A country hotel within 1.5 hours London for v v v much longed for weekend?

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So my lovely P I L have offered to look after our children so that my husband and I can remember what each other look like. We have Friday to Sunday. We want to make as much use of it as possible and would like to find a nice hotel with a not too long a drive of London. Budget is probably around £500 for two nights. Any Recommendations springing to mind? I would like to think that we are going to do cultural things during the day but I suspect we will just spend all day in our room revelling in the lack of children! Not that fussed on spa things etc - nice grounds would be ideal. Any recommendations?

I wandered into Malmaison in Oxford and it's really dingy in the communal areas - I know it used to be a prison though so...

Fair enough re Bingham!

You need to get away but not so far you spend all night travelling

Would you do central London?

Cowley manor in the Cotswolds, near Cheltenham. Stunning grounds!

Danesfield?

A bit chintzy for me but

danesfieldhouse.co.uk/rooms

By train to Cirencesters Kemble train station, then taxi to Cowley Manor

Watch the rooms at Cowley - I wasn't impressed

Some are not romantic Imo

Cowley not available for dates - I was going to go for malmaison but wickedwaterwitch is worrying me - dingy is not the serene experience I am anticipating.

Will you be getting train from work on Friday? Or could you do central London? In which case One Aldwych is great, very glam and grown up.

Also if you don't mind being in The City you'll get a large room at the Andaz - good service last time we stayed. But we wanted to be that side of town.

Don't do Mal, I wouldnt, you want serene, let me think.

If you want to go west then:

Barnsley House or they have The Village pub
Whatley Manor
Calcot Manor

All fit serene but glam remit

Do you want log fires & country walks or things to do?

The Pig in the New Forest is fab. Might take a little longer than 1.5 hours but worth it! www.thepighotel.com

I think you'd manage it under two hours if the traffic is ok.

We went to Hanbury Manor (www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/stngs-hanbury-manor-marriott-hotel-and-country-club/) a few years ago and it was lovely!

Hartwell House in Aylesbury is wonderful.

Or the Dorchester group have one in Windsor beginning with C but I can't remember what it's called.

Rooms at pennyhill park are very variable, but food is good.

Oh yes, The Pig is fantastic. Or Limewood.

Stapleford Park near Melton Mowbray is good but it may be too expensive depending on what facilities you'll want.

Hotel du vin in Henley, it's lovely!

Not sure about whether close enough for 1.5 hours , but we did this package and it is brilliant crownandcastle.co.uk/special_offers/

Long winter walks on the Suffolk coast and great food, all within your budget

Not hotels, but beautiful, romantic cottages
www.grove-cottages.co.uk/

I think I want quiet. Husband is now Oxford bent or at least close. The Pig is gorgeous but full. We will be driving not training.

Dont go to Hartwell, had a terrible time there recently (4 of us)

Henley hotel du vin is good

Parking a pita in Oxford

No no no you're all wrong. Maison Talbooth. Extraordinarily good.

Tylnley hall www.tylneyhall.co.uk

We are lovely people in Henley.