Tours, wine-tastings, hot air balloon rides, watersports, spas, luxury hotels, skydiving and more... There are many ways to celebrate your most special occasions on the Great West Way.

There are many ways to celebrate and mark a special occasion between London to Bristol, adding some memorable magic to your Great West Way experience. Getting friends and family together for a party to commemorate a special milestone such as a special birthday or silver wedding anniversary perhaps? You are spoiled for choice along the route.

Since the covid pandemic we have seen a rise in beautiful exclusive use accommodation and options for multi-generation group stays. Take the new private country cottages located on the Lucknam Park Estate, near Bath for example – your very own private haven of luxury set in the 500-acre estate.

Lucknam Park is the sort of hotel you mean to use as a base for exploring but end up not leaving for several days. There’s so much to do at this five-star, from classes at the cookery school and horse riding to hydrotherapy in the spa, as well as one of the Great West Way’s best restaurants – Restaurant Hywel Jones.

Time slows right down here, as you make your way up the mile-long drive between the beech trees and settle into the drawing room for cocktails. The signature tasting menu has Loch Duart salmon, braised halibut and pork from nearby Roundway Hill and there’s a vegetarian tasting menu and wine matching to boot. It has held a Michelin star since 2006. Rooms in this Palladian mansion are supremely comfortable and the whole experience feels like staying with (very wealthy) friends.

If your style is more relaxed country chic, the Pear Tree Inn Farmhouse Kitchen with Bar & Rooms is tucked away in rural Whitley near Melksham. Book the new Potting Sheds located into the fabulous grounds with fully equipped kitchenette for a romantic glamping setting and evening under the stars.

For something super-stylish the modern Berkeley Suite apartments with cinema projectors located in the desirable Clifton area of Bristol are perfect for impressive get-togethers too. Self-contained with open plan living area with a bespoke kitchen and all the benefits of a fully serviced hotel, including a chic restaurant and cocktail bar.

From Michelin star dining rooms in elegant country house hotels to soothing spas with crystal-lit swimming pools and natural thermal waters, you could celebrate your special occasion with some five-star pampering.

The stunning Gainsborough Bath Spa in the centre of Bath for example offers a very special guest experience – set beneath a glass atrium here you can "take the waters" in luxury. There are three thermal baths, traditional and infrared Saunas, a steam room and eleven treatment rooms.

Once the headquarters of Lloyds Bank, and with a gorgeously ornate exterior inspired by a 16th century Venetian library Bristol Harbour Hotel is another seriously opulent city address. The 42 bedrooms have views out over the historic city centre, luxurious drapes and bedding and complimentary decanters of gin and sherry. Some also have rolltop baths and all guests have use of the HarSpa down in the vaults, with its hydrotherapy pool. The Jetty restaurant serves an afternoon tea of just-baked homemade scones, clotted cream and jam, then in the evenings brings out an a la carte menu of fresh seafood dishes such as moules marinere and South Coast crab on toast.

Coworth Park is five-star from its crystal-lit swimming pool right down to its impeccable service. This is a 21stcentury country house hotel and rooms are beautifully chic, with a cream colour palette and contemporary furniture. The grounds are extensive and there’s a Polo Academy and Equestrian Centre offering riding lessons and off-road hacks. The spa is one of England’s best, set into the countryside and offering dreamy treatments, and the Drawing Room serves a fabulous afternoon tea of scones and freshly made cakes from the pastry team. For dinner, elegant Restaurant Coworth Park has a Michelin star and a showcase of a tasting menu, which features dishes such as Cornish turbot with salted grapes and Highland wagyu short rib.

Sample the delights on offer at the Langley Hotel in Buckinghamshire, one of the newest hotel on the Great West Way. This hotel and spa sits in a former royal hunting ground surrounded by formal gardens and landscaped parklands, offering guests a truly luxurious stay. At the opulent spa you can enjoy the plunge pools, steam room and a whole host of sumptuous treatments.

With a fascinating history dating back to the Edwardian era, the Thames Lido is a unique urban retreat in the heart of Reading, situated in a Grade II listed building which was painstakingly renovated before the lido reopened – it’s another great place to base yourself for a celebration. You can swim year-round in the open-air swimming pool and book with spa packages such as a holistic massage included, as well as a delicious meal at the restaurant, overlooking the open-air pool.

Take the glamour with you into the day time with private day tours from Bath throughout the South West with your own guide in a luxury Mercedes V-Class vehicle with Galahad Tours. To see the Great West Way from a bird's eye view you might even enjoy a hot-air balloon ride with Bailey Balloons, offering exclusive balloon flights for up to 6 people across the South West.

From the road to the sky, did you know you can also travel in style along our Great West Way rivers and canals? Private harbour tours and river trips can be booked with Bristol Packet Boat Trips, or take a Thames Rivercruise (based at the heart of the Upper Thames) and cruise through some of the most stunning reaches of the Thames from Henley and Sonning up to Goring and Streatley.

For something more thrilling on the water enjoy an unforgettable outdoors activity such as stand up paddleboarding, canoeing and kayaking with Original Wild. Or step outside your comfort zone thrill-chasing with an adrenaline-fuelled driving experience at Castle Combe Circuit, watersports at Cotswold Water Park, or by jumping out of a plane with Skydive Neteravon. Or, from the social whirl of Royal Ascot to Ascot Racedays there is something to suit every occasion and ensure a day to remember at Ascot Racecourse throughout the year.

Perhaps learning a new skill is a more appealing way of marking an occasion? You might like to rustle up a special treat in the kitchen with a hands-on course at Vaughan’s Cookery School in Devizes. Or, have a go at glassblowing at Bristol Blue Glass.

While in Bristol you might also enjoy a stop in urban oasis at The Lido. Tucked away amongst a courtyard of Georgian Terraces in the heart of historic Clifton, the Lido features a spa, restaurant, outdoor heated pool, sauna, hot tub and steam room within a characterful Victorian building. Here you can enjoy a tailor-made massage using bespoke own-brand Lido oils or take a refreshing dip in the open-air pool before enjoying lunch in the building's historic viewing gallery.

Just 10 minutes by train from Bristol in Bath you can enjoy a private tour of the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage city with Insider Tours. Or, discover Bath’s food scene using your taste buds on a Savouring Bath tour, while strolling through its elegant 18th century streets and alleyways.

For a special occasion in addition to the open-air rooftop pool with spectacular views over the city of Bath at Thermae Bath Spa next door is its more exclusive sister – The Cross Baths. Housed in a separate building with its own open-air thermal bath The Cross Baths provides an alternative to the more extensive spa facilities in the New Royal Bath. Fed by its own natural spring, this beautiful building with its own changing facilities can be enjoyed as a unique venue for an exclusive spa break for a group up to 10 people.

Christmas is always a golden time to visit, with twinkly festive markets sprinkled throughout the route – none more well-known than Bath Christmas Market, with its magical Regency backdrop providing the perfect setting for a mulled wine and a mince pie. Elsewhere along the touring route you can celebrate the season with ice skating, festivals of light, slapstick pantomime shows, and glitzy New Year’s parties. Now is the perfect time for a memorable adventure through the real England.