Coworth Park, Ascot
The Dorchester Collection know how to make luxury hotels and their version of a country house hotel has it all; polo fields, horses, deer, an excellent spa, Michelin-starred restaurant and on the list goes. Near Windsor and Ascot, Coworth Park is probably the closest country house hotel to London and a mere hop, skip and a jump for a weekend of pure relaxation and indulgence. The grounds are glorious at any time of year, singing with autumnal colours at this time of year, bristling with flora and fauna in the spring and summer and offering the cosiest escape with roaring fires in winter. As they sprawl over a large area and the hotel is made up of various buildings (the main hotel, the spa, a kid's club, various cottages and a separate restaurant), the team are always on hand with a nifty buggy to whizz you from location to location, which only adds to the fun of a stay here. As you'd expect, the service is impeccable and any wish can be granted, from a lakeside private picnic to superlative massages on heated water beds (an innovation you never knew you needed until you try it). There's plenty to do nearby in Windsor and beyond, but truly there is no need to leave Coworth Park once you land.
Beaverbrook, Surrey Hills
Conveniently located in the Surrey Hills, Beaverbrook's main house has been beautifully restored with interiors by Susie Atkinson, and really gives the sense of what it might have been like to stay in one of these grand country houses in their heyday. It’s an extremely comfortable place to be, whether you’re warming up in front of the fire in the drawing room or enjoying a cocktail in the library. The spa and its now infamous colourful tiles and stained glass ceiling by the artist Brian Clarke, has become a destination in its own right, with indoor and outdoor pools and a brilliant programme of wellness activities. You can also stay (and eat) in the more ‘pub with rooms’ style Garden House, charmingly designed by Nicola Harding, at the stylish Coach House, or one of the estate cottages. Come for the day or spend a long weekend: mini-breaks don’t get much better than this.
The Store, Oxford
For those looking for contemporary comfort combined with city history, you won't be able to do better in Oxford than The Store. Design-wise, The Store is smart and modern, with plenty of on-trend details, from the velvet-upholstered headboards to the reeded joinery that pops up in rooms and public areas. It is bigger than you might expect for the centre of a small(ish) city, with 101 rooms across a long, sprawling site. The hotel's drive for affordable luxury is reflected in the presence of a spa at the basement level, which features a sauna and steam room as well as a studio for yoga classes and treatment rooms for massages and beauty treatments in collaboration with Oskia. Locals also have plenty of reasons to visit, which gives the hotel a buzzing feel. There is a generous bar on the ground floor where people can meet for coffees, afternoon teas and drinks during the day and even hole up for a day's remote working. The stylish rooftop bar on the fifth floor offers views up the famous Broad Street, where students and professors cycle ceaselessly.
The Retreat at Elcot Park, Newbury
Newbury and Hungerford may not be destinations at the top of anyone's travel wishlist but The Retreat at Elcot Park, a country hotel by the Signet Collection, makes them worth the visit. Zip down the M4 or hop on a train out of Paddington and you'll soon be there, ready to enjoy colourful interiors, sweeping grounds and a small yet swish spa. There are two restaurants to dine at; one a modern brasserie and the other a pan Asian delight. Country pursuits come high on the agenda here, with fishing, horse racing, shooting, croquet and tennis all available, plus there are electric bikes you can borrow to whizz around.
Lime Wood, New Forest
This New Forest-based hotel is at the limit of the two hour criteria, set right in the forest itself and surrounded by incredible walking paths. Each room even comes with handy laminated cards of all the walks, so you can never get lost and choose from short strolls or long treks. Whichever you choose, you'll be welcomed back to perhaps the most cosseting surrounds imaginable, with beautiful, neat gardens, soaring ceilings, roaring fires and perhaps what Lime Wood could say is it's USP: the food. The restaurant is run by Angela Murano so expect hearty but refined Italian fare in a lovely, light dining room that overlooks the gardens. There's also a restaurant attached to the spa that serves raw and cured dishes, so it's the place for a lighter lunch pre- or post-treatment. And a treatment, or at the very least a spa visit to take in the swimming pool and wonderful hydrotherapy pools and steam rooms is a must for any trip to Lime Wood. Between that and the food, it could almost be the perfect place.
Heckfield Place, Hampshire
If a serene, pared-back hotel interior that still packs plenty of charm is your bag, Heckfield Place is where to look. Thanks to an impeccably talented team of designers and architects, the uber classy Georgian country house is nothing short of spectacular with its sweeping 400-acre parkland views, cosy lounges, lazy-hazy summer corners and grand staircases. The bedrooms are simply gorgeous; expect comfy linens, vintage photos, bespoke minibars, English oak floors, handcrafted furniture and plenty of little curios. Two restaurants overseen by seasonal-eating pioneer Skye Gyngell provide all the sustenance with produce sourced direct from the hotel’s biodynamic farm on the estate. It all sounds frightfully classic and traditional through and through but, thankfully, Heckfield prides itself on a fuss-free ethos that’s far from stuffy, pompous or intimidating.
Margate House, Margate
For a seaside trip within the two hour mark, Margate is hard to beat. There's art (the Tate), excellent restaurants (try Sargasso and Angela's) and lovely shops abound. As for where to stay, Margate House is a destination in its own right and the interiors are warm and welcoming, with a cosy salmon-painted sitting room on entrance typical of a Victorian home, but with a modern spin: boucle upholstered deep armchairs are paired with a dusty pink velvet sofa and travertine coffee table in front of an exposed brick chimney breast. High-impact shades of pink adorn the walls of the rooms and common areas, each custom-made. ’Staying here feels more like spending the night in the home of a close friend, with the owner often hosting afternoon rounds of orange wine or evening gatherings with guests in the sitting and dining area. It is intimate, friendly and familiar – yet stylish without a hint of pretension. Commonly called ‘Hackney-on-Sea’ due to the influx of emigres out of East London to this patch of the Kentish coast, the opening of Margate House offers a smart boutique post for creative weekenders.
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The Grove, Hertfordshire
The Grove is a go-to for Londoners looking for the country house experience, without having to travel far. You can even get to this Hertfordshire hotel via public transport, and a short taxi ride. It’s a sprawling red brick mansion outside Watford, set amongst lush green rolling fields, a golf course and endlessly tranquil vistas. Most recently, the suites have undergone a slick transformation at the hands of Martin Hulbert Design, upping the ante of this popular haunt even more. Expect to find bedrooms you’ll have to tear yourself away from, with four poster beds swathed in airy linen curtains, roll top baths that take in the sweeping countryside views and the finest fabrics. Of course, there’s a spa too, outdoor swimming pool and the hotel caters to families brilliantly.
