With its rich history, unique neighbourhoods and iconic landmarks, as well as its diverse culinary offerings and endless roster of world-leading events, the UK’s beguiling capital city is a magnet for global travellers. But there are plenty of places worth visiting outside of London too. Journey just one to two hours outside of its centre and you’ll find yourself in a different world where you'll discover patchwork green landscapes, never-ending golden fields, willow-fringed rivers, chocolate-box cottages, quaint seaside towns and historic university cities.
And what better to return to at the end of the day than a comfy bed and a host of sumptuous amenities? Read on for our pick of cosseting country retreats that offer a full spectrum of services for guests, from the finest luxury bedrooms with freestanding baths to innovative Michelin-Star restaurants and top-notch spas, as well an impressive range of wild walks, nature and wellness activities on their doorstep.
Leonardslee House at Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens
HorshamLocation: 90 minutes' drive from London; 2 hours by train
Perfect For: Nature lovers; foraged tasting menu experiences
Handsome, honey-hued Leonardslee House, with its timeless elegance, classical design and home comforts, is a 19th-century Italianate mansion near the pretty market town of Horsham in West Sussex. One of the benefits of a stay here is that the endearing 10-bedroom hotel is located within the bountiful flora and fauna of the sprawling, Grade I listed Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens – a wonderfully peaceful spot to wake up in.
Once inside the hotel, each carefully curated room has its own signature design, with features including cheery furnishings with bright prints, botanically influenced wallpapers, luxurious marble bathrooms and deep, copper stand-alone bathtubs. Try one of the Classic or Superior Classic rooms with huge walk-in rainfall showers or decadent roll-top baths, or splash out on a Deluxe Suite with a super king sized bed and a luxurious private lounge – sweet dreams incoming.
Where to Eat: Don’t miss a dining experience at the hotel’s restaurant, Interlude. It holds One Michelin Star and a Michelin Green Star, with its (seriously) seasonal tasting menu, foraged directly from the 240-acre gardens. You must visit the Leonardslee Family Vineyards and book onto one of the English sparkling wine tasting masterclasses too.
The Beacon
Royal Tunbridge WellsLocation: 90 minutes' drive from London; 1 hour and 40 minutes by train
Perfect For: A truly cosseting small country house escape
Roughly a five-minute taxi journey from Tunbridge Wells train station, perched above the former ‘Happy Valley’ and its pleasure gardens, The Beacon is a beautiful, woodland-fringed, 19th-century family home with far-reaching views of Kent’s countryside – imagine being enveloped by 17 acres of forest. The house has seven voguish, cosy bedrooms, is a favoured wedding venue and has a storied history that dates back to the 1890s: during the war, The Beacon housed Jewish and Basque refugees.
The home itself is sophisticated and thoughtfully designed with a light-filled cream, blonde and bronze colour palette, vintage chandeliers, intricate stained glass windows, and wood panelling and floors. There are special little details in the six luxury bedrooms, such as fanciful Chinoiserie features, statement wallpapers and antique four-poster beds, but for something extra book the Summerhouse Cabin, on the cusp of Happy Valley itself, with sweeping views of the romantic spectrum of green.
Where to Eat: Book a table at Tallow (a 10-minute taxi ride away). This neighbourhood dining spot serves a modern British menu and offers a chef's table experience perfect for a special occasion.
The Gallivant
RyeAward: One Michelin Key
Location: 2 hours' drive from London; Rye is just over an hour by train
Perfect For: A dreamy British beach stay; seaside dwellers
Taking its cues from The Hamptons, The Gallivant is a modish, 20-room beachside bolthole in East Sussex with direct access to the blonde dunes of Camber Sands. Staying by the seaside here is like taking a real holiday, complete with salty-air beach walks, rejuvenating yoga classes – and other nourishing activities – a Bamford spa and the option of all-inclusive packages.
Room aesthetics blend vivid pops of colour with earthy and coastal hues, Kit Kemp-style bed-heads, beachy interiors and crisp white cottons. Room categories include homely Snug Cabin and Baby Hampton designs to more roomy Large Hampton, Garden and Luxury Garden options, some with marble vanities, library walls, brilliant-white beams and French doors leading to a nautical garden with a secluded, private deck.
Where to Eat: The hotel’s restaurant, Harry’s at The Gallivant, with its focus on locally sourced produce and French flavours, is a must. There is a stable of vineyards in the area – try Chapel Down for its award-winning English sparkling wines or Tillingham for its natural wines.
Graduate by Hilton Cambridge
CambridgeLocation: 90 minutes' drive from London; Cambridge is around 50 minutes by train
Perfect For: History with a dose of mod-Varsity style
In a coveted location at the heart of Cambridge, set by the magnificent River Cam, Graduate Cambridge offers a fun take on Varsity style, with charming, historically rich Cambridge being a mere 50 minutes by train from the King's Cross hub. Tucked away down a tiny side street, in an unassuming building, you’ll find this sleek hotel with bird's-eye views of those punting on the postcard-pretty river.
The 148-room hotel has good-looking interiors that cheekily mix the old and the new with flair. On entrance, you’ll spy punting boats adorning the walls, heraldic college crests decorating the reception desk, and it’s only fitting that there is literature lining the lounge space. Bedrooms are mostly similar in design, spanning the Double Graduate Room to the King Graduate Junior Suite. There’s customised wallpaper, flower-fused bed throws, oversized fabric headboards and punts acting as bedside tables. Book a room with views of the Cam or choose the cosy and compelling Penthouse, with its cheerful prints, living and dining spaces, and lovely outdoor terrace.
Where to Eat: Enjoy cocktails in The Garden on the riverbank, then head out to Mercado Central. A 10-minute walk from the hotel by Trinity College, this Spanish restaurant has a convivial, relaxed feel and features delicious dishes from Northern Spain.
Monkey Island Estate
BrayLocation: An hour's drive from London; Bray is 90 minutes by train
Perfect For: Exploring the Berkshire countryside; visiting The Fat Duck
Monkey Island Estate in Bray sits on a private island on the River Thames, and its fine Palladian architecture harks back to the 18th century. The estate comprises two Grade I listed pavilions, formerly commissioned as a fishing retreat by the third Duke of Marlborough in 1723. An elegant country escape, it has 40 rooms and a Wedgewood Suite created by Champalimaud Design.
The opulent bedrooms are a mix of both modern and classic, with a refined English country house style, and there’s something for everyone on the estate, be it spending time in the bar or tuning out at the spa, which is uniquely set on a moored riverboat. If you fancy venturing further afield, pop into Bray village or explore the Berkshire countryside.
Where to Eat: For an occasion, book the Three-Michelin-Starred Fat Duck in Bray, Heston Blumenthal’s most iconic restaurant. Its playful style offers an exceptional dining experience that ignites all the senses. It’s only a 20-minute walk from the estate, waiting for you to make some memories.
The Vineyard Hotel & Spa
NewburyAward: One Michelin Key
Location: 1 hour and 40 minutes' drive from London; 90 minutes by train
Perfect For: Epicureans, especially oenophiles
Staying at The Vineyard, just outside of Newbury, has something of a personalised, members' residence feel. There’s no vineyard at this Michelin-Key hotel, but it is certainly wine-focused, with plenty of Californian wines among its collection. As for the 49 sumptuous suites and bedrooms in the hotel, they have all the right elements for a spoiling stay: with cloud-like king beds, deep bathtubs, understated interiors, gentle natural tones and finer deluxe details. From Luxury Doubles to Luxury Suites, all rooms have REN toiletries, and there’s also an Irene Forte spa.
What to Eat: Head down to the smart hotel restaurant, The Vineyard, of course, for elegant dishes featuring high-quality local ingredients. Alternatively, make for The Tasting Room for set menus paired with the hotel’s finest wines.
Coworth Park, Dorchester Collection
AscotAward: Two Michelin Keys
Location: Around an hour's drive from London; 90 minutes by train
Perfect For: An utterly luxurious sleepover with outdoor pursuits
Coworth Park is the Dorchester Group’s first country house hotel, an alluring escape that feels far removed from London. Perfectly located in the Berkshire countryside, the Georgian hotel is flanked by Windsor Great Park, has a dashing spa and health suite (as well as equestrian pursuits) and holds Two Michelin Keys.
There are 71 bedrooms and suites combined, with both antique and sassy designs, but all being indulgent. The highlight, however, comes in the form of two splendid private cottages in the grounds: The Dower House and North Lodge – the former being a swanky Grade II listed cottage with a soothing, natural design, three plush bedrooms, serene gardens, and a bespoke chef and butler service. Coworth Park really is the ultimate pampering country escape.
Where to Eat: Be sure to book a table at Woven by Adam Smith. The hotel’s Michelin-Starred restaurant pays homage to British produce and is best summed up as 'storytelling on a plate'.
Hero Image: The spectacular grounds at one of our top country hotel escapes just outside London. © Leonardslee House at Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens
