The Rectory, Wiltshire
Anyone for croquet? This gracious Georgian rectory is the perfect excuse to put on your floatiest frock to wander daintily around the Victorian walled garden, before trying out the mallets and hoops on the finely trimmed lawn. Inside The Rectory youll find crackling log fires and 12 large bedrooms, done in fresh pale colours and flooded with light from big sash windows.
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Lords of the Manor, Cotswolds
If youve ever looked in envy at the honeyed Cotswold stone manors to which so many celebrities retreat from the glare of publicity, envy no more. Now you can stay in one without the pressure of its upkeep when its time to head back to town. Parts of this rambling former rectory date back to the 17th century, and while there are plenty of modern comforts on offer, somehow it manages to retain a general sense of timelessness.
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Luton Hoo, Bedfordshire
Its true, Luton is perhaps the last place youd expect to find a sumptuous country estate. But just 10 minutes from the decidedly unglamorous Luton airport, you find the wonderful five-star luxury of Luton Hoo, one of the grandest country house hotels in England, originally designed by neo-classical architect Robert Adam.
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Swinton Park, Yorkshire
What could be more gratifying than rolling up the drive to the turreted entrance lobby of Swinton Park, in the knowledge that its stately home grandeur is yours for the weekend? The ancestral home of the Cunliffe-Lister family is now the finest country house hotel in Yorkshire. No wonder Ladette-to-Ladys formidable Rosemary Schrager holds her cookery school here in the stylishly converted stable block adjacent, in case you're tempted to come back as a cookery student.
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Stoke Place, Buckinghamshire
Stoke Place is a lot like a Paul Smith collection. Its got that same trad-with-a-twist style we Brits pull off so well, the sort that manages to be both elegant yet casual at the same time. This 17th-century country house is just 20 miles from central London, but it feels as though it is a world away. Grab yourself a hammock on the terrace between rounds of croquet, or cosy up by the drawing rooms log fire. The gentry never had it this good.
Read ELLE escapes' full review of Stoke Place
Looking for somewhere even more intimate for your next weekend away? Check out our pick of the best romantic places to stay in Europe. Or see our full collection of places to stay.
