Hartwell House & Spa

Located in the Vale of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and on the edge of the Chilterns, designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Hartwell House is only two miles from the busy market town of Aylesbury and 20 miles from Oxford.

The hotel, which has 48 bedrooms and suites, has won many awards for the quality and excellence of its outstanding hospitality and food.

This impressive house, which has both Jacobean and Georgian facades, has been skilfully and sympathetically restored by Historic House Hotels, which has extended the restoration to include the 18th century stables, coach house and indoor riding school to create bedrooms and suites in Hartwell Court.

Set in over 90 acres of landscaped gardens and parkland, the hotel is approached by a sweeping drive that passes the ruins of a gothic church, and opens onto a vista of avenued trees, lake with stone bridge and the central equestrian statue of Frederick, Prince of Wales.

Download the map of the hotel and gardens and explore the avenues, paths and follies that characterise the parkland. London is easily reached by train or car in less than an hour and Heathrow Airport is a 45 minute drive away.

HISTORY
A stately home of rural Buckinghamshire, restored by Historic House Hotels, offers hotel luxury in a magnificent setting.

Situated just 40 miles north west of London, the house has both Jacobean and Georgian features with outstanding decorative ceilings and panelling, fine paintings and antique furniture in its elegant and spacious rooms. It has a remarkable history stretching back almost a thousand years to the reign of Edward the Confessor.

It has been the seat of William Peveral the natural son of William the Conqueror; of John Earl of Mortaigne who succeeded his brother Richard the Lion Heart as King of England in 1199; and its most famous resident, Louis XVIII, exiled King of France, who held court from 1809 to 1814.

Others who lived at Hartwell include Richard Hampden (d.1567), a member of one of England’s most illustrious families who entered the household of Queen Elizabeth I and rose to the position of ‘Chiefe Clerk of the Kychen unto the Queen’s Majestie’; and Sir Alexander Hampden (d.1627) who was knighted by James I in his own house.

Sir Thomas Lee (d.1690), who took a leading part in the Restoration and was elevated to the Baronetage by Charles II in 1660; the Rt Hon Sir William Lee (1688-1754) who became Lord Chief Justice and served for a time as Chancellor of the Exchequer; Dr John Lee, who lived at Hartwell between 1829 to 1866, and turned the building into a cross between a temperance hall, a museum and an astronomical observatory.

In 1938 the house and estate were purchased by millionaire recluse Ernest Cook, an early hero of the conservation movement and grandson and co-heir of the Victorian tycoon Thomas Cook, subsequently vested in the Trust that bears his name.

For the during of the Second World War, Hartwell served as an Army billet for British and American troops. Later in 1956 until 1983, Hartwell was let to The House of Citizenship, a finishing school and secretarial college.

A fire in 1963 caused extensive damage and destruction of much of the architectural detail inside the house. Hartwell House opened as an hotel in July 1989 and this famous stately home thus entered a new phase of its long and distinguished history.

The creation of Hartwell House and its grounds has involved many distinguished architects and designers including James Gibbs (1682-1754) – whose works include the Radcliffe Library Oxford, Senate House Cambridge, St Martins-in-the-Field and St Mary-le-Strand, Henry Keene (1726-1776) – pioneer of Gothic Revival; James Wyatt (1746-1813)- master of neo-classical design; and Richard Woods, a well-known follower of Capability Brown.

Coming to the present time, Historic House Hotels has undertaken a complete restoration to the highest standards of the house and grounds, under the direction of its chairman Richard Broyd and eminent Buckinghamshire architect Eric Throssell.

In 2008 Historic House Hotels, and the interests in all its properties, were donated to the National Trust.

GARDENS & PARKLAND
Hartwell House stands within over 90 acres of glorious landscaped gardens and parkland. The garden was designed at the start of the 18th century, probably by James Gibbs, in the formal style with allées and garden buildings: temples, columns, an obelisk, garden statuary, canals and an amazing yew tree exedra.

By the middle of the 18th century most of the formality had been swept away and the garden landscaped by a follower of Lancelot (Capability) Brown, one Richard Woods.

Hartwell House also boasts a spring garden. In 2001, a path leading to the canal temple was planted with 10,000 daffodils. In the orchard, old varieties of apples are grown and the walls of the former kitchen garden support apricot, peach, pear and plum trees.

Throughout the year, Hartwell host garden tours with head gardener, Richard Jones. Peruse the Things to do area of our website for the next available tour date.

MAIN HOUSE
Accommodation is found in the main house with 30 individually decorated, single, double and twin rooms, royal rooms and suites.

THE DUC DE BERRY SUITE
One of more prestigious rooms at Hartwell House, the Duc de Berry is the second largest royal suite located on the first floor of the main house.

The separate sitting room and bedroom are south facing with views over the South Avenue and landscaped gardens. The royal suite is opulent and well-appointed with antiques and fine furniture.

THE LEE SUITE
The largest and grandest royal suite in Hartwell House, the Lee Suite is located on the first floor of the main house and is an exquisite place to celebrate a special occasion.

The Royal Suite has a separate drawing room and bedroom that are south facing, making them beautifully light and spacious, each room having a window seat to sit and enjoy the views down the South Avenue and across the landscaped gardens.

HARTWELL COURT
A two storey magnificent restored 18th century indoor riding school & stables located on the approach to the main house and close to the spa. Some of our rooms here have there own private entrance.

HARTWELL COURT SUITES
Hartwell Court is a two storey magnificent restored 18th century indoor riding school and stables located on the approach to the main house and close to the spa. Some of the suites have their own private entrance.

Ten in total, there are four galleried and six court suites. Light and spacious, each has a separate sitting room and bedroom with views out of the large windows to the courtyard and gardens. The court suites are on one level where the galleried suites have a sitting room on the ground floor and a bedroom on the mezzanine.

THE OLD RECTORY
This elegant Georgian house is set in two acres of immaculately kept, private garden within the grounds of Hartwell House. Furnished to the highest standards, in a traditional style whilst benefiting from all modern comforts you find at home.

Having four en-suite bedrooms and sleeping seven people, the Old Rectory is an ideal venue for small intimate gatherings, family celebrations, self-catering holidays and the smaller private board meetings.

The ground floor offers a spacious Drawing Room with French doors leading to the garden, large kitchen fully equipped, guest cloakroom, dining room (seats 10), a boardroom (seats 10).

The Old Rectory is accessed by a private driveway, and has a gated pathway leading from the property to the hotel. It has its own outdoor swimming pool with reclining loungers for warm, summer days.

Guests can enjoy full use of the Hartwell Spa, with indoor heated swimming pool, gymnasium and treatment rooms and other hotel services.

WINE & DINE
Dine in style with the delicious seasonal dishes in our 2 AA Rosette main restaurant, we serve to ensure you and your guests have the ultimate fine dining experience. If any guest has a food allergy or intolerance, we request that they inform us at the time of booking.

Whilst we are committed to accurately informing guests of any allergenic contents in the dishes served, and also to complying with specific dietary requests, there remains a small risk that traces from other dishes may be present in food or on surfaces.

Continental & full english breakfast
We offer delicious breakfast options to suit a wide variety of tastes and requirements. Locally sourced and prepared with the same attention to detail to ensure your day gets off to the best start.

Continental breakfast
Fresh juices, a selection of breakfast cereals, porridge, yoghurts, fresh fruit, a basket of freshly baked pastries, toast and preserves. A choice of leaf teas, infusions and freshly ground coffee, decaffeinated coffee and hot chocolate.

Cooked English breakfast
In addition to Continental breakfast, the cooked English breakfast includes eggs (served how the guest would like), grilled bacon, local pork sausage, roasted vine tomatoes, sautéed field mushroom and pan fried black pudding.

Other choices include grilled Loch Fyne kippers, poached Finnan haddock with poached egg, smoked salmon & scrambled egg and a selection of cured cold meats. Menus listed are samples only and do not take into account seasonal changes and availability of produce.

LUNCHEON
Luncheon at Hartwell House doesn’t require a special occasion and is available on Saturdays and Sundays. We have taken the best advice to ensure everything is in place for your visit that will be as safe as it will be comfortable and enjoyable.

DINNER
Executive Head Chef Daniel Richardson has created wholesome, flavoursome and imaginative dishes in a style dinner guests are able to select not only by choice but also by budget.Daniel endeavours to source local produce wherever and whenever possible to enhance flavours and freshness.

AFTERNOON TEA
A beautifully prepared selection of finger sandwiches, a selection of home-made patisserie, freshly baked plain and fruit scones along with an extensive choice of teas and coffee.

SPA TREATMENTS
Experienced therapists offer a wide range of spa treatments using Aromatherapy Associates and Jessica.

Our diverse treatment range is underpinned by our therapists maintaining the highest standards of quality, to bring you experiences that are as effective as they are luxurious, with the aim of enhancing your state of physical, mental and emotional well-being.

Aromatherapy Associates massage
Aromatherapy Associates has been at the forefront of aromatherapy for over 30 years. From the beginning we have believed passionately in the healing powers of natural plant extracts, and our experience as therapists has shown us that essential oils are highly effective in enhancing the state of our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

Aromatherapy associates, environ & jessica
AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATES have been at the forefront of aromatherapy for 30 years, believing passionately in the healing powers of plan extracts. Their essential oils are highly effective in enhancing the state of their physical, mental and emotional well-being.

ENVIRON is a globally recognised and loved professional skin care brand that is built on science, beauty and care. Environ believe that skin has life and that Vitamin A is the “oxygen” it needs to look healthy and beautiful.

It is the reason they actively pursue skin care science to skilfully and consistently develop best-in-class, scientifically research and develop products that work with the skin. When it comes to natural nails, JESSICA is considered the world leading brand of nail products to achieve and maintain naturally beautiful nails.

WEDDING PLANNING
The wedding team provide wedding planning to take the pressure out of your big day. Your guests will enjoy award winning food, excellent wines, professional service and your own in-house wedding planner with you from start to finish, to ensure the whole process is enjoyable, especially the day itself.

Whether you are looking for a small private civil ceremony, a wedding breakfast or a larger exclusive wedding with marquee, we can help.

MEETINGS
Hartwell offers a selection of meeting space coupled with dining and activities to suit all requirements. From a boardroom meeting for 12 to cabaret for 48 or theatre style presentation for up to 90 guests, our meeting and dining rooms give you flexibility and choice in a traditional atmosphere, yet with all modern day amenities.

The Hartwell Rooms are situated approximately 100 yards from the main house. An original 18th century coach house and indoor riding school have been restored to provide four purpose built meeting rooms.

The rooms are in a distinguished setting, air conditioned and with large windows for natural light. There is dedicated parking for conference delegates.

EXCLUSIVE USE HOUSE PARTY
A stately home set in over 90 acres of gardens and parkland makes Hartwell House the perfect venue for exclusive use, either for a special event with work colleagues, a family gathering, car launches or an elegant English wedding.

FAMILIES
Hartwell House welcomes families with children over six years of age. Hartwell Court offers a greater degree of privacy and the Hartwell Suites have direct access to the gardens.

They are ideal rooms for families travelling together and a perfect base from which to discover the glorious countryside. We welcome children between the ages of six & 16 years in the Spa, when accompanied by an adult

DOGS WELCOME
Hartwell House is an ideal place to enjoy peaceful walks in over 90 acres of parkland as well as a base to explore the Buckinghamshire countryside with your dog.

We want your dog to enjoy their stay as much as you do. Our dog friendly court suites have doors that open on to the garden or courtyard, we supply a dog bed, water bowl, snacks and those all-important little bags.

We do not charge for dogs but we do ask that your dog is well behaved and you are respectful to other guests at the hotel who may not be as dog friendly as us.

BICESTER VILLAGE
Located 30 minutes by road from Hartwell House. Discover a world of luxury at Bicester Village, the ultimate shopping destination. Home to more than 160 fashion and lifestyle boutiques. Find boutiques of leading British and international luxury fashion brands with savings of up to 60%* all year round.

The Village offers a wide range of services to enhance your visit, including Hands-free Shopping, VIP Lounge, Valet Parking, the award-winning Bicester Visitor Centre, an onsite Tax Refund, currency exchange service, personal shopper, luggage drop and home delivery.

Spacious boulevards, attentive service and a friendly, unhurried atmosphere combine to offer a truly unique retail experience. So much to enjoy, whether it’s browsing prestigious boutiques, or sampling fine food and drink in the Village’s cafés and restaurants.

When staying at Hartwell House, please ask reception for a 10% discount card for you visit to Bicester Village.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AT BICESTER VILLAGE
Visit Bicester Village this December, you can enjoy a festive open-air shopping experience with extended opening hours from 8 am to 8 pm, Monday to Saturday and 9 am to 7 pm on Sundays. Before planning your visit, we recommend you read our Shopping Protocols and quieter times to shop on BicesterVillage.com.

From 2 December – 31 December, explore gift guides for everything from luxury stocking fillers to extra special gifts with an additional savings of up to 20% on the Village price in participating boutiques including Montblanc, dunhill, Monica Vinader and Soho Home.

Keep an eye out for new boutiques opening in December including Off-White, a cult streetwear brand, Vans offering cool skate-inspired sneakers and Bang & Olufsen, bringing innovative home speakers, wireless headphones and more to the Village.

SILVERSTONE
Located 40 minutes by road from Hartwell House. For more than 60 years Silverstone has carved its mark as one of the leading motorsport venues, creating a powerful heritage around the world.

Internationally renowned as the host of world class events, Silverstone is also famed for its exhilarating driving experiences, sumptuous corporate entertainment and prestigious conference facilities.

HARRY POTTER STUDIOS
Located 40 minutes by road from Hartwell House. The Harry Potter film series made Leavesden its home for more than ten years.

Once filming wrapped on the last film, the production crew were left with a treasure trove of thousands of intricate and beautifully-made artefacts, many of which wouldn’t have been saved on a typical production.

Set adjacent to the working film studios where all eight Harry Potter films were made, the Studio Tour offers visitors the unique opportunity to explore two soundstages and a backlot filled with original sets, animatronic creatures and breath-taking special effects

WADDESDON MANOR
Located 15 minutes by road from Hartwell House. Waddesdon Manor, a French Renaissance-style château, was built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild in the 1870s to entertain his guests and display his collection of art treasures.

It houses one of the finest collections of French 18th century decorative arts and British portraiture and has been owned by the National Trust since 1957. Set in 5,000 acres of rolling parkland, Waddesdon has one of the finest examples of a late Victorian garden in Britain.

Famed for colourful bedding, the gardens are full of variety throughout the year. Visitors can enjoy formal gardens, woodland walks, a Parterre and 3D bedding plant sculptures, hear rare birds call from the ornate Aviary or take a tour of the impressive garden statuary.

Waddesdon and Hartwell – two magnificent country houses, linked by history, ownership, landscape and architectural distinction. More than proximity and a shared connection to the National Trust connect Waddesdon Manor and Hartwell House.

Both have great traditions of entertaining at their heart and both have French connections, Waddesdon through the international Rothschild family and superb French art collections, Hartwell through its most famous resident, Louis XVIII, who lived there in his exile from France.

Only eight miles apart, they are more than the sum of their parts and deserve to be seen together.

Rothschild collections

As a family, the Rothschilds were the greatest collectors of the 19th century, seeking the highest quality of workmanship and with a keen sense of historical importance.

The houses that they built, the interiors they created and the magnificent Rothschild collections within them are known as the ‘goût Rothschild’. Waddesdon is one of the rare survivors of that splendour.

Today, the collection continues to grow through the patronage of the Rothschild Foundation, who manage Waddesdon on behalf of the National Trust.

Additions include several superb paintings by Chardin, Callet and Lajoue, a magnificent silver dinner service made for George III and a large collection of Sèvres porcelain sculpture. Significant pieces of contemporary art can be seen in the garden and at Windmill Hill. There is a changing programme of special exhibitions each summer.

Rothschild Wines

The Manor possesses an outstanding collection of wines. The cellars housing a private collection of 13,000 bottles are open Wednesday -Sunday and offer free talks at 11.30am and 2pm each day. The Manor’s wine shop holds the largest collection of Rothschild wines in the world.

These wines are from two of the most famous Bordeaux vineyards, Château Lafite Rothschild and Château Mouton Rothschild. With expert advice and wine-tasting in the manor shop daily and tutored tastings and wine dinners throughout the year, this is a destination for wine lovers or those who wish to learn more.

Visiting Waddesdon

Open Wednesday to Sunday 10am -5pm, National Trust members have free admission. There are special events throughout the year, some with different opening times and event prices, like Waddesdon Uncorked (June), SummerFest (July), ChilliFest (Sept) and Christmas (Nov-Jan) – see What’s On for details.

BLENHEIM PALACE
Located 50 minutes by road from Hartwell House. Blenheim is a hugely diverse business with a duty to preserve their legacy, a responsibility to continually evolve, and a need to sustain the strong connection with the community.

In addition to being a visitor attraction, Blenheim is also a venue for weddings and private or corporate events, a filming location, an estate rich in forestry and farming practises, a producer and supplier of Natural Mineral Water, a landowner with a portfolio of properties, a building and contracting business and a charitable foundation.

OXFORD
The City of Oxford is located 45 minutes by road from Hartwell House. Oxford and Oxfordshire has a lot to offer to visitors and there is a reason why people return to the county again and again. From the ancient University of Oxford to the rolling hills of the Cotswolds there is so much rich history and culture for you to explore.

Whether you want to discover an ancient civilisation at a world famous museum, wander around some of the most famous landmarks in the UK or relax with an afternoon tea, you will find something to do for all occasions and all members of the family.

LONDON
The City of London is located 45 minutes by train from Hartwell House. The range of tourist attractions in London is endless. Take a London bus tour for some sightseeing and see the top London attractions, such a Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Tower of London and London Bridge, with no effort whatsoever.

Take some time out to explore the ZSL London Zoo and the SEA LIFE London aquarium, experience some London history at the London Dungeon or an exhibition at one of London’s many museums. The list is endless.

THE CHILTERN HILLS
Located 15 minutes by road from Hartwell House. The Chiltern Hills stretch from the River Thames in Oxfordshire to Hitchin in Hertfordshire and are nationally-protected as some of the finest countryside in the UK, being an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Made up of uncrowded, rolling green English countryside, they’re a fantastic place to explore all year round. The Carter Company, themselves based in the Chilterns, have introduced the ‘Chilterns Chalk & Cheese’ walking holiday, a six night package including staying at beautiful Hartwell House.

BLETCHLEY PARK
Located 40 minutes by road from Hartwell House. Bletchley Park is a place of exceptional historical importance. It remains highly relevant to our lives today and for the future. It is the home of British code-breaking and the birthplace of modern information technology.

Bletchley Park was the main location for this country’s code-breaking establishment during World War II, producing secret intelligence which had a direct and profound influence on the outcome of the conflict.

Today the site is home to a fascinating heritage attraction telling the story of how boffins such as Alan Turing broke the codes created by German Enigma machines and are credited with saving many thousands of lives and shortening the war by up to two years.

STONOR PARK
A historic country house near Henley, 45 minutes from Hartwell House. Home to the Stonor family for over 850 years, Stonor Park is one of the oldest family homes still lived in today- but it’s no museum. As the oldest member of the Stonor family, the house has a thousand stories to tell.

As well as being architecturally fascinating each room contains a lifetime of experience and anecdote. Discover art and treasures collected from across the globe and view historic maps and documents that reveal generations of service to the country. A stroll through this house is a vivid walk through history.

KEW GARDENS
Located one hour by road from Hartwell House. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew’s mission is to be the global resource for plant and fungal knowledge, building an understanding of the world’s plants and fungi upon which all our lives depend.

Kew contains the most diverse collection of living plants of any botanic garden in the world. The collection contains plants from tropical, temperate, arid and alpine climates, and is grown out in the Gardens and in controlled conditions within glasshouses and nurseries.

HUGHENDEN
Located 30 minutes by road from Hartwell House. Hughenden offers a vivid insight into the charismatic personality and colourful private life of the most unlikely Victorian Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, who lived there from 1848 to 1881. Guests can browse among an extraordinary collection of personal memorabilia.

A secret wartime past is revealed in the Second World War room in the cellars, with interactive exhibits and eye-witness accounts. Experience the immersive wartime displays in our ice house bunker and find out why Hughenden was high on Hitler’s hit list.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
Hartwell House is located in the beautful county of Buckinghamshire. Known for its beautiful countryside and more National Trust historic houses that any other county, Buckinghamshire is sure to provide you with inspiration for what to do.

The south of the county is right on London’s doorstep and is home to the towns of Beaconsfield, Marlow and Amersham. Go north and you will travel through Ayelsbury Vale with its enchanting villages, market towns and magnificant country houses.

The Chiltern Hills are an Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty, with miles of footpaths rambling through beech-wood forests and alongside momentous waterways such as the Thames and Grand Union Canal.

WINDSOR CASTLE
Located 50 minutes by road from Hartwell House. Conquer the Tower Tours – take you inside the Round Tower and up 200 steps to the top of one of the nation’s most iconic landmarks.

From the top, you can fully appreciate the extent of Windsor Castle and enjoy the breath taking views of the historic Windsor parkland, the Thames Valley, the London Skyline and views across several counties.

THE ROYAL MEWS
The City of London is located 45 minutes by train from Hartwell House. The Royal Mews is home to the royal collection of historic coaches and carriages and is considered to be one of the finest working stables in existence.

The Royal Mews is responsible for all road travel arrangements for HM The Queen and members of the Royal Family and is home to the most dazzling display of coaches including the Gold State Coach, which has been used at every coronation since that of George IV in 1821, and The Diamond Jubilee State Coach.

Website: www.hartwell-house.com

Rooms: 47

Price: from 329 EUR per night