Travel is back! It may be just domestic travel but that’s ok by me! With the knowledge that there would be a boom in popularity of UK staycations, we decided to get a few things in the family diary before everything got booked up. The first was a revisit to Coworth Park near Ascot, a family favourite of ours for years. Last time we stayed was about four years ago, my nephew Charlie was 6, my sister was pregnant with Jackson and Oscar was still in the distant future! When we visited I remember thinking how great the hotel was for kids and how I’d love to revisit with one of my own one day! And now here we were.
Mr S and I have stayed at Coworth Park twice before and both times we stayed in the Mansion House. There are thirty rooms in the mansion house and staying here has the benefit of being in the main hub of the hotel and the style of the rooms are more elegant. There are forty further rooms in the hotel including the Dower House which is self-contained cottage accommodation with three ensuite bedrooms, perfect for families … and for royalty. It’s where Prince Harry stayed with Prince William the night before his wedding! Similarly North Lodge provides all the comforts of home with three bedrooms and a kitchen. The rest of the bedrooms are located in the Stables, which were our accommodation of choice on this occasion.
Located a short walk or buggy ride away from the hotel, the rooms at the Stables are decorated with a more rustic feel. Best of all the Stables are cottages (both one floor and duplexes) horseshoed around this green which was perfect for the boys to play on. Originally these lodgings were actual stables for the polo ponies while the grooms lived upstairs and care has been taken to preserve the original feel.
My sister and I had rooms right next to each other and we could sit out on the bistro chairs enjoying a coffee or champagne while the boys played together.
We had a Junior Suite which had a spacious lIving area with french windows opening out to the green and decked out with mod cons such as Nespresso machine, mini bar, safe and Bang and Olufsen TV. We had fresh fruit on arrival and shortly after we got there, a bottle of champagne was delivered.
As you can see, neutral relaxing tones dominate and there are nature motifs throughout reflecting the English countryside.
A gorgeous four poster bed was where we lay our heads, and a lovely wooden cot was provided for Oscar as well as a small gift.
But the best bit about the room was this absolutely stunning copper bath which could have easily fit all three of us in it. There was lovely Mitchell and Peach bath products for us as well as special children’s products for Oscar. 
The main house is a real beauty, it was actually built in 1776 for William Shepheard, a wealthy merchant, and it has been past through many different owners until 2010 when it became part of the Dorchester Collection and opened as their first English Country Estate.
The grounds are beautiful and combine several elements such as the beautifully manicured lawn filled with flowers, water features and bronze sculptures. There’s an edible garden, a meadow and a lake (home to a resident swan called Chukka), all perfect for peaceful strolls.
Coworth Park is also known for being home to an Equestrian Centre and eight horses where guests (including younger guests) can enjoy lessons for all abilities. You can even bring your own horse who will be fully pampered just like any other guest. The hotel is also home to Guards Polo Academy and is the only hotel in the UK with its own polo fields and practice facilities and has hosted the UK’s most famous Polo fans, The Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Princes William and Harry. 
As we were there on a sunny bank holiday, the hotel had set up orange deck chairs and there was falconry, archery, crazy golf, duck herding, segways, horse and carriage rides. We booked a disco balloon and bubble party for the boys!
The hotel has a brilliant Kids Club which we didn’t actually use this time but I definitely would if we were there for longer. There’s a whole house for kids with options to bake, build, watch movies, do arts and crafts etc there’s also a teen den with games for old kids. The hotel also provide baby sitting services which we used on the first night of our stay.
The kids enjoyed their room service dinner while we headed to the hotel’s signature restaurant, Restaurant Coworth Park. Awarded a Michelin Star a few years ago, the restaurant serves a Modern takes on British classics in the most beautiful dining room encircled by a bronze oak leaf chandelier.
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The restaurant offer a four course menu of the most delicious and beautifully presented food.
Cotswold White chicken pressing with truffled caesar salad, pickled girolles and crisp skin.
New season peas with a waffle, egg yolk and lovage salad.
Caviar tart with crab, yuzu and cultured cream.
Hen of the woods with jersey royals, mint and ham.
Poached cod with wild garlic and citrus.
Cornish turbot with yellow wine, broad beans, morels and mussels.
Kentish lamb with artichoke, courgette, basil and pine nuts.
Kentish strawberries with hibiscus, creme fraiche and strawberry sorbet.
Coworth Park signature chocolate with hazelnut praline, salted caramel and almond ice cream.
The decor in the foyer of the Mansion House is stunning and huge windows lead out to a terrace and view of the meadow. There are nods to nature at everywhere – I just love the daisy tables pictured here and all the beautiful artwork. 
The Drawing Room is the perfect place to sample the hotel’s award winning afternoon tea or do as we did and come for a casual lunch.
The hotel’s other restaurant, The Barn is located right by the Stables and was our venue for breakfast as well as dinner one night. It’s a more casual brasserie type restaurant with a gorgeous indoor / outdoor dining space. 
Finally there is the hotel spa which is beautifully nestled in the hillside…
There’s a full range of treatments such as facials, massages, manicures and pedicures from top brands such as Carol Joy London and Aromatherapy Associates. There’s also a steam room, gym and pool with dedicated family times.
Coworth Park is still a firm family favourite and I loved taking Oscar there. Definitely one for the bucket list!
PS I have collaborated with Coworth Park before but we were paying customers on this occasion.
