Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa Review: A Grand Suite Stay in Wiltshire

Do you know what the worst part about lockdown has been for me? It’s being not able to stay in gorgeous hotels, eat in delicious restaurants and not being able to visit my one true love (sorry husband) – Jerez de la Frontera in Spain. The second worst part has been holding onto all of these lovely hotel reviews from pre-lockdown. Publishing them in a time when no one was interested in booking a hotel seemed pointless, but with the country finally starting to get back to a new kind of normal, now seemed as good of a time as any and I can’t even contain my excitement to share this one with you. The incredible, Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa in Wiltshire.

It was a cold, misty morning, snow was forecast and when staying at a country house hotel –  chilly weather is the recipe to the best kind of stay. That smell in the air of roaring log fires, those eerily views from your window and the icy cold breeze on your face when submerged into a bubbly warm outdoor hydrotherapy pool. I’m exciting myself even writing about it. As we pulled up to the hotel gates, they slowly crept open and we drove down the mile long avenue, lines with four hundred lime and beech trees which were planted in 1827. It was stunning and my camera really doesn’t do it the justice it deserves.

One of the most beautiful rooms of the property is the elegant drawing room, just off from the main entrance hall. It’s opulent, refined, has the most gorgeous views over the grounds and most importantly – it’s the perfect spot for a glass of wine. We arrived at the hotel a little early and so after a swift check-in – we settled in with a good glass (or two) of white wine to pass the time until our room was ready.

We were staying in one of the most spectacular rooms during our stay – The Grand Master Suite. A room which has been the home of famous celebrities and politicians, you can expect 54 square metres of luxury and comfort that will have you wishing you never had to leave.`A magnificent four poster bed, roaring open fireplace for those cosy evenings and lounge seating for those perfect nights in with 24 room service to enjoy. Not to mention the magnificent dining table with views looking right out over the entire estate.

The bathroom was absolutely incredible and you really have to see it in person to experience the size and splendor of it. Floor to ceiling marble, underfloor heating and the most tantalising double shower. Not to mention a very generous amount of ESPA products to help you create your very own in-room spa experience.

If you prefer a little more relaxation, the bath will be become your new best friend. Open the window, fill your bath with those ESPA products and let the cold air surround the steamy warm bath. Made even more comforting with that smell of log fires from the property slowly drifting in. A smell I find so comforting.

You may notice a lot of references to horses around the grounds and that’s because the hotel has its very own Equestrian centre. The Equestrian Centre has 35 horses and can accommodate complete beginners or the most competent or riders and from time to time, The Equestrian Centre also run specialist clinics with top riders from the world of show jumping eventing and dressage. We didn’t ride any horses during our stay (I’m not quite brave enough) but plan ahead and you can incorporate this experience into your stay. The grounds here are also stunning, with 500 acres of lush parkland to enjoy.

Let me take you to one of my favourite areas of the property – The Spa. Set within the estate’s 500-acres of unspoilt parkland, the spa is totally at one with its surroundings, incorporating wood, marble and glass to reflect the warm seasonal hues of the outdoors. As you walk towards it from the main property, it’s like walking through a tropical Japanese garden and it immediately gives you that sense of relaxation and well being.

For those who are looking for extra pampering, the spa’s specialists perform a range of personalised spa treatments in one of the eight therapy rooms. But if like me you’re more of a pool person, then you can take a dip in the stunning 20 metre indoor pool which even has its own roaring fireplace spanning the length of the pool.

That evening we had dinner in the hotels Restaurant by Hywel Jones. Executive Chef, Hywel Jones has held a Michelin star at the restaurant since 2006 and offers guests an unforgettable dining experience. Of all the things at this hotel, the dining room decor was actually the only part I would say needs improving as it felt very old fashioned and dated compared to the rest of the property. Still, that didn’t really matter – because the food was simply stunning and so was our pre-dinner cocktail back in the drawing room.

After tucking in to a selection of heavenly canapés, the bread arrived and my gosh was it good. I can’t quite recall exactly what kind or flavour it was we ate, but this little roll pictured above was what I can only recall as the best bread you’re ever likely to eat. Especially when washed down with a delicious glass of buttery vintage Champagne.

To start, dressed Cornish crab, granny smith apple, horseradish and hazelnut. The flaky crab was as fresh and juicy as one could only hope for, the apple added a nice touch of acidity and the horseradish, a generous touch of heat. Size wise it was rather small, but don’t let that fool you – the flavours and precision of it make for a perfect few mouthfuls.

For main course, we both decided on the Wiltshire Downland’s lamb with heritage carrot, ras el hanout, yoghurt and raisins. Yet another exceptional course and every part of it cooking wise was sheer perfection. The lamb was cooked exactly to how it should be, cut through like butter and full of flavour. The carrot, topped with the rest of those ingredients was fantastic and the addition of one of my favourite ever spice mixes, ras el hanout – really added a lovely second layer of flavour to the dish. If this plate of food is ever on the menu, make sure you order it.

To finish, the most incredible desserts – particularly the deconstructed creme brûlée. Little mini doughnuts smothered in sugar, the smoothest of sorbets and that brûlée had such a beautiful texture to it. The perfect ending to what was a terrific meal we’ll not be forgetting anytime soon.

Before heading off to bed, we moved back into the drawing room. I sipped on a few too many glasses of brandy and the other half tucked into a Martini. All whilst enjoying a game of cheese. The perfect accompaniments to end what was a delicious evening.

The next morning we divulged in one of my favourite hotel experiences – breakfast in bed! Here it was quite honestly one of the finest I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating. We set the table, ordered pretty much everything we could from the menu and looked out over the grounds whilst enjoying it.

The most heavenly French toast, topped with banana and drizzled in chocolate sauce. Endless amounts of flaky pastries. Delicious freshly squeezed juices and smoked salmon with scrambled eggs on sourdough. The salmon in particular was divine. With social distancing currently in place, breakfast in bed seems like the most sensible and luxurious experience any hotel guest shouldn’t be missing out on right now.

Sadly, it was time to say goodbye and with a heavy heart. Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa is such an incredible hotel, full of history, gastronomic delights and a spa so mesmerising you’ll be booking a return stay before you leave. I had so many more photos of this property to share, but writing this I decided to hold some of them back because the beauty of this hotel, is discovering it for yourself. If you’re longing for a holiday as much as I am and simply want to get away from it all, then this is the place to do just that. Creating timeless memories and turning 2020 into a year to remember. Would we come back? Absolutely!