We all love a good trip away, whether it’s a vacation or staycation.
Just an hour’s drive from London is a lovely village offering an ideal escape from the city.
According to CN Traveller, it’s home to one of the best hotels in the world.
Only two UK hotels featured on the list and one of them is in the pretty village of Hook.
The impressive Heckfield Place is a renovation of a glorious Georgian manor house.
Hook is a wonderful place in the north of Hampshire, boasting the a peaceful and unspoilt, picturesque countryside.
The village is located in Hart District Council, which previously carried the title ‘Best Place to Live in the UK’ in Halifax’s Quality of Life Survey on numerous occasions.
Heckfield Place opened in 2018 following more than a decade of works to give it this impressive restoration.
The hotel stays true to its Georgian charm yet is also beautifully modern with the delightful design by Ben Thompson.
All rooms come with lovely views of the stunning landscape and have their own character. Double rooms start at a price of £350 per night.
Signature rooms are the most ‘discreet and spectacular’ spaces and the Long Room is the most exclusive of them all. It comes with a private dining terrace, breathtaking views, chandeliers, working fireplaces and a cocktail cabinet.
The most simple rooms are the Friends Rooms. Still magnificent, they come with 20th Century and Georgian furniture, beautiful artwork and range between 33m² and 39m².
Heckfield Place stands on 400 acres of secluded Hampshire landscape and offers an array of things to do- there’s even a farm on the grounds and a cinema in the house.
In their Lower Lake you can go fishing, take a dip for some wild swimming and row along peacefully in a boat.
Or, take a Pilates class, enjoy a guided bike tour and do some bird watching.
In 2022, the hotel will also be opening a new amazing spa, The Bothy.
Of course, no hotel could be one of the best in Europe without some amazing food being served.
Heckfield Place boasts two restaurants overseen by the seasonal-eating sensation, Skye Gyngell.
Dine on pared-back cooking at Marle or enjoy open-fire cooked dishes at Hearth.
In the pretty Glass House, you can experience a freshly made afternoon tea, or perhaps sip on a cocktail in the Moon Bar. Down in the cellar, treat yourself to a wine tasting.
On Google, the hotel is rated 4.7 stars and reviews say the food is ‘fabulous’, many guests praise it as ‘one of the best places’ they’ve ever stayed at.
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How to get there
To reach Hook, drive west from London and along the M3. On a good day, it’ll take you about an hour.
Or, you can take the train from Waterloo to Winchfield before a short bus to Hook. That will take around an hour and a half.
Will you be booking a night away as something to look forward to in 2022?
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