As I lay face down on the massage table with gentle music playing in the background, just the bubble of a diffuser occasionally breaking the peace, all the stresses of the week disappeared.
The frantic pace of work, the tense conversations, the incessant deadlines and constant barrage of information. All was being pummelled and kneaded out of my back.
There's no room for pent-up frustrations at Nutfield Priory's spa, and the face and body treatment (£95), was 55 minutes of pure bliss - the perfect way to unwind after a busy week.
I was visiting on a Friday, for a weekend break with a friend, and the traffic had been as annoying as you'd expect for a Friday afternoon.
However, within seconds of parking and walking into the purpose-built spa block, a cup of herbal tea was brought to me, and the stresses started to ebb away.
Everything is effortless at this Surrey hotel, with the staff wonderfully friendly and attentive.
After our spa treatments, we checked into our hotel room. It was a large room, with exceptional attention to detail, with a nicely stocked refreshment bar complete with cocktails and posh snacks.
The beds were comfy, the bathroom spotless, but the best bit was the exceptional view. You can see for miles, rolling fields, even an airfield; this was Surrey at its finest.
The hotel itself is in a mansion, built between 1849 and 1854 by owner Thomas Fowler Wood. It has a tower, inspired by the Palace of Westminster, added by architect John Gibson who rebuilt the house. History oozes out of every crevice.
Quaker banker Henry Edward Gurney, who had the house in the 1860s, was famous for running the “Festival of Ragged-School Teachers” where he would make teachers come and visit to get some R&R. Now, more than 150 years later, my friend and I were here, also taking in the wonderful countryside. Maybe not teachers, but equally stressed. I can see what the attraction was.
After a stint in Second World War, when the mansion was used by Canadian soldiers, Surrey County Council bought Nutfield Priory and opened the first Secondary Modern Boarding School for severely deaf children in England.
When the school closed in July 1987, the house reverted to its 1930s usage as a hotel, reopening a year later.
Now under the ownership of Hand Picked Hotels, a group of individually styled country house properties, the hotel and health club and spa have been transformed following an extensive refurbishment programme.
The grand entrance and lobby, with its chandeliers and stained glass, adds to the wow factor. Stone carvings and marble fireplaces, huge oil paintings, it's certainly grand - and feels like you are stepping back in time. A huge organ in reception is also original, built in 1874 and carefully restored by the Shepherd Brothers of London.
The restaurant and bar are equally impressive, with great sweeping views.
We ordered some cocktails, which were served with style in the bar, before heading into the Cloisters Restaurant. It was fine dining, but with a twist, a seasonal menu of traditional British favourites enhanced with a contemporary touch, beautifully presented with flavours in every morsel. It's even won acclaim for its excellence - two AA Rosettes.
After a restful night, and a hearty breakfast, there was chance to check out the indoor pool and wellness area. Sadly we didn't have enough time to enjoy a game of squash, or enough motivation to join in with one of the many fitness classes, before we checked out rested and refreshed.
A short drive from the hotel is Redhill, which was a hub of activity on a Saturday, with plenty of shops, a market and many other things to do. Despite being so close to such a busy town, Nutfield Priory enjoys the bliss of the Surrey Hills and allows you to step away from the strains of everyday life, without being too far from civilisation, making it a great short break.
Fact box
To book go to handpickedhotels.co.uk/nutfieldpriory
Nutfield Priory, Nutfield Road, Redhill
Superior Double (sleeps two) – from £330 with the hotel's great summer getaway offer
Classic Double Room (sleeps 2 guests) - from £297
Bed and breakfast included.
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