To the manor born: Britain’s grandest stately homes available for exclusive hire. Lord it up at one of these glamorous country estates that can be yours – for a night or two.
By Anya Meyerowitz, Luxury London Magazine.
There has long been a fascination with how the English gentry live: sprawling stately homes, manicured country estates and, latterly, all the mod-cons that money and good taste can buy. Our interest in this way of living has only intensified with the myriad entertainment on the subject released in recent years. Think the royal residences featured in The Crown, the sprawling estates of Bridgerton, the raucous lifestyle of the Catton family in Saltburn, and more recently, the ‘problematic’ family estate that Eddie inherits in Netflix’s The Gentlemen. And, while their lifestyles are perhaps not ones we’d want for ourselves, their residences certainly are – and now we can, in small doses at least, as some of the country’s finest stately homes are available for exclusive hire.
So, whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, planning an intimate wedding or just fancy an indulgent break, we’ve handpicked the best country estates to rent on an exclusive basis; from the hallowed halls of 700-year-old North Cadbury Court to the French chateau-style of a lavish country house in the West Sussex hills, there’s something for everyone.
North Cadbury Court
This biscuit-hued, Grade I-listed, 16th-century country house sits on the 1,500 acres that make up the Montgomery family’s private estate – and yes, if you recognise the name, it’s because they’re the family behind the world-famous cheddar cheese. As well as the sprawling main house, with its own spa wing, the grounds are peppered with outbuildings and cottages, meaning the estate can sleep up to 80 guests. But where this house really sets itself apart from other stately homes is in its facilities for those who love a party. Beneath the traditional entertainment rooms on the ground floor sits a ‘secret’ underground casino and disco space, while the roof holds a golf tee. If you make it to bed before midnight here, you’re doing it wrong.
Photo: Rebecca Faith
