The Little Brothers of Downton Abbey
MANGERTON HOUSE-DORSET
Readers of Chesil Beach, Ian McEwan's beautiful book, will want to sleep here without much further explanation. On that beach is where this house is located, which is not the typical English accommodation with difficult prints and aftertaste of Agatha Christie . Here the lines are clean and the palette is almost Scandinavian. Nearby is the Beach House, an idyllic house that sleeps six perfect for seclusion and reading McEwan's book or any other.
Mangerton House-Dorset, for lovers of Chesil Beach
BABINGTON HOUSE-SOMERSET
Here the Soho House empire was born. Nick Jones he created it thinking of those who have idealized country life , those who dream of being surrounded by green without compromising their urban whims. Babington has 18 hectares in which there is space for a restaurant, a Deli Bar, a library, a spa and some rooms that no one would want to leave . The problem is that everything outside of them is also delicious and it is inevitable to want to go out and enjoy it.
Babington House - delicious both outside and inside
UPCOTT FARM-DEVON
If we think of Devon, we don't think of white houses. Well, these two cottages are. White is the floor, it is the furniture and the spirit, clear, luminous, that surrounds them. They are called Calfshed and Barnshed and are the old stables of Upcott Farm, a farm that is a whopping 500 years old . Both are managed by their owners, the Lamberts. Of course, the cuisine is as organic and local as we can imagine. And yes, you eat rhubarb.
Upcott Farm-Devon, a hotel in a 500 year old barn
COWORTH PARK-ASCOT
A large aristocratic country house. This is Coworth Park, which is part of the Dorchester Collection label, which does not endorse any hotel. It is situated on the edge of Windsor Great Park and everything in it is exquisite, with that eccentric touch What do we expect from English high society? Now, he has teamed up with Smythson to design a notebook that all (lucky) guests get.
Coworth Park-Ascot: an aristocratic country house
RESTORMEL MANOR-CORNWALL
The Prince of Wales himself stays at this estate when he calls at this corner of Cornwall . Not only him, but also the Middletons have done it and Camilla's own sister has decorated the interior of the ten rooms. Therefore, the royal seal is expected throughout the house. There are photographs that do not allow us to forget these illustrious members and, above all, an obsession with the organic (imposed by the heir) that is distilled in each gesture.
Restormel Manor-Cornwall: organic obsession
SHARRINGTON HALL-HORFOLK
Each of the four cottages in this complex is everything rustic that we expect and also everything sophisticated that we do not expect . The furniture is a mix of vintage and contemporary and so is the spirit of these little houses that hope, nothing more and nothing less, than to reinvent Norfolk.
ESSEBORNE MANOR HAMPSHIRE
This little house has a peculiarity that comes to mind: is located very close to Highclere Castle, the castle of Downton Abbey . It's a small, century-old building that has been the Hamilton family's retreat for generations. And the Hamiltons still run it. Isobel Crawley would be happy here.
Esseborne Manor: neighbors of Downton Abbey
THYME HOUSE-HAWORTH
If the Bronte or her characters lived today, they would do so here. In fact, this little house is very close to the Bronte Parsonage Museum and from all places in the Bronte universe. It is a very good starting point for exploring the Yorkshire Dales. But if you don't feel like it, the house is nice enough that there is no guilty conscience if someone wants to stay in it for the whole vacation.
GRAYWHITE-CUMBRIA
Camilla Sandys, the owner of this Georgian house (casaza) decided, one day, that she had to open it to the public. For that she hired interior designer Bill Graham; thus, what was just another country mansion became a delightful retreat, where all the rooms were different and all inviting . Being in Cumbria, a region adored by the English, makes us feel almost, almost local.