COWORTH Park, a member of The Dorchester Collection, is a swish country house hotel close to Windsor Great Park. Set within 240 acres of Berkshire Parkland and only an hour’s drive from central London, it comprises 70 luxurious guest rooms and suites spread across the Mansion House and its manicured grounds.
North Lodge at Coworth Park
We follow a sweeping driveway that leads to our residence for the weekend, the newly rebuilt former gatehouse, North Lodge. This rustic two-story country cottage with beamed ceilings welcomes us with a fire blazing in the toasty hallway. Leading off from the hall is the lounge, filled with armchairs and cosy sofas, each draped with signature Coworth Park cashmere blankets.
The kitchen at North Lodge, Coworth Park
The star attraction at North Lodge is the staggeringly grand open-plan kitchen. An inviting central island is topped with a silver champagne bucket filled with plenty of bottles of Veuve champagne waiting to be opened.
There’s a 10-seater wooden dining table which is perfect for family and friends with the choice to either cook up a storm in the fully equipped kitchen or to enlist the aid of one of the hotel’s chefs, or simply saunter or call for a buggy up to the restaurants on site.
The option to barbeque outside is also tempting, with double French doors opening onto the garden and an outside heater to warm the air for al fresco dining.
North Lodge Lounge area
A glass-panelled staircase with shiny wooden bannisters leads upstairs to the dual aspect double bedroom with a plump bed and squishy pillows, and the en-suite bathroom has a copper free-standing bath, double sink unit and a shelf filled with a generous line-up of Aromatherapy amenities.
There are two further country-style double bedrooms and bathrooms with casement windows looking out across the grounds.
North Lodge Master Bedroom
We take a stroll past the hotel’s unique polo fields, famed for hosting international matches from April until mid-September, and head to the spa, which has a gym, eight treatment rooms, a manicure and pedicure suite and The Spatisserie, serving light meals throughout the day. Arranged over two brilliant-white floors with a rooftop herb garden, this pulse-slowing airy space offers a long list of award-winning therapies to indulge in.
Special mention goes to the sizeable swimming pool with underwater music beside which gargantuan amethyst sculptures reflect the light flooding in from the floor-to-ceiling windows with plenty of loungers to lol on for hours.
North Lodge
After settling in, we take a buggy ride to lunch at The Barn, the homely casual-dining restaurant, and at night, we opt the Restaurant at Coworth Park, a Michelin-starred fine dining experience.
Culinary proceedings are under the superb guidance of executive chef Adam Smith, with all ingredients sourced from local suppliers with attention to detail evident on every plate and in every bite.
The Mansion House and grounds at Coworth Park
We wake at North Lodge the following morning, cocooned in our fluffy dressing gowns and monogrammed slippers, feeling spoiled and pampered. Our pre-ordered breakfast is delivered and laid out before us. The service here is attentive but not in a pretentious sort of way, which makes the entire experience so gratifying. If you can’t enjoy being spoiled at Coworth Park, where can you?
The Spa at Coworth Park Swimming Pool Entrance
by Amanda Bernstein
North Lodge at Coworth Park is available to book for up to six guests, with rates starting at £3,500 inc VAT per night, (minimum three-night stay).
Guests staying at North Lodge have full access to The Spa at Coworth Park, Equestrian Centre and a choice of various dining facilities on the estate, providing the option of total privacy or instant access to luxurious five-star services.
For more information visit The Dorchester Collection