The Best Countryside Escapes in the UK
Dreaming of an idyllic countryside escapes surrounded by nature’s beauty and fresh air? We’ve rounded up the most breathtaking rural retreats around the UK for a weekend of utter relaxation and rejuvenation. From cozy cottages tucked into rolling hills to lavish lakeside lodges, these pastoral escapes provide the perfect antidote to hectic city living.
The Pig at Bridge Place
Bourne Park Rd, Bridge, Canterbury CT4 5BH
The Pig at Bridge Place brings charming stays to a storied Kentish estate near London. This countryside hotel applies The Pig’s signature formula – rural countryside escape, hyperlocal cuisine, and cozy rooms in the main house and garden cabins. Visitors can unwind in lounges with local wines, dine alfresco from the on-site garden, and stroll the grounds crossed by a babbling brook. The Pig at Bridge Place provides an idyllic country escape just outside the city.
After indulging, walk or cycle the grounds along the River Nailborne tributary at Middleton Lodge Estate. Nearby attractions include Simpsons Wine Estate, known for méthode traditionnelle like Chalklands sparkling, and other wineries in England’s Wine Garden region like Biddenden and Chapel Down. Try punting down the River Stour in Canterbury, also home to photogenic cobbled streets. Howlett’s Wild Animal Park provides exotic encounters minutes away. Within a 30-45 minute drive are seaside towns like Whitstable, Margate, and Deal. Middleton Lodge Estate places you amid top sites in southeast England.
Wilderness Reserve
Yoxford Rd, Saxmundham IP17 2LY
Wilderness Reserve is a collection of luxury holiday cottages and manors set in a stunning 5,000-acre estate in Suffolk, England. Whether you are looking for a romantic getaway, a family reunion, or a corporate retreat, Wilderness Reserve has something for everyone. You can choose from cosy cottages, spacious farmhouses, elegant manors, and even a 12th-century chapel. All the properties are beautifully restored and furnished with modern amenities, while preserving the original charm and character of the historic buildings.
Wilderness Reserve is more than just a place to stay. It is a place to explore, relax, and reconnect with nature. You can enjoy a range of activities on the estate, such as cycling, fishing, clay pigeon shooting, archery, and wildlife spotting. You can also book a private chef, a spa treatment, or a yoga session to pamper yourself. Or you can simply wander around the scenic grounds, which include lakes, meadows, woods, and gardens.
Wilderness Reserve is the perfect destination for anyone who loves nature and luxury. It is a rare opportunity to experience the beauty and tranquility of the English countryside in style and comfort. Book your stay today and discover why Wilderness Reserve is one of the best luxury holiday cottages in the UK.
Boys Hall
Boys Hall Rd, Willesborough, Ashford TN24 0LA
Experience sophisticated stays at Boys Hall, a 17th-century manor house minutes from Ashford International station. This mature destination offers many adult delights like a timber-framed restaurant, 9 lavish bedrooms, an oak pub, sprawling gardens, and quintessentially English architecture.
The restaurant is the heart of Boys Hall, a stunning venue with high ceilings, reclaimed beams, a huge fireplace and glass walls. Enjoy the views of the patio and gardens, where the kitchen gets many of its ingredients. Chef Shane Pearson and his team use Jolene, an asado-style grill, to cook over fire and coal. They showcase the best of Kentish cuisine, from the Boys big English breakfast to the grilled Romney Marsh lamb and Rare Breeds pork dishes. Don’t miss the crispy polenta, steak with bone-marrow sauce, and sparkling English wines from local vineyards.
The Double Red Duke
Bourton Rd, Clanfield, Bampton OX18 2R
The Double Red Duke is a charming and historic hotel in Oxfordshire, where the owners Sam and Georgie Pearman have created a cosy and colourful countryside escape. Inspired by the nearby Arts and Crafts movement, they have used wallpapers, bathroom fittings, textiles and paints from traditional craftsmen across the country to decorate the rooms.
The hotel also boasts two of the UK’s best chefs, Richard Turner and Richard Sandiford, who have worked at the Hawksmoor, Pitt and Cue and other renowned restaurants. They serve delicious dishes such as spit-roasted turbot, steaks cooked to perfection, retro starters with a twist, and indulgent desserts like sticky-toffee-apple-pudding. After a satisfying meal, you can relax in your super-soft bed upstairs. The Double Red Duke is a rare breed of hotel that combines history, style and flavour.
Heckfield Place
Heckfield Pl, Heckfield, Hook RG27 0LD
Experience sustainable luxury at Heckfield Place, a handsome historic estate in Hampshire’s countryside. This grand 1790 property underwent a masterful renovation with eco-friendly mission. Visitors can indulge in teas in stately rooms, dine on fare by star chef Skye Gyngell, and explore the lush grounds. With Jane Austen connections nearby, Heckfield Place provides a proud country escape like those featured in Austen’s works.
After exploring Heckfield Place’s 400 acres of lakes, woods, and farmland, indulge in spa treatments at the Bothy. Nearby Hampshire offers countryside activities from the hotel’s farm tours and gardening classes to horseback riding at Wellington Estate, golf at Hartley Wintney, and clay pigeon shooting. Don’t miss Wellington Country Park’s 350 acres of public grounds gifted by the Duke and Duchess. Heckfield Place provides a quintessential Great British countryside estate experience.
Middleton Lodge
Kneeton Ln, Middleton Tyas, Richmond DL10 6NJ
Middleton Lodge Estate delivers charming stays overlooking North Yorkshire’s moors. Situated on 200 private acres amid farmland, this boutique hotel, restaurant and bar complements the estate’s stately Palladian mansion with honey- hued character. Guests enjoy old-world appeal meets modern hospitality near Richmond.
Middleton Lodge Estate’s restaurant spotlights hyperlocal cuisine with menus changing daily based on seasonal Yorkshire produce, often sourced directly from the grounds. Head chef Jake Jones focuses on flavour and ingredients over fussiness. Expect homemade pastries, local yogurts, and lunch options from light to hearty. Outdoor dining by the fire under stretch tents provides an idyllic option as well. This restaurant’s farm-to-table approach showcases the region’s bounty.
The Wild Rabbit
Church St, Kingham, Chipping Norton OX7 6YA
The Wild Rabbit is a food lover’s paradise in the heart of the Cotswolds, making it a perfect countryside escape. The kitchen serves up creative dishes that honour traditional British cuisine and add a modern twist to fine dining. The menus change with the seasons to showcase the freshest ingredients.
The Wild Rabbit offers 13 cosy rooms and 31 charming cottages, designed by Carole Bamford with a blend of rustic simplicity and elegant comfort. You can enjoy natural linens, wool blankets and antique furniture in your home-away-from-home. The Wild Rabbit is part of the Daylesford Estate, which has been guided by sustainable principles for over 40 years. The pub and cottages are powered by renewable energy and the kitchen uses local produce from the farm.
Daylesford Organic
Daylesford near Kingham, Cotswolds, GL56 0YG
Daylesford Farm is not only a place to enjoy organic food and products, but also a place to explore the charming villages and countryside of the Cotswolds. The Wild Rabbit is part of the Daylesford family and shares the same values of organic farming, ethical sourcing and wellbeing.
The Wild Rabbit’s restaurant has a Michelin Green Star and serves dishes that celebrate seasonal British ingredients from Daylesford’s organic market garden. You can also relax at the bar or the terrace with a drink or a snack, or stay at one of the pub rooms or cottages that combine pared-back style with honest creature comforts. The Wild Rabbit is just a short walk from Daylesford Farm and is a perfect destination for a relaxing and enjoyable getaway in the Cotswolds.
Gilpin Hotel & Lake House
Crook Rd, Windermere LA23 3NE
The Gilpin is a beloved multi-generational family-owned Lake District hotel comprising two properties on 100 acres – the main Gilpin Hotel and the cozy Gilpin Lake House. Guests enjoy exclusive amenities like private hot tubs, steam room, and swimming access. Dine on innovative fare fusing Cumbrian ingredients and exotic spices at Michelin-starred HRiSHi Gilpin Spice or the laid-back Gilpin Spice.
Explore 21 acres of grounds and private lakes via walking paths. With limited guests and bespoke treatment, the Gilpin provides intimate, relaxing countryside escape surrounded by the area’s natural splendour. This award-winning hospitality makes the Gilpin a top choice for luxurious accommodations in the Lake District.
The Amber Rose
Lechlade-on-Thames, Gloucestershire, England
Enjoy a relaxing countryside escape at this charming cabin by the lake. This cosy accommodation is located in a beautiful lake resort near Lechlade-on-Thames, on the outskirts of the scenic Cotswolds area. It’s a perfect spot for nature lovers, whether you want to explore the trails by foot or bike, or try some water sports on the lake.
The cabin has a rustic yet chic design, with colourful boho touches that create a serene atmosphere – and a lovely deck overlooking the lake where you can have your breakfast. You’ll also benefit from the amazing shared amenities at the resort, such as the spa, the cafe and the 850 acres of green spaces. You can even make your stay more adventurous by booking activities like ziplining and high ropes courses.
The Newt
A359, Hadspen, Castle Cary BA7 7NG
