Thread by @lizziefrainier, Today is a BIG day for travel. Hotels across England are reopening [...]

Today is a BIG day for travel. Hotels across England are reopening for the first time in more than three months. I'm on my way to country house hotel @chewtonglen to report on what a post-lockdown stay really looks like. I can't wait - join me. @TelegraphTravel #GreatEscape

Turns out I haven't changed at all during lockdown: I was still running around packing with five minutes to go and now I'm in the car I realise I haven't packed a jacket. Forecast: rain.

The roads to Hampshire have been fairly quiet so far but caravans are out in force. This is just one of many we have spotted so far. #GreatEscape

We're here! Every guest that arrives at @chewtonglen hotel must have their temperature checked. If it's under 38 degrees you're good to go. Welcome to the new normal. #GreatEscape #SuperSaturday @TelegraphTravel – bei Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa

Time to check-in. The hotel is 95% full tonight and the excitement among guests and staff can be felt in the air #GreatEscape – bei Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa

Every guest is given a welcome pack with mask, hand sanitiser, gloves and more. Welcome to the new normal. #GreatEscape – bei Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa

Pure joy to be celebrating the reopening of hospitality in England at the beautiful country house hotel @chewtonglen in Hampshire. Staff may all be wearing masks but you can see from their eyes that they are smiling. Welcome back. #GreatEscape #SuperSaturday @TelegraphTravel – bei Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa

All the restaurants have QR code menus to minimise contact, but if you're a complete technology idiot like me they can still sort you out with a disposable paper menu #GreatEscape – bei Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa

Hearing the words 'service please' for the first time in more than three months

What. A. Lunch. @jamesmartinchef #GreatEscape #SuperSaturday

'We've done 36 covers - it feels like 360' - @jamesmartinchef spoke to me about reopening The Kitchen restaurant at @chewtonglen today. Fabulous food, and an atmosphere to match. #GreatEscape @TelegraphTravel @VisitHampshire – bei Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa

You wouldn't notice it in the restaurant but behind the scenes there are a lot of new regulations. Every 30 minutes an alarm goes off in the kitchen and all the staff must wash their hands. #GreatEscape @TelegraphTravel – bei The Kitchen

A sneak peek of the freshly refurbished spa at @chewtonglen. It's not allowed to be reopened yet because of Government regulations, but boy what a place to hang out when it does. Took everything in my power to not dive right in. #GreatEscape @TelegraphTravel – bei Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa

Hand sanitiser reigns supreme. #GreatEscape @TelegraphTravel – bei Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa

Social distancing is really quite when the hotel has 130 acres to roam. #GreatEscape @TelegraphTravel – bei Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa

And it's just a 10-minute walk to the sea.

And it's just a 10-minute walk to the sea.

The restaurant at @chewtonglen before its first dinner service in more than three months. Menus are scanned through a QR code and diners are sat very far apart. Very much looking forward to this later. @TelegraphTravel – bei Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa

Cocktail hour

The clink-clink-clink sound of the shaker has got my heart all aflutter and the drink hasn't even arrived yet @chewtonglen @TelegraphTravel #GreatEscape #SuperSaturday – bei Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa

The buffet breakfast is no more at @chewtonglen and countless other hotels. I've never been much of fan anyway so was happy with a la carte. Takes a lot longer to be served though which hopefully can be improved in the future - but it is the first day after all. #GreatEscape – bei Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa

Copy of the @Telegraph delivered to my room this am – and look at what is inside on page four. Welcome back @chewtonglen

@TelegraphTravel #GreatEscape – bei Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa

Copy of the @Telegraph delivered to my room this am – and look at what is inside on page four. Welcome back @chewtonglen @TelegraphTravel #GreatEscape – bei Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa

Did my first spin class in months this morning and it felt so good! @chewtonglen have moved the studio outside and there are only 5 bikes, each with plenty of space in between. It was instructor Martin Miller's first time back too. He was brilliant