It’s a pretty big year for us Anglophiles at VERANDA. For starters, there’s the 200th anniversary celebration of Lee Jofa, the venerated textile brand behind decorating staples like its Hollyhock pattern and blockbuster collaborations with designers like Bunny Williams, Sarah Bartholomew, and Paolo Moschino. (You can read more about in our first-first ever British Isles issue, on newsstands—and here—August 24.)
Plus, three of our favorite television franchises are returning with new episodes this year: Apple TV’s Ted Lasso season 3 dropped earlier this spring, Netflix’ Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story premieres May 4, 2023, and we expect Netflix’s The Crown to return for its sixth and final season in November or December.
Oh—and there’s the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla. From the musings about what tiaras will be worn and the covet-worthy coronation souvenirs to the symbolic invitations and mouth-watering menu (think Coronation Quiche, not chicken), the details of this history-making event have captured our attention and stoked our ever-growing fervor for all things English.
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So much so, in fact, that several of us have recently taken or planned trips to England. Our favorite itinerary of late combines a culture- and shopping-rich sojourn in London with an idyllic return to nature in the countryside, delivering the very best of both worlds. The key to making this multi-stop trip flow seamlessly is a pair of hotels that feel and function in every sense more like luxuriously appointed homes staffed with gracious and knowledgeable “hosts.” Here’s how you can live like a royal on your next holiday in England with the ultimate town and country escape.
Start Your Trip in Town with Cozy Luxury
Arriving at Beaverbrook Townhouse in London’s leafy Chelsea neighborhood feels like coming home to the urban retreat of your dreams. Comprising a pair of Georgian townhouses opposite Cadogan Gardens, one of Chelsea’s largest private (or locked) squares, Townhouse features bespoke interiors designed by Nicola Harding in 2021 and is rich in color, texture, and thoughtful invocations of history, personality, and sense of place.
Upon arrival, guests are greeted by hosts in a convivial yet cozy library that doubles as reception, setting the tone for a personal, and very residential, welcome. There are curated and personal collections everywhere—from books and vases to colorful art chosen by Beaverbrook Creative Director Sir Frank Lowe—reinforcing the homey vibe.
Each of the hotel’s atmospheric suites, which are named for and inspired by London’s iconic theaters, are uniquely designed with sumptuous upholstery, trimmed curtains, and colorfully tiled baths—making each guest feel as though she her own home away from home. The design of Townhouse’s bar and restaurant, featuring Japanese cuisine with produce sourced from Beaverbrook Estate in Surrey, is equally as alluring, with glossy blue paneled walls, Japanese block prints, custom stained glass and tile installations, and transportive lantern lighting.
With such beguiling interiors, it’s tempting to stay “home” all day to enjoy them—but there is much to do in beautiful London. Townhouse hosts are well-equipped to facilitate dinner and theater reservations, map out a day of shopping, and organize access to the city’s top museums and other sightseeing spots. Best of all, a stay at Townhouse comes with exclusive access to Cadogan Gardens, the site of London’s Botanic Garden in the 18th century and now home to a mix of sunny lawns, pollinator meadow gardens, and tree-lined paths that include some rare, 300 year-old Mulberry trees.
Travel to Surrey on the Thames
After several days of shopping, sightseeing, and theater in London, it’s time to make your way to Beaverbrook Estate in Surrey. Townhouse hosts can arrange for luggage transport to the Estate, allowing you to make your way to the countryside unencumbered. Take advantage of this flexibility with a more scenic route along the Thames with Thames River Boats.
Departing from Westminster Pier, a traditional Thames River boat will ferry you west under London’s historic bridges and through neighborhoods such as Chelsea and Battersea to Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. Once there, take a stroll along its colorful border walks, visit the Temperate House, the world’s largest Victorian glasshouse, and stop in at the Marianne North gallery to see more than 800 of the artist’s botanical paintings on display. Thames River Boats will also take you to Hampton Court Palace, the 16th century home of Henry VIII, if you have more time. When you are finished sightseeing for the day, head to Beaverbrook Estate via car service or taxi.
Discover Grandeur and Respite in the Country
In contrast to the cozy welcome at Townhouse, arrival at Beaverbrook Estate is fueled with anticipation, thanks to a scenic drive through the property’s rolling hills and past its gardens and cottages. (Cue the arrival scenes from the historical drama series Downton Abbey.) Reception, complete with a handsomely outfitted, friendly team of hosts, for all guests takes place in the foyer of the Estate, which sits atop a ridge with sweeping views of its terraced gardens surrounded by distant woodlands.
It remarkable how quickly you’ll feel at home in this Victorian mansion originally built in 1866 for businessman Abraham Dixon. Nearly half a century later, the home was bought by Lord Beaverbrook, a media mogul, politician, and minister of aircraft production during World War II. (A silhouette of a Spitfire airplane serves as Beaverbrook’s logo.) The new owner made several significant early 20th century upgrades to the home, including the installation of electricity, a swimming pool, and one of the first home theaters in the United Kingdom.
In 2017, Beaverbrook Estate opened as a hotel, adding the Coach House Spa in 2019, with winks and nods to its most well-known resident throughout. For example, Lord Beaverbrook had many a famous friend, including Winston Churchill and Rudyard Kipling, and here the suites are named for his famed guests at his country home. His home theater has been revived, and the Estate hosts three movie showings a day for guests. Designer Susie Atkinson collaborated with creative director Sir Frank Lowe to create the most sumptuous living spaces, from the shell pink morning room and the pale gray dining room enlivened with wildly colorful butterfly prints to Sir Frank’s Bar, which opens onto the terrace.
Ease and comfort mix so harmoniously here that you truly won’t want to leave—that is until it’s time for your spa appointment at The Coach House, which just may be the world’s most beautiful spa. Designed in collaboration with contemporary artist Brian Clarke, the spa features canopies of brilliant stained-glass ceilings and colorful ceramic tile walls, visually establishing the spa’s philosophy of “nurture in nature” as you pass through its entry and hallways to bright treatment rooms and the indoor and outdoor pools.
If you find yourself wanting to explore further, the property has its own walking and biking trails and the charming town of Leatherhead is a short walk or drive from the estate. Furthermore, plenty of historic homes and gardens, including Windsor Castle, are within an hour’s drive from the Estate. That said, it’s difficult to pull yourself away from the luxe life at Beaverbrook, complete with three top dining experiences including the farm-to-table Garden House Restaurant.
After tagging on a countryside visit to our bustling London itinerary, we will never go back to our old ways. This trip strikes the perfect balance between cultural immersion and complete restoration, proving that you truly can have the perfect town and country weekend in England.
