GETAWAYS
FINDING HEAVEN AT COWORTH PARK BY SAMANTHA READY
I
’ ve stayed in some rather lovely places over the years, it’ s rather an occupational hazard of the job, but there was something about Coworth Park that got under my skin in a way I wasn’ t quite prepared for. Perhaps it was the way the late afternoon winter light gilded those Georgian windows as we swept up the drive. Or the particular scent of woodsmoke and beeswax polish that greeted me in the entrance hall. Or maybe it was simply the knowledge that for the next 24 hours, I had absolutely nowhere else to be and that everything that I had heard about Coworth was simply incredible.
This 240-acre estate in Ascot unfolds like a particularly good novel, the kind you don’ t want to rush, where every chapter reveals something new. The main house, all honeyed stone and restrained Georgian elegance, sits at its heart, surrounded by ancient parkland that seems to go on forever. Horses graze in distant paddocks. Peacocks strut with ridiculous grandeur across immaculate lawns. It’ s the England of your most romantic imaginings, but somehow better, because it’ s real and you’ re actually here.
The main house, Grade II listed, naturally, commands attention without arrogance. Wisteria climbs its façade with studied nonchalance, while inside, the interiors strike that impossibly chic balance between heritage and contemporary ease. Think roaring fires, jewel-toned velvets and contemporary art that somehow feels entirely at home beside 18th-century architectural details. It’ s the kind of place where you immediately want to curl up with a leather-bound book and a rather large glass of something exceptional.
Our suite, a generous upgrade that had me practically pirouetting with joy, occupied the corner of the main house and was nothing short of sublime. Floor-to-ceiling dual-aspect windows framed views of the grounds like living oil paintings, the kind that shift with the moody English light. The bathroom alone was larger than my first London flat, all marble, rain showers and Bamford amenities that I unashamedly admit to having looked up online to purchase for home. The bed? An absolute cloud. I slept the sleep of someone who hadn’ t a care in the world, which at Coworth Park feels gloriously accurate.
Before dinner Mr R and I surrendered ourselves to the spa, and what a sanctuary it is. Housed in a stunning contemporary pavilion that sits in beautiful counterpoint to the main house, the spa is all clean lines and floor-to-ceiling glass that frames verdant views of the grounds. Natural light floods the space, bouncing off blonde wood and pale stone, creating an atmosphere
126 • www. insidekent. co. uk