Heckfield Place was reportedly a decade in the making, but this grand Georgian retreat was worth the wait. Renowned British designer Ben Thompson artfully married the impressive framework of an 18th-century manor with light, contemporary interiors that make the hotel feel spacious and unfussy.
The 430-acre Hampshire estate is an hour from London’s Waterloo district but feels joyously secluded and calm. While away the hours spotting wildlife, reconnecting with nature and engaging in nostalgic activities that encourage a sense of mindfulness.
The countryside experience begins the moment you are collected from Winchfield train station in one of the hotel’s Land Rovers and driven through the verdant grounds, home to some of the U.K.’s largest and oldest trees, many of which predate the legendary Kew Gardens.
What’s truly impressive is how self-sustaining Heckfield Place is. The bountiful estate (which is certified organic) produces all manner of fruits and vegetables as well as all of the flowers used to adorn the hotel.
- The deliberate lack of a traditional check-in desk makes for a warmer, more comfortable welcome. It also means you can settle into your room and make yourself at home even sooner.
- More than 400 pieces from owner Gerald Chan’s private art collection can be spotted around Heckfield Place. Browse an array of 20th-century British oil paintings, black-and-white photographs and antique chairs.
- If it’s too gloomy to explore outside, the glamorous underground cinema shows a curated program of films both old and new, as well as documentaries and live screenings.
- Sustainability is embedded in the ethos of Heckfield Place, and staff is well-educated on the topic. Just ask to hear more about these practices, from the absence of single-use plastic to the onsite biomass engine that converts waste into energy.
- The grounds are glorious, so make the most of the great British outdoors by walking the trails, taking a boat out onto the lake, stopping off for a picnic, trying your hand at fishing, going on a bike ride or (if you’re brave enough) jumping in for a wild swim (editor's note: boat service is on hold).
- If you’d like to experience the grounds like an English aristocrat, nearby Wellington Estate offers horseback riding. The staff at the Home Counties hotel can arrange for a four-legged friend to be brought to you at the property.
- Little Bothy Spa is undergoing an expansion set to be completed in September 2020, and will include more treatment rooms and a swimming pool. For now, the Wildsmith Skin (a product line inspired by the arboretum at Heckfield Place) bodywork facial is a must-try.
- Don't miss the complimentary tea and slice of cake served in the Drawing Room daily.
- All members of the family will be well entertained and educated thanks to the diverse activity program that includes stargazing talks, rush weaving and painting.
- This may be an 18th-century manor house, but the interiors are anything but dated. Rooms are bright and modernized with a traditional heart.
- For utter seclusion, book the Church Lodge, which is set back in the gardens well away from the main house.
- Each of the 45 rooms has its own sense of character, yet every single one is flooded with natural light. The grandest suite is the loft-style Long Room, which features a sloping roof with exposed beams and chunky oak trusses.
- You can’t mention the food at the Hampshire hotel without talking about the estate-grown produce. Culinary director Skye Gyngell churns out masterful creations that champion seasonality, locality and the finest home-grown ingredients.
- Moon Bar is a cozy spot to enjoy creative cocktails infused with housemade liqueurs, tinctures and bitters. Try Flanders Field, a heady concoction of rooibos rye, poppy seed porter syrup, nocino (walnut liqueur) and walnut bitters.
- Conservatory-style main restaurant Marle offers up the farm’s bounty in a light, casual setting. Whatever you choose, be sure to order a side of the deliciously crispy, garlicky potatoes served with sour cream and freshly plucked herbs.
- Start the day at Marle by savoring honey, dairy, bread and eggs, all produced onsite. For a hearty morning meal, the housemade baked beans with ham hock and poached egg is sure to hit the spot.
- Located in the property's original stables, Hearth is a fabulous spot for a rustic and somewhat theatrical dinner, where you can watch the chefs prepare your food in front of an open fire. Elevated English country fare might include grilled porcini with whole grain polenta or roasted pork belly with braised red cabbage and quince aioli.
Bar
Meeting rooms
Restaurants
Spa
