There’s something so grand about walking into the four-star Oulton Hall Hotel. From the calming 300 acres of garden it’s nestled in, to the impressive interior, you can tell there’s so much history behind this building.
If you’re into your history, you’ll notice a number of portraits and artifacts dotted around the hotel that all have a story to tell. The Grade II-listed mansion began as a farmhouse in the 18th century on what is now the Oulton Estate, and was used as a convalescence hospital during the First World War and beyond. Eventually, it was turned into a hotel in 1993.
Located just five miles from the city of Leeds, Oulton Hall is close enough to the buzz of city life, but also set among the rolling Yorkshire countryside, making it a perfect haven for a bit of peace and quiet with a spa too if you're looking for a spa break.
It’s very easy to reach by car from the M1 and M62 (providing there isn’t much traffic) and there’s a very large car park with plenty of parking options as well as disabled bays.
Where will I sleep?
The rooms are rather spacious at Oulton hall, with a very large bed, seating area, ensuite and desk area. The room comes complete with a TV, Elemis toiletries, comfy slippers and a luxurious bathrobe which we particularly loved.
If staying cool or warm overnight is important to you, you’ll be pleased to know the room's temperature can be controlled with a thermostat that you have complete control of to help you stay comfortable all night. Another aspect we really appreciated was the shutters and thick curtains provided, which meant that the room was in total darkness all night and morning, meaning we could enjoy a little lie in despite the sun coming up.
We found the bed and pillows extremely comfortable, with a soft and harder pillow option to suit all sleepers. After a brilliant night’s sleep, the morning shower did not disappoint, with a good pressure and temperature to start our day off right - the lovely toiletries from Elemis were also a nice touch to enjoy!
What is there to do?
The four-star resort is also home to a 27-hole golf course, making it an ideal stay for the keen golfer. As well as the golf, there’s also a luxury spa, offering a range of treatments as well as a heated indoor pool, Sauna and Steam Room, Poolside spa Jacuzzi and techno gym.
If walking is something you like to do, there are plenty of grounds to explore at Oulton, and best of all, the hotel is dog-friendly, meaning you can bring your four-legged friend along with you to enjoy some walks while you’re there.
What is there to eat?
There are two restaurants and a Champane bar at Oulton. We ate at the Calverley Grill for our evening meal and breakfast. There was a lovely choice of food and drink, and the staff were very attentive and friendly. For starters, we shared a charcuterie board. This is something we have regularly and this particular one was a bit disappointing in terms of the cheese and meat choices, but the bread was delicious. For mains we ordered the pie (£16.50) and the steak (£30.95). Unfortunately, the wrong pie was brought to our table first but the staff quickly rectified this when I notified them. Again, these two dishes were fine, but nothing spectacular and I felt I expected more from both dishes considering the price. The chocolate truffle dessert did not disappoint, and it was a great way to finish the meal.
You can also enjoy a range of the food served in this restaurant on a room service basis too if you’d prefer to eat in your room.
As well as this, you can also enjoy an afternoon tea with some bubbly, a sip at the Champagne Bar (which features over 50 international Champagnes, or a bite to eat at the Claret Jug, located near the golf course.
Although the food was nice, I found it to be rather on the pricey side as it seemed quite a lot more expensive than what I thought it was worth.
How much does it cost?
Rooms from £125 per night. Book now at oultonhallhotel.co.uk.
Final thoughts
Oulton Hall was a very lovely and comfortable hotel, perfect for a cosy weekend getaway. There’s plenty of ways to relax and have fun, and I would highly recommend a stay here if you're not too far from the area and looking for a short, relaxing break.