10 Country-House Hotels For A Sumptuous Getaway In The UK

The place An Italianate, 17th-century manor close to the lively Cotswolds town of Cheltenham.

The style Cowley Manor has been reimagined with a wonderful transformation by The Experimental Group, adding flair and just the right measure of whimsy to this historic property. The renovations, overseen by Dorothée Meilichzon, took inspiration from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, rumored to have been written here, with four-poster beds, rich fabrics and subtle chequerboard references.

The food The restaurant is helmed by chef Jackson Boxer, with an enthralling menu that celebrates local produce and gives a nod to French cuisine. There is also an Experimental Cocktail Club bar, serving a curated list of signature drinks.

The rest There is a games rooms, library, and a beautiful spa with both indoor and outdoor pools. Across the 55 acres, guests will find natural lakes, gardens, Victorian cascades and woodland to explore.

The place The commanding and storied stately home is set amid 376 acres of formal garden in the rolling Chiltern Hills.

The style Dating back to 1666, Cliveden House has been the glittering backdrop to many a lavish soirée and cultural events, hosting eminent guests – and even the occasional political scandal. It holds a plethora of elaborately designed rooms and grand suites, filled with traditional architectural details and plush furnishings.

The rooms The suites are named after former guests who have been part of the history of the property, while the Spring Cottage, a charming three-bedroom bolthole on the banks of the River Thames, was a spot where Queen Victoria was known to take afternoon tea.

The food In its opulent dining room and the more laid-back Astor Grill set in the old stables, Cliveden hosts special dinners that include Michelin-starred fine dining, evenings accompanied by opera, and seasonal events – such as this year’s Après-Ski terrace, which takes over the Astor Grill’s cobbled courtyard with atmospheric alpine design and vintage gondola cabins.

The rest There are statement indoor and outdoor swimming pools – the outdoor ‘Profumo’ pool is Cliveden’s most infamous spot.

The place Deep in the Scottish Highlands, nestled within the majestic Cairngorms National Park and the historic village of Braemar.

The style The Victorian coaching inn of The Fife Arms has been sumptuously reimagined, with a celebration of Scottish craftmanship and culture woven throughout its magnificent design – including in the collection of artwork that adorns the walls.

The rooms The 46 bedrooms and suites – wallpapered in rich hues and vibrant patterns around four-poster beds draped with velvet curtains and snuggled with tartan blankets – are each individually curated and bursting with charm and character.

The food The focus on Scotland’s delights extends to the menus and ingredients served in its array of restaurants, from the wood-fire Clunie Dining Room to the classic Scottish pub and Bertie’s Whisky Bar.

The rest An impressive selection of spa treatments are available in the Albamhor treatment rooms, which will be most welcome after a day exploring the surrounding countryside – and activities that include wild swimming, art tours, creative workshops, biking, tastings, history tours, fishing and golfing.

The place This lovingly restored Georgian house in Hampshire has fast become a favorite countryside pile, surrounded by walled gardens, lakes, woodland and lawns – an hour or so from London.

The style Heckfield Place’s refined and enveloping interiors offer a plethora of plush sofas to sink into, sumptuous rugs and inviting firesides to unwind beside.

The food A highlight of Heckfield, the culinary offering at the Marle restaurant and the fireside cooking in the Hearth dining space is a celebration of all things local and seasonal. Ingredients are sourced predominantly from the Home Farm, with luminary chef Skye Gyngell at the helm.

The rest There are treatments at the picturesque Bothy spa, and an ever-evolving program of events – from art tours and nature walks to forest bathing and wild swimming.

The place A wild mix of meadows and deep woodland, the Narberth hills in the cinematic Pembrokeshire countryside are a stunning backdrop to Grove of Narbeth’s magnificently restored interiors and grounds.

The style With a warm, intimate elegance, Grove offers up contemporary four-poster beds and glass-walled garden terraces alongside vaulted ceilings and exposed stone walls. Individual flourishes have also been injected via Welsh art and antiques. From the main house to the charming surrounding cottages, there is a broad array of rooms and suites to enjoy. Think spacious hideaways with private gardens, romantic loft rooms nestled in the eaves, sunken baths and original arrow-slit windows.

The food Boasting homegrown produce from its sprawling kitchen gardens and a celebration of traditional Welsh ingredients, the Grove’s most elaborate dishes are served in its refined Fernery restaurant, which takes its name from the local Pembrokeshire hedgerows. Meanwhile, its more relaxed Artisan Rooms restaurant overlooks a canopy of apple trees from the lounge-style dining space, delivering a bounty of vegetables, herbs and summer fruits grown in the gardens.

The rest With a panoramic Pembrokeshire backdrop, rambles around the Grove’s glorious 26 acres of grounds (routes are expertly mapped out by the gardening team) are key to enjoying this perfect slice of Welsh beauty.

The place This resplendent Grade-II listed hotel and private members’ club emerges at the end of a tree-lined driveway, surrounded by 3,000 acres of parkland and gardens. The front may be impressive, but it’s really the South Terrace that steals the show, evoking the French Riviera with scalloped, striped parasols flanking the centerpiece pool.

The style Decadently enveloping, the design at Estelle Manor melds vintage furnishings and contemporary pieces across its rooms and suites – from the old-school opulence of the Manor House to the romantic Walled Garden suites and the secluded cottages that are perfect for a private gathering. Choose one of the Manor House suites for grand original features and sweeping views of the South Terrace from cushioned window seats, a rolltop bathtub and private balcony.

The food The Brasserie restaurant serves an all-day menu of hearty but refined seasonal classics, while the velvet banquettes of The Billiards Room are a sumptuous spot where you can enjoy traditional Chinese dishes and a dim-sum brunch at weekends. Out in the walled garden, a greenhouse has been transformed into the Glasshouse restaurant, which serves sharing plates for family-style dining.

The rest Reached via a stroll through ancient woodland, Eynsham Baths arises as a glistening Roman-inspired spa, columned and carved out of marble. Inside, the capacious tepidarium bathing hall has no fewer than five pools, inviting guests to embark on a rejuvenating thermal journey, 10 treatment rooms, and an open-air lounging area and bar serving an extensive wellbeing-focused menu.

The place In the heart of the New Forest National Park, where wild ponies roam, Lime Wood is found at the end of a sweeping drive near the town of Lyndhurst.

The style Lime Wood is a 13th-century hunting lodge turned into a manor hotel garlanded in wisteria, with rooms designed by Susie Atkinson.

The rooms The cottages and cabins offer secluded hideaways in the lush grounds. The Lake Cabin is an ultra-romantic ‘private little island’, which gives guests a sense of floating on water from its almost-wraparound balcony (complete with alfresco bathtub) and picture windows.

The rest The three-level Herb House Spa is reason alone to visit Lime Wood. In addition to the huge glass-walled sauna and indoor hydro pools, there is a mud house, alfresco pool, state-of-the-art rooftop gym and extensive treatment menu.

The place A sprawling estate in Bruton, The Newt is practically a village within a village, incorporating hundreds of acres of manicured gardens, wild woods, farmland and orchards.

The style The honey-hued Hadspen House dates back to the 17th century. Bringing an elevated take to the quintessential country escape, its renovation (from the husband-and-wife hoteliers behind South Africa’s Babylonstoren) pays immaculate homage to its architectural origins – with playful furnishings weaved in. There are traditional rooms in the main house and a variety of restored former farm buildings in a more contemporary style, while the Farmyard, a short stroll (and even shorter bike or buggy ride) from Hadspen, offers a more understated array of rooms in the transformed farmhouse, apple loft and cider mill.

The food With a working estate, there is no shortage of tantalizing delicacies to sample here, while you also get an insight into how they are made. The Botanical Rooms restaurant is helmed by chef Ben Champkin and showcases a spectacular menu based on a farm-to-fork philosophy.

The rest It is impossible to tire of walking the grounds and gardens of The Newt but, when you’re ready for some rejuvenation, the spa is a glorious spot in which to unwind. There is an indoor-outdoor pool, steam room, sauna, hammam and a Medieval-inspired herb garden.

The place Practically its own hamlet in the heart of Cotswolds countryside, the meandering Southrop estate that Thyme resides within dates back to the 17th century and has its own village pub, restaurant, bar, kitchen gardens, cookery school, art gallery and spa.

The style Housed within quintessentially honey-hued Cotswold stone walls, Thyme’s characterful, whimsically wall-papered and beamed bedrooms (each named after and schemed around a flower or plant) are dotted across houses and cottages.

The food Showcasing local food and homegrown ingredients, an ever-changing menu for lunch and dinner is served in either the meticulously restored Ox Barn or its sister eatery – the classic country pub The Swan at Southrop. For a late-night tipple, head back to The Baa (situated in the old lambing sheds, hence the name) for the delicious botanical cocktail menu. Thyme even has an onsite cooking school for those wishing to sharpen their own culinary skills, as well as a gallery space, plus floristry and painting classes.

The rest As the play in the name suggests, this is a place to unwind, reset, and forget all about the routine of daily life. The perfectly peaceful Meadow Spa is housed in a lavender-lined cottage with a spring-water pool, where numerous bespoke treatments are on offer. The signature Botanical Bothy treatment utilizes pressure-point touch-therapy and lymphatic body-brushing, as well as guided breathwork techniques that will keep you rested far beyond the allotted treatment time.

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