weekend warriors // exploring the british countryside

With the romantic planting her feet firmly in London, it’s safe to say that many British reunions are in our future. But while we adore the capital city, we’ve been thinking lately that our next rendezvous should involve some branching out. We’re more than a little ready to head off on a roadtrip, exploring the British countryside.

Unfortunately, we don’t have any concrete plans at the moment. But there is plenty of inspiration to be found throughout this fine island! There are so many places that make us dream of rubber boots and Harris tweed and jodhpurs and mixing plaids. When our wanderlust gets the best of us (read: often), we find ourselves browsing the London car rental scene. You can bet we love scrolling through the websites of gorgeous manor homes that would make the Crawleys swoon.

We obviously know that sharing is caring. After much research, these are the spots that make us wish we could move into a manor house. Like, yesterday…

Babington House Somerset // Babington House’s food and drink menu alone is enough to have us jumping in a car and heading west to Somerset. We’ll take one of every item on the Sunday brunch menu, please and thank you! Babbington House is part of the Soho House club collection. From what we can tell, it basically perfectly encapsulates everything we’d want and need for a luxe English countryside getaway. If we could just have permanent access to the Walled Garden Rooms, our lives would be complete.

The Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire // You already know we’re fans of the Four Seasons brand (remember that time we stayed in a palace?). We have no doubt that a countryside retreat to the Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire would be right up our alley. Hotel Hampshire has all the requisite countryside activities, from tennis and golf to boat rides along the Basingstoke Canal, and even an equestrian center for those that want to dust off their horseback riding skills.  MAJOR BONUS: the Hotel can help arrange a visit to Highclere Castle — aka Downtown Abbey — making all our dreams of becoming true English ladies a reality. Plus, the Hotel is dog friendly, meaning pug can join us for all the fun. See ya soon, Hampshire.

The Pig Near Bath // Bath is easily one of the most adorable towns in England, and this country retreat just outside the city is equally as charming. It’s a bit more rustic than our other picks. If that means deer ambling about and the house’s chickens roaming the lawns, though, then we are ALL about it. Our biggest issue might be deciding exactly which room we’d claim. Do we want comfy luxe with charming wood paneling, or BIG comfy luxe with in-room clawfoot tubs?! Don’t make us choose, we’ll just try them all.

Whatley Manor // Ok, so this one might actually get checked off the list sooner than we’re letting on, but that’s all we’re going to say for now. The romantic adored almost everything about her first visit to The Cotswolds last autumn… except for their hotel pick. This means a return is in order, and Whatley Manor is just the place to make up for what the first visit lacked. Beautiful gardens, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and a luxury spa? Yeah, it’ll do.

Stapleford Park // To be totally honest, we saw the snow-covered photo on the homepage and that was enough to inspire endless visions of Christmas sweaters by roaring fires, with red wine and sugar cookies aplenty. Tell us seriously, can you picture anywhere more adorable to wake up on Christmas morning than in a 4-poster bed surrounded by massive windows overlooking a snow-covered field? SANTA, CAN YOU HEAR US?

So, tell us! Which is your favorite? Or, more importantly: which did we leave out?!

xo!

the romantic & the wino