Good manors: Rural country estates that will make you feel like you’re in a period drama
You may never be able to call Highclere Castle home like the Crawleys of Downton Abbey – but you can live like a duke or duchess at these grand period properties
The period drama fervour is, yet again, in full swing. With the imminent release of the next season of Bridgerton this week, it’s got many of us swooning over life at Highclere Castle. While, in reality, drama and horror – the First and Second World War, Spanish Flu, and let’s not forget political, financial and economic instability – came part and parcel with these eras, the likes of Downton Abbey, The Buccaneers and Sanditon have made it rather easy to romanticise what it was like to be high-society in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Especially should you happen to reside in one of their leafy estates.
Many of the UK’s period properties have, luckily for us, fallen into the hands of luxury hoteliers who have reimagined their storied histories to create opulent estates, manors, and houses more than worthy of a weekend away. Combined with five-star, white-glove service, the raison d’être of these hotels is to make you feel like the king and queen, duke and duchess, or lord and lady you always imagined yourself to be. However you would like to be addressed, step right this way to live out your period drama dreams at the finest country estates in the UK to book now.
Cliveden House, Berkshire
Cliveden House is so swoon-worthy it was even mentioned in Bridgerton – so if that doesn’t score some period property points, I don’t know what will. Dating back to 1666, when it was built at the behest of the Duke of Buckingham, it has welcomed every British monarch since George I (and even hosted Meghan Markle the night before her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018). It’s also been the stage for high-society gossip: Christine Keeler met John Profumo here before embarking on an illicit affair that sparked scandal and forced his resignation.
Today, this grand historic National Trust and Relais & Châteaux country house is as opulent as ever. Set among 376 acres of Grade-I listed formal gardens and with panoramic views over the River Thames, the estate boasts a series of impressive gardens, woodlands and paddocks, each with their own special charm and array of things to see and do. History and drama flavour the 48 rooms and suites, while two dining outlets – the laidback Astor Grill and occasion-worthy Cliveden Dining Room serving French fare – cater to every type of foodie. Don’t miss the sybaritic spa, which is home to an indoor and outdoor pool and gym, with Oskia facials on the treatment menu.
From £445 per night.
The Cavendish Hotel at Baslow, Peak District
You may not be able to stay at Chatsworth House – one of the most prominent aristocratic houses in Britain since its inception in the 16th century as the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire – but booking a room at the newly refurbished Cavendish Hotel at Baslow is the next best thing. Set among the whimsical grounds of Chatsworth Estate, the eagle eyed will spot lakes and hills previously used to depict Pemberly in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice film.
Recently renovated in partnership with designer Nicola Harding, this boutique hotel has 28 luxurious rooms and two restaurants, including The Gallery which boasts three AA Rosettes and sources local ingredients within a short distance of its kitchen. Afternoon tea is also available, with a delicious array of finger sandwiches and scones, ensuring all guests feel as pampered as a duchess. From taking a turn around the parkland and gardens, to admiring the gorgeous landscape and activities the Peak District has to offer, a stay at The Cavendish is the ultimate period drama retreat.
From £200 per night.
Thornbury Castle, Gloucestershire
Once the country retreat of none other than King Henry VIII, Thornbury Castle boasts a history that few other English hotels can match. Its 16th-century Tudor architecture has been thoughtfully preserved in its untouched stone walls, low beams and listed windows, all of which have been elevated by thoughtful interiors featuring grand four-poster beds, velvet upholstery and antique furniture.
Sumptuously set within 15-acres of Gloucestershire grounds, and a stone’s throw from the Severn Valley, the hotel encapsulates the best of castle life: afternoon tea by a roaring fire, a relaxing treatment at the spa, and a feast worthy of a king courtesy of chef David Williams that’s served across four dining rooms. Consider yourself enchanted.
From £269 per night.
Ballyfin Demesne, Ireland
A Michelin-starred restaurant? Tick. A Michelin key? It has three. An opulent history to match? Ballyfin Demesne in County Laois is as regal as it gets. Dating back to the late 16th century, it was under the guise of Sir Charles Henry Coote in the early 19th century that it reached its height thanks to Coote’s position as a member of the Anglo-Irish aristocracy, along with his deep interest in art and architecture. The current (and highly impressive) Ballyfin Demesne has since been meticulously transformed into an exclusive haven fit for the well-heeled, attracting guests from the world over.
With only 20 bedrooms and a private one-bedroom Gardeners Cottage within its expansive 614-acre estate, this five-star luxury Relais & Châteaux property prides itself on exclusivity. The two restaurants and bar all celebrate Irish ingredients, with menus curated by Richard Picard-Edwards and produce hand-picked from the estate’s eight-acre gardens.
From £693 per night.
Ballynahinch Castle, Ireland
Set in a private 700-acre estate of woodland, rivers and walking paths in the heart of Connemara in County Galway, and boasting a storied history dating back to 1754, Ballynahinch Castle is like something out of a fairytale. The Owenmore River flows at its feet and the 12 Bens mountain range skims its edges, providing the perfect canvas for enchanting walks, bike rides, and superb fishing. Accordingly, Ballynahinch Castle encourages country pursuits as much as serene relaxation.
Unwind in one of the 48 beautifully-appointed bedrooms with wonderful views, wake up to the sound of the river meandering past your window and dine in the accoladed Owenmore Restaurant, which was awarded Ireland's Fine Dining Hotel Restaurant of the Year in 2024.
From £261 per night.
Heckfield Place, Hampshire
Originally built in the 18th century by the widowed Jane Hawley, who borrowed against the trust of her young son to build a magnificent manor, she likely had no idea just how grand and majestic her home, Heckfield Place, would become. The architect, to this day, is unknown, but the grand house, set among 438 acres of golden oaks, rustling beeches and fiery maples, has become a mainstay in the UK’s prized country house portfolio. Unlike others on this list, however, it is thoroughly and unwaveringly modern, from its high-tech touches to regenerative menus.
Comprising 45 bedrooms, two signature restaurants – Marle and Hearth – a biodynamic Market Garden and organic Home Farm, The Bothy by Wildsmith spa, 67-seater cinema, as well as a plethora of walled gardens, lakes and ancient arboretum, it is one of England’s most considered and all-encompassing period properties. It is also home to one of the country’s finest suites, the Long Room, featuring vaulted ceilings and exposed beams, walls adorned with original British art (there’s a particularly spectacular Virginia Woolf painting hanging in the bedroom) and a private terrace overlooking the lakes.
From £650 per night.
Lucknam Park, Wiltshire
Evoking a bygone era of Regency splendour, guests stepping inside the Palladian mansion of Lucknam Park would be forgiven for thinking they’d fallen into a period drama set. Comprising 42 individual bedrooms and nine luxury cottages – the perfect setting for a group getaway – the most famous string in Lucknam Park’s bow is perhaps its Michelin-starred Restaurant Hywel Jones, which has retained the accolade for 20 years on the trot.
Aside from dining on exceptional menus, the five-star hotel is also home to an array of country pursuits. Don your finest riding gear to take advantage of the on-site equestrian centre and hack around 500 acres of flowering gardens, meadows and woodlands. Bespoke experiences, including archery and clay pigeon shooting, can also be arranged, while those looking for more relaxing activities can discover the spa. Enclosed by charming walled gardens and manicured lawns, the award-winning spa is complete with an indoor-outdoor hydrotherapy pool and globally renowned treatments.
From £295 per night.
Penicuik Estate, Scotland
Penicuik Estate, just 10 miles from Edinburgh, is a pioneering rural retreat set within one of Scotland’s most celebrated landscapes. In the Clerk family since 1654, the 3,100-hectare estate features preserved Palladian architecture, including Old Penicuik House, and a historic landscape shaped by Sir John Clerk in the 18th century. Following a head-to-toe restoration, Penicuik House launched this month, offering exclusive hire of its 16 en suite bedrooms. Inside, light-filled drawing rooms glow with crackling fires, a wood-panelled bar invites evening cocktails and the opulent dining room, laid for long candlelit dinners that stretch into the night, seats up to 48.
At the heart of Penicuik House is the Estate Kitchen. Here, the team cook with the seasons, using fire, smoke and Scotland’s finest produce. The kitchen is open and welcoming, a place where guests can chat to the chefs, sample dishes straight off the grill, or pull up a stool for a glass before dinner. Throughout the house, history is stitched into every detail, with the Clerk family’s centuries-deep collection of artworks and heirlooms sitting alongside relaxed contemporary interiors, created in collaboration with Charles Orchard, to bridge the old with the new.
From £9,750 per night.
Beaverbrook, Surrey
Originally the mansion of Lord Beaverbrook – who bought this whopping estate for £30,000 in 1910 after spotting it on a country drive with his friend, Jungle Book author Rudyard Kipling – this countryside bolthole is for weekenders seeking romantic 19th-century wedding cake architecture, grand yet homely Susie Atkinson interiors, and, perhaps most importantly, frivolous fun. Once the backdrop for Churchill’s wartime government meets, Beaverbrook was made minister of aircraft production in 1940 and famously tripled the production of the Spitfires that played a huge part in winning the pivotal Battle of Britain. Hence the spitfire motif, emblazoned across staff uniforms, menus and more.
The 470-acre woodland estate is home to a treehouse and kids’ club for the littlest of guests, while formal gardens are perfect for hand-in-hand afternoon strolls before an evening of elegant Japanese cuisine served in the Dining Room. Elsewhere in the main house are 18 elegant guestrooms, each named after one of its former prestigious guests (think Winston Churchill and Ian Fleming), and the sophisticated Art Deco Sir Franks Bar. Those with little ones in tow should look to the Village: the hotel’s newest opening in 2023 that added 21 Nicola Harding-designed guest rooms across 10 cottages to the portfolio. The jewel in the property’s crown is the nature-based Coach House Health Club and Spa, designed by stained-glass artist Brian Clarke.
From £610 per night.
Cowley Manor Experimental, Cotswolds
Cowley Manor has been at the heart of English history for more than 300 years, with the first iteration constructed in 1695. The land was once owned by Edward the Confessor, the property designed by the renowned R.A.Briggs, and the estate a safe haven for locals during the war. It is also widely recognised as the inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland.
Set within 55 acres of Cotswolds countryside, Cowley Manor is home to 36 bedrooms and suites, the award-winning C-Side Spa, Jackson Boxer-led restaurant, Experimental Cocktail Club Cotswolds Bar, lounge, library and plentiful living rooms. Interior designer Dorothée Meilichzon has put her spin on its storied past, carefully weaving together classical inspiration with contemporary elements, alongside nods to Alice in Wonderland: a small hidden door here, White Rabbit door knockers there, and a bespoke checkerboard carpet throughout.
From £250 per night.
Gleneagles, Scotland
Since opening its doors in 1924, Gleneagles, which sits beneath the Ochil Hills in the heart of Perthshire, has been one of Scotland’s most iconic hotels. Beginning its life in the glamorous age of travel, when guests arrived in great style at Gleneagles’ own train station, the 850-acre estate epitomises the natural beauty for which Scotland is famed – and is the place to go for a taste of that Balmoral Estate life that the British Royal Family simply can’t get enough of.
With its glorious country playground – home to horse riding, fishing, falconry, shooting and off-road driving – the hotel continues to hold pride of place on the social calendar. For the littlest of guests, mini Land Rovers and complimentary Little Glen Crèche enables parents to indulge in well-deserved pampering time in the Bob and Cloche hair and beauty salon, or to work on their handicap on one of three championship golf courses. Retreat to one of the light-filled rooms, featuring elegant armoires and mid-century four-poster beds, to relax and rejuvenate before heading downstairs to dine at two Michelin-starred Andrew Fairlie and toast with a whisky cocktail at the American Bar. Chin-chin.
From £845 per night.
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