This elegant country house hotel is a must for families and couples seeking the perfect weekend away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Lucknam Park is everything a country hotel should be – relaxed yet sophisticated, rustic yet elegant. Set within 500 acres of stunning parkland, the 17th Century Palladian mansion sit at the top of a mile long avenue, lined with over four hundred lime and beech trees – infact, the drive up to the house is so long and so heavily tree-lined that they once hid RAF spitfires along it.
The welcome is warm and friendly at Lucknam. As you pull up in front of the imposing entrance the butler will greet you to take your luggage and park your car. Instantly you know you will be very well looked after and made to feel like Lady of the Manor.
The bedrooms are truly beautiful. Patterend wall papers and fabrics, four poster beds (think the Princess and the Pea) give each room an old fashioned elegance. All have marble bathrooms and stunning views across the park or courtyard. But there is so much more to Lucknam than beautiful suites.
Bath was once home to Jane Austen and you could certainly imagine Lucknam featuring in Pride and Prejudice with Mr Darcy riding across the extensive parkland. A walk around the hotel’s grounds is a must. From the walled gardens to the herb garden to the Arboretum, the grounds are stunning and deserve to be explored and enjoyed.
Lucknam is packed full of activities suitable for children. From the adventure play area to the equestrian centre, croquet to tennis, bicycles to Go-Karts there is certainly enough to keep little ones entertained.
Lucknam is also home to a luxurious spa. The treatment menu is extensive – from classic facials to pregnancy treatments you’ll be spoilt for choice and there is even a range of treatments for men. Make a day of it and enjoy all the facilities the spa has to offer – a 20 metre indoor pool, indoor and outdoor hydrotherapy pools, a salt water plunge pool, steam rooms and saunas. There’s also a state of the art fitness centre and hair salon.
From the afternoon tea to the Michelin starred restaurant, food is a big part of your stay at Lucknam. Whilst the main restaurant is certainly worth a visit children may feel more at home in the brasserie. The brasserie, located next to the spa offers a relaxed dining experience with a menu perfect for little ones – choose from scotch eggs to fish and chips.
The hotel does offer baby sitting services so treat yourself, tuck the children up with a DVD and head down to the main dining room to enjoy the fine cooking from Executive Chef Hwyel Jones. Choose between the three, four or seven course gourmet menu which includes culinary treats such as ice cream cones of salmon to salted caramel ice cream with popcorn foam. Dining at Lucknam is a delight and a real experience.
The only downside to Lucknam is that they won’t let you move in. Trust us, on leaving you will most certainly be planning your return visit.
Need to know facts:
Rooms: 13 suites and 29 bedrooms
Rates: Prices start from £315 for a standard room and go up to £1065 for the grand suite.
Facilities:
- Outdoor Children’s Adverture Play Area, complete with a Triple Tower play system, a rocking horse, swings for infants and separate swings for children.
- 20 metre Indoor swimming pool
- Equestrian centre
- Spa
- 2 all weather, floodlit tennis courts
- Bicycles
- Walking & running trails
- Five a side all weather football pitch
- Table tennis
- Croquet
- Indoor board games
- DVD/videos
- 2 Go-Karts for children (1 for children up to the age of 3 years and one for older children up to the age of 8 years)
- 2 Scooters
- Falconry
- Clay pigeon shooting
Check out times: 11am
How to get there: Six miles from the historic city of Bath, Lucknam Park enjoys a unique location in its own listed parkland of 500 acres. The journey by train from London is 1+ hours and to drive is less than 2 hours.
For more information or to book a stay in the cottage please visit mrandmrssmith.com