HOME FROM HOME
Bazaar’s favourite hotels in Britain and Ireland. Plus: a childhood story comes to life in the Swiss Alps; and Suki Waterhouse’s Los Angeles
- GRAVETYE MANOR
West Sussex
The graceful beauty of this Elizabethan country house is matched by the idyllic romance of its gardens, designed by William Robinson (a remarkable horticulturist who owned Gravetye Manor in the late 19th century). Today, his naturalistic planting scheme has matured into the loveliest of English arcadias, with walled rose gardens, wild glades of azaleas and sylvan woodlands. Inside, the bedrooms are traditional yet wonderfully comfortable, some with views over the lake; while the wood-panelled Michelin-starred restaurant is supplied with fresh ingredients from Gravetye’s kitchen gardens. All in all, one of my favourite British hotels… justine picardie Gravetye Manor (www.gravetyemanor.co.uk), from £260 a room a night.
- FOXHILL MANOR
The Cotswolds
Built more than a century ago, Foxhill Manor is now a dreamy eight-bedroom hotel, complete with a sweeping staircase and an orangery-style ballroom that is licensed for weddings. It still sits within the pretty Farncombe Estate – 400 acres of forest trails and immaculate gardens that are home to abundant wildlife. In keeping with the ‘whatever, whenever’ policy, the house chef will create bespoke meals with your favourite foods, and there’s a help-yourself pantry with homemade cakes and champagne. Staff can also whizz you up the road to the excellent spa facilities at the sister property Dormy House. lucy halfhead Foxhill Manor (www.foxhillmanor.com), from £295 a room a night.
-3 PARK FARM HOUSE Chatsworth Estate, Derbyshire
This charming farmhouse standing alone on a Derbyshire hilltop offers the best of both worlds: perfect solitude amid rolling countryside yet easy access to Chatsworth House, just a few minutes away. After a day spent roaming the magnificent ducal house and grounds, return to the peaceful haven of Park Farm. The dog-friendly property was decorated with elegant simplicity by the Countess of Burlington, and original features such as the worn and pitted farmhouse tiles have been enhanced with smart Roger Oates runners and vintage Heal’s furniture. You can request a private chef if you’re feeling sybaritic. lydia slater Park Farm House (www. chatsworthcottages.co.uk), from £755 a night; sleeps six.
- 4 GLENAPP CASTLE
Ayrshire
Sheltered by giant redwoods and rhododendron bushes in Britain’s largest forest park, Glenapp Castle is an enchanting baronial retreat with sandstone battlements topped by fairy-tale turrets. Inside, oak-panelled hallways and antique furniture (including big canopy beds and slipper baths in the 17 bedrooms) evoke an atmosphere of cosy grandeur. As with all Relais & Chateaux properties, the food is excellent: six-course dinners feature ham hock and rabbit terrine, which you can offset with a game of tennis the next day. lh Glenapp Castle (www.glenappcastle.com), from £225 a room a night.
- 5 BLAKES
London
An enigmatic row of Victorian townhouses gives the first glimpse into the seductive world of Blakes. The hotel is back to its best after revamping its bar, Blakes Below, where you can enjoy truffle-cheeseburger sliders, soft-shell-crab tempura and an array of fusion cocktails. The courtyard garden has been restyled by Matthew Williamson, with a tumbling flower wall and giant gold birdcage, and upstairs, the interior designer Anouska Hempel has filled suites with objets d’art from around the globe. leanne robson Blakes (www.blakeshotels.com), from £278 a room a night.
- 6 COWORTH PARK
Berkshire
Upon arrival at Coworth Park, the Dorchester Collection’s chic 17th-century mansion near Ascot, handsome staff emerge to greet you by name. Set on a polo estate, the hotel has cool, contemporary interiors decorated with the occasional horseshoe, and equestrian motifs are embroidered in the linens.
In the cocoon-like spa, the treatment-rooms – where an impressive choice of Carol Joy London facials and detoxifying wraps are available – have curved, cream walls and heated beds. The Barn serves comforting classics such as ale-battered haddock and minted peas, but don’t miss the artful plates created in the main restaurant by the new executive chef Adam Smith. caroline lewis Coworth Park (www.dorchestercollection.com), from about £300 a room a night.
- THE WHEATSHEAF INN
Gloucestershire
The traditional caramel-coloured Cotswold-stone exterior of the Wheatsheaf Inn belies the sleek scene inside, where 14 individually designed bedrooms offer a mix of vintage furniture, modern art and Bang & Olufsen technology. Room eight is no exception, with a Victorian-style bed upholstered in inky-black velvet and a huge free-standing chrome roll-top bath in which to pour heavenly scented oils from the British botanical range, 100 Acres. Downstairs in the dining-room, you’ll find a delicious seasonal menu, with locally sourced meat and game, and enormous breakfasts that include French toast, pancakes with maple-cured bacon, and homemade porridge. connie osborne The Wheatsheaf Inn (www.theluckyonion.com), from £120 a room a night.
- HAMBLETON HALL
East Midlands
The luxury of Hambleton Hall lies in the proprietors’ pursuit of comfort. From the snug sofas to the hand-stitched Italian bed-linen, it’s clear that Stefa and Tim Hart are experts in hospitality. This former hunting lodge is on the Hambleton peninsula, where you might spot a gambolling deer or a soaring osprey. Equally unmissable are aperitifs in the terraced gardens, before dinner at the restaurant that has retained its Michelin star for 35 years. helena lee Hambleton Hall (www.hambletonhall.com), from £280 a room a night.
- 8 THE LAKEHOUSE AT THE ORANGERY
Devon
In a private woodland glade on a 100-acre estate whose magnolia-filled gardens were designed by Capability Brown, The Lakehouse is a charming retreat with an open-plan kitchen and underfloor heating. The decked verandah appears to float over the lake – where you can race your family in one of two rowing boats – and is an ideal spot for a glass of wine after a day on the sandy beaches of Dawlish Warren. julie-anne dorff The Lakehouse at the Orangery (www.orangery.life), from £180 a night; sleeps six.
- BRIGHTON HARBOUR HOTEL & SPA
East Sussex
Everything about the Brighton Harbour Hotel is cheering – from the playful interiors to the gargantuan plates of fresh seafood served in the Jetty Restaurant. There’s also a lovely spa with a vast hydrotherapy pool, Espa treatments and state-of-the-art gym, plus the Brighton seafront on your doorstep. The Grotto is a private hideaway complete with hot tub, champagne bar and double day-bed, housed in the old smugglers’ tunnels that were unearthed during the rebuild. Most bedrooms have spectacular sea views, which are best appreciated from your bath, with a glass of complimentary sherry. lh Brighton Harbour Hotel & Spa (www.brighton-harbour-hotel.co.uk), from £125 a room a night.
THE PIG AT COMBE
Devon
Following in the tradition of its sister properties across southern England, the new Pig at Combe in East Devon is a celebration of all things British. Using as many local suppliers as possible, including fishermen based eight miles down the road (where the Jurassic Coast awaits) and an Axe Valley winery, the chefs create dishes made from ingredients foraged within a 25-mile radius; they also have access to an extensive kitchen garden, which grows 12 types of mint. The honey-hued Elizabethan manor is set in acres of rolling fields grazed by Arabian horses. cl The Pig at Combe (www.thepighotel.com/at-combe), from £145 a room a night.
- CASTLE HOTEL County Galway, Ireland
Artists flock to Connemara attempting to capture its beauty, but the sky is teasing, ever changing, as sunlight and rainclouds appear in quick succession. Ballynahinch Castle Hotel provides a warm welcome with its luxurious bedrooms and rich interiors. Evenings are spent in the Fisherman’s Pub where, Guinness in hand, you can sing along to Irish folk songs with the local musicians. As day breaks, slip on your Dubarry boots and catch the dinghy to Inishlacken island, pulling up fresh lobster and crab on the way. loren lazic-duffy Ballynahinch Castle Hotel (www.ballynahinch-castle.com), from about £160 a room a night. Aer Lingus flies from London Heathrow to Shannon, from £54.99 a person one-way.