Eastwell Manor Hotel – An Oasis in the Kent Countryside

Jeremy Webb heads to the ‘Garden of England’ to explore and experience the beautiful Eastwell Manor Hotel.

Eastwell Manor Hotel in Kent is part of the Champneys group, where the spa experience is very important. As such the hotel is used a lot of daybreaks and single overnight stays.

I drove up the long driveway and found myself in a scene from the Darling Buds of May, with beautiful farmland as far as the eye could see. Then I gazed upon the manor house, which is absolutely stunning.

There has been a house on the site for over 450 years, and the building has been expanded and redesigned to what you see now, a fantastic, expansive property with formal gardens to the rear that look like Hampton Court Palace, that contains a tennis court and a large swimming pool, tastefully hidden by plants.

I drove the Tesla Model X I had for the week to review the property through the grand gates into the parking area. My guest and I then walked through the stone arch into the forecourt yard leading to the main door and reception.

I was greeted by Cassie, who was very professional with a superb personal touch. We were booked in quickly and Shown up to our room, titled the Earl of Northumberland.

We were both in awe as we entered the suite, which was huge. A four-poster bed was to one end, and a couple of large sofas at the other where the TV and fridge were located. There was also a dining table in the room. Eager to look around I discovered a separate bedroom which had a bunk bed in it, with another TV. Ideal for family use.

The bathroom was large, with a full-size roll-top bath and walk-in shower. The fittings were luxurious, as were all the Champneys products provided for guests to use.

I love history and the building has plenty of it, and I could have been sleeping in a room a Princess was born in, or Queen Victoria stayed in. The manor was owned by her second son, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, and Victoria often visited him. You can’t get any more classy than staying where a Queen has.

The rooms have obviously been modernised since the Victorian period, but much of the interior of the manor has remained the same. Large wooden staircases and panelling remain, as do the original heavy wooden doors with their plagues naming the rooms.

Champneys has invested millions into refurbishment and improvements in all areas of the building and other facilities, including the excellent spa located in the old pavilion.

This is the first phase of improvement, with a second phase starting next year.

I visited the Spa shortly after exploring my room as I was keen to have a swim and relax in the steam room.

Entering the Spa through lovely large glass doors, you automatically feel this is luxurious and special. You get a wristband on entry, which acts as a magnetic lock for your locker in the good-sized changing rooms.

The pool is a good size, with large loungers on either side for guests to spread out and relax. People do spend a whole day at the spa alone. At the far end of the pool, down some stairs, there is a huge soak pool and a hot tub.

This is also where the sauna and steam room are located. Both of which I used for quite some time, not that I was that stressed before attending.

The upper floor of the building hosts the treatment areas, where you can get a manicure, facial or, like my guest and I, a full body massage. We had this in the morning after our great breakfast in the dining room.

The treatment area has its own reception and climate controlled waiting room where you can rest dressed in just your robe, keeping warm.

At Eastwell, you really do eat well. We had a delicious three-course meal for dinner.  A good selection was available for all three courses. When the food came out, it was presented well and was very, very good to eat.

The staff were pleasant and gave you the right amount of time between courses for you to digest your food and have a drink and talk. After dining, we retired to our suite and relaxed on the sofas.

We both slept well and arose refreshed and eager to sample the breakfast, so we went down to find a large spread waiting for us—and other guests.  A good range of continental breakfast choices was laid out, along with various breads for toasting, etc. Fruit juices on ice is always a nice touch.  We were greeted by the waitress, who took our drinks and hot food orders.

I had eggs Benedict and my guest had a full English, both were nice and hot and presented well. They tasted good, too. I can’t fault the food we had for all the meals we took, including the gorgeous lunch we had in the Spa restaurant before we left for home.

I would recommend Eastwell Manor if you want to stay in Kent for a holiday or business or just a spa break to indulge yourself in some luxury. You won’t regret it.

The staff are lovely and professional and give you that personal touch which goes a long way to make stays special. The hotel is close to a lot of historical cities and sites, such as Canterbury and Leeds Castle.

Both are worth a visit. We left feeling full and totally relaxed and felt like we had been away longer than just a day and a bit. The buildings and grounds are beautiful and great to walk around. We will be back, as it is an excellent hotel and Spa.

Eastwell Manor Hotel – Where and how

Eastwell Manor Eastwell Park
Boughton Lees
Ashford
Kent
TN25 4HT
Website: www.champneys.com

Eastwell is right by Ashford International Station, which means it is just 40 minutes from London. In fact, thanks to the Eurostar, they are also less than an hour from Lille and less than two from Paris and Brussels.