Live out your own Saltburn manor life (with fewer murders perhaps)

Stately British Estates to Call Home for A While 

Imagine waking to the sound of songbirds in the rose garden and the aroma of fresh perked coffee and sizzling sausages signaling breakfast to come. As you pull back the bedroom drapery to view the landscape of a manicured country estate outside, it’s time to start another day as lord or lady of the manor. 

No, you’re not dreaming of Downton Abbey. You’re a guest at one of the exquisite historic properties managed by Loyd & Townsend Rose set in the most picturesque places across Great Britain. 

Renting a villa in Italy or chateau in France has been a favorite choice among travelers looking for privacy and a more residential feel when vacationing abroad. It’s especially appealing if they’re traveling with a group of friends or family and want to set up a beautiful base camp to explore surrounding areas or settle in on velvet sofas with a book or laze in the sun by the swimming pool.  

 Now, vacationers can add the experience of making themselves at home in a magnificent manor home in merry old England. 

Loyd & Townsend Rose, a luxury concierge service specializing in extraordinary experiences in ancestral country houses, castles and stately homes handles all the details to create a memorable stay in magical locations from quaint villages to seaside cliff tops.

Properties range in size from five to twenty bedrooms, most with their own ensuite bathrooms and all with elegant décor mixing treasures from the past with the convenience and comfort of the modern era. 

You’ll likely discover a room you didn’t know you needed! These homes have designated boot rooms where rain boots of various sizes are lined up for guests to don on walks through meadows, streams and woods, sometimes accompanied by the host family’s dogs. 

Whether it’s a billiards table, a fully stocked bar or living room with ample seating each home is designed to entertain a crowd. 

“It’s the ultimate house party,” says co-founder Jonathan Townsend-Rose.  

He emphasizes these are not just rental properties, “We enjoy a close relationship with all of the owners and the staff at these estates and take great pride in our local knowledge and love for these historic homes.” 

Meet the Manors

Newton Surmaville – Somerset

When you enter the long drive leading up to Newton House with its golden hued stones glowing in the sun, the only word that comes to mind is “Wow!” This handsomely restored 17^th century estate in Somerset is a majestic Jacobean manor surrounded by 62 acres of parkland grounds including sheep meadows and formal flower gardens. The current redesign was led by famed New York based interior designer Jeffrey Bilhuber who chose a sophisticated mix of contemporary touches to liven up period furnishings. For example, Bilhuber added blush-tone linen draperies to the formal dining room featuring an impressively large George IV walnut table. 

There are nine bedrooms and eight baths, accommodating up to 20 people with oak paneling, mantled fireplaces, flag stone flooring and wall sized tapestries.  

A private chef skillfully commands the kitchen using produce from the greenhouse gardens and treats from local purveyors including delicious butter and cheeses. 

Dinner is served as well as breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea with freshly baked scones. There’s even a Newton House gin distilled on property. 

Area activities organized by Loyd & Townsend Rose travel advisors include tours of the Temperley family run Somerset Cider and Brandy Company with tasting room, distillery and heirloom apple orchards.  The Brown and Forrest Smokery is another Somerset foodie favorite where the art of hot and cold smoked salmon, trout, chicken and cheeses is at its finest. 

The Moult – Devon

Yes, there is someplace called the “British Riviera” and Salcombe in South Devon is the ultimate English seaside resort town. Think Nantucket meets Bar Harbor with an English accent!

The Moult is one of the finest and most famous private houses on the coast positioned on its own peninsula and now welcoming guests to share what residents have relished for centuries. 

The house is painted a pretty salmon pink which pops against the bright blue of the sea views beyond. Built in the 1700’s and once owned by the Earl of Devon, The Moult in more recent history was the location for the filming of an Agatha Christie drama. 

The house is full of traditional English fittings and outside there are stone paths to the beach below, a gazebo and a croquet court. There are plenty of modern lifestyle additions too including contemporary art, cinema, gym, heated 72-foot swimming pool, firepit and even an inground trampoline. 

There are 11 bedrooms with private bathrooms for up to 24 people.  When I stayed at The Moult I think I discovered a new room every day! It’s huge but the common rooms for gathering at cocktail hour and meals make you feel so at home. 

Seaside area activities include swimming, fishing, beach walking, coastal hill hikes and exhilarating ride -the -waves boat tours led by Salcombe Sea-n-Shore.

Thrills of the cocktail kind can be found at Salcombe Gin, crafted with local botanicals.  Join the Salcombe Gin School experience and you’ll not only learn how to make gin, you’ll leave with a personally distilled bottle. 

Knowlton Court – Kent

Knowlton Court is situated in the heart of Kent, often called the Garden of England and owners, Andrew and Fenella Fox-Pitt, lead the way in tending that garden with a large working farm and a passion for agriculture, the environment, conservation, and preservation. 

Built in 1585, Knowlton Court oozes history but has been recently renovated with modern bathrooms and interior décor to welcome guests and they can welcome a lot of them! 

There are 19 luxury bedrooms with private bathrooms for up to 38 people and further accommodation on the estate for a total of 80 guests.

 The grand house is surrounded by magnificent gardens punctuated by towering animal shaped topiaries including rabbits, peacocks and a snail. 

Gleaming suits of armor greet guests in the front hall of the house and centuries old artworks adorn the walls throughout. 

You may remember the magazine Horse and Hound, which makes an appearance in the movie “Notting Hill”.  Well, here you’ll find a display of framed Horse and Hound covers (just outside the boot room) starring family member William Fox-Pitt, one of Britain’s best known and much awarded equestrians. 

Activities in the area include day trips to the medieval city of Canterbury, famed for Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales and Canterbury Cathedral. Head towards the coast near Dover and you’ll find the new home of England’s burgeoning sparkling wine industry.

Giving Champagne a run for the money, English bubbly is gaining world attention. Yes, global warming helps a bit, but Charles Simpson of Simpsons’ Wine Estate says, “It’s about the grapes, the wine making and the chalk rich terroir of the land.” 

Privacy with Panache

Choosing homes over hotels is quite a travel trend these days. Perhaps born out of the desire for social distancing in the pandemic, people realized they really liked the exclusivity and level of personal service. “Travelers are going from one private experience to the next,” says Misty Belles, vice president at Virtuoso, a global network of luxury travel advisors.  

“It’s really a great option for multigenerational families,” adds Belles. With all the bedrooms and baths, living rooms and dining rooms, house staff at the ready and a range of local area adventures there’s something for everyone in a group to enjoy.  

For more information on planning a visit to the houses, manors and castles managed by Loyd & Townsend Rose in England, Scotland and Ireland visit LTR’s website. It’s a lot of fun to look at all of the incredibly beautiful properties where you can make yourself at home.