour the guest bedrooms at the hotel.

We sat with Lizzie and discussed the stories behind the scents, whilst indulging in a delicious afternoon tea. Lizzie explained the background of the Regency era, the importance of certain ingredients and why fragrance has always played such an important role in Cheltenham life.

When a guest checks in they are invited to choose one of the three contrasting perfumes to add personality to their bedroom. The ‘Signature’ fragrance is a cool and refreshing scent with green apple and hyacinth, the ‘Olympian Dew’ has a fruity flavour with Rose, Lychee and Cassis, while ‘Eau D’Ange’ is a warming mix of cardamom, cinnamon and cedar.

Find out more and book a scented stay at Queen’s Hotel, Cheltenham here.