Channel 'Downton Abbey' at These 10 English Manor Hotels

A good vacation is about feeling spoiled, and the Good Hotel Guide’s top English manor-house hotels give Downton Abbey a run for its money. Here's how to live out a Downton or Jane Austen fantasy in real life. This article was originally published on November 19.
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    Lords of the Manor, Gloucestershire

    The appropriately titled Lords of the Manor in postcard-perfect Gloucestershire is a country house hotel in the grand old English style, complete with elegant window seats and views of the gardens and the Cotswolds. The Michelin-starred restaurant offers a prix-fixe tasting menu whose items are twists on traditional British fare: Think blackcurrant-and-clove foam and port-marinated duck livers.

  • Lewtrenchard Manor, Devon

    The ancestral home of Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould (best known for writing the hymn "Onward, Christian Soldiers"), Lewtrenchard Manor is filled with light from leaded windows that look out onto the gardens, and with unique features like a gilded leather frieze in the front room.

  • Courtesy Gravetye Manor

    Gravetye Manor, Sussex

    This Elizabethan manor house is stylish through and through, which makes sense considering it was once the home of William Robinson, a revered gardener who encouraged the use of native plants for a casual environment. The gardens live up to their heritage, making them the perfect place to wander in the afternoon before sitting by the fire in an easy chair come evening.

  • Hambleton Hall, Rutland

    The gardens at this former hunting estate two and a half hours north of London are spectacular, with the lake providing an exquisite centerpiece. All the bedrooms are elaborate, but the pinnacle is the suite, located in the nearby croquet pavilion for privacy.

  • Courtesy Lime Wood

    Lime Wood, Hampshire

    Lime Wood is a breathtaking Regency manor house that’s incorporated contemporary design into its updates with seamless good taste. The spa is popular draw—it has a heated outdoor steam pool and a rooftop herb garden where you can meditate.

  • Askham Hall, Cumbria

    Despite its 13th-century origin, there is a distinctly bohemian vibe to this home away from home. In addition to the 15 bedrooms there is a converted wood "party barn," where guests can host events, and it is also the site of a festive holiday market during Christmastime.

  • Starborough Manor, Kent

    This 18th-century manor house at the end of a tree-lined driveway was brought back to life by owners Jonathan and Lynn Mathias. If you’re lucky, you will be greeted by your hosts with oven-fresh scones, plus cream and homemade jam.

  • Whatley Manor, Wiltshire

    This 18th-century manor house, a Relais & Chateaux property, is filled with original artwork and a collection of antique and modern furniture. Despite the historic details, it’s not short on modern luxuries, such as a cinema, spa, and Swiss-style brasserie.

  • Langar Hall, Nottinghamshire

    This stuccoed and apricot-washed Georgian mansion was opened to guests by Imogen Skirving, who inherited the property from her family, and her approach is hands-on and creative. Each room has a theme (for example, "Bohemia" was once an artist’s studio) and sprinkled throughout the property are original features like an 1830s porcelain bathtub. One tip: Don’t forget to try the caramelized-chicory tarte Tatin.

  • Farlam Hall, Cumbria

    Farlam Hall retains its Victorian style inside and out, honoring its 19th-century heritage. The floor-to-ceiling windows in the spacious Hay Loft room add another dimension in this traditional country house, and keeping things traditional, even breakfast has waitress service—no buffets here.