Playful and indulgent, elegant yet unpredictable, Estelle Manor doesn\u2019t follow the usual country house rules. Scattered across 85 acres of bucolic 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.<\/p>\n
A stay here is a sensory journey \u2013 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 flavors of prawn dim sum or heartier English pub classics. There\u2019s a host of activities \u2013 with a croquet lawn, archery classes, axe-throwing and a 25m heated outdoor swimming pool. As for the interiors? Simply sublime \u2013 the painstaking work of Roman and Williams – one of New York\u2019s most revered design studios.<\/p>\n
When it comes to escaping the city, there\u2019s one place that the most stylish of Londoners will almost always head: Oxfordshire. It is to London what the Hamptons are to New York \u2013 peaceful. Pretty. Pleasingly easy to reach.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s here where you\u2019ll find Estelle Manor, which sits in the middle of 3,000 acres of lawns and forest, just outside of North Leigh, Oxfordshire. You\u2019re a short drive away from Woodstock\u2019s 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 \u2013 another must-visit for design lovers.<\/p>\n
Patterned rugs, heavy drapes, bold paints, silky cushions, marble fireplaces: the interiors across the entire hotel are fun, colorful, and eclectic. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re 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 private houses (with three to six bedrooms) are perfect for friends and family needing a little more space to spread out.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Everyone will feel welcome here, and the spaces have been cleverly planned. 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\u2019s plenty for the kids, too: scaled-down replicas of Land Rovers can be driven around the hotel\u2019s adventure course, plus Own a Pony experiences give them a chance to ride, groom, and feed the estate\u2019s resident ponies, Rodney and Biscuit.<\/p>\n
Archery, air rifle shooting, foraging, falconry \u2013 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. Relax in the five pools, and move between the six different thermal areas, including frigidarium, caldarium, tepidarium, and hay sauna.
\nAs 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.<\/p>\n
At Estelle Manor, sustainability isn\u2019t 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\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Playful and indulgent, elegant yet unpredictable, Estelle Manor doesn\u2019t follow the usual country house rules. Scattered across 85 acres of bucolic 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101085,"featured_media":303064,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1456],"tags":[],"country":["England","UK"],"class_list":["post-303315","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized-us","country-england","country-united-kingdom-ireland","type-hotel"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n