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Recommendations for a luxury countryside hotel within a few hours of London

61 replies

Tripideas · 09/08/2026 06:41

Any recommendations for a luxury spa hotel in the countryside within 2 -3 hrs of London please?

Places I have already looked at:

Heckfield - stayed here once years ago and loved it but would like somewhere new and budget may not stretch this time

South Lodge - stayed there before and the rooms are quite dated

Penny Hill Spa - felt too big

Anywhere else? Would love nice interiors and relaxing atmosphere and not too busy.

budget between £1.5-2k for 2/3 nights

OP posts:
HeBeaverandSheBeaver · 09/08/2026 08:57

F

MrsCat1 · 09/08/2026 09:05

I’ll second Limewood in the New Forest. It’s gorgeous.

MrsCat1 · 09/08/2026 09:06

Limewood spa is great. Gorgeous pools and top notch treatments. Location is fantastic in the forest.

YouSawBrigadoon · 09/08/2026 09:09

Chewton Glen but in an estate room, hot tub suite or treehouse. I find the main hotel rooms too chintzy and dated.

Candleabra · 09/08/2026 09:11

The Manor House, Wiltshire

BlackberryChin · 09/08/2026 10:32

Candleabra · 09/08/2026 09:11

The Manor House, Wiltshire

If you’re talking about the one in Castle Combe it has gone massively downhill.

Whatley Manor, Estelle Manor or Lucknam Park would be my recommendations.

kiraabshiremd · 09/08/2026 10:37

Tripideas · 09/08/2026 06:41

Any recommendations for a luxury spa hotel in the countryside within 2 -3 hrs of London please?

Places I have already looked at:

Heckfield - stayed here once years ago and loved it but would like somewhere new and budget may not stretch this time

South Lodge - stayed there before and the rooms are quite dated

Penny Hill Spa - felt too big

Anywhere else? Would love nice interiors and relaxing atmosphere and not too busy.

budget between £1.5-2k for 2/3 nights

I agree with you. If you’re going through a frame-off restoration, upgrading to the 350 and 5-speed seems like a great choice. Having modern steering and braking makes the car much more enjoyable and practical to drive.

cityliving99 · 09/08/2026 10:38

The Dormy House Hotel and Spa, in the Cotswolds. Very small and personal. Fabulous dining….

tramtracks · 09/08/2026 10:39

Limewood - new forest. Beautiful hotel.

Candleabra · 09/08/2026 11:00

BlackberryChin · 09/08/2026 10:32

If you’re talking about the one in Castle Combe it has gone massively downhill.

Whatley Manor, Estelle Manor or Lucknam Park would be my recommendations.

Oh I was. Sorry, I haven’t been for a while, what a shame.

LIZS · 09/08/2026 11:01

Looking for similar for a short break, with pool and wellbeing facilities and restaurant/cafe on site. Not top price though!

endofthelinefinally · 09/08/2026 11:04

Another vote for Sopwell House.

OneNewEagle · 09/08/2026 15:30

Eastwell manor

BlackberryChin · 09/08/2026 15:55

Candleabra · 09/08/2026 11:00

Oh I was. Sorry, I haven’t been for a while, what a shame.

It’s so sad! The building is absolutely stunning and it used to be one of the best hotels in the Cotswolds.

DH and I went last year having not been for about seven years. Absolutely nothing has been maintained in years, the grounds are in a dreadful state. Tourists from the village are now allowed to just wander the grounds to take photos making it crowded … The food also wasn’t great.

The pub the hotel own is nicer than the hotel now! I always loved The Manor as it had so much character.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 09/08/2026 15:58

Foxhill manor, Cotswolds or Dormy house hotel (if you stay at Foxhill you can use the spa at the nearby Dormy as Foxhill doesn’t have a spa.

onyourway · 09/08/2026 16:04

Baliffscourt in Clymping near Arundel

Idontlookyoung · 09/08/2026 16:07

Although St Albans is only a 20min train journey from central London, rather than the min 2 hours you state, I've another vote for Sopwell House.

It's regularly used by big stars filming at Elstree. If it's good enough for them...

Happydays321 · 09/08/2026 16:43

LIZS · 09/08/2026 11:01

Looking for similar for a short break, with pool and wellbeing facilities and restaurant/cafe on site. Not top price though!

We love the spread eagle at midhurst, not top luxury but not priced as such.

ByTipsyShark · 09/08/2026 20:30

Sopwell House isn’t luxury - the rooms reminded me of a conference hotel and the spa has an odd two tier system (spa staff were miserable too).

AtleastitsnotMonday · 09/08/2026 20:47

Another vote for the Chewton Glen, but the spa down the road at Carey’s Manor is better! And the New Forest is stunning.

YouSawBrigadoon · 09/08/2026 20:49

ByTipsyShark · 09/08/2026 20:30

Sopwell House isn’t luxury - the rooms reminded me of a conference hotel and the spa has an odd two tier system (spa staff were miserable too).

I agree. We stayed there and paid for the premium spa. It was a bit shite.

sunandpeonies · 09/08/2026 21:06

The Grove in Hertfordshire
Fabulous in every way

Silverbirchleaf · 09/08/2026 21:12

Eastwell manor

champneys