Estelle Manor, UK

Playful and indulgent, elegant yet unpredictable, Estelle Manor doesn’t follow the usual country house rules. Scattered across 85 acres of bucolic Cotswold countryside, this Oxfordshire estate is home to a revamped Grade II-listed Jacobethan Hall, acres of parkland and, at the end of a woodland trail, a vast and dazzling reimagining of a bathhouse of Imperial Rome.

A stay here is a sensory journey – the softness of velvet as you sink into one of the many, many armchairs, the scent of hay in the sauna (yes, really), the pleasing glug as a sparkling English wine is poured, and soft flavours of prawn dim sum or heartier English pub classics. There’s a host of activities – with a croquet lawn, archery classes, axe-throwing and a 25m heated outdoor swimming pool. As for the interiors? Simply sublime – the painstaking work of Roman and Williams – one of New York’s most revered design studios.

LOCATION

When it comes to escaping the city, there’s one place that the most stylish of Londoners will almost always head: the Cotswolds. It is to London what the Hamptons are to New York – peaceful. Pretty. Pleasingly easy to reach.

It’s here where you’ll find Estelle Manor, which sits in the middle of 3,000 acres of lawns and forest, just outside of North Leigh, Oxfordshire. You’re a short drive away from Woodstock’s charming pubs, the historic city of Oxford, and RH England, The Gallery at the Historic Aynho Park. The American-based furniture brand RH has transformed the Grade 1-listed landmark into a museum-come-dining destination – another must-visit for design lovers.

YOUR ROOM

Patterned rugs, heavy drapes, bold paints, silky cushions, marble fireplaces: the interiors across the entire hotel are fun, colorful, and eclectic. It’s the work of the New York design studio that worked on the British Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The result? The styling of a no-expense-spared stay.

If you’re travelling as a couple, you may prefer the adult-only Manor House bedrooms, with their velvet armchairs, four-poster beds, marble bathrooms, and antique flourishes. The two-bedroom woodland cabins and private houses (with three to six bedrooms) are perfect for friends and family needing a little more space to spread out.

But we also love the tucked-away two-bedroom woodland cabins, with their vaulted ceilings, statement lamps, and outdoor decks where you can watch squirrels scampering through the surrounding trees.

WHO IT SUITS

Everyone will feel welcome here, and the spaces have been cleverly planned, so one type of traveller will rarely disturb another. There are family-friendly swim times, and children can dine in the brasserie until early evening. Two hours of free childcare for 3-8-year-olds makes the hotel a hit with exhausted parents. There’s plenty for the kids, too: scaled-down replicas of Land Rovers can be driven around the hotel’s adventure course, plus Own a Pony experiences give them a chance to ride, groom, and feed the estate’s resident ponies, Rodney and Biscuit.

WHY WE LIKE IT

Archery, air rifle shooting, foraging, falconry – there’s no shortage of ways to spend your days here. But what you really need to leave time for is the adults-only spa, a 30,000-square-foot Roman bath house replica that’s full of curved columns, huge windows, and potted plants. Swim in the five pools, and move between the six different thermal areas, including frigidarium, caldarium, tepidarium, and hay sauna.
As for food? Think exquisite English Breakfasts and relaxed suppers in the Brasserie, plus the glamorous Billiards room with huge fireplace, gold mirrored wall panels, and a Chinese menu of roasted meats and bao.

SUSTAINABILITY

At Estelle Manor, sustainability isn’t a box-ticking exercise, but a considered commitment. From the mattresses on the beds to the toiletries in the bathroom, local, British brands have been favored. They’ve also deliberately avoided fresh-cut flowers, instead choosing huge bouquets of dried seasonal blooms that are sourced from within a 10-mile radius of the hotel. Golf carts that whisk guests around the estate are electric.