Having never been motivated by the prospect of fame, fortune or power, the prospect of staying in the state room of a grand country estate had never really been an option.
But when offered the opportunity at Tylney Hall in Hampshire, I obviously rushed to accept — and wow, am I glad that I did.
Surrounded on all sides by acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and woodland, Tylney Hall is a magnificent Grade II listed hotel which draws in visitors from around the world.
In its current form, the hall dates back to 1898. For half a century, it served as a sumptuous and decadent family home but in 1948 was reopened as a school. Far from the air of privilege it conveys today, it catered for trouble children before it was ultimately closed down in 1984.
Following an extensive renovation, it reopened as a luxury hotel the following year and is today part of Elite Hotels, which also owns Luton Hoo, The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne and Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club in East Sussex.
The newly refurbished State Suite is named after Thomas Mugleston, a Canadian who founded Tylney Hall and would regularly come to stay.
Further back in time, it is said to have been used by Lady Florence Phillips — wife of the former owner Sir Lionel Phillips — as a boudoir for her extensive gown collection. This explains the mirrored walk-in wardrobe, featuring more storage than anyone would ever need in a short weekend break.
With 66 acres, there’s also ample opportunity for relaxed strolls during a stay at the hotel, as well as more vigorous walkabouts. For starters, there is an Italian garden, a rose garden, a water garden and a boathouse lake to explore, not to mention the longest uninterrupted view in Hampshire, a 14-mile vista flanked by huge redwoods.
If you’re still feeling energetic there’s also a gym, indoor and outdoor pools and even tennis courts, plus a spa and various lounges to relax afterwards.
As guests in the state room, we had little need to venture beyond the front door. Taking up a corner plot in Tylney Hall, the stateroom has 90 degree views and a generous balcony from which to enjoy them.
Neither our wedding night nor subsequent honeymoon were spent in such luxury, so after almost 18 years of marriage we relished the opportunity for a rare weekend away, enjoying the freedom, the peace — while also catching up on some serious Netflix viewing, as both bedroom and lounge come with large smart TVs.
Every so often we surfaced for air and nourishment, as sadly the suite is not furnished with its own private chef. If fine dining is your thing, you’ll enjoy the Oak Room Restaurant, though the unnecessarily slow service meant less time luxuriating in the privacy of our stateroom.
Then again, guests more accustomed to this kind of lifestyle might have considered booking a private dining room. Or at the very least, room service.
For now, a taste of the high life made for a memorable escape.
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