As a royal editor, I’ve been to London more than my fair share of times. Royal events are certainly fun, but after an action-packed week in London and Eton attending Trooping the Colour, Garter Day and Royal Ascot, I was looking to decompress and get away from the crowds without being too far from the airport. My ideal hotel experience involves feeling like I’m in the middle of a Masterpiece drama but with a spa, dining and maybe even a bit of falconry. Throw in some horses, and I’m sold—and that’s how I found Lucknam Park.
Located about an hour-and-a-half from London in the Wiltshire countryside, Lucknam Park is a close drive to Bath and numerous Cotswolds villages. But with 500 acres of parkland, the historic estate gives you plenty of peace, quiet and privacy, making you feel completely removed from the outside world.
Lucknam Park was turned into a grand mansion by the Wallis family in the late 1600s and early 1700s.
(Image credit: Lucknam Park)
Roses climb up the walls of the suites and guest rooms facing the hotel’s courtyard.
(Image credit: Kristin Contino)
While I’m a certified horse girl, you certainly don’t need to be a rider to enjoy a trip to the area, as my friend Lauren can attest. Whether you want to make it a spa weekend, pretend you’re an extra in Bridgerton while visiting the city of Bath or drink tea in the wood-paneled library, read on for my guide to the ultimate English countryside girls’ trip.
Riding and Country Pursuits
Meet my new friend, Cindy.
(Image credit: Kristin Contino)
As a horse girl, the biggest attraction for me was Lucknam Park’s equestrian offerings, so my ride around the estate was the highlight of the trip. Accompanied by an instructor, my pony Cindy and I walked, trotted and cantered through the forest and fields of flowers while meeting some wildlife and just taking in the stunning views. I only took up horseback riding a few years ago as an adult, and my instructor gave me some incredibly helpful pointers during our time together that I’ve been able to apply to my riding back home.
For non-riders, the hotel offers everything from duck herding (really, this is a thing!) to croquet, cycling, archery, falconry, picnics, garden walks and clay pigeon shooting. Although I forgot my swimsuit, the hotel also has a beautiful indoor pool area located within the relaxing spa—next time I’ll definitely be taking advantage of a massage.
Rooms and Dining
The living room in Lucknam Park’s Lilac Suite.
(Image credit: Lucknam Park)
One of my favorite parts of staying at Lucknam Park was how homey it feels. With only 42 rooms, you’re certainly not a number, and we got to know the wonderful staff by name. Guest rooms are situated in the main country house, the rose cottage or around the courtyard, where our room, the Lilac Suite, was located, and thoughtful touches include shelves of wellies and Barbour jackets available for loan.
We enjoyed an elegant dinner at the hotel’s Michelin-starred Restaurant Hywel Jones as well as more casual meals at the Walled Garden restaurant, where breakfast, lunch and dinner is served either indoors or al fresco. One of my favorite details was the map showing where the different ingredients were sourced from around the region.
Day Trips
The picturesque village of Lacock is a short drive away from Lucknam Park.
(Image credit: Kristin Contino)
Our top priority was visiting Bath, and since it was less than 30 minutes away, it made for a great way to spend the morning and early afternoon before we had afternoon tea at the hotel. With plenty of attractions like the Roman Baths, The Jane Austen Centre and Bath Abbey, you can make your outing as busy or as laid-back as you want. Since I’d already done all of the above on prior trips and we were more interested in wandering, my friend and I spent a happy day shopping and admiring the Regency architecture.
There’s nothing I love more than exploring a quaint English village, so I was excited to discover that the village of Lacock, where numerous scenes in the Harry Potter movies were filmed, was less than 20 minutes away from the hotel. Unfortunately, Lacock Abbey closed at 5 p.m. and we arrived around 4:30, but we were able to head into a few shops and check out the beautiful timber-framed homes, some of which date back to the 13th century. My friend and I found the cutest shop with locally made soaps, candles and leather bags, and I bought myself a leather horse keychain as a reminder of our trip.
How to Get There
The vast alleyway of trees on the estate served as a hiding place for British Spitfires during World War II.
(Image credit: Lucknam Park)
I was traveling with an English friend who had her car with her, so she drove us from Eton to Lucknam Park. But if you’re arriving by air, Bristol airport is an hour away, and London Heathrow is roughly an hour and a half from the hotel. I highly recommend Executive Cars of Bath for a private car service, and there’s also a train station in Chippenham or Bath. While having access to a rental car would be ideal, the hotel is also situated amongst some fairly wild, one-lane country roads that aren’t for the faint of heart—if you’re a nervous driver and/or not used to driving on the British side of the road, stick to hiring a taxi for day trips.
My British Countryside Essentials
Enjoying golden hour at Lucknam Park.
(Image credit: Kristin Contino)
Penelope Chilvers
Mary Jane Suede Espadrille
The Duchess of Edinburgh is perhaps the world’s number-one espadrille fan, and her beloved Penelope Chilvers shoes saw me through dinners and drinks at Lucknam Park.
Vineyard Vines
Kentucky Derby Tiered Maxi Dress
This might technically be a Kentucky Derby print, but blue and white toile plus horses work just as well in the British countryside, too.
ESSĒN
The Pebble Earring – Recycled 18k Gold
A go-with-everything earring means less to think about when packing, and these striking studs are a smaller version of Essen’s The Drop earrings worn by Meghan Markle.
My navy dotted version has since sold out, but this floaty dress got me stopped in the garden by a lovely woman who wanted to tell me how pretty it was.
Demellier
The Small Hudson
Other than at Royal Ascot, I used this icy blue version of Princess Kate’s Demellier Small Hudson bag every day of my U.K. trip. Despite its small size, this bag fits a surprising amount, and the removable crossbody strap gives it extra versatility.
![Jisulife Portable Handheld Fan Life9, Turbo Power High Speed Air [18h Max Cooling Time], 5 Gear Wind, 5000mah Rechargeable, Mini Pocket Design, Personal Fan for Travel Concerts Camping Makeup - Grey](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mUi4AK7CW2fYyexkuGS7rQ-1920-80.jpg.webp)
JISULIFE
Jisulife Portable Handheld Fan
Since most places don’t have air conditioning, summer in the U.K. calls for a portable fan, and this one fits neatly in my bag.
