Following an idyllic stay at the Newt in Somerset (which you can read about here) we made our way to a much anticipated long weekend at Estelle Manor the very chic country house hotel and members club in the Cotswolds (Oxfordshire to be exact). Since opening just a couple of years ago E.M. is on the top of every Instagram Influencer’s travel wishlist. Not just relying on Influencers, I have had several friends who have visited and unequivocally loved it, subsequently suggesting it was right up my alley.
The real question is should a trip to Estelle Manor be on your wishlist?
As we approached the manor house my initial reaction was YES, this is perfection, it is absolutely gorgeous.
My second and third impressions were also very favorable, the decor and details at Estelle Manor completely vibe with my aesthetic- major maximalism in the most iconic setting. One caveat of this review; photos within the manor house, including the restaurants, spa, and public spaces are forbidden. Because at its heart it is a members club there is a very strict no photography policy which I abided by. Luckily our room was fair game as were exteriors.
Check-in was quite civilized and attentive, and once the paperwork was out of the way and dinner reservations confirmed we were taken on a quick tour of the property which ended up at our home for the weekend, an Estate Suite, because honestly, if I am going to stay in a historic manor house I wast to feel like a Queen, or at least a Duchess.
The Suite was air conditioned (thank goodness following our un-air-conditioned stay at the Newt), vast, and beautifully appointed. Best of all were our views of the pool as well as flocks of sheep. Included in our room rate were non-alcoholic drinks though not snacks (aside from two small jars of cookies/crackers) which was slightly surprising tbh.
For those who really want all the details check out these videos.
One note: the pool which seemed peaceful and serene from this vantage point was utter madness by the time we went down to grab a chair. It seemed that each and every member of Estelle Manor feeling the intense heat in London packed up their children, their nannies, their in-laws AND their dogs and made the trek to the countryside.
After checking out all of the nooks and crannies in our suite we decided to explore a little bit outside, ultimately ending up poolside. The abundance of farm animals brought a smile to my face, and the gardens were lovely.
Besides sheep, horses and goats there were several owls and hawks including GG shown below; he/she (?) seemed to thrive on attention.
On property there are endless activities to engage in, but one big draw is the Roman inspired Eynsham Baths Spa where you can spend hours soaking in a progression of different temperature baths both inside and out ranging from frigid cold plunges to steamy hot saunas. This was fun(?) and I know there are health benefits but because the property was so overcrowded it seemed a bit like a YMCA; luckily everyone was friendly which was a good thing as we were really packed in (even with timed appointments).
Aside from the baths we scheduled massages which were quite nice and relaxing.
As you might guess, photos were forbidden in this entire complex, with a staff member making sure to place a sticker over everyone’s camera as they entered.
As we visited during the World Cup a TV was set up outside to watch England play . Thankfully they ended up winning because the crowd was not going to be happy if they lost. I’m not sure if the heat made everyone a little nutty but the generally reserved Brits were big on tossing all kinds of trash on what should have been a pristine lawn.
Speaking to disappointing behavior, as I mentioned there were hordes of people trying to beat the heat, a mix of families (there were two children’s swim hours mid-morning and mid-afternoon), finance bros, gaggles of 20 something year old women and loads of dogs. If you have ever fought for a seat at a Four Season’s over Christmas break, you can imagine the vibe at the Estelle Manor Pool.
The service was non-existent with abandoned dishes and glasses sitting for hours and a lack of towels to meet the needs of the guests. Lets just say I was not feeling like a Queen!
If you do pay a visit to Estelle Manor make sure you take some time to explore the Cotswolds, truly some of the most beautiful landscape and architecture on earth. We hired a driver/tour guide through a company called Queen of Clubs and thoroughly enjoyed our day driving from town to town.
While it remained scorchingly hot it didn’t detract from the stunning scenery, below is Upper Slaughter.
There are so many towns to choose from, but I would say you shouldn’t miss Broadway. There were about 20 properties (no exaggeration) that I could have very happily purchased and sent for all of our belongings.
The Porch House in Stow-on-the-Wold has the distinction of being the oldest Inn in England dating back to 947 AD and that is where we opted to have lunch. There is very little that dates back that long ago, but it is an adorable place to dine and the food was quite good, especially my husband’s fish and chips.
So…the question is would I recommend Estelle Manor? I would most certainly not recommend it during a heatwave! I am sure we would have had a completely different impression if we visited during the fall but I think I got the gist of it and don’t need to return for a second stay.
If you are planning a visit no matter the season here are some tips:
Do not pack lightly, this is a fashion forward crowd, everyone is dressed to impress.
There are many different restaurants on property and I would advise you to book dinners well ahead of your stay. In order of preference:
1. The Billiards Room which is truly excellent Chinese in a gorgeous setting.
2.The Armoury is Japanese and very good.
3. The Glass House located in a beautiful garden setting is a more informal option. We dined there for dinner one night with my husband opting for Italian dishes while I had Indian and our experience was good, not great. Breakfast is served there on the weekends which I would avoid unless you want to be surrounded by little kids in highchairs.
4. The Brasserie is the weakest option in my opinion, our one lunch there on our first day was excessively salty/ verging on inedible. Breakfast both buffet and à la carte is offered there daily though sadly my husband found a long hair in his eggs (he is bald so it wasn’t his) which kind of ruined our subsequent meals there.
One thing to mention, the service in all the restaurants was very professional and attentive, with a special shout out to the hard working and knowledgable Sommelier who seemed to pop up at every venue we were dining at.
A stay at Estelle Manor is pricey especially when you take into consideration only breakfast is included in your room rate (as well as a session in the baths for those in the Estelle Suites), and while it is a beautiful property I really don’t think the value is there. I would return to the Newt in a heartbeat, but sadly I think I am one and done at Estelle.
I would love to hear from you if you have visited Estelle Manor and had a similar or different experience. When Sunday came we were packed and ready to head to London, our last stop of the trip. Stay tuned!