Whittlebury Hall is a grand building located within the Whittlebury Park estate in the beautiful Northamptonshire countryside. A tranquil environment where you can leave the hustle and bustle of life at the entrance and spend time relaxing in the unique atmosphere.
Driving up the road leading to Whittlebury Hall, you are immediately impressed by the beauty of its location. The hotel is within the main Hall, surrounded by 700 acres of land and a golf course with immaculate fairways that make it a highly desirable golfing destination.
Whittlebury Park is a family-owned establishment and has benefited from extensive investment in all areas in recent years. A state-of-the-art kitchen has been installed, and a half a million pound Leisure Club designed to ensure guests and club members can exercise or relax in a facility specifically to evoke a feeling of well being.
The elegant Hall has a golf course adjacent to the main building. Views from the rooms are of lush green trees and immaculate fairways. Whittlebury Park is a highly desirable golfing destination; packages can be arranged for those wanting to spend plenty of time on the links.
The Rooms
The twin room I stayed in was a good size, as was the bathroom and provided all the facilities you would expect from a modern hotel, including complimentary wi-fi with good signal strength. The bed was very comfortable with good quality bed linen, and I slept well.
Some guests may prefer a larger television and the option of satellite channels, but this is a minor observation and unnecessary if visiting to explore the area and take advantage of other facilities provided. The room, like all the others, had a view of the beautiful lush golf course.
Dining at the Whittlebury Park Hotel
Astons is a large open plan dining room, resulting in noise from other diners being evident and, as such, a little lacking in atmosphere and character. The hotel does have another formal dining room called Murray’s, but this was not available during my stay.
Each night there is a two and three-course menu consisting of standard fayres such as Chicken Wellington and Pork Terrine. All the dishes ordered were delicious and well presented.
The choice of hot and cold items at breakfast was superb, and you could have as much as you wanted. I prefer to order my breakfast at the table and have it served by a team member. I was slightly surprised to see that it was buffet style with a Chef serving some of your chosen items whilst others were brought to the table.
I felt the service could be improved slightly but appreciate that due to restrictions imposed by Covid, it takes a little time to find a perfect system.
The Spa facilities
One of the attractions of Whittlebury Park for me was the Spa and Leisure Centre. Before visiting any hotel, I always do some research. The website images on their site do not adequately portray the Spa as it is much more impressive.
There are two Spa areas; one is the pool, the other the Hot and Cold experience. Vicky greeted me and talked me through all the rooms within both areas. I indulged in a swim in the generously sized pool, which has plenty of relaxation chairs around the edges.
There is a hot tub, steam room and sauna, allowing guests to unwind totally. Spa Packages are available, including an overnight stay and a selection of treatments in a dedicated clinic. Guests can pamper themselves in the Hot and Cold experience, which is fantastic.
A collection of rooms form a crescent around the central pool with several high-powered fountains and showers. These massage the body and senses to invigorate yet destress. You take your body through cold chambers and even an ice cave in the various rooms, then recover with warmth in the different saunas and steam rooms. As you lie in the steam room, all your cares evaporate, and even though hot, I was thoroughly chilled.
Location
Whittlebury Park is close to the Silverstone circuit (you can walk there if you feel inclined), one of the world’s most famous Grand Prix circuits and the Towcester Horse Racing course. Towcester is a market town with much history and has excellent road links to all the UK. In Roman times it was known as Lactodorum and lies on the well-trodden Watling Street. If you are using the hotel as a base, there are many towns within an easy drive.
Regardless of the grade of an establishment, the one thing that I gauge standards by is the team members. If I am treated like an individual, this is a luxury that cannot be provided by facilities. Charles, the General Manager I met in the Spa, was one of the team members that ensured I had a pleasant stay. Whittlebury Park may not suit the visitor looking for luxury and intimacy, but it is ideal for those wanting a hotel in the Midlands.
I have said before that luxury could be defined by how you perceive things. If the way you are looked after is exceptional and feel special, that goes a long way to make a great and memorable stay. This was my experience of Whittlebury Park Hotel and Spa.
Whittlebury Park Hotel and Spa – Where and How?
Address:
Whittlebury Hall Conference & Training Centre, Hotel & Spa
Whittlebury, Near Towcester
Northamptonshire
NN12 8QH
For more information on facilities and to make a booking, visit www.whittlebury.com.
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