The Great British Bucket List
Where to staycation in the UK once lockdown lifts
With lockdown in full swing, for many of us wanderlust is hitting an all-time high. Although we don’t know when we will be able to head off on our next adventure, it seems likely that the first trips we will be safely allowed to do will be right here in the UK. Whenever it happens, that first trip post lockdown is going to be extra special, therefore we are delighted to share a great British bucket list of places to consider for your first staycation once lockdown lifts. From the most exclusive luxury private estates big enough for all the family to dreamy spa breaks, city explorations, country boltholes, gourmet getaways or even just relishing the freedom to enjoy a picnic with loved ones in the park, here are just a few staycation ideas to inspire…
VOYAGER CLUB
Voyager Club – a hidden gem and luxury travel concierge, is able to curate your dream staycation in ultra private, exclusive estates and villas around the UK. They can even organise your private travel, and a Staycation Wardrobe to be waiting for you on arrival. Everything Voyager Club does is bespoke, with itineraries curated for individual clients’ needs.
One example of an off grid property available from Voyager Club and throughout this summer is this stunning English country estate in Hampshire
Exceptionally private, down a tree-lined avenue, shielded from onlookers and set against a backdrop of 4,000 acres of Hampshire Estate. This private home is located between Basingstoke and Winchester and only a 25 minute drive from Farnborough Airport for private planes – it also has a helicopter landing on the property. A classic English country house, its interior has been recently redesigned, refurbished and fitted with state-of-the-art amenities, whilst preserving its inherent heritage, valuable collection of family books, paintings and furniture. There are 8 reception rooms including a grand dining room, 10 double bedrooms and 1 single – each room with unique views over the Estate.
Included in the rate are all meals planned with and prepared by the in-house chef and including wines from the cellar, premium spirits, mixers and soft drinks. Highest standards are overseen by the House Manager, Housekeeper and their teams. Exceptional onsite facilities include a heated outdoor pool, tennis courts, croquet lawn, cricket field and pavilion, electric bikes, boating and paddle boarding lake, cinema room and billiards room to keep entertained.
Rates on request. From £8,000 + VAT a night. High season from £12,000 a night
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BINGHAM RIVERHOUSE- LUXURY IN LONDON
Following a full refurbishment by award-winning interior designer Nicola Harding, Bingham Riverhouse in Richmond has become a harmonious mix between easy living and private members house.
Fifteen bedrooms, combine calm, comfort and modern craftsmanship for a home-from-home stay. Their River rooms have inspiring or elevated views of the Thames, each named after a work of Michael Field, a pseudonym for Edith Cooper and Katherine Bradley who lived here in 1899 -1910. And to top it all off the restaurant is led by Masterchef: The Professionals winner Stephen Edwards, offering an evolving tasting menu showcasing local and British produce.
Guests can also indulge at bhuti – Bingham’s sister eco-wellbeing escape, 5 minutes walk away. bhuti has a yoga/fitness studio, holistic treatments, complementary therapies, a vegan tea room, members’ space and transformative events. Riverhouse bedroom guests can book classes, relax in the members space and receive enticements on some bhuti’s treatments.
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A GOURMET & WELLNESS GETAWAY WITH THE GAINSBOROUGH BATH SPA
Those looking for true rest and relaxation post lockdown need look no further than YTL Hotels’ The Gainsborough Bath Spa. The only hotel in the UK to offer its visitors the opportunity to access and experience Bath’s famed natural thermal waters.
The hotel’s private water reserve bubbles to the surface at 47 degrees centigrade, packed full of rich natural minerals. Combined with award-winning design and world-class gourmet experiences at Dan Moon at The Gainsborough, the 99-bedroom hotel gives guests a majestic spa and gourmet journey in the heart of Bath that keeps them coming back again and again.
Head Chef Dan Moon is delighted to introduce new summer menus boasting special signature dishes and plant-based options ready for guests to enjoy after lockdown- the ideal antidote to all that home cooking! Nightly rates at The Gainsborough Bath Spa start from £290 on a room-only basis. www.thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk
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THE ACADEMY, BLOOMSBURY – FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DEVELOPED A LOVE FOR LITERATURE DURING LOCKDOWN
For many, lockdown has been a chance to catch up on reading and fully immerse ourselves in the world of books. Those who have a newfound love for literature, or for those who have seen their passion for reading grow even more need not let this go once lockdown lifts. YTL Hotels’ elegant Gower Street property, The Academy, is thrilled to offer guests a series of literary experiences to enjoy in celebration of the hotel’s location, in London’s literary, cultural and intellectual heart.
From literary walks to intimate book club gatherings and a bespoke literary collection cocktail menu, The Academy is a literary hub with its very own story to tell. Book-loving guests looking to follow in the footsteps of Bloomsbury greats who once lived and worked in the neighbourhood need look no further for the ultimate bookish escape.
Rooms at The Academy start from £300. www.theacademyhotel.co.uk
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SUNNY REUNIONS WITH CONRAD LONDON ST. JAMES’ PICNICS IN THE PARK
While staying home and staying safe many of us are starting to dream of brighter days ahead when we will finally be able to meet friends and family in the park as the sun shines over London. After being stuck indoors for so long, there will be no better way to enjoy good company and the fresh outdoors than Conrad London St. James’ luxury picnic hamper. Prepared by Executive Chef Michael Riordan, guests can pick up their portable feast packed with homemade treats before finding the perfect picnic spot in St. James’s Park, just a two-minute walk from the hotel. Conrad London St. James’s ready-made picnic hamper offers a contemporary British menu, using fresh, tasty, regional ingredients, so when soggy sandwiches don’t quite cut the mustard you know where to go!
Prices for the picnic hamper start from £26 per person. Nightly rates at Conrad London St. James start from £317 on a room only basis. For reservations and more information please visit www.conradhotels.com/london or call 020 3301 8080.
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RUBY LUCY, LONDON
Ruby Hotels, the Munich-based hotel brand and pioneer of the ‘Lean Luxury’ philosophy, has launched its first UK property in London’s Southbank. The new 76-room hotel, Ruby Lucy, forms part of an ambitious expansion plan for Ruby Hotels to unveil a total of eleven new hotels – including a second London property – by 2022.
Enjoying a prime position on the Southbank’s Lower Marsh, Ruby Lucy’s interior design is inspired by the area’s bustling fairs and markets, entertainment and theatre scene, with a carnival theme running throughout the hotel. Rich, dark tones meet bright brass accents and subtle stripes, accented with playful props including circus drums and juggling pins. Nightly rates at Ruby Lucy start from £119 per night. For more information please visit www.ruby-hotels.com.
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DEDICATED BENEFITS FOR A BRITISH BREAK WITH LITTLE EMPERORS
Little Emperors, the private members luxury hotel club has announced its best British breaks, all of which offer incredible dedicated benefits. Start by experiencing undeniably enticing luxury rooms at Clivedon House in Berkshire which is nestled within almost 400acres of National Trust parkland. Then explore the tranquil water garden, fitness trail through the grounds or find your way out of the Clivedon Maze. Next the Four Seasons Hampshire offers perfect luxury in which to reconnect in a family-friendly environment. This restored 18th Century Manor House with rolling hills to ride along on horse-back also has beautiful lush gardens to explore on foot. And lastly, for cider drinkers, head to The Newt in Somerset where you can stay in a beautiful Georgian Country Estate and learn about the advanced cold-press processes used to make their cider.
Little Emperors promises to deliver value in luxury like never seen before offering unparalleled benefits and a lowest price guarantee. The company works with 35,000 members and over 4,000 of the very best luxury hotels around the world. With an impressive portfolio of properties from 5-star luxury hotels to design city boutiques, Little Emperors really is best-kept secret in travel – so good, you don’t want to miss it! Little Emperors most popular British hotels include:
Clivedon House, Four Seasons Hampshire, The Newt, The Langley, Thyme, Heckfield Place, Beaverbrook. Little Emperors annual membership fees starts from £250. Tel + 44 203 178 4984 or email info@littleemperors.com.
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STAY IN A RENOVATED FACTORY IN THE HEART OF THE NEW FOREST WITH OLIVER’S TRAVELS
Nestled within the New Forest National Park, The Brick House is a beautifully renovated factory situated on the edge of the privately owned Beaulieu River. Beautiful brickwork and modern amenities bring together a perfect mix of old and new while the welcome addition of a yurt in the warmer months allows space to invite a few more guests or use as a magical outdoor hideaway for younger guests.
The New Forest is brimming with fun family activities including kayaking, canoeing and archery. Guests can brave some wild-swimming in the nearby pontoon or take the boat taxi from the house downstream to a local pub for a spot of dinner. The Brick House comfortably sleeps up to eight guests across five well-appointed bedrooms. Rates from £1,350 for a three-night stay or from £2,448 for a seven-night stay. To book, visit www.oliverstravels.com or call 0800 133 7999.
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FOR THE BIG REUNION! THE COPSE, OXFORDSHIRE – THIRDHOME RENTALS
This seven-bedroom country house near Henley-on-Thames is ideal for a friends and family get-together. The property offers a cinema room and hot tub, in addition its location in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty makes it a great option for those wanting to enjoy some outdoor pursuits. Available through THIRDHOME Rentals. Nightly rates from £1,350. For more information, please visit www.thirdhome.com.