Staying in Period Style – The Inns, Hotels, and Country Manor Homes of South West England

 

Merry Olde England conjures up a wide range of images. From the early days of thatched roofs and wooden carts, the Elizabethan era of knights, castles, and walled villages to the 18^th and 19^th century’s stately manor homes situated on luxurious estates — to today’s modern urban life that bridges historical grandeur with contemporary living. Travel with us as we experience the evolution of British architecture through the hotels and properties of South West England.

In 2016, we traveled to the South West shores of Britain, along the English Channel, known for its Jurassic past and spectacular white cliffs. We stopped to visit the remarkable Roman Baths and Stonehenge as we made our way to the Cotswolds, where you’ll find rolling hills, natural beauty, and towns that will have you dreaming of Shakespearean times. Bristol, once a maritime center, has evolved into a city of innovation with the influx of youthful entrepreneurs eager to make their mark on the 21^st century, and of course, there’s London, where England’s past, present, and future come together on a grand scale.

Sleep like a king

Thornbury Castle is a luxury Relais & Chateau retreat located in Thornbury, Gloucestershire and adjacent to the Cotswolds. The property has an interesting history dating back to the 10^th century, and the castle was first built in the 16^th century. It is most noted as one of the honeymoon stops of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn where they spent ten days on their honeymoon tour of England. The Tudor castle fell into ruins over time and in the mid-19^th century, it was renovated for a family home. It’s now been converted to a luxury hotel.

Even today, you can conjure up images of Henry VIII feasting at an oversized wooden table in the dining room with large open fireplaces and knights guarding the castle. Stay at this beautiful castle to experience the atmosphere of Tudor England with the service and comforts of a 21^st century luxury hotel and spa.

The hotel restaurant offers sumptuous dining using fresh ingredients from their kitchen garden and a wine list that’s sure to impress even the most discriminating oenophiles. If you’re looking for a romantic evening for two, be sure to request dinner in the Privy Garden, and if you have a small group, take advantage of booking a special dinner in the dungeon. Regardless of the venue for dining, a stay at this property is sure to create memories for a lifetime.

Spend the night at a working farm

The Langton Arms in Tarrant Monkton, Dorset is the quintessential 17^th century thatched country inn and pub. The inn is home to an award-winning restaurant and was named Best Pub & Bar in Dorset in 2016. In the pub, the low ceiling, small wooden tables and local atmosphere of friends sharing a pint, along with traditional country fare, such as shepherd’s pie, provides the perfect transport back in time.

After dinner, enjoy the beauty of the surrounding working farm with its horses, cows, and sheep. The inn offers six rooms of updated 70s décor for overnight guests.

Be sure to walk the small residential area along the meadow comprised of thatched roof cottages and the All Saints church, located across from the inn. The first groundbreaking for the church was in the 15^th century and it has been restored on two occasions with expansions until the 19^th century.

Throughout England, thatched roofs were common in the oldest homes and buildings as thatching material was the only material available for the rural residence. Some thatched roofs date back more than 500 years and retain the original under roofs even today. England has more thatched roof homes than any other European country and the Langton Arms Inn is a perfect example of this style.

Wine, dine, and sleep in a luxurious country manor home

If your idea of an overnight stay in England is a country house situated on acres of land in a park-like setting, then make your way to Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa. This award-winning property will evoke images of English countryside grandeur and updated elegance from its 1,000-year-old history, starting with the Saxons. The hotel sits is in Colerne, Cippenham, Wiltshire, very close to Bath. The primary building was erected in the 18^th century. More recently, it was purchased by the Lucknam Park Hotels in 1987. It’s been under private ownership since 1994, and has undergone significant renovation and expansion over the years.

Be sure to walk the gardens and stroll the tree-lined drive that leads to the entrance of the hotel. Better yet, visit their equestrian center to ride through the stunning property and afterwards, relax at their spa. If you still think of British food as heavy and less refined, you are in for a surprise and a real treat when you have dinner at their Michelin star restaurant. The elegant dining room, Restauarant Hywel Jones, is Chef Hywel Jones’ culinary playground where he serves up beautifully prepared and plated dishes of locally sourced ingredients. There’s also a more casual venue, the Walled Garden Restaurant.

Spend an evening in the English countryside

If you’re looking for that oasis of an elegant country home that’s located nearby medieval history, Summer Lodge Country House Hotel is the ideal place. Situated on four acres of beautiful gardens that were in part designed by Thomas Hardy when he was an architect, the upscale boutique hotel is a short walk to the town of Evershot, which some may know from Thomas Hardy’s literary mention in ‘Tess of the D’Ubervilles.

Once a Dower House, Summer Lodge, a Red Carnation Hotel Collection proerty, will remind you of vacationing in the English countryside and staying in your dear old aunt’s home. The home is elegant with an Old English country flair. Overstuffed chairs, printed drapes, and wallpaper are designed with bright colors and patterns, there’s a bar and library filled with rare books and rare scotches, and a staff well-versed in “English manners” and service.

Each room is unique in décor, while all provide the facilities and comfort of English luxury. The atrium invites you to breakfast to gaze at the manicured gardens while the sitting room is the perfect place for a proper afternoon tea. The menu features traditional English dishes with European influences that has garnered 3 AAA Rosettes. 

Nearby, visit Sherborne, known as one of the most beautiful towns in England with its 1,300-year-old Abbey. Montacute House is a Renaissance Manor house built in the 16^th century and houses the National Portrait Gallery of Elizabethan paintings. This is also where several episodes of the British television series, “Wolf Hall,” were filmed.

Wake up to spectacular views of Old Harry Rocks

England has 11,000 miles of coastline and South West England is home to the 95 miles known as the Jurassic Coast. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Jurassic Coast holds approximately 185 million years of earth’s history and is the final resting place of extraordinary fossils embedded in the white cliffs. One of the most interesting and well known regions of the coast, Old Harry Rocks, is the furthest most easterly point of the Jurassic Coast and is comprised of three large formations jutting out into the channel with the massive white chalk cliffs, called stacks, rising from Studland Bay.

Overlooking the coast and Old Harry Rocks is The Pig on the Beach located in Studland, Swanage. The elegant manor house hotel will remind you of a mansion along the Maine or Rhode Island coast. Inside the property, you’ll find 23 bedrooms with common areas that are both quirky and fun. The home is filled with angles, slopes, and interesting crooks and crannies. The narrow maze-like hallways, dark sitting rooms, and the bright and cheerful dining atrium that provides a magnificent view of Old Harry Rocks, are just a few of the architectural wonders of The Pig on the Beach. But, to really experience this one of a kind property, walk towards the beach and look back at the manor house aglow with evening lights.

Take a stroll in the kitchen garden where the fresh produce is grown and harvested for the guest’s enjoyment. Be sure to order the daily seafood specials, such as local fresh scallops. We tried the Sticky Toffee Pudding for dessert and were not disappointed by this English classic. For a special overnight experience, book one of the thatched dovecoats or the shepherd’s hut.

Take a Georgian-inspired getaway in Bath

 

It’s easy to think of England in terms of Saxon, Norman, and Elizabethan architecture, but the town of Bath sits in the rolling countryside and is known for its hot springs and Georgian architecture that was prevalent from the early 18^th century to 1830, during the reign of George III and George IV. Recognizable for its symmetry and proportion, the Georgian-style houses and buildings show clean lines and restrained ornamentation.

Often referred to as row houses and middle class homes, this Georgian architecture can be found throughout Bath. The Queensberry Hotel, a boutique hotel of Georgian design, is in the historical district. Its stone exterior mixes modern day amenities with historical architecture and provides a central location to visit Bath. The hotel affords the opportunity to experience Georgian architecture from the outside and inside. Many of the bedrooms started as Georgian drawing rooms. They are spacious but every one oh, so different. Each has its own unique personality and furnishings. The hotel is more vertical than horizontal, as is true in most city hotels.

The dining, English bar, and gathering rooms are spread across several floors. Be sure to book a table for dinner at their Michelin-starred Olive Tree Restaurant where Chef Chis Cleghorn serves delightful fresh and seasonal cuisine.

On a personal note, when we visited the property in 2016, Roger became very ill and the staff was extraordinary. While I explored the town, the staff provided him with constant care and support. Their service was both friendly and exceeded all expectations.

Check into this modern hotel for a lively city break

The city of Bristol, the most populace city in South West England, was once known as a maritime center and is now a city on the move. Young entrepreneurs are guiding Bristol into the 21^st century. While Bath has one foot in Roman times, Bristol has the other foot in the future, yet they are only 30 minutes apart. Bristol is a city of neighborhoods where you can experience everything from the oldest continually operating theater in England, Bristol Old Vic, located in the Old City, to Harbourside lined with 19^th century warehouses that have been redeveloped into restaurants, shops, museums, and cultural institutions along the River Avon. You’ll also want to explore upscale and colorful Clifton, which is home to the Georgian area and its regimental stone buildings with their clean façades lining the streets, and East Bristol, which borders on the English countyside.

With so much diversity and change, it’s no wonder The Bristol Hotel provides an eclectic look and feel. Located in Harbouside, the exterior of concrete, metal and glass fits in with Bristol’s young and vibrant business community. It provides both personal and business accommodations in a central location in the city. Evenings bring out the residents that enjoy the live music and revelry along the river. Not unlike many upscale chain hotels in the United States, The Bristol is a 20^th century response to our changing world that ushers in the 21st century.

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Disclosure – We worked with Visit Britain on this trip to South West England. As always, the opinions expressed are our own.

 

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