Farleigh Wallop

Reached via a long avenue lined with ancient trees, and set in 4,000 acres of countryside and gardens, Farleigh Wallop is a true English country estate.

The 11 rooms at Farleigh Wallop feel extremely welcoming, with deep, plush carpets, wooden furniture and traditionally tasteful colour palettes. Some feature lovely old wooden beams, others are adorned with floral wallpaper, and many feature marble fireplaces and, in the bathrooms, huge, freestanding marble bathtubs.

This being an exclusive-use hotel, mealtimes are catered entirely to your wishes in consultation with the estate’s talented chefs. That means it’s up to you whether to start the day with freshly-baked pastries, a hearty full English breakfast, or something healthy. Lunch and dinner could be a traditional roast or a multi-course international feast. Whatever you choose, only the finest ingredients are used, sourced from the local Hampshire countryside.

It’s easy to while away an afternoon beside the estate’s lovely outdoor swimming pool, surrounded by brick walls alive with greenery. There’s also yoga and zumba classes, personal training sessions, and tennis coaching on offer, but if that sounds a bit too strenuous you can always opt to pamper yourself with a massage or some beauty treatments.

On the estate itself, activities include traditional country pursuits like wildlife walks, truffle hunting, archery, falconry and clay pigeon shooting, as well as roe and fallow deer stalking and pheasant and partridge shoots. If you’re visiting on a Sunday in summer, you might even get the chance to watch Farleigh Wallop’s cricket team playing on the lawn.

Nearby options include go-karting, ice skating and horse riding. Jane Austen fans can visit the acclaimed Jane Austen’s House Museum, and Downton Abbey fans will relish the chance to visit its real-life setting, the majestic Highclere Castle.