30 UK Countryside Hotels To Visit This Spring

The Fox at Oddington is best described as old-world charm meets contemporary chic. This is a cosy hotel with just six bedrooms – each stylish and individually decorated in elegant, understated tones – and it doesn’t get much cosier than The Master’s suite with exposed beams and a curtained bed. In The Den there’s a free-standing bathtub, four-poster bed, working fireplace and private patio. A sustainable approach to hospitality is central here, and many materials are locally sourced: flooring from reclaimed timber, leather seating constructed using hides from the property’s farm, and insulation courtesy of discarded sheep wool. A twenty-or-so minute walk leads you to the Bamford Wellness Spa as well as Daylesford Organic farm shop, and don’t miss the British cuisine served at the on-site pub, led by head chef Alan Gleeson.

Surrounded by landscaped gardens and lakes, The Newt in Somerset’s mind-mellowing location close to Somerset’s golden villages is prime weekend break material. Clean air, abundant gardens, and the surrounding farmland points to plenty of outdoorsy activities, or follow Alice Temperley’s insider guide to Somerset including her favourite places to eat, shop, day trip, and more. The Newt hotel, as well as its gardens, shops, and eateries are open to guests and visitors; if you’re planning a day trip be sure to take home your weekly shop of fresh foods and pantry items, all produced on the estate. If you’re staying overnight, book a room in the Stable Yard – the beds are in the original horse stalls, and feature standalone tin bath tubs.

This stately manor is as rural as it gets in the midst of Hertfordshire’s rolling hills. The building dates back over 1000 years, telling stories of battles and duels (quite literally) in its illustrious wallpaper. Set over 35 acres – with peacocks roaming the grounds and an open-air cinema during the summer months – if space is what you’re craving, these grounds cater to you. Feasting takes place at Oak Restaurant, made for lazy luncheons and over-running dinners, or visit the Peacock Lounge for an afternoon tea of finger sandwiches, cakes and scones alongside tea or champagne. The terrace is an ideal spot for cocktails and romantic tête-à-têtes, or settle into the wood-panelled Shakespeare Bar in the evening with a board game and a great whisky. For some R&R, dip into the pool overlooking the grounds or spoil yourself to an ESPA treatment in their spa.

If marvelling at chocolate-box cottages and strolling through leafy rural lanes is top of the agenda, make a beeline for Thyme, a family owned cookery-school-turned-country-chic hotel in the sleepy village of Southrop. The site’s epicurean roots have remained firmly grounded in the hotel’s appeal, with the addition of Ox Barn restaurant, housed in an 18th-century oxen house and overseen by Charlie Hibbert with a seasonal menu beautifully illustrated by Caryn Hibbert. The Swan at Southrop is a 17th century village pub, offering refined pub grub and a traditional Sunday roast. Bedrooms at Thyme are immaculately designed with antiques from Tetbury, a soothing palette and freestanding tubs ideal for stargazing through the skylight as you soak.

If you’ve been hankering for a good, old-fashioned culture fix or a soak in a spa, the Gainsborough in Bath is just the ticket. The Gainsborough Bath Spa – substantial and Romanesque – is the only hotel spa in Bath with access to the city’s natural thermal waters, with a circuit including two thermal pools of varying temperatures, traditional and infrared saunas, a steam room, an ice alcove, plus elegant relaxation areas. Post-spa, take a seat in The Gainsborough Restaurant with leather armchairs and sofa seating, boarded floors and bare-wood tables – for modern British fare. Stay overnight and enjoy a breakfast buffet including freshly-squeezed orange juice, croissants, and pastries; classic cooked options are also available to fuel you up for the day. The Georgian town of Bath encourages plenty of museum-mooching and Earl Grey pit stops. Alternatively, take a slow amble out to the rolling fields and dramatic valleys nearby, or enjoy some of the many wellness offerings across the city.

The Fife Arms is perhaps the best fit for a modern-day dandy with a traditional Scottish sheen. We’re thinking of a staunch anti-minimalist, Dorian Grey figure, wafting in and out of the library sporting a velvet suit with tweed cufflinks. This hotel is wildly romantic and a fascinating passion project from international art dealers Hauser & Wirth. You’ll like its great location and pleasant ambience, but you’ll be most impressed by the extraordinary imaginations that have turned art into an experience. Rooms feature an assortment of antiques, oriental rugs, and portraits of Picasso and Freud. Enjoy afternoon pursuits foraging in the fresh Highland air, followed by smoked-venison tartare for supper, naturally.

The Pig has come to define the archetypal English summer escape and, for the fashion crowd, a decadent after-party spot for a post-Glastonbury refresh. Hedonism continues to abound across the Pig’s expanding litter of hotels. So far, hotel locations include Kent, Dorset, Somerset, Devon, Hampshire, Cornwall and West Sussex with new arrivals expected soon in both Stratford-Upon-Avon and Groomsbridge. Dubbing themselves “a restaurant with rooms”, each Pig offers an alternative quirk to the next. Their beds are supremely comfy, their own Pig Hut rosé is delicious, and the food – farm-to-table fare, which has now become their signature – is some of the best when it comes to country manors. Booking ahead for a weekend is necessary.

The original Soho House first opened its doors in London. Since then, it has spread far and wide, with Soho Farmhouse drawing stylish urbanites to Chipping Norton in search of a rustic escape with creature comforts. Expect reclaimed timber cabins – kitted out with much-Instagrammed roll-top tub baths – flank man-made lakes and original 18th-century farmhouse buildings. Adding to this bucolic picture, electric milk floats whisk guests around the estate, while families pedal by in matching dressing gowns and cow-print wellies. There’s no shortage of facilities – the Cowshed Spa with sauna, hammam, and hot tubs, offers a range of treatments, while the luxurious cinema, cookery school, and spacious wellness centre (complete with spinning studio, gym, an indoor and outdoor pool, tennis courts and football pitch) will keep you occupied for hours on end. When it comes to dining, the Main Barn places you in the heart of the action, the Japanese sushi grill Pen Yen offers lakeside views, and the farmshop-cum-deli is ideal for light bites. While non-members can stay here, priority booking goes to members (who also avail of discounted prices).

Right on London’s doorstep, Heckfield Place is a home away from home – assuming your home is a stately manor. There’s a sense of grandeur from the moment you roll up the drive; it’s no surprise Jane Austen lived down the road in Chawton. Rooms are unstuffy and tasteful, blending contemporary and antique furniture with an assortment of forest greens and earthy tones; laidback luxury is executed really well here. Mid-20th-century photographs line the stairways and floral designs by Kitten Grayson are dotted throughout. Culinary Director, Skye Gyngell (who won a Michelin star at café-in-a-conservatory Petersham Nurseries in 2011 and now runs Spring at Somerset House) presents another draw – dining at Hearth is a must while here. Make time for walks down to the ornamental lake for wild swimming and then retreat back to the sleek bar – complete with XL disco ball – for a tipple pre-dinner. It’s also one of the UK hotels powering a new wave of wellness retreats.

Another one from the Soho House family, Babington House is just 30 minutes from Bath town centre, in the heart of Somerset. The Grade II listed building dates back to 1705 and feels instantly ducal. Inside, traditional hand-painted wallpapers, oak four-poster beds, velvet sofas, and antique furniture are dotted throughout, with ample cosy corners to tuck into for hours on end. There’s no shortage of activities either – really there’s no reason to leave the property. The main house has a library room for reading the papers with afternoon tea, there’s a TV room for kids (and big kids), wellies to borrow for rambling, bikes to take for a spin around the countryside, and a glorious outdoor heated pool, as well as an indoor one. On rainy afternoons (thank you British summertime) there’s a 45-seater cinema, with screenings free for guests and members, and of course the signature Cowshed Spa.

Undergoing a judicious architectural transformation in 2018, University Arms has become a respite for aspirational Southerners in need of immediate relaxation. Sift through literary classics in the library before lunch in the playful restaurant recreated by architect John Simpson, with interior designer by Martin Brudnizki – the man behind Annabel’s members’ club. The hotel has perfectly captured the defining characteristics of the literary and academic spirit of Cambridge. The main restaurant space, Parker’s Tavern overseen by Tristan Welch, is cleverly designed to evoke a college dining hall. It serves a hearty English breakfast, followed by a lunch menu of low-key classic British comfort foods. Whether you’re a child or an adult, ask to see the ice-cream menu after your main meal; ‘scrumptious’ doesn’t cut it.

Stories of scandalous parties and romantic entanglements have built an aura of intrigue around Cliveden House, an English majestic neoclassical manor. Gatsby’s wannabe contemporaries can be spotted playing host at opulent dinner parties or nonchalantly slurping champagne by the legendary pool where the Profumo affair began. This National Trust property, dating back to the late 17th century, is set amongst 376 verdant acres on the banks of the Thames in Berkshire. Priceless tapestries and suits of armour from the 18th century greet guests upon entering the darkly dramatic, red-toned Great Hall. Portraits line the walls, along with stone busts, while chandeliers and elaborate floral displays add lighter touches. The wonderfully ornate French Dining Room was transported from France’s Château d’Asnières in 1897. And that’s just a taste of the history and grandeur in this hotel. Book the Spring Cottage, our favourite, for a plush romantic hideaway with its own idyllic garden backdropped by a small lake.

The Cotswolds tends to be front of mind for a weekend getaway – perhaps due to its honey-hued side streets and cobbled paths. Dormy House, right by Broadway village (in case you fancied a culture fix or some retail therapy) is cosy personified. Inside, notes of Scandinavian style provide a fresh take on the conventional country retreat. Both The Garden Room restaurant and gastro pub, The Potting Shed, provide excellent wholesome fare while the spa is in a large, modern annex with Cotswold stone incorporated into its striking clean lines and contemporary design. From the 40 bedrooms to the spa, gardens, lounge and two gyms, you’re totally covered for a weekend of hunkering in.

Gleneagles is something of a hidden treasure. An iconic country estate set beneath the beautiful Ochil Hills, The Gleneagles Hotel has been a luxury destination for nearly a century. Famed for golf in particular, three championship courses establish the resort’s reputation as a golfer’s paradise. If teeing off doesn’t drive you wild, you’ll be glad to know that the hotel offers so much more too. The 850-acre estate epitomises Scotland’s rugged natural beauty and offers guests a glorious playground of country pursuits and activities. Whether you come to fly a Harris’ Hawk, ride horses, play tennis, enjoy Michelin-starred dining, or relax in an award-winning spa, Gleneagles will cater to your every whim.

Lympstone Manor is the epitome of fine dining, with a kitchen led by Chef Michael Caines. Overlooking the Exe Estuary in the southwest of England, the estate extends to the shore, enveloped in the colours of the landscape of this magnificent part of Devon. This Georgian manor-turned-contemporary-country-house is surrounded by sun-dappled coastal paths and dog-friendly beaches to rival the Mediterranean. It’s a welcome jolt of glamour to Devon, both in design and cuisine, which is on the finer side. A freshly planted vineyard will soon bring a unique house wine to the eclectic wine list, which is already a pillar in the ethos of the hotel.

An idyllic weekend escape on the edge of the ancient New Forest, Chewton Glen has an ethereal feel. A hive of Treehouse suites elevate a sense of magic, creating a true hideaway detached from daily life, and are wholly contemporary in style. Built atop stilts, they sit high in the tree canopy, with hardwood private decks, wood burning stoves and floor-to-ceiling windows. In the main hotel, rooms are individually decorated with a mix of traditional furniture and contemporary luxuries. This fabulous spa-retreat-meets-country-house-hotel will spoil you with its stellar spa offering (aquatic lounging and crystal steam rooms are the norm in this neck of the woods), premium dining, and activities galore.

At Retreat East, it’s all about the mind, the body… and the fulfilment of your hot tub requirements. Once for members’ only, this country club in the Suffolk countryside has opened its doors to non-members. Guests check into plush country barns, each offering something different. Some are spacious with a dedicated reading area and terrace, others are more snug, with the welcoming backdrop of the Suffolk countryside. The overall style is sculptural and the vibe is overwhelmingly wholesome, with an on-site organic farm to reflect a seasonal menu. There’s also a spa for treatments and a fitness area. In the morning eggs are delivered from the farm, along with other breakfast staples from the nearby towns.

A stay at the Four Seasons, Hampshire promises unrestrained self-indulgence without having to board a flight. Sprawled across 500 acres of the Hampshire countryside, choose from an array of activities including clay-pigeon shooting and catch-and-release fishing in the lake, to cycling and yoga. There are also floodlit tennis courts and a child-friendly Highwire Adventure obstacle course featuring zip wires, tree-canopy bungee jumps, and hairy high ropes – this might be the smartest way to snap out of a sleepy state of leisurely stupor. The focal point of the wellness centre is the large lap pool (children welcome and adult-only times available), and there’s also a sauna, crystal steam room and excellent treatments. Word to the wise – don’t be deceived by restaurant Wild Carrot’s name. Seemingly uber-healthy, Wild Carrot is in fact indulgent with the sumptuous breakfasts and the likes of partridge pie and carrot risotto at dinner.

It’s easy to book a hotel without delving into its past but The Swan, dating back 400 years, offers an intriguing slice of history. Having witnessed grand-scale change since its heyday as a brewery (circa 17th century), weathered antiques and a catastrophic fire are all part of tales left to be told to an ever-evolving carousel of guests. The design at The Swan is vibrant – think brightly-coloured velvet sofas, seagrass-green walls, bold clashing patterns, and statement tiling. Exposed wood, copper fittings, and handmade glass lamps help to lend a contemporary, fresh look. The 35 rooms – including ‘Excellent’, ‘Fabulous’ and ‘Outstanding’ – are all luxurious and inviting. For dinner, choose from two on-site restaurants – we recommend Tap Room, an informal spot with one of the best fish platters you’ll come across. Sat on the Suffolk coast, seaside strolls and jaunts across the surrounding hinterland are encouraged. A wonderful British beach staycation, head to the busy market square – a five-minute walk from the beach – for some of the town’s best delis, coffee shops, and shopping.

The Gilpin Hotel and Lake House is in fact two hotels on two separate sites, situated just one-mile apart. The Gilpin Hotel is a luxurious hotel that has been family run since 1987 and sits a short drive from Lake Windermere, Bowness and Ambleside. The hotel features fabulously designed rooms, six of which have their own cedar-wood hot tubs. The Gilpin Lake House has just six rooms and here, guests can enjoy over 100-acres of stately grounds and make best use of facilities including a private lake, boathouse, hot tubs, treatment rooms, and a heated indoor swimming pool. There are endless places to lounge around, several terraces, and a charming gazebo. Look out for the alpacas and llamas grazing in the garden.

Craving manicured glamour backdropped by nature? Head to Coworth Park, an Ascot manor that relishes in life’s simple pleasures – we’re talking scones and champagne for breakfast and the happy sight of wildflower meadows in summer. Boasting 240 acres of grounds, tennis courts, and Guards Polo Academy, the hotel’s interiors are just as impressive. Quietly confident in grandeur, peppered altruistically with original and modern features to appease traditionalists and millennials alike, tuck into a library with books, music and film before making your way to Coworth Park’s eco spa. Cutting a stylish, contemporary shape, the spa (complete with fragrant rooftop herb garden) offers a range of relaxing treatments, in addition to a swimming pool with underwater music and a gym.

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