The 20 best country house hotels across the UK
Nothing quite beats the charm of a country escape, does it? From manor houses to inns, farmhouses and stately homes, there’s a staggering amount of country house hotels the UK has to offer. The concept of the British country house hotel can be traced back to 1949 when Francis Coulson and his partner Brian Sack brought to us the rather splendid Sharrow Bay in the Lake District. The blockbuster opening came with all the usual suspects you find in hotels nowadays: quintessential afternoon tea, frilly bits and bobs, comfy storied rooms and all the personal touches, too. Years on, their winning formula still works with hundreds of characterful estates up and down the country, now equipped with spas and other modern paraphernalia, to keep us all well-groomed, relaxed and entertained.
Here, House and Garden rounds some of the best country retreats the UK has to offer, from eco-friendly farms to gastronomic temples in Oxfordshire and regal escapes in Berkshire and the Yorkshire Dales.
1/20Cowley Manor
Freshly reopened by the Experimental Group, this classic 19th-century house has had a seriously modern makeover and is aiming at a cool young crowd. The grand Italianate house (just south of Cheltenham) has a lovely setting, with grounds sloping down to a lake and the tiny 12th-century church of St Mary next door. Legend has it that Lewis Carroll was once walking here and, seeing a white rabbit disappear under a hedge, was inspired to write Alice in Wonderland. The new interiors, designed by French superstar Dorothée Meilichzon are full of references to the classic book, with chequerboard patterns, rabbits and mushrooms providing playful and quirky elements throughout the rooms and public spaces. The cocktail bar is a highlight, with its original figured wood walls now the backdrop to a huge, bright blue lava-stone bar. Jackson Boxer is the consultant chef behind the menu, which features homegrown vegetables and herbs from the kitchen garden. The well-equipped spa has indoor and (heated) outdoor pools, so you can happily refresh yourself after a night on the tiles.
2/20The Grove
The Grove is a go-to for Londoners looking for the country house experience, without having to travel far. You can even get to this Hertfordshire hotel via public transport, and a short taxi ride. It’s a sprawling red brick mansion outside Watford, set amongst lush green rolling fields, a golf course and endlessly tranquil vistas. Most recently, the suites have undergone a slick transformation at the hands of Martin Hulbert Design, upping the ante of this popular haunt even more. Expect to find bedrooms you’ll have to tear yourself away from, with four poster beds swathed in airy linen curtains, roll top baths that take in the sweeping countryside views and the finest fabrics. Of course, there’s a spa too, outdoor swimming pool and the hotel caters to families brilliantly.
Mark Anthony Fox3/20Estelle Manor
Part-hotel, part-members club, Estelle Manor is the latest project of hotelier Sharan Pasricha, the man behind the Hoxton Hotels, Gleneagles and discreet members club Maison Estelle in Mayfair. Having conquered the London and Scotland hotel scenes, he set his sights on Oxfordshire and took over Eynsham Hall, transforming it into a country house hotel in impeccable style and adding in the private members’ club element. The rooms are sleek and smart but punctuated with inky colours that make the hotel feel homely and warm. There’s a walled garden, outdoor swimming pool, Roman-inspired spa and choice of accommodation between the main manor house, woodland cottages, walled garden cottages and a collection of houses for groups. Members get access to a larger clutch of uber-private bars and restaurants beyond those of the hotel itself.
Simon Brown4/20Beaverbrook
Conveniently located a short distance from London in the Surrey Hills, Beaverbrook is pretty much the perfect country house hotel. The estate was once the domain of the press magnate Lord Beaverbrook, who was also Minister of Aircraft Production during the Second World War, so that references to Spitfires abound throughout. The main house has been beautifully restored with interiors by Susie Atkinson, and really gives the sense of what it might have been like to stay in one of these grand country houses in their heyday. It’s extremely comfortable, whether you’re reposing in front of the fire in the drawing room or enjoying a cocktail in the library. The Japanese restaurant is a little incongruous, but there’s no arguing with the excellence of the food. Beyond the main house there is a superlative jewel box of a spa, decked out in colourful tiles and a stained glass ceiling by the artist Brian Clarke, with indoor and outdoor pools and a brilliant programme of wellness activities. You can also stay (and eat) in the more ‘pub with rooms’ style Garden House, charmingly designed by Nicola Harding, at the stylish Coach House, or one of the estate cottages. Come for the day or spend a long weekend: mini-breaks don’t get much better than this.
GLEESONPAULINO5/20Gleneagles
Gleneagles may be about to celebrate its centenary next year but it is as equally appealing today as it was when it first opened in 1924. This is so much more than just a country hotel and there is something here for everyone, from the two Michelin-starred Andrew Fairlie restaurant and the three championship golf courses, to sipping cocktails in the American bar. It is just as easy to have a low key stay, lounging in one of the pools at the spa or taking in the stunning scenery on one of the hotel bikes. For children there are activities galore from off-road mini range rover driving to riding, golf, falconry and tree climbing with ropes and harnesses. The decor in the rooms is tastefully opulent and the bathrooms invite you to kick back and relax. For more casual dining you can’t beat the Birnam brasserie which has a fabulous grill – make sure to try the Tomahawk steak and get brownie points with your children forever by ordering them the banana split.
6/20Barnsley House
Each country house hotel has something to set it apart from the rest and for Barnsley House, that element would be the garden. From 1952 until her death in 2001 – the point at which Barnsley House became a hotel – it was owned by Rosemary Verey, a seminal English garden designer whose own garden at the house is her best known and loved work. Luckily, the hotel has retained the original design, keeping Rosemary’s knot garden, kitchen garden and more going. It was this very garden that King Charles visited when designing his own at Highgrove and it’s certainly worth a visit to the hotel alone just to wander across the four acres that launched Rosemary Verey’s career. The kitchen garden provides most of the ingredients for the dining spaces at Barnsley House and the 18 rather lovely rooms are all decorated in colours inspired by the Cotswolds countryside they reside in. It is rather serene and utterly idyllic to spend a few nights here, especially once you discover that there is also a spa particularly rooted in nature.
7/20Thyme
A simple yet sumptuous country house, every detail at Thyme is thought through to bring guests back to nature and provide a place to truly, deeply relax. Everything comes back to the landscape surrounding Thyme, from the Scandinavian biophilic touch of the interior design to the outlook of the various accommodation options, which are dotted throughout the main house, a clutch of cottages and some larger houses on the estate. Thyme is certainly the country house hotel that foodies should consider booking in to, what with Charlie Hibbert directing that side of things. Think modern British countryside fare using hyper local produce. Of course, there is also a bar, spa and both casual and fine dining restaurants to make the most of, alongside the idyllic grounds surrounding the house.
Jake Eastham8/20The Retreat at Elcot Park, Berkshire
After opening the smash hit wonder The Mitre in Hampton Court, it’s safe to say Hector Ross’ Signet Collection is on a bit of a roll. His new venture, The Retreat, sits between the market towns of Newbury and Hungerford, and was once the home of Lady Shelley, mother to one of England’s most famous poets, Percy. Home to two restaurants, a small yet swish spa (housing a hydro pool, gym and an unexpected salt float tank), bakery, shop, hairdresser and nail bar, it’s fair to say that a night at this demi-palace has you well covered. The rooms, like its sister hotel, are all individually decorated and impress with lively contemporary twists that will inspire your next home renovation – the freestanding bathtubs are showstoppers. Outside the Grade-II listed building you’ll find tennis courts, croquet lawns and a Whispering Angel bar, all just 40 minutes away from London.
9/20The Newt, Somerset
Sister to South African wine blockbuster Babylonstoren, you can’t get more eco-chic than the much-loved The Newt in Somerset. The showstopper? The rather lovely Hadspen House, a sandstone Georgian mansion, home to 13 gorgeous ‘Boho’ suites equipped with all sorts of lovely things. There are marble-lined showers, beds in the stalls out in the ‘Stable’ rooms and the rather unusual Roman Villa experience, inspired by the unearthing of a Romano-British villa on the estate. Pomp aside, there’s a spa with two pools and the beautiful formal gardens with their colourful flower beds, orchards (for all that crisp cider) and extensive kitchen gardens. This brings us on to the food; everything served on the tasting and à la carte menus at the pretty Botanical Rooms restaurant is in season, including the hearty Somerset meats. Come breakfast, it’s all about the enormous croissants from the Newt bakery.
10/20Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Oxfordshire
There’s a real charm that oozes out of every corner of Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, and it’s all thanks to its equally as charming owner, the celebrated chef, Raymond Blanc. Nestled away in the charming little town of Great Milton, the picture-postcard retreat is as you'd expect: prim Oxfordshire manor house finessed with a splash of chic á la français. Rooms draw inspiration from Monsieur Blanc himself, particularly his global travels. Blanc de Blanc is entirely, well… blanc. Jade is dressed in an ode to Asia and many, like the beautiful new garden suites, don a more traditional Provençal feel. The food? It's simply exceptional. It is the only British restaurant in the entire country that’s held two Michelin stars for more than three decades. Expect a seven-course tasting menu, bracketed by amuses-bouches and petits fours and prepared from seasonal, organic ingredients sourced from the hotel's own garden supply of 90 different kinds of vegetables and 70 different varieties of herbs.
11/20The Fish, Cotswolds
The Fish, in a word, is fabulous. Set on the 400-acre Farncombe Estate in Worcestershire, the must-haves when it comes to the retreat’s glorious rooms are the three oak treehouses. What to expect? Copper trims, roomy wooden tubs on the terrace and plenty of room for the kids. Plus, for romantic getaways, the outdoor hot tub in one of the shepherds' huts is a definite added bonus. Most of the other action takes place in The Lodge, a modern chalet kitted out with a swish bar and lounge. As you’d expect from the name, Hook, the hotel's restaurant, serves an array of delicious fish. The dover sole is a must, as is whatever the chef recommends from the catch of the day. Post-dining, hit the green, green country for England’s greatest pastime, a good old-fashioned walk. The trails are endless, as are all the charming shops and adorable dogs you’ll want to steal on the way.
12/20Wildhive Callow Hall, Derbyshire
Wild and ever so pretty, Wildhive Callow Hall – once a family-owned estate – is perhaps one of the most striking country house hotels in the UK. Recipient of countless awards, the whimsically wonderful Derbyshire pad dons a medley of modern bedrooms designed by Isabella Worsley, and the most recent addition of trendy, sky-high treehouses hidden away in its vast woodland. Style-wise, the main house is a bit of a riot. All sorts of colours, patterns and motifs splatter the Victorian manor’s walls, which surprisingly, don’t look out of place among all the high fashion Victoriana period features. All the food – expect a lot of meat and fresh vegetables – prepared by chef David Bucowicki is sourced direct from suppliers and farmers local to Wildhive, along with the topic of the moment, the rich kitchen garden. Our advice is very simple, banish any hesitation and book yourself into this retreat now.
13/20Cliveden House, Berkshire
Over the course of its history, Cliveden has been a retreat for royals (Meghan, Duchess of Sussex stayed here on the eve of her wedding, and it’s said Queen Victoria was a bit of a fan back in the day, too) and the site of the scandalous Profumo affair in the 1960s. Built in 1666 by the Duke of Buckingham, the Grade I-listed manor is a good schooling in eccentric, over-the-top English decoration. Think rooms clad with tapestries, the odd bit of armour, a winding Gothic Revival mahogany staircase, a palatial dining room lit by glittering chandeliers, a mammoth lawn, heavy drapes, handmade beds and intricate wallpapers. There's also a knockout spa (the OTO CBD treatments are simply divine), complete with indoor and outdoor pool and hot tubs ideal for your Instagram feed. The estate gardens stretch all the way down to the Thames where you can either unwind for a picnic or jump on a boat for a leisurely trip up the river to Windsor. It’s all a tad extravagant, but in the best way possible.
14/20Lucknam Park, Wiltshire
As you make your way up the pretty drive to this showstopper of a country house, you’ll feel as though you’ve found yourself in the middle of a Jane Austen-esque soap opera. Everywhere you look there’s a dash of dramatic pomp: roaring fires, towering stone walls draped in ivy, ponds dotted with storied statues, canopied four poster beds and some very moody oil paintings. Elsewhere, there’s a row of charming cottages best suited for the weekend set and a top-notch equestrian centre for wannabe jockeys. Hellenic touches – think paintings of the acropolis and great big urns in the bathroom – give the place an extra dose of continental charm, but don’t be fooled, because this retreat is oh so frightfully British to the core.
Jake Eastham15/20Lime Wood Hotel, Hampshire
Lime Wood is your quintessential fairytale English country escape set in a rather dreamy outcrop of the New Forest. Though it might look a bit stiff upper lip, the crowd is far from toffy Dickensian and attracts a naughty bohemian cosmopolitan lot who gather all hours around wood fires and the trendy courtyard bar. While it has earned a reputation as being the go-to for loved up couples and Bridgerton brides in search of their very own wood chopping Darcy, Lime Wood’s wellness offering is where it's really at. Three new Wildling Retreats, including one from Lady Bamford (of Daylesford fame), are causing quite the stir with all sorts on offer, from forest bathing to mindfulness sessions and of course, fabulous treatments courtesy of the award-winning spa. Aside from all the R&R, the Italian grub from Angela Hartnett and Luke Holderm plus the endless walks out in the wilderness are rather lovely, too.
Benjamin Edwards16/20The Fife Arms, Aberdeenshire
This is, without question, one of the greatest hotels in the world. Sure, it’s a bold statement, but the passion project of art dealers Manuela Hauser and Iwan Wirth really has paid off, and big time. Wildly fun, deeply romantic, sublimely storied and hands down magnificent, the delight is in every detail at this former inn buried deep in the Scottish Highlands in the sleepy village of Braemar. From William Morris to Timorous Beasties, Fife’s interior whizz Russell Sage went all out with plush fabrics, lush tartans, quite literally miles of antiques, bric-a-brac objets d’art, and whimsical rugs. The art collection – there are well over 16,000 pieces on show – is a tour-de-force in high design drama with walls festooned with the likes of Freud, Picasso and Chinese artist Zhang Engli’s extraordinary painted ceiling. The rooms and fabulous suites are all themed, centred around notable Scots, nature and poetry, and the simply chic Croft Rooms and bathrooms are equally characterful, with some donning life-size portraits of Queen Victoria.
17/20Coworth Park, Berkshire
This classic Georgian country manor house is surrounded by fragrant gardens and the astonishingly colourful meadows on the edge of Windsor Great Park. It was here at Coworth Park that Prince Harry stayed the night before he wed The Duchess of Sussex, but aside from its royal credentials, most flock to this regal retreat for its stunning spa, quintessentially English polo fields, lively stables, and more recently, its impressive Michelin-starred restaurant. Though opulence and grandeur rule the Coworth aesthetic, the hotel operates a commendable environmental policy that doesn’t trump all the luxe – growing sustainable willow to fuel its biomass heating plant and an economical underground cooling system, for example. Other than the food, long afternoons spent in the bath, romantic champagne picnics and classy polo tournaments, what else is there do at Coworth Park? A stroll through the gardens is a must, as is a moment of reflection on the love seat overlooking the wildflowers.
18/20Heckfield Place, Hampshire
There’s been an awful lot of bother made of Heckfield Place, and for good reason. Thanks to an impeccably talented team of designers and architects, the uber classy Georgian country house is nothing short of spectacular with its sweeping 400-acre parkland views, cosy lounges, lazy-hazy summer corners and grand staircases. Aesthetically, it’s arty pageantry meets literary pizzazz. Think walls scattered with 20th-century English pictures from owner Gerald Chan’s private collection and a curated collection of books piled high in the Morning Room. The bedrooms are simply gorgeous; expect comfy linens, vintage photos, bespoke minibars, English oak floors, handcrafted furniture and plenty of little curios. Two restaurants overseen by seasonal-eating pioneer Skye Gyngell provide all the sustenance with produce sourced direct from the hotel’s biodynamic farm on the estate. It all sounds frightfully classic and traditional through and through but, thankfully, Heckfield prides itself on a fuss-free ethos that’s far from stuffy, pompous or intimidating. How refreshing!
19/20Babington House, Somerset
Another Somerset headliner crafted from the team at Soho House, this Georgian wonder, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2023, is surrounded by pristine parkland on which guests laze on oversized loungers overlooking the rather Instagram-ready lake. In terms of what’s on offer, the place practically ticks all the boxes. There’s a great big outdoor pool, sauna, cinema, tennis courts, well-equipped gym, Cowshed spa and even a football pitch, so there’s plenty to keep the boredom at bay. The rooms leave you in somewhat of a daze. Antique four poster beds, roomy roll-top bathtubs and roaring open fires also make Babington the perfect spot for a romantic weekend getaway. Elsewhere, ancient trees encircle the very bijou chapel, and for those wanting to explore beyond the prim fringes of the estate, the slick market town of Frome is a mere 10-minute drive away, and the grand old city of Bath just 20.
20/20The Hall at Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire
If you are in search of something totally over the top, look no further than the Hall at Bolton Abbey. It’s the first time the Duke of Devonshire has put his Yorkshire Dales holiday home on the exclusive-use market and rest assured, it doesn’t disappoint. Twelve of its stately rooms have recently been a fresh new look by Rita Konig, all boasting dreamy views of the well-manicured gardens, floral nooks, and the quixotic 12th-century Bolton Prior Church and ruins. Outside the manor, there’s a grand roster of outdoor pursuits to keep you entertained, including helicopter tours of the moor, cycling trips, local foraging, fly fishing and long soul-searching walks. The Hall offers locally sourced feasting at its best; the chef and his team craft bespoke menus to your liking that showcase their own organic produce sourced from Bolton Abbey’s river, moors and kitchen garden. It’s all too delicious.
