Explore the English Countryside from Lucknam Park
Lucknam Park is the perfect base for a getaway into the English countryside. We have put together a five-day itinerary based from Lucknam that makes the perfect addition to your next journey to England.
Photo courtesy of Lucknam Park
Lucknam Park is frequently regarded as one of England’s best country house hotels. It is a place where five-star luxury awaits at every single turn. In fact, it was recently announced that Lucknam Park has won the honor of being listed as the “Best Hotel in the UK” by the Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards. Its location in the lower part of the Cotswolds makes it perfect to explore this quintessentially English region, but it’s also a great base to explore the Georgian dream that is Bath.
Introducing Lucknam Park
Until 1987, Lucknam Park was still a private family home. Even now that it has been renovated into a luxe hotel, it thankfully still retains much of that comfortable, homey feel. In fact, guests say time and time again that Lucknam Park feels like a “home away from home.”
This Palladian mansion dates back to 1720 and is set in 500 acres of protected parkland and stunning gardens. The hotel has been lovingly restored to reflect the opulence and elegance of the past, but its facilities reflect all the modernity you’d expect from a five-star hotel. It features Michelin-starred dining, an award-winning spa, an equestrian center, a cookery school, and a family play facility.
Its 43 rooms and suites have each been individually styled, as have their three private cottages, which are perfect for families or groups. The furnishings throughout the hotel are a wonderful blend of antique and contemporary touches. The stunning décor and sweeping views combine for an effect that is classically British. The bathrooms are nothing short of pure splendor, finished using the finest marble. Style and comfort come together at Lucknam Park to provide the ultimate in relaxation.
Photo courtesy of Lucknam Park
Photo courtesy of Lucknam Park
Michelin-starred restaurant Hywel Jones attracts visitors from near and far, and guests of the hotel are in for a real treat in dining here. Begin your evening in the magnificent Drawing Room or charming Library for relaxed cocktails and canapes. Afterwards, you’ll be escorted through to the elegant restaurant, where you can choose between a-la-carte dining or the tasting menus. Each dish is created using only the finest of ingredients, which have been sourced, where possible, from only local suppliers. The herbs that subtly enhance all of the dishes at Hywel Jones will have been freshly picked from the hotel’s extensive kitchen garden.
Sample Itinerary from Lucknam Park
Lucknam Park can be fabulous for a quick stay, but we recommend staying a little longer if your time in the UK allows for it. The below five-day itinerary shows you how a stay at Lucknam Park can seamlessly blend activity and relaxation, allowing you to truly soak up your time in the idyllic English countryside. It would be very easy to add on days on either end of this itinerary in London, if you want a little city mixed in with your country. Of course, no two of our itineraries are the same, so the team at Poe Travel is ready to design a customized itinerary just for you.
Day 1
On arrival at London Heathrow, your private driver will meet you for your transfer to Lucknam Park. We can arrange for a stop along the way for lunch or exploring if you’re up to it, or if you’d rather head straight to the hotel to relax, that is fine too. The drive to Lucknam Park will take about an hour and a half.
Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to acclimate to the time difference and admire your beautiful surroundings at Lucknam Park. Sometimes, a spa treatment on arrival can help ease the jetlag! Afternoon tea can also be a fabulous way to ease into English life.
Photo courtesy of Lucknam Park
Day 2
Meet your private driver-guide for today’s exploration of the Cotswolds. The villages of the Cotswolds are renowned for their honey-colored stone, often looking like a postcard come to life. Your day can be totally tailored to your interests and energy levels. Nearby Castle Combe is often lauded as the prettiest village in England, and Tetbury is home to Highgrove, Prince Charles’s country residence. Further north in the Cotswolds, picturesque villages like Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold are worth strolling with your local guide. Your guide can recommend a great stop for a pub lunch with a lovely view along the way.
Day 3
It’s time to hop in the saddle this morning. If you’re not a very experienced rider, never fear! You can head to Lucknam Park’s equestrian center for a lesson, taking in the beautiful grounds as you learn a thing or two about riding. If you’re an experienced rider, your instructor can take you horseback riding through the English countryside and in a picturesque village.
Photo courtesy of Lucknam Park
This afternoon, perhaps you want to indulge in the spa at Lucknam Park, award-winning as it. If not, there are plenty more activities we can arrange for you, depending on your interests.
Day 4
Today, your private-driver guide can take you to explore Bath, home of Jane Austen. The city’s incredible Roman and Georgian architecture has earned it the title of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll want to consider visiting the Thermae Bath Spa, the Jane Austen Centre, and the Royal Crescent, which was recently featured on the hit Netflix series Bridgerton.
If you have time in the afternoon, we would recommend a jaunt to the charming city of Wells. It is classified as a city because of the magnificent Wells Cathedral, but it has a very village-like feel to it. Your guide can show you around not only the Cathedral but also the Bishop’s Palace and Gardens.
Day 5
You’ll reluctantly bid adieu to Lucknam Park this morning as you head back to London. If you have time, your driver-guide can make a stop along the way at Highclere Castle in Newbury, the filming location for Downton Abbey, or alternatively, stop at Windsor Castle and try to spot the Queen.
Photo courtesy of Tim Alex on Unsplash
Poe Perks
We would be remiss if we didn’t mention the fabulous added amenities that Poe Travel clients receive during a stay at Lucknam Park, which is part of our trusted Virtuoso network of hotels.
Here are our Poe Perks at Lucknam Park:
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily Full English Breakfast for two guests per bedroom
Guests may select one from the following amenity options:
A champagne afternoon tea for two set up on the Parkland. (In the event of wet weather, the same will be served in the glorious Drawing Room.)
Dry Floatation treatment for two - a deeply relaxing spa treatment perfect to alleviate stress, muscular aches and jetlag
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi
If you would like to Go Away to Lucknam Park (or anywhere else in the world), simply contact us. We will put together a personalized itinerary just for you that will make you feel like a VIP every step of the way.