Escape to the country: Gorgeous UK hotels with working farms
Return to the land at these bucolic retreats that also play host to full farmyards
With the UK offering so many picturesque, nature-first staycation options, it’s almost impossible to make a choice for your next weekend getaway. But as farming escapes continue to rise in popularity, with many city dwellers craving a break from their fast-paced urban lifestyles, modern agrotourism doesn’t always have to mean mucking out (or mucking in).
Below you’ll find ten of the most luxurious countryside hotels set within working farms or with lush, bountiful kitchen gardens. Whether you’re looking for a grown-up retreat, time to connect with the land, or to get your hands dirty with all the family, we’ve got you covered. But not in mud…
Coombeshead Farm, Cornwall
Images: Mia Zhou
A bit of a hidden gem, the best way to enjoy this exquisite 66-acre slice of Cornish countryside is to stay in either the delightful 18th century farmhouse or converted grain store barns, or for families, the Courtyard Cottage. Extensive room descriptions, layouts, and suitability factors are all clearly stated on the Coombeshead Farm website, with canine pals welcome in some, but not all, rooms. As a working farm with its own on-site bakery, both human and animal residents are up and about when the sun rises, which should be considered if planning a restful escape.
Stroll through the beautiful valley, take shade under the 590-year-old oak on the edge of the stream, and see what’s growing in the fields. Boasting a small diverse farm of mixed perennial pastures, meadow and woodland, the site is home to a range of species including pigs, chickens, cows and sheep, while also operating a small no-dig market garden, growing just enough to sustain the restaurant (and a little extra for the courtyard shop).
From £180 per night.
The Wild Rabbit and Daylesford Farm, The Cotswolds
Housed within a delightful 18th century building in one of the Cotswolds‘ most picture-perfect villages, the Wild Rabbit is best described as a modern British inn, providing punters with a beautiful bedroom and delicious homegrown food, while they are free to explore the local terrain.
Owned by, and included in, the renowned Daylesford Stays collection, from here guests can head five minutes down the road to Daylesford Farm, a stylish working farm that raises an array of native breeds, grows seasonal fruit and vegetables, and makes its own award-winning artisan breads and cheeses. Discover Michelin Green Star restaurant, The Trough, where dishes made with fresh organic produce picked just a few steps away are conjured into tastebud tantalising delights. And don’t miss the famous spa, ideal for day trips to unwind in the most natural way possible.
From £325 per night.
Holkham Hall, Norfolk
Image: Jo Birch
Set within 25,000 sprawling acres on the majestic north Norfolk coast, Holkham Hall offers a stunning outdoor haven. With its unique rugged landscapes, the Holkham National Nature Reserve and superb sandy beaches just begging to be enjoyed, there are a range of places to stay within the incredible grounds, from lodges, to huts, to The Victoria hotel.
Farming, conservation, forestry and gamekeeping are at the heart of the estate’s ethos, with serious investment having been channelled to delivering exceptional food production together with pioneering conservation. Focused on soil health, connecting habitats, enhancing the environment, developing science-led innovations and making its operations leaner and greener, the emphasis on agriculture and environment goes far beyond a bit of greenwashing.
From £210 per night.
The Montagu Arms, New Forest
New Forest gem The Montagu Arms has just introduced a new Grow with the Flow overnight stay package, inviting guests to embrace slower living through nature, art and mindful moments in the heart of its beautiful, bountiful gardens. The mindfulness box comes complete with watercolours, brushes and paper, inviting guests to pause and capture the colours, textures and seasonal beauty of the hotel’s gardens and surrounding woodland, along with a seasonal picnic hamper filled with artisanal treats from local suppliers.
Explore the stunning flower-filled borders, shaded pathways and open lawns, with views of the magnificent magnolia grandiflora at the heart of the garden, curated by head gardener Matt Orme. Behind the greenhouses lies the kitchen garden, where Jerusalem artichokes soar skywards and rows of radishes, beetroots, carrots, and lettuce thrive alongside edible flowers. After a day outdoors, retreat to one of the hotel’s elegant courtyard rooms, spacious hayloft suites, main house or snug rooms.
From £276 per night.
The Newt, Somerset
As well as being one of the country’s most luxurious countryside hotels, The Newt is also one of England's largest working estates, operating a mixed farming model spanning arable crops, dairy, water buffalo, British White cattle and horticulture. Combining breathtaking Georgian heritage, five-star service, and elegant interiors, the honey-hued limestone buildings are buried within 300 years’ worth of curated orchards, lakes, and woodlands.
The wealth of exceptional restaurants to try promise to sate any appetite, while the beautiful spa and roster of activities ensure there’s plenty to do all day. This July, the gorgeous hotel hosted its first ever Summer Farm Show: a two-day celebration of contemporary British farming set across the estate's event paddock, placing education, provenance and active agriculture at its heart. Mark your calendars for next year’s edition now.
From £795 per night.
The Goodwood Estate, West Sussex
Famed for hosting some of the UK’s most famous motorsport and horse racing festivals, the Goodwood Estate is a fantastic, fun, and classy choice for a family-friendly countryside escape. Bursting with history, culture and thrilling pursuits, it caters to foodies, spa-lovers, art buffs and fitness nuts with its almost dizzying array of activities and sites to discover. Accommodation spans the sumptuous Goodwood Hotel, various cottages, and the private Hound Lodge, all set within the bucolic, rolling hills.
Goodwood’s Home Farm, meanwhile, is one of the only self-sustaining farms in Europe, which has been yielding top-of-the-line organic meat and dairy for centuries, long before it was fashionable. From award-winning cheeses and butchery to locally brewed beer and gin, as well as nutrient dense, creamy raw milk, the estate’s rich heritage and generational skill is reflected in its produce. Be sure to try the many on-site restaurants including Farm, Butcher, Chef, which celebrates the essence of true farm-to-fork dining.
From £450 per night.
The Pig, South Downs
Images: Jake Eastham
A charming vineyard property in the picturesque hamlet of Madehurst, high up on the chalky ridges of West Sussex, this gorgeous, eclectic, boutique hotel, is surrounded by walled gardens and was founded on a foodie, plot-to-plate philosophy. Rooms and restaurants are bursting with vintage character, while the cosy Field and Garden Wagons offer bucolic rolling views.
A proud purveyor of locally grown feasts and excellent English wine, vineyard views, beach trips, Potting Shed spa treatments and countryside walks in the South Downs National Park are all part and parcel of a rugged, outdoorsy stay. For those wanting to get their hands dirty, guests can partake in autumn truffle foraging from October to December, while kitchen garden tours are available every day.
From £269 per night.
Lime Wood and Four Acre Farm, New Forest
Image: Claire Menary
Image: Helen Cathcart
Located in the heart of the beautiful New Forest National Park, this quaint, traditional, but totally sumptuous hotel boasts cosy, luxurious rooms and a serene spa, featuring 29 individually designed bedrooms by Susie Atkinson, as well as four Forest Cottages dotted about the grounds. Destination-worthy cuisine is delivered by chef Angela Hartnett and Lime Wood’s Luke Holder, working closely with local producers, especially Four Acre Farm, to narrow the distance between field and fork.
Every Wednesday, Four Acre Farm’s grower, Kate, arrives with an array of produce for the chefs to mull over and inspire new dishes, with part of the farm growing crops exclusively for the hotel and its guests. The produce from Four Acre Farm is not only used in the kitchen at HH&Co but also across the hotel and at Herb House Spa’s Raw & Cured restaurant.
From £495 per night.
Thyme, The Cotswolds
Image: The Rollinson
Image: Rich Stapleton
Shaped by nature, no two rooms are the same at this enchanting, countryside hotel. With interiors inspired by their unique botanical monikers, each room is bestowed with antique treasures, as well as a complimentary trough of goodies. Stay at the beautifully appointed 17th century Cotswold Farmhouse for an impressive home-away-from-home feel, surrounded by a large walled garden designed by six-time Chelsea Flower Show gold medallist Bunny Guinness, with a fire pit, a hammockry and a boules court.
Experience the property’s driving farm-to-fork ethos in the outstanding Ox Barn restaurant, cosy village pub The Swan, or by the pool in the Orchid House, while the glorious Meadow Spa will tickle every one of your natural senses. Situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Thyme provides its guests with a curated directory of where to try the bountiful local produce, as well as exceptional nature walks, activities, pubs and farm shops. With its recently opened Bertioli store, you can take a slice of the countryside home with you, too.
From £400 per night.
Woolley Grange, Bradford-on-Avon
Woolley Grange is a secluded Jacobean manor house on the edge of the historic wool town of Bradford-on-Avon, this charming, family-friendly property has just been revamped, unveiling a redesigned walled garden and the much-anticipated Walled Garden Rooms, in addition to an outdoor swimming pool. Interiors are as considered as the landscape, reflecting the hues of the Wiltshire vistas with a palette of grounding greens, warm timbers, and rustic stone.
Surrounded by greenery at every turn, the amazing Den team offers a range of outdoorsy, family-friendly activities including the Green Fingers gardening club, chef's cookery classes, mocktail making and firepit marshmallow toasting, as well as following the famous Sheep Trail, and visiting the animals in the Good Life Garden. Nearby excursions include trips to Frome craft and food market, Cheddar Gorge, and Fairfield Animal centre.
From £250 per night.
