Nestled in the picturesque Buckinghamshire countryside, Horwood House Hotel blends historic charm and contemporary luxury, making it an ideal spa hotel to visit in the UK. This elegant venue dates back to the 17th century and promises modern amenities and delicious food to create a peaceful experience for visitors.
As well as being a hotel, Horwood House Hotel can cater to many needs, from corporate events and conferences to weddings.
Here's how Reviews Editor Emily Gilbert got on when she paid Horwood House Hotel a visit.
Location
Centrally located just outside Milton Keynes, the sprawling Horwood House Hotel is set within 38 acres and surrounded by the lush Pytheas Gardens and serene lakes, offering a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Although the weather unfortunately wasn't on our side during our stay, before checking out I enjoyed a brief walk around the grounds and lily pond which I imagine is beautiful in warmer temperatures. There's also plenty of seating for those who wish to take in the views.
You'll be spoilt for choice if you fancy getting out and about too. For those who like to shop, Centre
Style and design
The historic manor house provides a stunning backdrop for any occasion. The meticulously maintained interiors fuse classic and contemporary design, ensuring a comfortable and stylish environment for guests.
Wandering through the hotel, you'll quickly notice the botanical heritage of the hotel with earthy tones and delicate prints adorning the walls
Rooms
We were checked in quickly and efficiently by the welcoming reception team before being directed to our room. The hotel is a little maze-like but very well sign-posted.
We stayed in the Executive Suite which consisted of a separate lounge, a bedroom area and of course, a bathroom. It was very spacious and modern with useful extras such as a mini fridge, kettle, coffee machine, safe, fluffy bathrobe, and slippers for use within the spa. I'd recommend it for travellers who want more space and appreciate having a separate area for lounging/watching the flat-screen TV. That said, the bed is incredibly comfy and it was a mission to pull ourselves away from it at times! We also enjoyed the views our room offered which was very peaceful.
The bathroom was another roomy space with some lovely toiletries for guest use although my husband and I both felt the shower could have been more powerful.
Although it wasn't the most sound-proof place we've ever stayed and you could hear other guests chatting as they passed our door on their way to their rooms, we didn't find this to be a problem during our stay and rooms are well tucked away from any social areas and restaurants.
Services and facilities
The H Spa at Horwood House Hotel offers a holistic escape for mind, body, and soul. As far as spa facilities go, it's quite compact with a 15m swimming pool and a small traditional sauna and steam room. This was enough for us personally although others may prefer more bells and whistles in their spa, especially if a relaxing break is what you've come away for. There's not a ton of loungers either but we did appreciate the warming tranquillity beds.
With six treatment rooms on offer, there's a wide range of indulgent treatments to pick from. My husband and I both chose an express treatment (suited for those looking for a short but efficient treatment). While I reclined as my therapist Jade performed the Express D-Vine Facial Instant Glow facial (including eye and skin cleansing, deep exfoliation and the application of a customised mask), my husband was treated to a Swedish Back, Neck and Shoulder massage, suited for relaxation and tension relief. Each treatment took just 25 minutes but was highly effective and we both met back up in the Relaxation Lounge sleepy-eyed and smiling.
My husband highly approved of the large gym which was well-equipped for all workouts with state-of-the-art Matrix equipment including a large weights area. Fresh towels and water were readily available and you could even join a range of group exercise classes.
Food and drink
Horwood House Hotel has two restaurants, whether you're after lunch, afternoon tea, cocktails or nibbles.
Offering a relaxed atmosphere, Harry's Bar & Kitchen was our destination or dinner. An informal yet stylish restaurant, whatever the size of your party (couple, family or larger group) there's a seating area for you. Our server Matthew was warm and attentive throughout our experience and at 18-weeks pregnant, I was grateful when he checked if I could eat certain dishes and his suggestion of mocktails after our meal.
We found the menu to be plentiful with a wide variety of options whatever your palette or fussiness levels. To start, I opted for the grilled sourdough with salted butter and crispy onions while my other half chose the burrata which was accompanied by basil and lemon pesto, pomegranate and more. We also shared crispy beef croquettes which came with the most incredible smoked garlic aioli.
For the mains, we went for the 10oz Aged Rump Steak and Bacon & Cheese Burger, both served with crispy cajun fries. The steak was well seasoned and perfectly cooked (medium as requested) while my burger was deliciously favoured and surprisingly light, not too dense or stodgy which can often be the case with many burgers.
Although both of us were well-fed by this point, we couldn't resist the dessert menu and decided to share the Paris-Brest with Vanilla Creme Diplomat although we requested to change the vanilla ice cream to salted caramel instead. Not something either of us had tried before, we tucked in delightedly, leaving a clean plate behind.
From start to finish, our meal was beautifully presented and you could tell all the ingredients were high-quality and fresh. My husband especially enjoyed his generous Harry's English Garden cocktail, made with gin, elderflower tonic, rose liqueur, lemon, sugar and rosemary.
Breakfast was taken in the 1911 Restaurant. It was a buffet-style affair and just like our dinner, there was huge amount on offer, from items to make your ideal full English, fruit as well as cereal, pastries and more. While undeniably tasty (I highly recommend the sausages!), I was a little disappointed that most of the hot food was lukewarm by the time we came to tuck in at 8.30. I also think it would have been a nice touch to have had the option of table service for beverages rather than a self-service coffee machine.
Final thoughts
We returned from our stay at Horwood House Hotel content and well-rested. While the spa may not be to everyone's taste if you're specifically visiting for a spa break and are after a wider variety of facilities, if you're after an all-round stay which combines relaxation and good food with beautiful surroundings, you can't go wrong with Horwood. Every member of staff we accounted were friendly and professional and we had a really peaceful experience from start to finish.
A well-placed location, there's plenty to do whether you want to stay in the hotel and make the most of the quiet surroundings or fancy venturing out a little (for us, it was Christmas shopping and a trip to IKEA!).
The check-out time of 11am is really generous and means guests have enough time for a leisurely breakfast as well as a visit to the spa before checking out and heading back to reality.
Book your stay at Horwood House Hotel. Prices start from £124 per night based on two sharing a Classic Double on a b&b basis.
Features & Reviews Editor Emily Gilbert has been a journalist since 2015 and has worked across a variety of specialist and lifestyle brands both in print and online. Specialising in travel content and product reviews, Emily is the first to know about all the exciting new releases, her favourite being gadgets for the home.