Tylney Hall Hotel & Gardens, Hook, Hampshire review
IF you’ve ever fancied a taste of the Downton Abbey life, Tylney Hall Hotel, former stately home, is a slice of history with a whole lot of luxury thrown in.
Read on to find out more about what the rooms are like, what there is to eat and drink and the best treatments on offer at the spa.
Where is Tylney Hall Hotel & Gardens?
Set in 66 acres of land in the beautiful Hampshire countryside, Tylney Hall Hotel is in the quaint village of Hook, a few miles east of Basingstoke.
There's a small train station that connects to the South Western Railway, although there's free on-site parking for guests of the hotel.
What is Tylney Hall Hotel & Gardens like?
Once the home of Lord Windlesham and later Lord Rotherwick, the hotel was built at the turn of the 20th century and served as headquarters of a shipping line during the Second World War, before becoming a school.
It wasn't until it 1985 that the stately home became a hotel and today many of the original features remain, including huge stone fireplaces, oak panelling and an incredible blue and gold hexagonal ceiling design in the Lounge restaurant.
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You can easily imagine its aristocratic residents enjoying a stroll in the Italian garden, or sipping cocktails on the terrace.
The staff can never do enough for guests and the whole stay made me feel like the lady of the manor - thoroughly spoilt.
What is there to do at Tylney Hall Hotel & Gardens?
There are indoor and outdoor pools, the latter of which is set in a stunning walled garden and open in summer.
The spa has a using natural ingredients – thermal mineral water, mud, algae, herbal extracts and essential oils – and inspired by the hotel's nature-filled surroundings.
Try the Ultimate Garden of Dreams Ritual which combines a eucalyptus salt scrub with a lavender hot stone massage or there's the Bee-utiful Candle Massage, performed with warm, homey-scented candle wax.
After you've indulged in the delicious spa treatments, it would be a shame not to take advantage of the hotel’s incredible location, with plenty of scenic country walks on your doorstep - grab a handy map at reception.
What is there to eat and drink at Tylney Hall Hotel & Gardens?
We dined in the impressive which, as the name suggests, is a magnificent wood-panelled restaurant with a stunning Italian plaster ceiling.
Try the penny bun mushroom soup, which was theatrically poured from a jug around a manchego bon-bon or go for the poached duck eggs on truffle-infused bubble and squeak which was, frankly, divine.
For lunch, the Italian lounge has an extensive and reasonably-priced lunch and snacks menu, but what seemed to be drawing most visitors was the afternoon tea, with elegant finger sandwiches and extravagantly decorated cakes served on ornate stands.
Breakfast was also tasty and generous with the portions, including fresh croissants and pastries plus sausages, bacon and eggs.
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What are the rooms like at Tylney Hall Hotel & Gardens?
The grand Victorian Grade II-listed house has 112 bedrooms and suites.
Ours – the Lady Rotherwick suite – had heaps of space for a sofa, chaise longue, traditional desk and even a private stone terrace.
Original leaded windows are framed by heavy curtains and in the bathroom, a traditional free-standing tub looks out towards a lake.
How much is the Tylney Hall Hotel & Gardens?
One night’s B&B costs from £240 per room, based on two sharing and including use of the health suite facilities. See or call 01256 764881.
Is the Tylney Hall Hotel & Gardens family-friendly?
Yes, the hotel is completely equipped for children of all ages.
There's plenty of fun for them to get stuck into at the hotel too, including the Tylney Trolls Treasure Hunt where they'll explore in our grounds.
You can also grab duck food from reception to feed the hotel's fluffy friends on the lake.
And when parents want a break, the hotel offers a babysitting service.
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Is there access for guests with disabilities?
Absolutely. Tylney Hall has portable ramps and accessible rooms with ground floor access, wet rooms, assistance alert cords and there's wheelchairs on-site for guests to use.
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For guests hard of hearing there's a defguard vibrating fire alarm and alarm clock and induction loops on all reception desks.
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