Autumn and Winter Country House Escapes at Historic House Hotels
As autumn approaches three of Britain’s most characterful historic house hotels invite guests to slow down and enjoy the pleasures of a traditional British country house escape. At Hartwell House (Buckinghamshire), Bodysgallen Hall (North Wales) and Middlethorpe Hall (York), the experience is less about formality and more about feeling at home: fireplaces, discreet service, seasonal dining, spa time, traditional afternoon tea, privacy across various historic rooms and gardens designed for long walks.
Hartwell House, Buckinghamshire
Spa: Hartwell House offers treatments by 111SKIN Harley Street and features an indoor swimming pool, sauna and steam room. Close by several all weather tennis courts are also available throughout the year.
Dining: The 2 AA Rosette restaurant showcases seasonal British cooking, with Head Chef Daniel Richardson drawing on produce from the kitchen garden. Daniel also sources produce from award winning Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire farmers to support the environment both locally and further afield.
Afternoon Tea: Hartwell’s newly unveiled afternoon tea is a highlight of the winter season, served in the Morning Room, Drawing Room or Library and always in front or close to a fireplace. Traditional sandwiches sit alongside homemade pastries served with the option of English sparkling wine or Champagne.
Garden: With 94 acres to explore, Hartwell’s historic gardens offer plenty of reason to wrap up and head outdoors. Designed in the early 18th century and landscaped by Richard Woods, a follower of Capability Brown, the grounds feature a Gothic Tower, Hercules statue, Lime Avenue, Canal Temple and a bridge incorporating the central arch of James Paine’s Kew Bridge. Guests can follow a tree trail to discover notable specimens, while the kitchen garden supplies seasonal produce for the restaurant.
Cosy moments: Winter at Hartwell House is made for lingering in various public historic rooms, with deep sofas and surrounded by artwork and bookcases. After a brisk garden walk, guests can retreat indoors and learn more about the fascinating history.
Past: Hartwell’s most famous resident, Louis XVIII, exiled King of France, held court here from 1809 to 1814. It was in the Library at Hartwell House in 1850, that “The British Meteorological Society” (since 1883 renamed the “Royal Meteorological Society”) was founded.
Factbox: hartwell-house.com B&B from: £423 nearest train station: Haddenham & Thame Parkway
Bodysgallen Hall, North Wales
Spa: Set within Bodysgallen’s extensive estate, Bodysgallen’s spa provides a complete winter wellness escape, with a large indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room, spa treatments and a club room for light meals.
Dining: The hotel’s 2 AA Rosette restaurant is led by Head Chef Abdalla El Shershaby, who uses produce from the kitchen garden to create seasonal Welsh menus. A vegetarian menu is also available. The restaurant offers front row seats to 220 acres of gardens and parkland with views of Conwy Castle and Snowdonia in the distance.
Afternoon Tea: Afternoon tea at Bodysgallen is served in the oak-panelled Hall, Library or Drawing Room, where the historic surroundings make it an especially atmospheric autumn and winter experience. Finger sandwiches and pastries can be accompanied by a glass of Champagne.
Garden: Bodysgallen Hall offers an extraordinary 220 acres of gardens and parkland, including one of Wales’s finest Arts and Crafts gardens which appeared on the BBC’s Glorious Gardens from Above. Guests can explore the rare 17th-century box parterre, rockery and cascade, walled gardens, lily pond, rose garden and enjoy woodland walks. The dramatic southern terrace provides wonderful views towards Conwy Castle, while the kitchen garden supplies the restaurant.
Cosy moments: After exploring the grounds, Bodysgallen’s historic rooms provide the perfect winter retreat. Fireside sitting rooms, oak panelling, rich fabrics, traditional furnishings and the warmth of a Welsh country house create an atmosphere designed for unhurried moments.
Past: The Mostyn family lived at this Grade I 17th century house.
Factbox: bodysgallen.com B&B from: £300 nearest train station: Llandudno Junction
Middlethorpe Hall, York
Spa: Middlethorpe Hall provides a tranquil country house spa experience, with an indoor swimming pool, sauna and steam room and a choice of treatments by GAIA Skincare.
Dining: The 2 AA Rosette restaurant celebrates seasonal ingredients from the kitchen garden under Head Chef Ashley Binder. Autumn and winter menus bring the produce of Yorkshire to the fore, with dishes including Yorkshire lamb.
Afternoon Tea: Served in the Drawing Room with views across the gardens, Middlethorpe’s afternoon tea combines traditional sandwiches and inventive patisserie. Tea can be accompanied by English sparkling wine or Champagne.
Garden: The 20-acres of gardens and parkland have been lovingly restored and replanted, creating a peaceful setting for autumn and winter walks. Guests can look for roe deer, nesting birds and beehives around the lake, discover the walled kitchen garden and organic potager, and follow the tree trail using the gardens’ guide and map. Look out for a blue plaque dedicated to former resident and gardener Fanny Wilkinson.
Cosy moments: Guests can settle beside fireplaces in the public rooms or discover the hidden wine cellars before retreating to the Drawing Room for pre-dinner drinks. The grand country home feeling simply invites guests to unwind.
Past: Two of Britain’s most exceptional women lived at Middlethorpe Hall: suffragist garden designer Fanny Wilkinson (1855–1951) and Lady Mary Wortley-Montagu, a famous literary bluestocking, she was known for her outspoken opinions on women’s rights. She was also a pioneer of smallpox inoculation.
Factbox: middlethorpe.com B&B from: £320 nearest train station: York
Across all three country house hotels, the appeal throughout the colder months is found in these simple, timeless pleasures: a garden walk followed by a drink by a fireplace, a beautifully prepared dinner made with seasonal produce including ingredients from the kitchen garden, a restorative spa treatment and afternoon tea served in rooms steeped in history. All three hotels are also dog friendly in selected bedrooms.
It is the country house experience at its most relaxed – as though guests are staying for the weekend with a friend in the countryside.
www.historichousehotels.com
