If you’ve ever dreamed of staying in a picture-perfect English country manor house, Billesley Manor Hotel & Spa near Stratford-Upon-Avon is for you. It’s a must visit for William Shakespeare fans as ‘the bard’ stayed here whilst writing his famous comedy play ‘As You Like It.’
The historic Elizabethan manor house hotel and spa boasts 11 acres of parkland. It’s rural England at its best; quiet, scenic, steeped in history and packed with character.
We think it’s the perfect countryside hotel for anyone looking for a quintessential – and memorable – English hotel. There’s lots of attractions on your doorstep or you can just relax and enjoy the hotel’s excellent 4 star facilities.
History and Overview of Billesley Manor Hotel & Spa
There has been a country house on this site since Norman times and Billesley is mentioned in the Doomsday Book.
The current stone house dates back to the early 17th century and esteemed owners over the centuries have included Sir Robert Lee, a Lord Mayor of London and Thomas Sherlock, the Bishop of Salisbury.
There is also an 11th century church on the hotel grounds which is rumoured to be where William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway in 1582. One of his grandchildren was also married here.
Today, the 71-room hotel and spa oozes historic character but also includes some modern, quirky touches.
I think one of the highlights of the hotel is its immaculate grounds and gardens. They include a circular pond, a fountain and an ornate topiary garden which was planted 130 years ago to emulate a chess board.
The small number of rooms ensures guests enjoy a personalised level of customer service and the cosy communal areas of the hotel create a friendly, convivial vibe.
Location
The hotel is just 3 miles / 5 kms west of Stratford-Upon-Avon. It’s a 20 minute detour off the M40 motorway, meaning you can reach central London by car in around 2.15 hours, depending on traffic.
Stratford-Upon-Avon is a 13 minute drive by taxi or car. It’s a 55 minute drive from the hotel to the luxury outlet stores at Bicester Village.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a direct bus from Stratford-Upon-Avon to the hotel. If you’re travelling by train, you’ll need to take a taxi from Stratford’s rail station to reach the hotel.
Similarly, if you want to avoid parking fees and busy car parks in Stratford-Upon-Avon by leaving your car at the hotel, you’ll need to use local taxis. A taxi for 4 people from the hotel to the centre of Stratford-Upon-Avon starts from around £10 – depending on the time of day you travel.
Rooms
The 71 rooms are spread between two buildings – the main manor house (which has three floors) and adjacent converted barns. There are bedrooms to suit all tastes and budgets from medieval wood-panelled rooms with four-poster beds, to classic English country rooms or more modern accommodation.
I recommend booking a room in the main manor house. They have more character and you won’t have to walk outside to reach the restaurant, bar or spa.
For something truly memorable, I recommend booking one of the elegant four-poster Tudor rooms overlooking the main lawn and fountain.
These huge rooms have a King-size bed, a pillow menu, a desk, sofa, a window seat, and soft chairs. You’ll also find a mini fridge, a safe, a coffee machine and a kettle. The spacious ensuites have a large walk-in shower, a roll top bathtub and Molten Brown toiletries. You’ll feel like the Lady of the Manor if you stay in one of these rooms!
The largest room in the hotel is the Shakespeare Room. This is believed to have been the bedroom of Sir Robert Lee due to the luxurious English oak panelling and walnut carvings. It even has a hidden alcove above the fireplace, thought to have been used to store the family’s valuable possessions during the English Civil War.
Alternatively, for something quintessentially English, book a Manor House Suite. These rooms offer the same amenities as mentioned above with king-size or twin beds. The bathrooms have dual sinks, a rainfall shower and some offer a roll-top bath. The larger suites offer a separate living room with a double sofa bed so they’re an ideal option for families with children.
We stayed in a deluxe room in the main manor house. We had a super king-size bed, soft chairs, a desk, fluffy robes and a kettle. The bathroom had a bathtub with an over shower.
I loved the luxurious decor, calming colour tones and the latched windows overlooking the garden which filled our room with light. It certainly felt more special than a generic chain hotel. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and felt that the quiet location and comfortable Hypnos cashmere mattresses provided a great night’s sleep.
More affordable rooms can be found on the hotel’s top floor or in the adjacent converted barns. These rooms vary in size but offer a double or twin bed, a desk, soft chair, kettle and an ensuite with a shower.
Note that the main manor house doesn’t have a lift so if you have mobility issues, make sure you request a ground floor room.
A hot and cold buffet breakfast can be included in room rate or added on during your stay. Some rooms don’t have a tv so if this is important to you, check when booking.
Several rooms are accessible by wheelchair users and selected rooms allow up to 2 pets. The hotel even provides pet beds and treats for your pet.
Amenities
The Stuart Restaurant
The restaurant consists of two, Jacobean oak-panelled rooms complete with high ceilings, latched windows and chandeliers. With plush velvet and leather seating, you’ll know you’re dining somewhere special. There is also a private dining room for special occasions and an al-fresco dining terrace for summer months.
The Stuart Restaurant prides itself on serving locally sourced produce, such as Cotwold lamb and Herefordshire beef. Even the gin comes from the local Shakespeare’s Distillery. Plus, the hotel’s own kitchen garden provides many of the vegetables and herbs served on the menu.
We enjoyed a starter of mouthwatering pate followed by main courses of perfectly cooked pork loin with caramelised apple and black pudding plus a black treacle beef fillet. We thought the food was delicious and reasonably priced for the quality and quantity.
For dessert we chose the honey panna cotta with Ginger gin gel and the classic British favourite, sticky toffee pudding.
The Stuart Restaurant is open everyday from 6 pm – 9.30 pm. Due to the short service time, pre-booking is essential.
You can also treat yourself to a traditional English afternoon tea in either the restaurant or the Great Hall. Afternoon teas must be pre-booked and are available Monday to Saturday from 1 pm – 3.30 pm and on Sundays from 2.15 pm to 3.30 pm.
In addition, the hotel serves a popular Sunday roast each weekend. You can choose between Herefordshire beef and line caught fish. Pre-booking is essential as the value for money dinner is popular with locals as well as hotel guests.
Roast dinner is served in the restaurant every Sunday between midday and 2 pm.
The Great Hall Bar and Lounge
We found the Great Hall to be a perfect place for unwinding after a long day sightseeing in Stratford-Upon-Avon. The large but cosy room has soft chairs and sofas gathered around an open fire and a stylish bar.
It serves a range of local ales, cocktails and wines. You can also purchase bar meals ranging from sandwiches and salads to ploughmans sharing platters, burgers and pasta. There aren’t any dining tables so you may have to eat at the bar or off a low table. Prices are cheaper than the restaurant and the portions are generously sized.
The Great Hall bar and lounge is open everyday from 11 am until late. Food is served from 11.30 am – 9.30 pm.
Billesley Manor Spa
Unfortunately we didn’t have time to indulge in the spa facilities on recent trip so I look forward to visiting on our next stay.
The spa has a good sized heated indoor pool lined by loungers. Guests can also enjoy a sauna and steam room.
There are 4 treatment rooms where ESPA expert therapists offer facials, massages, manicures and pedicures. Treatments must be pre-booked in advance.
The pool is open everyday from 7.30 am – 8 pm with special hours set aside for families with children.
Gym
The hotel has a small gym with cardio equipment and weights.
There is also a yoga hut offering regular yoga and pilates classes for locals and guests plus two outdoor tennis courts. Tennis equipment is available from the gym.
The gym is open everyday from 7.30 am – 8 pm.
Parking
There is lots of free parking available on-site.
Other amenities
Free WiFi is available throughout the hotel plus there is a 24-hour pick-up laundry and dry cleaning service.
One of my favourite rooms in the hotel was the quiet ‘As You Like It’ lounge. It has soft chairs, sofas, books, chess boards and a writing desk. It was a relaxing spot to unwind with a good book or to plan the day’s activities.
If the weather is good during your stay, get out and enjoy the 11 acres of parkland. Hotel staff will happily point you in the direction of some good walks.
I think the gardens are a highlight of the hotel so make sure you leave time to explore them whatever the weather. In summer months you can play games in the garden such as giant chess, badminton, croquet and boules.
My opinion of Billesley Manor & Spa
The most unique selling point of this luxury hotel is its historic nature and character. It’s rare to get the chance to stay in an Elizabethan era house – yet alone one in which England’s most famous playwright wrote one of his plays! The attention to detail and little extra character details such as era appropriate locks and latches make this place extra special.
I highly recommend splashing out on one of the two four-poster suites. How often do you get to sleep in an oak-panelled room in a four-poster bed like a fairytale princess?
We found the staff friendly and knowledgeable about the local area and they were happy to share tips for sightseeing.
I think you will love Billesley Manor as much as we did. It’s a special place and we will definitely be back.
Disclosure – Our stay at Billesley Manor Hotel & Spa was complimentary. However, all opinions and views expressed in this review are entirely our own.