In our Suite Staycation column Gina Jackson, hotel expert and author of British Boutique Hotels, tours some of the best hotel suites in the UK. Next up, Estelle Manor.
Best for… A show-stopping spa retreat
This bucolic patch of countryside straddling the border of the Cotswolds is chock full of luxe hotels, yet Estelle Manor, which welcomed its first guests last summer, has quickly established itself within a league of its own.
Give us the lowdown
This flamboyant hotel and private members’ club is the latest brainchild from the minds behind Scotland’s famed Gleneagles and Gleneagles Townhouse. A riotously lavish affair, the estate is set within 3,000 acres of rambling Oxfordshire parkland, and encompasses a historic Jacobean manor that has been reinvigorated by New York-based design hotshots Roman and Williams: expect unapologetically opulent interiors, bold strokes of colour, and priceless artworks to ogle at around each corner.
Following on from its triumphant opening last year, the hotel has expanded its glitzy offering, with the latest addition to the estate proudly unveiled this spring: an exquisite spa complex modelled on a traditional Roman bathhouse that is larger than the manor house itself, and was five years in the making.
What’s in the suite?
Forty-four suites are set amidst walled gardens, stables, and a main house, and the best bedrooms are undoubtedly located on the first and second floors of the adults-only manor. I checked into an Estate Suite set on the first floor, which had sweeping, south-facing views over the Riviera-style swimming pool and terrace below, and was decked out with handsome mahogany furnishings, velvety fabrics, and tasselled curtains draping the windows.
Estelle Suite
There’s a generous seating area clustered around a flat-screen TV – which was perfect for a relaxed movie night – and I had to wrench myself away from the marshmallow-soft four-poster bed the next morning. The bathroom is just as roomy, with a freestanding copper bathtub stocked with stylish body products bottled by Commune, a walk-in shower clad in red marble, and twin sinks.
How’s the crowd?
Estelle Manor functions as a private members’ club as well as a hotel: expect a stylish crowd of local members mingling throughout the various restaurants (there are members-only areas that hotel guests can’t access, meaning that the hotel spaces are never overflowing), as well as a steady stream of chi-chi Londoners visiting for a jolly weekend jaunt.
Where can we eat and drink?
In one of the three restaurants, each with their own unique character. The Brasserie, kitted out with plush banquettes and marble-topped tables serves elevated British fare from breakfast through to dinner. Feast on elegant suppers (roast chicken and tarte tatin are favourites on the menu), and come morning, guzzle up truffle scrambled eggs and flakey pastries in the restaurant’s skylit orangery.
For relaxed, modern European cooking, head to The Glasshouse, within the walled gardens and where the menu changes daily: delicate sharing plates are informed by what’s in season and flourishing in the surrounding vegetable patches.
Save some room for the hotel’s crowning jewel: The Billiards Room, a snazzy Chinese restaurant – practically unheard of in this part of the country – where diners curl up on jewel-coloured banquettes, nibbling on dim sum and Peking duck plated by chefs poached from Hong Kong. For snacking throughout the day, a light bar menu is served inside The Living Room and on the terrace outside.
Stand-out touches worth mentioning?
Luxurious Commune products in the bathrooms, homemade treats waiting for you upon arrival, and minibars stocked with all kinds of artisan snacks. Need something else? Just ring down to reception and the team will arrange anything – quite literally anything – for you, whether that’s freshly baked cookies delivered to your door or an impromptu archery lesson.
What’s on the to do list?
Country pursuits are the natural order of the day. Thrill seekers should head to the Adventure Tent for air rifle shooting and axe throwing; there’s also a whole host of kid-friendly activities if you’re bringing the whole family with you. Afternoons are spent sun-worshipping under one of the chic Riviera-style parasols by the outdoor swimming pool (which is heated year-round and a lengthy 25 metres), and for ultimate pampering, a visit to the newly-opened Eynsham Baths is a must.
Set deep within the estate’s wildland (you’ll be shuttled over in a golf buggy), this shiny new spa is a colossus of shimmering marble sprawled across 3,000 square metres. Inspired by the bathhouses of ancient Rome, journey through a circuit of hot and cold pools, along with the steam room, sauna, breathwork pool and marble hammam – while reinvigorating treatments utilise ancient rituals that span the Asian continent. Each of the details here have been meticulously thought through, from the flannel ponchos you’ll don over your swimwear, to the tranquil Tea Lounge, where you’ll be assigned a table that you can return to throughout your spa session for herbal teas, juice shots, and nourishing snacks.
What should we know before we go?
Access to the spa is not guaranteed for hotel guests: a single three-hour session costs £95 per person, which includes unlimited soaks among the various baths and use of the steam room, sauna, and Tea Lounge. There are three spa sessions throughout the day and spaces are limited, so book well in advance.
At the end of your stay, head over to The Muse, the hotel’s chic boutique, which has a stylish curation of fashion and homewares, so you can take a slice of Estelle Manor home with you.
What Should We Pack?
Though it’s in the heart of the British countryside, Estelle Manor is a lavish affair; don’t forgo your favourite items, even if you need to pair them with wellies during an archery class. Think bright wools and cashmeres to relax you into the ornate vibe. Swimwear for poolside relaxing and a comfy spa outfit are also a must.
All images: Mark Anthony Fox
We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.
Any Questions or Tips to add?