The best countryside hotels in the UK: 14 locations for a dream vacation with family or friends

There is a special rustic charm to countryside vacations, filled with the magic of meadow flowers and emerald greenery, fresh morning breezes, and hearty al fresco dining. Since 1949, the best country hotels in Great Britain have embraced the concept of complete relaxation, releasing guests from the bonds of routine and offering the desired peace.

The "main characters" of these establishments are the regal decoration of rooms with snow-white linens, luxurious afternoon teas with gourmet delicacies, and entertaining activities for both children and adults. Our online resource offers you an unparalleled atmosphere of UK country hotels, from charming farms with delightful meals to majestic castles with towers and spires.

Estelle Manor, Oxfordshire

Let's take a peek behind the scenes of the renowned UK country hotel, Estelle Manor, the successful brainchild of Sharan Pasrichi, whose name is closely associated with Maison Estelle, Hoxton Hotels, and Gleneagles. Estelle Manor is a showcase of impeccable style with spectacular private club elements.

The spacious rooms are adorned with tasteful design and cozy furniture, perfectly suited to country interiors. The feeling of lightness from staying in a paradise oasis is enhanced by features such as:

• A fenced garden
• An outdoor swimming pool with a shimmering silver water surface
• A spa center offering wellness sessions and Roman architectural elements

For accommodations, guests can choose from comfortable options in the luxurious mansion, elegant woodland, or garden cottages. The hotel boasts a variety of bars and restaurants with intimate settings and characteristic British hospitality.

Soho House Babington, Babington House, Somerset

Adding a fresh touch to Somerset's stunning countryside is Soho House Babington, located near the picturesque town of Frome. This UK country house hotel is surrounded by picturesque gardens and lush green meadows. The hotel owners prioritize the complete relaxation of guests in a cozy refuge from the London fog.

The weightless atmosphere is maintained by the beautifully landscaped grounds of the hotel. Paved paths lined with luxurious flowers lead to an entrance adorned with an elegant archway covered in white roses. Exquisite floral aromas mingle with the scent of fireplaces, and the tranquility is interrupted only by birdsong and quiet conversations among guests.

The main mansion houses 10 luxurious bedrooms, meticulously prepared for guests with original antique details and striking modern decor. The rooms feature spacious four-poster beds and deep freestanding bathtubs for water relaxation.

The Orangery restaurant offers a rich selection of food and beverages, inviting guests to savor exquisite delicacies prepared according to the farm-to-table principle by skilled chefs. Soho House Babington offers numerous options for leisure amidst picturesque surroundings:

• Swimming in the heated outdoor pool
• Visiting the fully-equipped gym
• Enjoying scenic walks in the surrounding area
• Relaxing in the Cowshed Spa with signature facial and body treatments

Guests can also engage in active games on the tennis courts and soccer field, or unwind in the sauna and steam room. For those seeking entertainment, the hotel features a 45-seat theater for movie screenings. Additionally, there is a fantastic children's club on-site for young guests to enjoy.

Beaverbrook, Surrey Hills

One of the top countryside hotels in the UK, located close to London, Beaverbrook carefully preserves all the secrets of a vacation with a subtle twist. Previously owned by Lord Beaverbrook, who held a prominent government position during World War II, the mansion now offers guests a plethora of surprises, from cozy fireplaces in the living room to a library stocked with a rich selection of works by both domestic and foreign authors.

A special pride of the hotel is the spa with spectacular brightly colored tiled walls and a ceiling made of stained glass by Brian Clark, a skilled "artist." There are indoor and outdoor pools and a chic guest wellness program.

For a delicious meal in a hearty atmosphere, travelers come to the Garden House Japanese restaurant or pub, designed by Nicholas Harding, or the Coach House.

The Grove, Hertfordshire

If you are dreaming of a secluded vacation but are not ready for a long journey in transport to get to the desired place, opt for the excellent UK country hotel, The Grove. This place with a mysterious ambiance is located in Hertfordshire, not far from London, so it is very convenient to get here.

The Grove estate, made of red brick, is located in a picturesque area with emerald valleys and spacious golf courses. Martin Hulbert Design has breathed new life into the hotel suites, emphasizing their elegance and sophistication.

The royal bedrooms are decorated with huge beds with romantic canopies. Deep bathtubs with semicircular edges are a must-have in the hotel rooms. Lounging in filled tanks with thick aromatic foam, you can look at fantastic rural landscapes.

The hotel is a great place to bring the family or a group of friends, as there is a spa and an outdoor pool with a sparkling water feature.

Newt, Somerset

The best country hotels in the UK give travelers cool impressions of interior design and exquisite service. One of the brightest representatives of such establishments is called Newt and is located near Bruton. It includes extensive grounds with lush gardens, dense forests, and endless fields.

In 2021, The Newt was enriched with a Farmyard with 17 well-kept bedrooms. In addition to cool interiors, there's an additional pool, bar, and haute cuisine restaurant.

The cozy hotel accommodations feature beds with impeccable linens and warm bedspreads. They are surrounded by large footed bathtubs where you can relax and meditate for long periods of time. The signature feature of the rooms is the semi-circular beamed ceilings.

Cowley Manor, Cheltenham

One of the UK's most popular country house hotels, which has taken up space in an Italianate mansion, proves once again that luxury can do a lot. Its "name," Cowley Manor, is often associated by travelers with impeccable service in a picturesque location near a lake and a small 12th-century church of St. Mary.

According to legends, it was Lewis Carroll who was inspired to write the famous fantasy story "Alice in Wonderland." The interiors of the hotel, the design of which was entrusted to Dorothy Meilichzon, are shrouded in a haze of fairy-tale carefree.

There are elements taken from the wonderful story of the famous English writer scattered everywhere. In the spacious rooms and other areas of the hotel, chess motifs, whimsical images of rabbits, and magical plants are immediately apparent.

Thanks to the culinary "magician," Jackson Boxer, lunches and dinners at the establishment are simply magnificent. The menu offers dishes from meat, vegetables, and seafood in the most unusual interpretations. A lot of greens and vegetables are used to prepare delicacies, so they turn out not only appetizing but also healthy. The aesthetic design of delicacies turns them into real works of gastronomic art.

The specialty of Cowley Manor is a colorful cocktail bar with unusual walls made of figured wood and a blue guest area made of lava stone. For indulgent relaxation, there is a heated pool and spa with innovative facilities and talented artisans.

Leonardslee House, West Sussex

One of the good places for a country vacation in the UK is Leonardsley House, which has found a "shelter" in the picturesque area of West Sussex. This "representative" mansion in the Italianate style is rightly included in the list of architectural monuments of the II degree. It proudly occupies a 240-acre site in Horsham, close to seven fish-filled lakes.

The surrounding grounds were lovingly landscaped by Victorian botanical collector Edmund Loder. It is decorated with elegant bronze sculptures by Anton Smith. Exotic animals can easily be found here, calmly strolling through green meadows and glades, and this only adds to the extravagant feeling of the vacation.

There are 10 spacious bedrooms, where beautiful flowers on wallpapers from famous brands Penny Morrison, Fowler, Colefax "come to life." The owners of the hotel spared no expense to decorate the interiors with delicate shades of colors, including pink, mint, and sky-blue.

The rooms are decorated with ruched pillows, exquisite cornices, and lovely vintage pieces. Marble bathrooms with expensive finishes and scented bath salts are available for royal treatments.

Leonardslee's kitchen delights guests as much as the designer arrangement of the rooms. The skillful chef Jean Delporte puts a lot of effort into ensuring that guests enjoy the mouth-watering food here, which clearly has South African motifs.

Sussex chocolate, sweet potatoes with savory sauces, and vitamin salads with original combinations of ingredients take pride of place among the many delicacies with sophisticated flavors. The restaurant is Michelin-starred, so you can have no doubts about the level of its service. The varied menu is perfectly complemented by fine wines from Benguela Cove, a subsidiary of Leonardslee in the Western Cape.

Penmaenuchaf Hall, Snowdonia, Wales

If you're looking for a classic country-style hotel in the UK, we suggest opting for Penmaenuchaf Hall, a sumptuous 16th-century mansion.

Here, in the lap of pristine nature, travelers spend the perfect vacation taking leisurely strolls through the emerald hills along the picturesque river. The hotel has 14 cozy bedrooms with a unique rustic aura characteristic of romantic Snowdonia Wales.

Celebrity chef Tom Hein is passionately "wizarding" in the kitchen to surprise guests with exquisite masterpieces of culinary art. Appetizing burgers and weightless cakes, vitamin salads, and baked meat with vegetables are simply unrivaled by the maestro.

Penmaenuhaf Hall has a cozy lounge with soft furnishings, where it is so pleasant to spend time with a cup of invigorating coffee and fragrant cookies. Well, lovers of novels and exciting adventures with pleasure visit the library with a rich selection of literature for every taste.

Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, Oxfordshire, England

On the outskirts of the charming village of Great Milton lies another good UK country house hotel with excellent service and great food. The Oxfordshire manor house is skillfully decorated with French elements of facade and interior design.

The estate is surrounded by well-maintained territory with lush Japanese gardens and neat lawns for walks and fun outdoor activities. The establishment has a comfortable croquet court where you can have fun with your family or friends.

For guests are carefully prepared 32 rooms, which were designed by the talented Emily Todhunter. The bedrooms with original interiors stand out from the rest:

• Blanc de Blancs, the true embodiment of white, which symbolizes purity and tenderness.
• Jade, which draws inspiration from endless rice fields with dewdrops at dawn.
• Jade, decorated in the style of oriental boudoirs.
• Garden Suite, upholding the tradition of luxury suites with private gardens.

The Michelin-starred restaurant invites guests to a meal of fine delicacies worthy of royalty. Try the amuse-bouche and exquisite desserts, lovingly prepared by experienced chefs, to be whisked away to the heights of culinary bliss. Masters use fresh vegetables from their own vegetable garden to prepare dishes, and this is also an important advantage of the hotel restaurant.

Vacationers are offered amazing buffet breakfasts with plenty of salads and crispy pastries. Oxfordshire Manor also has a welcoming bar, which is decorated in 1930s style, and a wine cellar with a huge variety of gourmet drinks.

Leisure facilities are superb, including a gym and in-room beauty treatments. Adults and children alike enjoy cooking classes from the Raymond Blanc School and watching birds of prey in the country estate's aviary.

Heckfield Place, Hook, Hampshire, England

Our journey is in full swing, and now it's time to check into an excellent UK country house hotel with the noble "name" of Heckfield Place. It is located in North Hampshire, surrounded by picturesque gardens and clear lakes, perfect for swimming. Rustic exoticism of the institution is added by the presence of its own farm with luxurious flowers and different types of fruits and vegetables.

There are 45 rooms of different comfort levels in the country manor. Soft pile carpets, fine reed mats, and ceramic lamps are "cozy" here. Brightly colored pots with flowering and climbing plants add romantic coziness to the rooms.

If you want uncompromising luxury with spectacular design accents, book one of the Signature rooms and your inner perfectionist will be satisfied.

The picture of a complete guest experience at Heckfield Place wouldn't be complete without stylish bathrooms, but that's taken care of here too. Marble rooms with freestanding deep soaking tubs and Wildsmith Skin branded hygiene products are provided for guests.

Everything is provided for, including expensive tea sets with delicate cookies on the table to fridges with a huge selection of chilled gourmet drinks.

The spa at The Bothy invites you to experience a world of wondrous sensations with its swimming pool and steam bath, comfortable treatment rooms, and outdoor hot tubs. In addition, relaxation is offered with good movie screenings, yoga, and Pilates classes to maintain excellent muscle tone and discover harmony.

Gidley Park, Chagford, Devon, England

If you are tired of boring everyday life and dream of being in a fabulous location with exclusive service, then you urgently need to go to Gidley Park. It is situated on an elevated part of a landscaped bank with panoramic views of dense forest. A river runs alongside the excellent UK country house hotel, framed by stone blocks of impressive size.

With flavorful wine from juicy grapes, this location is ideal for celebrations in a charming rustic style. Not far from the venue is Chagford with numerous stores, gift stores with signature items, and boutiques with branded merchandise.

The bedrooms, decorated in classic English style, have everything you could dream of during a vacation, from spacious beds with white bedspreads to flat-screen TVs. Spacious baths are harmoniously complemented by L'Occitane hygiene products and high-end bathroom fixtures. Guests wash their faces with spring water from the Gidley estate, which helps to invigorate them from the morning.

The hotel offers many rooms with premium amenities. Choose which premium room is right for you:

• Manaton: A bedroom with a hot tub that is located on the rooftop of the hotel. This is a great option for lovers of stunning scenery and adrenaline.
• Dartmeet: Features a two-meter bathtub and panoramic windows, sauna and steam bath right in the apartment.
• Bel Tor: Offers a deep bathtub with semicircular edges and huge windows, providing endless romance that eagerly seeps into the room.

The main character of the hotel restaurant is the skillful chef Chris Eden, who is constantly improving his culinary skills. He masterfully prepares quail parfait and sumptuous grilled meats with a subtle bouquet of spices.

A chic bonus for all guests of the hotel is an extensive wine list with more than 9000 types of drinks with different flavors. If necessary, a talented sommelier enthusiastically tells guests about each of them.

The restaurant, with its enveloping lighting and good wood paneling, successfully maintains the vintage atmosphere of the hotel. The surrounding grounds include an 18-hole golf course, a tennis court, and a comfortable bowling area. Rubber boots are provided for guests to take romantic walks in the surrounding landscape in wet weather after a rainstorm.

Cliveden, Taplow, Berkshire, England

Sprawled across 375 acres of secluded countryside, not far from the picturesque Thames, is another UK country mansion named Cliveden, where you can relax in the royal way. Even Meghan Markle chose this establishment to spend the night before her wedding.

This noble manor with armor and tapestries belongs to Relais & Chateaux and is listed as a National Trust establishment. The walls of the hotel are adorned with sumptuous portraits of majestic persons and busts of good stone. The hotel has 48 well-appointed rooms, and due to its large size there is no sense of overcrowding.

In addition to the outdoor pool, there is an indoor pool in the spa center, where you can lounge for long periods of time and relieve fatigue after a busy day. There's a hot tub and a gym with state-of-the-art equipment to keep you feeling great. Book a cruise on the Thames on an old-fashioned boat with glasses of champagne at the hotel, and the experience of a luxurious walk will stay in your heart for a long time.

Accommodation in Cliveden varies in size and color. If you have long wanted to live in a spacious room with luxury amenities, choose Mountbatten, which used to be a cozy billiard room. Bathrooms with light marble tiles are always a win-win interior design option, which is successfully used here.

Bedrooms are decorated with sophisticated vintage furniture and four-poster beds, while spectacular fireplaces give them a special rustic coziness. Rooms always smell of freshly brewed coffee thanks to Nespresso coffee machines. When you want a refreshing drink, you can always visit the bar with a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

The hotel restaurant serves amazing meat and vegetarian dishes. Vacationers here are surprised by a rich assortment of exquisite snacks and desserts with banana, peanuts, and caramel. Breakfasts here are organized in the spirit of a buffet with healthy porridge and cereals, yogurt, and fruit.

The best traditions of British hospitality are upheld at afternoon tea with tempting treats for kids and adults.

Children are welcome at Cliveden, as there are play paths and a special room with fun activities for them to enjoy. Board games, soft toys, and DVDs are available on request, and the restaurant offers a special menu of appetizing dishes for the little ones.

Calcot and Spa, Tetbury, Cotswolds, England

Not far from Tetbury is another luxury UK country house hotel with a lovely rustic setting. Its name is Calcot and Spa, and the name itself is indicative of its accents.

The hotel has a spacious spa with large indoor and children's pools, a sauna and steam room, a relaxation room, and treatment areas. The highlight of the facility is the outdoor hot tub. Natives of London and guests of the UK capital enjoy coming here.

Calcot & Spa invites guests to cozy up in 35 rooms with original design. The main components of the rooms are huge beds with good headboards and snow-white linen. If you wish, you can book an apartment with a private garden and living room, bedrooms, and bathrooms with elite equipment.

A cool trick for families with little pranksters is the possibility to leave your child in the kids' club for 4 hours. This service is usually included in the cost of favorable hotel packages. In the summer months, the whole family can splash in the outdoor heated pool, ride bicycles, and play on the playground with slides and swings. The hotel's fitness club and tennis court help make vacations not only enjoyable but also healthy.

Limpston Manor, Exmouth, Devon, England

Another UK country house hotel that definitely deserves your attention is Limpston Manor with a romantic yet exclusive atmosphere. It is located near the Devon-Ex River, on the banks of which you can watch birds of prey and admire amazing sunsets with many shades of color palette.

The establishment is a chic vanilla-colored manor house in Georgian style. The light-colored rooms feature beds with handcrafted furniture, covered in gilding and fitted with elegant decorative elements.

With a perfectly composed set of details, the designers have managed to create interiors with a dreamy atmosphere. The living areas are decorated with silver trays of cool drinks, while the tropical shower in the bathtub helps you experience the delights of aquatic bliss. For a royal experience, book a room with an outdoor bathtub and mesmerizing views of the surroundings.

The hotel serves wonderful continental breakfasts with an abundance of delicious dishes with creative presentation. Be sure to try the omelet with red fish and broccoli here to appreciate the virtuoso skill of the chef. He emphasizes the nutritional value of appetizing masterpieces with a harmonious combination of ingredients.

To not bore you any further, let's conclude our journey of top rated UK country hotels for now. Out of the 14 options presented, you're sure to find one that resonates with your heart. And we, in turn, will be very happy that we were able to help you make a difficult choice.

Relax in paradise oases and fill yourself with the magical energy of nature and plan new impressive trips together with us!