With every episode of Bridgerton, the English countryside becomes more and more enticing. The show, which opens on Grosvenor Square in London, paints an alluring and effortlessly posh picture of London in 1813. It’s easy to get swept up in the lives of the Bridgertons, with their truly delightful sibling dynamics and Pride and Prejudice-esque frocks, and the same could be said for the atmosphere of their regal city manor. As the show unfolds, so too does the scenery, taking us (in horse-drawn carriages, of course) to Cliveden House and the greater English countryside. For those aching to follow in Bridgerton’s footsteps and reside in the most opulent Victorian London homes and over-the-top UK castles, we’ve rounded up the very best English manor hotels (both in London and the surrounding countryside) to serve as future travel inspiration for Bridgerton-fueled vacations across the pond.
The Mayfair Townhouse, London
The Mayfair Townhouse feels very much like the over-the-top city manor in which Lady Danbury resides—and where she hosts her well-attended balls. In reality, The Mayfair Townhouse was one of the most highly anticipated 2020 hotel openings in the UK—it just opened in September 2020. The Mayfair Townhouse—in Mayfair, which is also home to Grosvenor Square—actually consists of 15 adjoining Georgian townhouses outfitted with 172 rooms. The Swarovski crystal-swathed common spaces, the Dandy Bar, and the so-called “non-traditional dining room” (very up Lady Danbury’s alley), are as intimate-feeling as they are luxurious. As for Mayfair Townhouse’s rooms and suites, each seems more lavish than the last—we recommend a townhouse signature or multiroom suite, like the two-bedroom garden suite. The décor is perhaps a little modern as compared to Danbury House, but it suits 2021 quite nicely.
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The Newt in Somerset, Somerset
The Newt in Somerset’s gardens are where we’d imagine the Duke of Hastings would adjourn after dinner with a slice of gooseberry pie. The Georgian estate was once a country seat for the Hobhouse family, so the property certainly has a history worthy of The Ton. With gardens that grow fresh produce used in the kitchen and an apple cider press and cellar on the property, guests eat and drink quite well here. The Newt’s spa is, well, far more advanced than any 1800s beauty regimen—it’s one of the most lavish in the UK with a hamman, steam room, sauna, and indoor-outdoor pool.
Cliveden House, Berkshire
Those who have watched the full season of Bridgerton know Cliveden House, in fact, becomes the home of one of our main characters. Now an American Express Fine Hotel & Resorts and a Relais & Châteaux property, Lady Whistledown would certainly approve of this five-star castle in Berkshire. For an out-of-the-ordinary experience, stay at Spring Cottage, a three-bedroom right on the banks of the River Thames. Or, to live the classic castle life fit for a Bridgerton, stay in one of two Mansion House Parterre Suites, named for the Prince of Wales and Lady Astor.
Coworth Park, Berkshire
A Dorchester Collection hotel, and an iconic Ascot castle, Coworth Park, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property, is known for their Michelin-starred dining and beautiful spa. Should Anthony Bridgerton, the young viscount, take a wife next season (if we’re granted a season two, that is), we’d imagine that he’d come into an estate of this grandiose nature, given that he is technically Lord Bridgerton. Days here are filled with polo games (run by Guards Polo Academy experts), idyllic walks on the 240 acres of Berkshire grounds, and evenings spent in the more secluded gardener’s cottages, or the mansion house premium suites, fit for the queen herself.
The Goring, London
Kate Middleton spent the night before her wedding at The Goring, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property, so the hotel really does have a royal reputation the Featheringtons would be envious of. The “impeccably English” five-star hotel in Belgravia sports Victorian-inspired décor, and the Goring Cocktail Bar offers an extensive Champagne list the highest-ranking members of The Ton would approve of. The Goring, which has been run by the Goring family since opening in 1910, is known for their enchanting gardens, proper high tea, and of course, their Royal Suite.
Belmond Le Manoir aux Quatre Saisons, Oxfordshire
Belmond Le Manoir aux Quatre Saisons, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property in charming Oxford, is the ivy-covered, exposed brick castle dreams are made of. In a property dating back to the 15th-century (indeed, those are lineage roots the Bridgertons would approve of), with a twice Michelin-starred restaurant and a culinary school for guests to enjoy, the old-world English glamour is tangible here. Traverse the grounds, passing the English water garden, mushroom valley, and orchard, and try your (gloved) hand at releasing birds of prey, with help from the birding experts. Stay in a suite overlooking the courtyard, so you can wake to the view of lavender-lined gardens and centuries-old stonework.
Templeton House, London
Templeton House, originally completed in the late 1700s and home to a baroness, reopened in 2019 after a seven-year, $40 million renovation. Now a magnificent, 28,000-square-foot, eight-bedroom estate available as a vacation rental from Richstone Properties, the iconic Georgian home near Richmond Park looks to be plucked directly from the Bridgerton set. And, in reality, the timing, architectural style, and striking interior design—bespoke crystal chandeliers and all—align nicely with the show; so nicely that Templeton House has already been used as a Downton Abbey shooting location.
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Chewton Glen, Hampshire
A sister property of Cliveden House in Hampshire, Chewton Glen, also an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property, offers a modernized take on English countryside charm. On the edge of New Forest, the 130-acre property with 72 rooms dates back to the 12th century. The estate still has some live-off-the-land feudal-system vibes, in that there are working beehives (50, to be exact) and produce and herbs grown in their gardens. But the modern touches of Chewton Glen include a luxurious spa, gorgeous indoor and outdoor pools, and perhaps our favorite new-age touch: elevated, standalone treehouse suites.
11 Cadogan Gardens, London
A brick-facade hotel in Chelsea, 11 Cadogan Gardens is a London gem. Built as four separate townhouses in the 19th century, the hotel was an aristocratic stomping ground in the 1800s—which means it would fit perfectly into the (albeit fictional) Bridgerton universe. While the interior decoration varies tastefully by room, many of the deliberately styled spaces (including their iconic Cadogan Suite) marries mid century modern aesthetics with Victorian style, and the result is a design marvel.
