When Mercure Hotels UK contacted me a couple of months ago and asked whether I would like to visit one of their hotels anywhere in the UK, obviously I didn’t hesitate long, and quickly picked the gorgeous Mercure Hotel Shrewsbury Albrighton as my destination of choice. Located a 2.5 hour train ride north west from London, the 4-star hotel is surrounded by green, endless fields, clear, fresh air and singing birds (as well as, in our case last weekend: thick fog). The interior reminds one of an old British castle – the tea room is packed with cosy upholstered sofas which seem to have survived a few decades, the ceilings are high and the wooden furniture in the restaurant is beautiful. Mercure Hotel Shrewsbury Albrighton serves three kinds of afternoon tea, both for hotel guests and visitors who wish to come just to enjoy the tea. We went for the deluxe version…