Enjoy 10 Garden Moments in 94 Acres of National Trust Gardens at Hartwell House & Spa Hotel in Buckinghamshire

Designed at the start of the 18th century and landscaped by a follower of Capability Brown, one Richard Woods, the gardens at Hartwell House offer guests plenty to explore. With 94 acres to discover, all hotel guests and visitors booking afternoon tea, lunch, dinner or spa treatments can spend time in these gardens in Buckinghamshire. Upon arrival at Hartwell House guests and visitors are welcomed with the magnificent equestrian life-size statue of Frederick, Prince of Wales which now stands in the centre of the entrance drive to the north of this Grade I listed house. This sets the scene for the grandeur of the house and also for what to expect in the gardens.

Here are 10 garden moments to consider at Hartwell House:

1. Spend an hour exploring the trees around the 94 acres of gardens with a copy of your tree guide available in every bedroom.

2. Take a short walk from the hotel entrance and view the beautiful mid-eighteenth century Gothic church from the outside.

3. Head to the famous stone bridge over the lake. The picturesque bridge was originally the central span of the old Kew Bridge, built over the Thames in the 18th century but dismantled in 1898 and its sections sold at auction.

4. Walk further into the grounds and discover statues including a Statue of Hercules, temples and hidden follies along the way.

5. Discover Canal Temple home to 10,000 daffodils where BBC Weather presented a special segment to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the British Meteorological Society. It was in the library at Hartwell House on 3 April 1850 that the Society was founded, later renamed ‘Royal Meteorological Society’ in 1883.

6. Discover the hotel’s kitchen garden used by the chefs which features apricot, peach, pear and plum trees. The hotel gardens are also home to several beehives and honey is used at breakfast.

7. Spend golden hour watching the light move across the lawns, lake and centuries-old trees from the front of the house.

8. Join a seasonal guided garden tour with the Head Gardener to uncover the stories behind Hartwell’s trees, gardens and landscape techniques and features.

9. Get active outside with the help of several all-weather tennis courts, secluded in the historic grounds.

10. Head out to the Vale of Aylesbury which is one of the most beautiful parts of Buckinghamshire, endowed with several grand properties, including Waddesdon Manor.

After all the outdoor exploring, head inside. Take in all the history in the public rooms at Hartwell House. In 1809, Hartwell House was leased to the exiled King Louis XVIII of France and his court. King Louis remained at Hartwell until 1814 when the constitutional document, confirming his accession to the throne, was signed in the library by the King. The Great Hall is a masterpiece of English baroque design and most of this room is virtually unchanged since its completion around 1740. The Morning Room and the Library are decorated in the Rococo style, with curvilinear marble chimney pieces. The bookcases in the Library are fitted with some of the finest surviving gilt-brass wirework in the country. The main Dining Room has been designed in the style of the eminent early 19th century architect, Sir John Soane. The restaurant has been awarded two AA Rosettes and is open daily for dinner and on Sundays for lunch. The unique staircase at Hartwell House is decorated with carved Jacobean figures and leads to a selection of luxury suites and bedrooms.

Enjoy a luxurious night’s sleep at Hartwell House. Accommodation is found in the 48 rooms and suites all individually designed in a traditional country house style and superbly furnished with antiques and fine paintings. Today a number of Royal Rooms and Royal Suites located in the main house offer the ultimate accommodation experience where guests are immersed in history. A number of ‘Royal Four Poster Rooms’ were once resided in by King Louis XVIII and his Queen and these four poster rooms are the perfect setting to celebrate and enjoy a true escape. There are four rooms situated at each corner of the main house decorated with antiques, fine paintings and awe-inspiring views of the gardens, parkland and lake.

The Good Hotel Guide awarded Hartwell House ‘Best Historic Hotel’ for 2026 at their recent Good Hotel Guide Cesar Awards. These awards go to the best hotels of the year. Inspired by Cesar Ritz, the most celebrated of hoteliers, these awards have been called the Oscars of hotel keeping. 

In September 2008, the hotel was donated to the National Trust to ensure its long-term protection. It continues to be managed by Historic House Hotels.

www.hartwell-house.com Hartwell House, Buckinghamshire, HP17 8NR, Tel:01296 747444

B&B priced from £318 per room per night and includes use of the spa facilities. Hartwell House welcome children over the age of six years. The hotel also welcome two small dogs or one large dog per selected suite (by prior request).