A perfect combination of refined elegance and utter warmth, Hartwell House, a National Trust owned hotel, restaurant and spa in the Vale of Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, England is a restored 17th century Jacobean and Georgian house, set upon 90 gorgeous acres of gardens and parkland.
Upon arrival, one of the young assistant managers, Ethan, takes me around for a house tour where every room bests the previous one – from the golden candelabras in the sumptuous morning room, to the butter yellow restraint of the Soane Room and the bubblegum pink wallpaper surrounding the staircase – the property’s illustrious history is on full display. It feels like a stay amidst a living museum (in the best possible way) with new discoveries around every corner, like the intricately carved wooden staircase with hidden depiction of Winston Churchill on a baluster, a one-handed grandfather clock that keeps time, and the pair of extra-wide chairs, that belonged to one of the house’s most famous tenants, Louis XVIII (yes, that one).
“But it’s the warm welcoming staff that feel like family, offering a superior level of hospitality with enormous graciousness”
The cuisine here is superb. Executive head chef Daniel Richardson’s menus showcase local and home grown produce with classic technique like the pan fried Scottish sea scallop, with apple and lemon grass puree and rich white wine sauce and pan fried cod served alongside confit crab, jersey crushed potatoes, and langoustine emulsion. For requisite afternoon tea the following day, the Rococo morning room offers an opulent backdrop for incredibly gorgeous quiche, scones, sandwiches and pastries.
But it’s the warm welcoming staff that feel like family, offering a superior level of hospitality with enormous graciousness. John, one of the assistant managers attends to my every thought with keen dedication – when an overcast autumn day rolls in, our conversation about my predilection for a cozy fireplace is met with a roaring fire. Another morning, a bowl of black currant jam is brought to accompany my golden toast, prompted by a mere whisper of my affection for the difficult-to-find fruit condiment. “I love chatting with guests, you never know when something about the house will catch their interest,” he says. “One time, I was talking to a gentlemen in the Louis XVIII library, and mentioned that it was where the British Meteorological Society was formed. The man was part of the Society and was elated to learn that he was standing in the footsteps of history.”
Over the following days my evenings are spent strolling through the expansive grounds, umbrella in tow, cooing black cows that gravitate toward the fence and gently running beside an elegant white swan, framed by a stone arched bridge, that drifts from one corner of a lake to the next. There are statues of Hercules, Zeus and Juno, a Gothic Tower, a crenellated turret and Ionic Temple that ooze grandeur while espaliered pears grow with wild abandon behind two small beehives surrounded by wildflowers, and next to a small apple orchard. It’s an idyllic British countryside escape that truly provides everlasting memories.
/ K&S Media
The Details
ADDRESS Vale of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP17 8NR
WEBSITE hartwell-house.com
CSL MUST-TRY Take a stroll through the illustrious gardens and don’t miss a sweet taste of proprietary honey at breakfast (you can even purchase a jar of the liquid gold at the spa)
This original article first appeared in the WINTER 2024/2025 issue of City Style and Living Magazine.
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