8 Stately Homes You Can Spend The Night In

Cowdray House, West Sussex

Set in 110 acres of private gardens, grounds and parkland, Cowdray House is a striking place to gather with friends and family. It was home to Cowdray Estate’s original polo field, commonly referred to as the ‘House Ground’, and guests today can enjoy polo lessons on the new field as part of their stay. All Cowdray House’s 22 luxury bedrooms include super-king or king-sized beds, high-speed wifi, luxury toiletries and Nespresso machines, plus Cowdray-embossed towels, robes and slippers. Of the lot, we like the look of the Crystal room, which comes with an en-suite, an adjoining dressing room and a walk-in shower. The room overlooks the front gardens and has extensive views of the South Downs. Don’t forget to stock up at the on-site well-filled farm shop on the way home.

Cowdray Park, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 0AY
Visit Cowdray.co.uk 

Frampton Court, Gloucestershire

Frampton on Severn lies close to the east bank of the River Severn in Gloucestershire and is well known for its traditional summer cricket on Rosamund’s Green and Frampton Country Fair in the autumn. The Clifford family, who have owned the estate for over 1,000 years, have diversified from farming in recent years and now offer a host of wonderful places to stay. The two grandest houses on the estate – the striking timber-framed 16th-century manor and the splendid 18th-century Frampton Court – face each other across the village green. Within the court itself, we like the look of the pretty Flora Room which comes with an original 18th-century fireplace and blue and white Bristol Delft tiles. The bedroom is light and airy and Frampton Flora watercolours hang on the walls. There’s also an en-suite bathroom, with a bath, basin and separate shower, plus lovely views across the north end of the park and the orangery. 

Frampton on Severn, Gloucestershire, GL2 7EP
Visit FramptonCourtEstate.co.uk

Sibton Park, Suffolk 

This Grade II*-listed Georgian country house was designed by the celebrated architect Decimus Burton. The manor was built in 1827 and has giant Ionic pillars creating a dramatic portico entrance. Inside you’ll find a number of reception rooms with classic Georgian proportions, a drawing room with listed Chinese wallpaper, open fires, antique furniture and chandeliers alongside discreet technology. Upstairs, there are 12 bedrooms with Hypnos beds, eclectic furnishings and views through large sash windows. Eleven en-suite marble-floored bathrooms have underfloor heating, luxurious fittings and most have roll-top baths, as well as power showers. The dining room is a grand affair perfect for celebrations and bringing friends and family together. For more informal dining, there is the large kitchen with wood-burner, Aga and deer-antler chandeliers. There’s also a gym, cinema and games room.

Sibton, Suffolk, IP17 2LZ
Visit WildernessReserve.com

Clevedon Hall, Somerset

Clevedon Hall is a Victorian mansion house on the coast in Clevedon in North Somerset. The house offers 25 bedrooms sleeping up to 50 guests, all with en-suites and some with dressing rooms and sitting rooms. This a private and exclusive venue offering five-star, bespoke hospitality services – the Great Hall and Great Library are both excellent places to throw a party. Partnerships with local suppliers allows the team to offer activities across its 17 acres of land, such as clay-pigeon shooting, paintballing, quad biking, geese herding, kayaking and canoeing in the recently renovated marine Marlens Lake – perfect for those with children. The sea is within walking distance, as is Clevedon Pier and the village of Clevedon itself.

Clevedon, Somerset, BS21 7RH
Visit ClevedonHall.co.uk

Cadhay, Devon 

Cadhay is an historic Tudor manor house dating back to 1550, offering luxurious self-catering accommodation for up to 22 people. The house is located at Ottery St Mary in rural East Devon, ten miles east of Exeter and six miles from the sea at Sidmouth. While Cadhay offers history and grandeur of centuries past, the house itself is far from a museum (although it is open the public on Friday afternoons between May and September). Instead, the family home has been beautifully transformed into a house used for family gatherings and groups wanting a large house to stay in together for a special occasion. The accommodation is set over three floors: guests can choose whether to stay in a traditional four-poster bed or a more contemporary version hand-crafted by Cadhay’s furniture-maker owner, while children can sleep under the eaves in the cosy attic rooms. If you’re in need of extra space, two of holiday cottages sleep six and a third sleeps two. 

Ottery Saint Mary, Devon, EX11 1QT
Visit Cadhay.org.uk

Thorpe Manor, Oxfordshire 

Thorpe Manor is a Grade II*-listed Georgian manor built in the mid-1600s in the style of Thomas Archer. The original owner was Thomas and Mary Kirton, a first cousin of Oliver Cromwell. Over the last two and a half years, current owners Henry and Natasha have managed the extensive works to restore the manor. Fourteen contemporary bedrooms come with rainfall showers and roll-top baths, 100% Egyptian cotton sheets, period details, Roberts radios and room service. Within the house, there’s also a bar, games room, relaxing drawing room and flower room, while outside offers a courtyard for al fresco dining, plus a hot tub and croquet lawn. 

Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX17 2HR
Visit ThorpeManorHouse.co.uk