The UK's Best Country House Hotels

In the current financial climate, when weekend city breaks in Europe are slightly out of price range or just a bit of a hassle, the UK’s best country house hotels really come into their own. Not only are many of these establishments conveniently just a short car or train journey away from home, but they also offer the kinds of facilities you would find in the best hotels in Paris, London or New York. Spas, wedding facilities, mouthwatering catering and five star furnishings are all to be found in the UK’s best country house hotels.

Ashdown Park – Sussex (http://www.ashdownpark.com)

Situated in Ashdown Forest – location of the famous Winnie The Pooh stories - Ashdown Park is the kind of hotel that would suit any special occasion, from a fairytale wedding, to a cosy winter weekend away with the one you love. The Ashdown’s country club has a swimming pool, gym, tennis courts, sauna and a list of comprehensive beauty treatments on offer, as well as access to the 18-hole Par 3 golf course. In the hotel’s The Anderida Restaurant, the chef serves up gourmet dishes like roast rump of lamb and Gressingham duck in an atmosphere of white tablecloths and fine silverware, or there’s the Fairways Lounge for excellent bistro style dishes. Rooms here are classically furnished and start at around £199 a night. Undoubtedly one of the UK's best country hotels and also one of the most popular wedding venues in Sussex.

Barnsley House – Cotswolds (http://www.barnsleyhouse.com)

Barnsley House is a contemporary take on a country house hotel set in the beautiful Cotswolds countryside. The hotel is within easy reach of Cirencester and has an excellent range of facilities, including a spa and stylish restaurant with fabulous views out over the hotel gardens. For those looking for an active trip to the country, the hotel can arrange activities from hot air ballooning, through to golf, horse riding and fishing.Rooms are furnished in a clean, contemporary style and start at around £430 a night.

Stoke Park – Buckinghamshire (http://www.stokepark.com)

If you are looking for a country house hotel with extensive grounds then Stoke Park’s 350 acres of parkland should fit the bill nicely. The hotel’s Health and Racquet Pavilion has a gym, fitness studio and indoor and outdoor tennis courts and there is a 27-hole parkland golf course, complete with professional tuition for those who need it. Guests who prefer to relax can enjoy the on site spa, which has a wide range of treatments. Stoke Park has a 2 AA Rosette-awarded dining room for foodie guests, as well as two smaller dining establishments serving Italian brasserie style food and light meals and afternoon tea. Rooms are opulently furnished in a classic style and start at around £250 a night.

Luton Hoo – Hertfordshire (http://www.lutonhoo.co.uk)

The Luton Hoo is located on the border of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire and provides an extensive range of facilities for guests looking to get away from it all for a few days. This Hertfordshire hotel has a spa with treatments for both men and women and an indoor swimming pool with peaceful views out over the gardens. The hotel’s 18-hole golf course is set over 250 acres that wind through lakes and fields and is a gorgeous spot to sink a few putts. In terms of on site dining, the Wernher Restaurant at Luton Hoo is renowned as one of the best restaurants in Hertfordshire, offering guests fine food in classic, opulent surroundings and the more relaxed Adam’s Brasserie serves up delicious bistro style dishes, such as the Luton Hoo burger and lemon and thyme marinated chicken. The Luton Hoo offers both rooms and suites as accommodation, all of which are tastefully furnished with an eye to historical elegance of the house. Prices start at £230 a night.

Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa – Avon (http://www.lucknampark.co.uk)

Lucknam Park is a unique country house hotel experience. A typical stay here might include spending the morning shopping in the city of Bath (just 6 miles away), the afternoon taking riding lessons within the grounds on one of the hotel’s 35 horses and then the evening dining on Michelin starred cuisine at the hotel’s restaurant. Or you could book in to one of the hotel’s 9 therapy rooms for a massage and then do a few laps in the 20 metre indoor swimming pool – the choice is endless. Rooms here are furnished in a traditional country house hotel style, with four-poster beds and classic furniture, and start from around £315 a night.

The UK is blessed with a large number of excellent country house hotels where you can swim, ride, ramble, dine, relax and chill out to your heart’s content. Whatever the combination of facilities you are after you will find yourself well catered for, whether you’re looking for the storybook special location of somewhere like Ashdown Park, or the fabulous golfing facilities at the Luton Hoo.