We may not claim year-round sun, and villas on the water are certainly few and far between, but when it comes to country homes, nowhere in the world can match the caliber of the biscuit-colored corners that fill the English countryside. Once the private home of a famous family, this stately home is still the choice for city living, but now proudly opens their doors to a diverse guest list.
Whether you’re looking for a Bridgerton-inspired retreat (perhaps without the aggressive Pall Mall game) or whizzing from fireplace to pool without the hustle and bustle, we’ve picked the crème de la crème for a country house in England. Here you will find the charm of the carved silver buckets and the atmosphere in abundance.
1. Hotel Cromlix, Kinbuck
The Scottish countryside is full of stately plantations, so why does Cromlix stand out as one of the best? First we should discuss the elephant in the room which Andy Murray as a tennis player is the current owner of the property and his wife Kim Sears was a huge influence on the interior design.
But country house hotels don’t just rely on their famous owners to visit them. The hotel has an intimate and homely atmosphere, with elegant yet glamorous décor, and special attention has been paid to preserving and enhancing the charming original features of this property. Beneath the tower roof is a billiards room, whiskey room, library and two living rooms, as well as a canteen-style observatory restaurant with an open kitchen.
The 15 rooms are luxuriously furnished with thick carpets, heavy curtains, simple beds and the softest towels, plus Arran Aromatics toiletries. Rumor has it that Judy Murray does the tough job of trying every room in the hotel to make sure it’s up-to-date.
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2. Place Heckfield, Hampshire
Heckfield Place got a lot of hype when it opened, and with good reason, because the Georgian country house hotel has sweeping views of the gardens and lakes (ideal for wild swimming) outside, and inside is a dream team of designers, architects, and chefs to put together. which is quite spectacular. Former home of Charles Shaw-Lefevre, delicious 19th Whig and pastries served daily at 4pm), intimate corner, grand staircase and original tiled stone floors.
Feels classy and traditional, but without the grandeur you might find other similar hotels. The signature rooms in the main house are spacious and offer beautiful garden views, while the rooms in the pavilion, The Corridors, are comfortable and stylish retreats with small dressing rooms opening onto a private garden terrace.
In addition to a stately private cinema and a small but impeccable spa (which is expected to add a swimming pool this year), is Sky Gyllenhal (known for awarding a Michelin star to Petersham Nurseries Café and hat restaurant Spring at Somerset House) Marle’s premier flagship restaurant with a seasonal menu. keep changing.
3. Basswood, New Forest
At the end of a long driveway (often shrouded in free-roaming New Forest horses), Lime Wood is entirely late 18th century on the outside and very cool and luxurious on the inside. While you might imagine driving a train around a beehive and hotel smokehouse to the front door, the crowd inside is a cosmopolitan bunch, huddled around a crackling bonfire among patterned wallpapers and plush furnishings, or about The Hofbar – the throbbing heart of the city.
hotel – double the height of the chessboard floor, or exit to the potion house, where no less than four pools await you. In the evening, guests stroll to Hartnett’s glamorous restaurant Holder & Co, led by superstar chefs Angela Hartnett and Luke Holder (of Orrery and The Sloane Club). Overlooking the garden behind the house, guests can enjoy a menu that includes Peter Hannan’s Glenarm Estate, salted beef ribs and garlic risotto with cod confit.
As befits a good night’s sleep in a country house hotel, the night will likely end with a dip in one of the clawfoot tubs that adorn the rooms (located between the main house and a series of jungle suites). While the products are all full-size Bamford treats, nothing like what would have survived a few hundred years ago.
4. Barnsley House, Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are home to an army of not-so-simple cake-colored hideaways, but Barnsley House, a 1697 stone manor house with just 18 rooms and famous gardens, manages to top the list. Once the home of renowned gardener Rosemary Verey – her meticulously manicured and ever-dazzling gardens still testify to her creative vision – boutique hotels are now simple favorites among celebrities and wealthy city dwellers looking to escape their day-to-day responsibilities.
It’s the smart personification of the countryside: Fire crackling in every corner, the cozy lounge inviting an intimate evening drink, and the three or four attentive staff tasked with making sure the mansion feels like home. Spacious spas are all well and good, but Barnsley House is more focused on providing a memorable experience than 25 different types of rain showers. Their spa offerings are complemented by outdoor hydrotherapy immersed in endless fields that only stop to fill the sky outside. Rooms range from sun-drenched rooms in manor houses to more modern duplex suites set to one side of the garden.
5. The Grove, Hertfordshire
As for history, The Grove (only 18 minutes from London Euston but 18 worlds away from the bustle of the capital) takes the biscuit. Although the Georgian hilltop mansion, which was once home to the Earls of Clarendon, has a considerable history, archaeologists have uncovered artifacts at the site that date back to 3000 BC. found. Highly respected locally, it became a popular weekend meeting place for famous people such as Queen Victoria and various 19th century figures.
The hotel has managed to seamlessly blend its past — still offering activities such as skeet shooting, falconry, archery and horse riding — with a modern member club atmosphere. The mansion’s corridors are lined with velvet walls, the large flower displays change weekly and the myriad of lounges, each more luxurious than the last, are the perfect place for afternoon tea (well, I guess so) or to stare in wonder at night with an aperitif. in a bright garden.
One addition sadly not available to the Clarendon line is the Sequoia Spa, with a 24-meter swimming pool, sauna, steam room, and full fitness and class program, while a slightly smaller pool sits against an Alice in Wonderland-inspired wall. the perfect summer garden spot ensures that. While The Grove’s dining options seem to match diners in terms of volume, The Glasshouse is a signature buffet restaurant, redesigned to create a citrus feel, with light streaming from its two floors, Singapore-inspired lights flooding the windows and, at night, spectacular views. mesmerizing from the flames rising from the fire pit at night.
6. Cliveden House, Berkshire
The infamous Cliveden House was the site of Profumo’s infamous affair and recently Meghan Markle spent the night before her wedding to Prince Harry. Built in 1666 by the Duke of Buckingham, the Grade I listed mansion has been a hotel since 1984. The intricate exterior facade and impressive wood-paneled lounge captivate everyone who steps through its doors, while thoughtful touches such as framed family photos and check-in areas the free flowing one only adds to its charm.
Each room is decorated with antiques, handcrafted bedding, heavy curtains and walls decorated with intricate wallpaper and original artwork. The rest of the interior is majestic, from the majestic fireplace in the Great Hall to the cathedral-high ceilings in the lobby.
Slightly separated from the stately main house, the modern spa is a heavy wood retreat, with a light-filled stone hallway leading to the indoor pool and then to the outdoor pool and external hot tub, both prime places to admire. gold plated clock tower. The property’s gardens, spanning over 376 hectares, flow into the Thames where guests can enjoy a relaxing boat ride or take a day trip to Windsor, while the famous Heston Duck is just a 14-minute drive away.
7. Narberth Forest, Pembrokeshire
This country house hotel has been lovingly restored by resident owners Neil and Zoë Kedward after they fell in love with the then abandoned building on a weekend getaway. The 18th-century Class II listed stack now blends modern luxury and rustic charm, alongside two restaurants – the more casual Artisan Room and The Fernery, with oak paneling, candlelit and cozy – four 15th-century cottages and a longhouse for medieval farmers and their Cattle.
The interiors are grand but rooted in their heritage and current surroundings, showcasing the talent and artistry of the Pembrokeshire community. The rooms are filled with handcrafted furniture (new and antique), local pottery, old Welsh lace, and artwork and photography by local artists. The park overlooks Pembrokeshire’s famous greenery and the Preseli mountains in the distance.