Hartwell House

Hotel review

Louis XVIII lived here in exile andthe house was much admired by Lord Byron. Bill Clinton stayed here while President and it hosted the G7 summit in 2013. Set in the Chilterns just outside Aylesbury, it’s close to Oxford, 45 minutes from Heathrow and only an hour (by train or car) from central London. It’s close to Waddesdon Manor, Blenheim Palace and Bicester Village’s designer outlets.

With stunning Jacobean and Georgian facades Hartwell House is built from gorgeous pale golden stone. Inside, below giant chandeliers log fires roar in the sculptured marble fireplaces. The exquisite Morning Room has light hues of silver, gold, green and pale blue. All very royal with pride of place given to a photograph of the visiting Queen Mother. The 48 rooms consist of Royal Rooms, Classic Double Rooms and Royal Suites. They are spacious, pampering and traditionally furnished, in true country house style, with fine paintings, ancient artefacts and antique furniture and some have window seats from which joyfully to overlook the landscaped grounds.

A waiter in tailcoat makes suggestions from the confident menu in the Soane Dining Room looking out over gardens with trees ranging from walnut to Cedar of Lebanon, from sycamore to Giant Sequoia, from Tulip Tree to beech. There’s a magical circular trail around the grounds going in and out of daylight before opening into the grand expanse of 90 acres. In the orchard are apricot, peach, pear and plum trees. Afternoon tea is taken in the emerald-green drawing room in front of the croquet lawn. So grounding are the grounds and so dignified is the main house, it’s definitely fit for a king.

Adam Jacot de Boinod Review published: 11/04/2018