Enjoy Three Historic House Hotels – Part of the National Trust

Spring is the perfect time to enjoy a stay at one of the Historic House Hotels of the National Trust. Guests may enjoy extensive spring gardens in bloom, and beautiful historic interiors at all of the Houses. The company has taken the best advice to ensure everything is in place for a visit that will be as safe as it will be comfortable and enjoyable, with safety measures introduced and praised after the first lockdown of last year that applies to staff as well as guests.

In Buckinghamshire, Hartwell House sits in over 90 acres of parkland. In York, Middlethorpe Hall is set in over 20 acres. Bodysgallen Hall near Llandudno, North Wales, is at the heart of over 220 acres of gardens and parkland. 

 

Hartwell House: In 1809, Hartwell House became the home in exile of King Louis XVIII of France and his court. The King remained at Hartwell until 1814 when the constitutional document, confirming his accession to the throne of France was signed in the library. Guests staying at Hartwell House will experience individually designed bedrooms and suites designed in a traditional country house style referencing the history of this Grade 1 listed property. The historic rooms at Hartwell House all tell a story. The Great Hall has changed little since it was transformed in 1739 by James Gibbs. The bookcases in the Library are fitted with some of the finest surviving gilt-brass wirework in the country. The Morning Room has fine rococo decoration. The principal staircase with its extraordinary carved figures is partly Jacobean. Each of the public rooms offers a unique backdrop for afternoon tea or pre-dinner drinks. Hartwell House has 32 superbly appointed bedrooms and suites, some named after the members of the Court of Louis XVIII. Hartwell Court, originally the eighteenth-century coach house and situated approximately 100 yards from the house, has been restored to provide 16 bedrooms and suites, many with their own dedicated entrance, and some also welcoming dogs by prior booking.

Hartwell Spa on the grounds has a large indoor pool, sauna and steam room, and gym. The Spa offers a selection of treatments by specially trained staff using Aromatherapy Associates and Environ products. In addition, all-weather tennis courts located in the walled garden are available for guest use.  www.hartwell-house.com B&B is priced from £250 at Hartwell House per room per night

More private space at Hartwell House – There are suites outside Hartwell House with their own front doors for additional peace of mind and privacy, and a self-catering option, The Old Rectory, an elegant Georgian house set in two acres of immaculately kept private garden within the Hartwell estate, sleeps up to 7 guests and features an outdoor swimming pool, and is priced from £2750 per night with a 5-night minimum stay.  

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Middlethorpe Hall: This impressive William III country house, close to the historic City of York, is set in 20 acres of its own manicured gardens and parkland. In the 1980s the gardens were restored and replanted to their original form. Walks were re-created, with urns providing eye-catchers and paths allowing guests to discover more of the parkland, its arboretum and also wildlife including roe deer, bees and various nesting birds around the lake. 

The renovated 17th-century Dovecote dominates the walled garden, which was replanted with fruit trees, some in espaliers, to include apples, pears, plums, peaches, medlars and figs. The superb herbaceous border at its centre, produces a beautiful display of flowering shrubs, some of them used by the in-house florist to create indoor arrangements. Led by Head Gardener Andrew Leighton, the team has also created a substantial organic ‘potager’, producing a wide selection of vegetables, soft fruits and herbs that are used by chefs during the season.

Middlethorpe Hall as the City of York’s only country house hotel is a perfect and safe oasis to combine both country and city, providing guests with comfortable and fully equipped bedrooms in a historic and peaceful setting. At the ‘heart’ of Yorkshire, the hotel gives easy access to three National Parks of outstanding beauty and also to the rugged East coast, ideal for walks and many outdoor activities.

For some of York’s finest dining and award-winning British cuisine, Middlethorpe Hall is open for both luncheon (weekends only at present) and candlelit dinner, both served in the elegant oak panelled dining room which overlooks the gardens.  Traditional Afternoon Tea is also available daily in the Drawing Rooms. 

The wellness Spa, opposite the hotel, completes the offering by providing guests with a large indoor swimming pool, steam room, spa bath, sauna and a gymnasium. There are also three beauty treatment rooms with qualified therapists providing Aromatherapy Associates treatments. 

www.middlethorpe.com B&B is priced from £219 at Middlethorpe Hall per room per night

More private space at Middlethorpe Hall – Three charming suites, two dog-friendly, offer the comfort of the hotel with a greater degree of privacy. Located approximately 75 yards from the Hall, the Edwardian Cottage comprises two suites; one on the ground floor with a queen-size bedroom, sitting room and kitchenette, and a second one above, with double and single bedrooms and comfortable sitting room. The Garden Suite, in Middlethorpe Court, is ideal for small families and/or for longer visits and features its own private garden/terrace.

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Bodysgallen Hall: The gardens and parkland at Bodysgallen Hall are often referred to as the finest of any hotel in Wales. Bodysgallen Hall is surrounded by over 220 acres of its own parkland and beautiful gardens – both manicured and natural. The gardens include a rare 17th-century parterre of box hedges filled with sweet-scented herbs, a rockery with a cascade, a walled rose garden, and several follies. Several woodland walks enhance the outdoor experience and include the Terrace Walk, the Eastern Covert Walk or the Pydew Village Walk. Search out the Gothic Tower within the woodland and the Obelisk located on top of Ffrith Hill. An additional highlight is that of a kitchen garden providing the freshest of ingredients for the dining menus. There is also an abundance of seasonal foliage for the in-house arrangements.

Seventeenth-century Grade I listed Bodysgallen Hall enjoys a privileged location in North Wales with spectacular views of Conwy Castle and Snowdonia. Served in the oak-panelled Hall, Library or Drawing Room, guests can enjoy traditional Welsh afternoon tea served in front of the fire. Guests can also hideaway in the crocodile alcove on the first floor, ideal for tete a tete over coffee or a glass of Champagne. The Dining Room holds 3 AA Rosettes, with imaginative Welsh food prepared by the award-winning team. 

Located just a short walk from the hotel, the Spa houses a large indoor swimming pool with spa bath, gymnasium, six spa treatment rooms, Club Room and a relaxation room. The steam room and sauna are currently unavailable. The qualified therapists provide beauty and well-being treatments using products by Aromatherapy Associates, Environ and Jessica.  www.bodysgallen.com B&B is priced from £225 at Bodysgallen Hall per room per night

More private space at Bodysgallen Hall – The Cottage Suites are clustered around a secluded courtyard garden, whilst rambling roses adorn the stone walls and the cottage doorways. These sleep up to 4 guests and prices vary from £200 for single occupancy to £500, hosting four guests.  Some welcome dogs by prior booking.

In 2008, Historic House Hotels Ltd and all its interests became the property of the National Trust, by donation, with all profits henceforward benefiting the houses and the charity. This was the largest gift the National Trust had ever received. Each stay, meal and spa experience support the National Trust. All annual profits generated from the three hotel operations directly support the Trust’s ongoing work. The hotels operate as a self-sufficient commercial hotel operation under the existing management of Historic House Hotels. It is a unique and beneficial relationship, although not part of the standard member offer, which offers much value to the National Trust through raising funds to support the ongoing work of Historic House Hotels and the charity. 

Click here for hotel video: https://flic.kr/p/QesKQt 

 

Each Historic House Hotel welcomes families with children over six years of age, and selected suites welcome dogs when arranged at the time of booking. 

The three Historic House Hotels are ideal for that long-desired staycation break in 2021.  

Special breaks: 3 nights for the price of 2 / 4 nights for the price of 3 / 7 nights for the price of 5