33 Best Hotels in UK & Ireland To Book In 2024
Best for: Farm to table dining.
Why we love it: A visit to Hampshire's Heckfield Place, put most simply, was one of the most indulgent, soul-soothing treats of my year. I set off on a train from London Waterloo towards Winchfield, and upon arrival, was greeted by a friendly local taxi driver who had been arranged to collect me by the loving Heckfield team. The drive to the Heckfield Estate was speedy – just 15 minutes – and despite a bout of torrential rain, my arrival felt warm and welcoming.
Heckfield Place is the former home of Charles Shaw-Lefevre, a 19th-century VIP, but it was bought by Boston-based billionaire Gerald Chan back in 2002. Gerald dreamed of creating a hotel, though it took years of work to get his vision over the line. A dedicated team, including designer Ben Thompson, GM Olivia Richili – previously of Aman Hotels – and Skye Gyngell – previously of Petersham Nurseries – have done a stellar job at bringing it to life.
Though cosy and classic, the gorgeous interiors feel contemporary and forward-thinking. Expect marble staircases, ornate floral displays, art from the private collection of the owner and a comforting earthy palette. The same, wonderful design continues across the bedrooms – of which there are 45 across five categories. Bathrooms are marble with Wildsmith Skin toiletries, bedside tables are adorned with ceramic lamps and terracotta pots, and deep-seated window-side armchairs are the perfect spot for a touch of reading.
My favourite part of my visit was a lunch at Hearth: a restaurant centred around an epic open fire, where the menu is focused on the very best produce available on that day. We enjoyed burrata with grilled aubergines and home farm tomatoes, charred squid with chilli oil and Pak Choi, duck kofta with cherry sauce and shredded summer cabbage, and barbecued sirloin of beef with Chimichuri. Elsewhere, the dark and sensual Moon bar is a perfect space for a nightcap, and breakfast is as fresh and imaginative as everything else you'll eat throughout your stay. Healthy-yet-filling, with a side of the lightest-butter-you'll-ever-eat. Whipped on-site, no less.
Even if the rain, there's plenty to explore across the far-reaching grounds. Head on down from the house to the woods, and stumble across those lakes where you can wild swim, row in a rowing boat or enjoy a lake-side picnic. You can take part in author talks, art classes, treasure hunts and foraging class – and walk via the farm and greenhouses to discover where the ingredients of your prior lunch have come from. Oh, and the long-awaited arrival of The Bothy spa, which opened in 2023, really nails the hotels' luxury offering.
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