Graeme Brown enjoys a taste of the high life at the former home of King Louis XVIIII.

Stepping into Hartwell House is like stepping onto the set of a period drama.

The restored 17th century residence in the Buckinghamshire countryside is only 1hr 30mins from the West Midlands, but offers a different sort of escapism than you might find further afield.

The weather might be really quite similar to Birmingham but you feel quite some way away – about 250 years.

The stately home two miles west of Aylesbury, which has been converted into a hotel and a spa, is a comfortable place to stay but its main selling point is its fascinating history – which is in evidence throughout.

The house was the home of Louis XVIII, the then king of France, from 1809 to 1814 during the French Revolution and on the face of things, little has changed – there is a regal feel throughout the bedrooms and bars, the 90 acres of garden and parkland and especially the giant lounges.

However, there are some reminders that bring you back to 2011. I don’t believe, for instance, that King Louis had a DVD player. He also more than likely would not have had access to a sauna or steam room like modern-day visitors either, as there is a spa a mere 100 yards from the hotel.

We arrived at Hartwell – which is owned by the National Trust these days – on a Friday afternoon and enjoyed a stroll around the idyllic gardens.

We returned to our room – one of 30 at the hotel – and were fortunate enough to be in Louis’ very own residence. It was a true taste of the royal life, with 30ft high ceilings, seven windows looking out on beautiful parkland and a giant four-poster bed.

Then it was on to enjoy one of Hartwell’s strong points – the food.

The principal dining room was designed in 1988 in the style of the eminent early 19th century architect Sir John Soane and is a fitting setting for some imaginative cooking.

The food, which has been awarded three rosettes by the Automobile Association, features produce from seasonal local farms.