Newbury, United KingdomElcot
The Retreat Hotel, Elcot Park
Playful country house
Elcot Newbury, United Kingdom
Renovated
2022
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Heritage WellnessOutside the door
The house
Signet CollectionPlayful country house
The Georgian manor trades country-house formality for lively colours, eclectic antiques, and an easygoing rhythm.
“With 16 acres there's plenty to explore on a traditional Boxing Day walk, followed by an untraditional dip in the spa's heated outdoor pool.”
What it’s good at
Notable
Vintage floral wallpaper, bobbin mirrors, and colorful antiques sourced from local dealers.
Notable
An 18th-century Grade II-listed country house once home to poet Percy Bysshe Shelley.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
An 18th-century country house in West Berkshire is the setting for the Retreat at Elcot Park, a lovely and contemporary 55-room hotel and spa
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Sixteen acres of grounds sit between Newbury and Hungerford, looking out toward the rolling North Wessex Downs.
The rooms
Patterned wallpapers and plush velvet seating give each room individual character across the historic manor and modern wing.
The pools
Bring a swimsuit.
An indoor vitality pool has swan-neck water jets by tall windows, and a heated outdoor pool opens onto the grounds.
The spa
Treatment rooms host massages and body rituals. An illuminated floatation pod sits steps from the relaxation lounge.
The gym and outdoor studio
Matrix cardio gear fills the navy gym, and a canvas tent opens to countryside views for outdoor workouts.
At the table
Seasonal British dishes arrive under the orangery skylights at 1772, and Yü serves pan-Asian plates beneath paper lanterns.
How it began
Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley spent his childhood here, long before the 1772 manor was restored in 2022.
Newbury
More like this
The Vineyard Hotel
“Oenophile country house”
The Hare & Hounds
“Restored Georgian coaching inn”
The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.