Pillar & Post Hotel

The cultural flipside to the epic Niagara Falls experience is a 20-minute drive away on the historic streets of Niagara-on-the-Lake.  One of the best-preserved 19^th towns in Canada, it’s a must-visit after the Falls, and the Pillar & Post – reminiscent of a British Victorian inn – distills the town’s charm into one lovely stay.

The converted cannery building started life as a hotel decades ago, but seems older, with deep, distressed-leather seating, traditional tartan upholstery and mahogany four-poster beds in most rooms. Still, this is a holiday town, so you also get mod cons such as an in-house spa, with free access to the hot tubs and springs (treatments are extra) and full bar service at the indoor and outdoor pools.

The Nouveau Canadian cuisine is a highlight – breakfast comes with locally cured bacon, Ontario maple syrup and a full juice bar. On arrival, the valet whisks away your car. In exchange, you can use the town shuttle, which makes regular stops at the surrounding wineries – so nobody has to drive.