The Best Hotels In The Home Counties
By CTH Editors
3 months ago
The finest rural staycation spots
Maybe you live in London and want a change of scenery? Or perhaps you are a country lover and crave to explore a new area or culture? Whichever, Home County hotels make for a brilliant and relaxing escape.
Read the C&TH Responsible Tourism Guide
Best Hotels In The Home Counties To Book Now
Reviews are taken from this year’s Great British & Irish Hotels Guide. Purchase your copy of the Hotels Guide here.
The Vineyard
Just outside Newbury and only an hour from London, The Vineyard is a temple to Californian wine. The 30,000-bottle cellar includes wines from both the New and Old Worlds, as well as award-winning estate vintages from owner Sir Peter Michael’s eponymous winery (over 50 varieties are served by the glass). Where there’s exceptional wine, there is often food to match and that’s exactly the case here. Executive chef Tom Scade (who cut his teeth at the Ritz) oversees fine dining at The Vineyard Restaurant, known for its seasonal dishes, and The Tasting Room, where guests can tuck into a five-course tasting menu (a plant-based version is available too). For small plates, tacos and dishes from the grill, the outside terrace is another big draw in summer. Expect super-soft linens on the beds, marble bathrooms and the very best service. Artwork throughout is from Sir Peter’s private collection, which includes paintings by Degas and Pissarro, and sculpture by Henry Moore. Plus, there’s a spa with Irene Forte skincare: heavenly treatments include a herbology facial and Sicilian scrub. A brilliant long weekender for oenophiles and foodies.
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Doubles from £295
+44 (0)1635 528770 / the-vineyard.co.uk
The Royal Oak
You’ll be greeted with a cheery welcome at this superb redbrick inn in the charming village of Yattendon. It’s all that a great pub should be, from the beamed ceilings to the stocky wooden bar with proper ales on tap. Beyond the main bar and dining room lies a large sitting room with inviting, deep sofas and a huge open fire for chilly winter nights. On the other hand, in summer the suntrap garden is the sort of place where bottles of rosé disappear with merry swiftness. Best to soak it all up with some of head chef Richard Monk’s excellent, unfussy, locally sourced grub. You can also eat and drink in the fabulous glass-fronted orangery, whose bi-fold doors overlook the garden. Its centrepiece is a stunning open kitchen, with a three-tiered rotisserie, Argentine parrilla grill and pizza oven. And after a day of indulgence, where better to rest your sleepy head than in one of the ten light and airy bedrooms? A king-sized bed beckons, with luxury linens and gorgeous throws. The recently refurbished bathrooms are also stocked with beautiful Bramley products for that long soak in the roll-topped baths.
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Doubles from £140
+44 (0)1635 201325 / royaloakyattendon.co.uk
The Retreat
A newly reimagined 18th-century country hotel and spa set in glorious grounds between Hungerford and Newbury, The Retreat at Elcot Park is the sister property to The Mitre at Hampton Court and The Barnsdale. Bedrooms are colourful and full of character, combining antiques with contemporary art and patterned textiles. Each suite is different: one has a copper roll-top bath in a bay window; another has a separate room with bunk beds for children. The vibe throughout is laid-back luxury. For food, choose between 1772, a timeless brasserie with a beautiful adjoining Orangery, or the fine-dining Pan-Asian restaurant Yü (ideally find time to try both). There’s also a children’s play area, and a spa complete with heated outdoor pool, hydrotherapy pool, treatment rooms, steam and sauna. The Courtyard is home to a wine cellar, hair and nail salon and the newly opened Signet Stores – perfect for souvenirs, gifts or a snack. Active types can play games of tennis. This is a new chapter for a country classic – and once you check in, there’s really no need to leave.
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Doubles from £180
+44 (0)1635 800520 / retreatelcotpark.com
The PIG – In The South Downs
Set within the small hamlet of Madehurst, THE PIG, high up on the South Downs in West Sussex, threw open its doors in September 2021 – complete with its own vineyard. And PIG owner Robin Hutson has done it again, creating a haven of rural bliss for his eighth hotel. Only four miles from Arundel and a short drive to the yachting playground of Chichester, it’s a brilliant base for exploring – but also great for hunkering down. The 28 lovingly-restored bedrooms are spread out between a higgledy-piggledy collection of traditional brick, flint and timber clad stable yard buildings, together with Field and Garden Wagons. Each is unique and classically PIG – think indulgent fabrics, reclaimed wood, roll-top baths and locally-stocked larders full of goodies. The wagons, tucked away in the walled garden or in the fields, are super cosy with log burners. The food, with its 25 mile menu, is, as ever, terrific. It’s simple British food done well with a focus on local and homegrown produce – plus there’s a wide-ranging wine list and large Kitchen Garden.
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Doubles from £255
+44(0)1243 974500 / thepighotel.com
The PIG-at Bridge Place
Every PIG hotel in this magnificent litter has its very own personality. Bridge Place on the leafy outskirts of Canterbury has a rock ’n’ roll vibe that’s immediately evident. The 31-bedroom, Grade II*-listed, Queen Anne manor house is set in the Nailbourne valley that’s part of the Kent Downs. It sports a handsome red-brick façade and ornate Jacobean interior, while also containing a colourful recent past. The likes of Eric Clapton and Pink Floyd have gigged and partied here, and now it’s your turn to have a ball, amid a wealth of period features, secret stairways, panelled rooms and endless nooks and crannies, all brought to life by Home Grown Hotels’ Chairman Robin Hutson and his renowned designer wife Judy, with her eye for effortless, laidback chic. As with every other PIG, the Kitchen Garden and restaurant are the beating heart of this revitalised property. If you’ve pigged out on the others, this delightful locale (just 56 minutes by train from central London) should be next on your list: you’ll be seduced, charmed and ready to party, all at the same time.
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Doubles from £255
+44 (0)3452 259494 / thepighotel.com
Ockenden Manor
You get the best of both worlds at Ockenden. If you prefer reassuring, traditional comfort, look no further than this charming Elizabethan manor house. If you want slick, sophisticated modernity, that’s yours, too. As well as the elegant drawing room, there’s an oak-panelled bar (where the wine list boasts over 25 English wines, many produced by local vineyards), the Burrell Room for private dining, with its original Tudor ceiling, and an airy restaurant where Stephen Crane serves some of the finest food in Sussex. There are 28 bedrooms, full of character; some with original panelling and four-posters, others fresh and pretty. And then there’s the spa, utterly modern on the outside, airy and natural inside, with an indoor-outdoor pool, hot tub, jacuzzi, walkthrough rain shower, steam room, sauna, gym, sun deck and guest lounge. As for the six knockout first-floor spa suites – they pack a thoroughly contemporary punch, with shutters in the bathrooms that open onto the bedrooms, which in turn open onto a roof garden with marvellous views across to the South Downs.
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Doubles from £245
+44 (0)1444 416111 / hshotels.co.uk
Norton Park Hotel, Spa & Manor House
Set in 54 acres of leafy parkland, just outside Winchester, Norton Park Hotel & Spa has all you could possibly want to switch off: lovely bedrooms, fantastic food and a blissful spa. There are 151 contemporary rooms and suites in the modern hotel. Or gather your friends and family and book out the beautiful 16th-century Manor House in the grounds with its 13 en-suite bedrooms, dining room fit for a king, two cosy lounges with squashy sofas and a magnificent orangery. Back at the hotel, the restaurant has a great range of dishes including a special menu for the little ones and a cosy modern bar to enjoy your favourite tripple. Just leave space for afternoon tea – served in the traditional way with your choice of tea or coffee, or with a glass of Moet for a treat. Or how about adding a modern twist with a teapot of Hendricks G&T? In the spa, expert therapists offer relaxing ELEMIS treatments, or relax in the indoor pool and steam room. If you can drag yourself away, there are stunning walking trails nearby that should not be missed.
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Doubles from £123 B&B
+44(0)1962 763 000 / nortonparkhotel.com
The Mitre
Set on the banks of the River Thames, overlooking magnificent Hampton Court Palace, this four-year-old hotel is a firm favourite with those in the know. The Mitre’s history is quite the draw: housed in a Grade II-listed building dating back to 1665, it was built at the direction of King Charles II as a ‘hostel for visitors to the Palace’. It is the sister property to The Retreat at Elcot Park and The Barnsdale. Interior lovers will swoon at the design, too. Here, Nicola Harding has curated the most photogenic, individually styled bedrooms, all named after historical references linked to the hotel, including the spectacular King Henry VIII Suite. Choose from views over the Thames, palace or charming internal courtyards. Then there’s the fantastic culinary offering from the hotel’s kitchen team: choose from riverside 1665 Brasserie for fish pie or roast venison, or The Coppernose Cafe for fresh pastries and brunch dishes. The Mitre has one of the largest riverside terraces on the Thames, offering a blissful space for sundowners as swans and little boats glide by.
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Doubles from £180
+44 (0)20 8979 9988 / mitrehamptoncourt.com
Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons, A Belmond Hotel
Winner of the C&TH x Polestar Sustainability Award 2023, this is one of the best-known manor house hotels in the country – and for good reason. With the unequivocal gastronomic vision of Chef Patron Raymond Blanc OBE, the restaurant here received two Michelin stars in the first year of opening, in 1984, and has held them ever since. More recently, a Green Michelin Star has been added, acknowledging the seasonality, foraging and no-waste approach that are integral to the dining experience. The good news is that guests staying overnight are guaranteed a table for dinner. Afterwards, retire to one of the 32 individually designed rooms and suites, each one drawing inspiration from Blanc’s travels – with its toile de jouy wallpaper that evokes a sense of France. Stroll through manicured gardens to discover the magnificent orchards, ponds and sculptures, or book into classes at The Raymond Blanc Cookery and Gardening Schools. ‘Everyone aspires to one moment of luxury: here is the place to have it,’ says Blanc. We couldn’t agree more.
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Doubles from £960
+44(0)1844 278881 / belmond.com/lemanoir
Leeds Castle
From glamping to holiday cottages, Leeds Castle has long offered visitors somewhere to sleep – but now four new secluded one-bedroom Lakeside Lodges have been added, too. Made from timber and home-grown larch, the carbon neutral structures look out onto the Great Lake: wake on crisp, frosty mornings to watch mist rising; use the binoculars to spot wildfowl gliding across the water; and end the day with a relaxing soak in the outdoor tub on the deck. Each lodge is named after an influential figure with links to the castle, including writers Dame Daphne du Maurier and Ian Fleming, who mentioned it in The Moonraker. Wildlife in the surrounding 500-acre gardens and parkland inspired the soft furnishings by local artist Petronella Hall that bring nature indoors, as does the rooflight above the bed that encourages stargazing. Guests have complimentary entry to the castle – follow a private walkway that meanders through the Lady Baillie Mediterranean Garden Terraces – and out-of-hours access to explore the grounds in peace. Breakfast is served in the 17th-century oak-beamed Castle View restaurant.
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Lodges from £245, B&B
+44(0)1622 765400 / leeds-castle.com
The Horse & Groom
Located in East Ashling, four miles west of Chichester, on the edge of the South Downs National Park, The Horse & Groom is very popular with walkers and those attending local highlights such as Qatar Goodwood Festival, Goodwood Revival, Chichester Festival Theatre or Pallant House Gallery. This centuries-old former blacksmith’s shop turned public house was restored by local entrepreneur John Ayton and his wife, the jewellery designer Annoushka Ducas. There are ten cosy rooms, all with traditional oak furniture, exposed wooden beams and a palette of soft, calming hues and original artwork from the owners’ collection. The Horse & Groom’s award-winning food is served in the dining room, which has a backdrop of mid 20th-century paintings, a handcrafted oak floor and an abundance of plants and fresh flowers. Guests can polish off dishes such as local Selsey crab or a Sunday roast with all the trimmings. The locals’ bar, with its stone floors, pine tables and welcoming fire, offers superb beers on tap, including Hophead, a golden pale ale from Dark Star brewers in Partridge Green.
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Doubles from £125
+44 (0)1243 575339 / thehorseandgroom.pub
Hartwell House
One of the great pleasures of visiting hotels is that they’re often very special buildings to which you’d never normally have access. One shining example is Hartwell House, a Grade I-listed stately home that was occupied from 1809 to 1814 by the exiled Louis XVIII. Inside, there are beautiful rooms with antique furniture and paintings. The Morning Room, for example, is a masterpiece of English design by Henry Keene, virtually unchanged since its completion in 1740, with a stunning rococo ceiling by Thomas Roberts of Oxford. There’s also an extraordinary Jacobean staircase, lined with statues of the knights of Europe, leading from the Great Hall. If you think all this grandeur means pomp and ceremony, worry not. As with fellow National Trust Historic House Hotels, Bodysgallen Hall and Middlethorpe Hall, the hospitality is natural and attentive, the bedrooms as comfortable as they are grand, and the food as delicious as you would expect. An afternoon tea is served daily in the magnificent drawing rooms, and the hotel’s spa is a classically themed delight.
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Doubles from £350
+44 (0)1296 747444 / hartwell-house.com
The Hare & Hounds
Nestled in the foothills of Speen in West Berkshire, the 17th-century pub The Hare & Hounds has redefined the modern day coaching inn as we know it today. The 30 individual bedrooms, some with gorgeous copper bath tubs, are housed in four stylish buildings (The Stables, The Paddocks, The Hunter’s Lodge and The Coach House). Each, complete with racing themed fabric, is packed with all the charm and character of a traditional coaching inn yet brought bang up to date with a contemporary twist. Settle down beside a fire in the barn dining room or in the garden for traditional afternoon tea, or choose from the menu of farm-to-table cuisine and impressive list of cocktails, craft beers and hand-picked wines. A stone’s throw from Newbury Racecourse, it’s the type of place that suits everyone – be it for a fun-filled weekend, romantic escape or just passing through. Dogs are welcomed with open arms and the Sunday roast is not to be missed with the enticing offer of bottomless roasties and Yorkshire puddings. Other nearby attractions include Highclere Castle, the Bombay Sapphire Distillery and The Watermill Theatre.
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Doubles from £125
+44 (0)1635 521152 / hareandhoundsnewbury.co.uk
Gravetye Manor
It was just over 60 years ago, in 1958, when Peter Herbert opened this Elizabethan manor and its famous gardens as a hotel. A classic of its kind, it’s now in the caring hands of Jeremy and Elizabeth Hosking, who have kept its integrity intact while beautifully renovating and subtly modernising it. Today’s furnishings look elegant, fresh and attractive, but the feel remains the same: the unhurried calm, the polite but chatty staff, the profusion of naturally arranged flowers, and the smell of linseed oil and wood smoke from great open hearths. Paul Skinner is the consummate general manager, while George Blogg’s Michelin-starred food, served in the stunning, glass-fronted dining room, is an accomplished delight. Best of all, the 35-acre gardens – which were originally created by visionary gardener, William Robinson, in 1885 and are now considered some of the most historically important in England – have been restored to their former glory, thanks to a dedicated team headed by Tom Coward. They are quite wonderful and transform an aperitif on the terrace into an unforgettable treat.
BOOK
Doubles from £385, B&B
+44 (0)1342 810567 / gravetyemanor.co.uk
Goodwood Hotel
Stay here, and everything that Goodwood has to offer is at your fingertips. Most famous for its Qatar Goodwood Festival and motorsport festivals, the hugely impressive sporting estate has endless experiences, and guests of the hotel effectively become members of each one of them. Thus, the superb health club and spa is yours; also, elegant private members’ club, The Kennels; and the membership only championship Downs golf course. But there’s more: you can visit Goodwood House itself and have a guided tour, followed by afternoon tea in the Ballroom. Plus, there are 19 days of racing a year at the prettiest of racecourses; the Motor Circuit where you can take a spin; and the historic aerodrome where you can fly a Cessna. And the hotel? Sleek and sophisticated with characterful bedrooms and exceptional standards of cooking in the light and airy restaurants. These include the flagship farm-to-fork Farmer, Butcher, Chef where the menu revolves around the organic, estate-grown meat. The hotel is also home to Goodwood’s wellness retreats, which includes a Gut Health Programme plus a Menopause and Wim-Hof retreat.
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Doubles from £160
+44 (0)1243 775537 / goodwood.com/hotel
Cliveden House
Built for the second Duke of Buckingham’s mistress in 1666, Cliveden House is a renowned English country estate famed as a five-star setting for lavish entertaining and scandal. Standing in 376 acres of magnificent gardens and parkland (now owned by the National Trust), the hotel has 47 spacious rooms and suites in the elegant main mansion. Elsewhere, there’s Spring Cottage, a summerhouse on the banks of the River Thames, which offers guests the ultimate in luxurious privacy and escapism. The property has two outstanding restaurants: the opulent chandeliered Cliveden Dining Room, which is complemented by the relaxed informality of The Astor Grill. The afternoon tea, inspired by Cliveden’s riotous history, is unmissable too. A luxurious spa, open to members and hotel guests, is the spot for relaxation; unwind by the indoor pool before wandering into the garden where you will find the Profumo pool – the last remaining listed outdoor pool in England. Cliveden is imbued with a palpable sense of history, for this is a house that, for over 350 years, has been dedicated to the pursuit of pleasure, power and politics.
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Doubles from £565
+44 (0)1628 668561 / clivedenhouse.co.uk
The Cat Inn
A spell at The Cat will leave you purring with contentment. With its regulars chatting at the bar, its blazing fire in the huge inglenook fireplace, its hops, pewter and mix of airy and cosy dining areas, this early 16th-century, timber-framed village inn exudes character and bonhomie. One of Britain’s greatest gastropubs, its landlord Andrew Russell, previously General Manager at nearby Gravetye Manor, mixes professionalism with a natural flair for people. As for the food from chef Suphi Ergin, there’s no trumpeting and no fuss and, as a result, its superb quality is all the more delightful. ‘I recommend the pie and chips,’ says Andrew. And what a steak, mushroom and ale pie it is. Leave space for a homemade pud, too – perhaps dark chocolate tart or apple, pear and blackberry nut crumble. Upstairs there are four attractive, luxurious, well-equipped bedrooms, one very large, another with a view of the pretty church. In the morning, after a sophisticated breakfast worthy of Gravetye, follow the path through the churchyard for a spectacular view across the valley or spend the day visiting the many beautiful gardens and vineyards nearby.
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Doubles from £170
+44 (0)1342 810369 / catinn.co.uk
Beaverbrook
Beaverbrook is a magnificent, must-visit country house hotel. We’ve been, we’ve seen, we’ve stayed, we’ve played, and it’s fabulous. The former mansion of Lord Beaverbrook has weekenders falling over themselves to revel in the 19th-century architecture and Susie Atkinson interiors: grand yet homely, romantic and fun – and underpinned by historical photographs of the newspaper magnate and visitors like Elizabeth Taylor and Winston Churchill. There’s Japanese cuisine in The Dining Room, stunning garden views, 56 beautiful bedrooms, a 470-acre woodland estate with a treehouse and kids’ club. The separate brick and flint Garden House, with interiors by Nicola Harding, offers a bar, Anglo-Italian restaurant and 11 bedrooms. The Coach House Suites are perfect for families, as is The Village, a cluster of just-opened suites on the site of the original workers’ cottages with their own Mrs Beeton’s Restaurant. Don’t miss the Coach House Health Club & Spa, adorned with stained glass by artist Brian Clarke, which offers an array of transformative wellness experiences. All this so close to London, in the heart of the Surrey Hills.
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Doubles from £505
+44 (0)1372 571300 / beaverbrook.co.uk
Bailiffscourt
A short stroll from secluded Climping Beach (about halfway between Arundel and Chichester), Bailiffscourt is a gorgeous medieval-style house created by Walter Guinness, later Lord Moyne, and his wife Evelyn. It’s now a hotel with 39 bedrooms of all styles, spread throughout numerous charming houses and cottages in parkland. The newest, in the Moat House and The Oaks, stand beside the old moat, overlooking the fields beyond. The more traditional – some with four-posters – and the series of interconnecting sitting rooms, stuffed with tapestries, oak chests and Knole sofas, all feel charmingly authentic. Lawns are dotted with more medieval-style outbuildings, flowers, shrubs and peacocks, and there’s an airy spa, with indoor and outdoor pools. The charming courtyard and rose garden are the ideal spots for sipping wine, produced by a local Sussex vineyard, or for afternoon tea in the sunshine. The name Bailiffscourt recalls the monk who was sent over by the Abbess of Séez in Normandy to act as bailiff and watch over the 13th century chapel, which still stands in the grounds today.
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Doubles from £325
+44 (0)1903 723511 / hshotels.co.uk
Artist Residence Oxfordshire
When it opened in 2017 this was a new departure for the burgeoning Artist Residence group of funky, art-themed hotels that have sprung up courtesy of enterprising owners, Justin and Charlie Salisbury. This energetic couple, complete with a new baby, headed out of town to leafy Oxfordshire and took on the Mason Arms, a well-loved local inn in South Leigh, stamping it with their inimitable sense of style. There are now 15 rooms in total, split between the main farmhouse, stables and outbuildings, plus a cool shepherd’s hut in the garden. Original features have been retained and restored, auction houses and reclamation yards scoured and modern art set against William Morris wallpaper. The restaurant features art by The Connor Brothers, Ben Eine and Lucy Sparrow, while the kitchen produces hearty and rustic British food (think classic fish and chips, and rump steak) in a fun and friendly setting. There’s also a sun-trap terrace garden for warm days. If you’ve fallen for an Artist Residence in Penzance, Pimlico, Bristol or Brighton, then this cosy Oxfordshire escape is your next country hideaway.
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Doubles from £145
+44 (0)1993 656220 / artistresidence.co.uk
