Surrey has long held appeal for those seeking a countryside escape with history and culture to be seen around every corner. At its centre lies the Surrey Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty known for walking trails, vineyards, and gardens that attract visitors throughout the year.
Surrey offers the perfect backdrop for a country-house break. Here, grand Victorian mansions, Tudor estates and early 20th-century houses have been transformed for the modern-day retreat, offering Michelin-level dining and award-winning spa facilities. Whether it’s an overnight spa break, a weekend escape or a longer stay, the setting is every bit as integral to the experience as the service itself.
Beaverbrook
Set amongst the Surrey Hills, Beaverbrook is a luxurious country-house estate near Leatherhead. Originally built in 1866 for industrialist Abraham Dixon, the property was then purchased by 1st Baron Beaverbrook, Max Aitken, in 1910. Under his ownership, the house became a hub for high society and political figures, yet now operates as a five-star country hotel combining period character with comfort. Accommodation is spread across The House, The Village, The Garden House and The Coach House, each with its own character. The House features a grand Victorian staircase, library, and 18 bedrooms named after former occupants, and The Village includes 21 suites converted from restored workers’ cottages, and named after literary and artistic figures. Interiors follow a classic English country aesthetic, and amenities include interconnecting rooms, complimentary minibars, and Bamford toiletries.
Well-being is central to the estate’s offer. The Coach House Spa features stained-glass ceilings, luxury treatment suites, an indoor pool, outdoor heated pool, sauna, steam room and relaxation areas. Additional facilities include tennis and padel courts, a cinema, and woodland walking paths across the estate’s grounds. Head chef Wojciech Popow leads the Japanese-style dining room, serving up sushi, sashimi, and the finest cuts of meat and fish from the Josper grill. Sir Frank’s Bar channels the estate’s legacy with old-world opulence and timeless cocktails, and head chef Adam Sharpe sources local ingredients to create Anglo-Italian-inspired menus in The Garden House. For guests seeking a country-house stay that pairs historic glamour with modern luxury in Surrey, Beaverbrook sets the tone perfectly.
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Pennyhill Park Hotel & Spa
Surrounded by 123 acres of landscaped grounds near Bagshot, Pennyhill Park is an award-winning luxury spa hotel. During the First World War, the house served as a rest home for military officers. By 1972, it had transitioned fully into hospitality, opening as a hotel before gradually evolving into the luxury country estate it is today. Over time, Pennyhill Park has undergone several architectural transformations. An orangery was added in the 1880s, a neo-Tudor wing in the early 1900s, and subsequent decades have seen continual refurbishments of its gardens and grounds. Accommodation is offered across 124 individually styled bedrooms and suites, with room categories ranging from Cosy and Cubby Rooms to Luxe Rooms and fully appointed Suites. One of the stand-out options is the Muirfield Suite, located on the ground floor of the terrace wing. It includes a four-poster bed, Aquavision TV, and a private outdoor hot tub with direct garden access.
The spa at Pennyhill Park occupies approximately 45,000 sq ft and is a destination in its own right. There is a 25 metre indoor “ballroom” pool, complete with underwater music and fibre-optic lighting and outside, the estate offers an 18-metre open-air pool which is usable year-round. The facilities also include a hydrotherapy pool with massage jets, an indoor hot tub, three outdoor hot tubs, herbal and dry saunas, steam rooms, an ice igloo, and cold plunge pools. For dining, The Hillfield Restaurant provides farm-to-fork seasonal cuisine, whilst multi-award-winning chef Steve Smith heads up The Latymer, which has retained a Michelin star for 20 years. For those who wish to venture out, nearby excursions include a trip to historic Windsor, a tour of the gardens at RHS Wisley, or a visit to Ascot Racecourse, just a short drive away. Whether for a weekend escape, a wellness retreat, or a special occasion, Pennyhill Park remains a benchmark for luxury country-house hospitality.
Great Fosters
Great Fosters is a Grade I-listed luxury hotel set in 50 acres of iconic gardens and grounds. The estate traces its story back to the mid-16th century, when the core of the red-brick Tudor house was built for Sir Hugh Warham around 1555. The estate’s royal connection endures in the crest of Elizabeth I carved above the entrance, dated 1598, marking its status during her reign. In 1931, Sir Harold Sutcliffe restored the property and converted it into a hotel, preserving its Elizabethan character, a legacy now continued by the Alexander Hotels Collection. Accommodation is found in the Main House, Coach House and Cloisters wings, with Cosy Rooms, Comfy Kings and larger suites on offer. The Tapestry Suite was once the formal drawing room of the Main House and is believed to have been used by Anne Boleyn. On the upper floor of the Main House, the Waterloo Suite features a private balcony overlooking the gardens.
The Utopia Retreat offers an Art Deco outdoor heated pool with sun loungers and a snack bar, open in warmer months, and an indoor spa area with treatment rooms, sauna and steam facilities that enhance the experience all year round. The Tudor Pass is the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, overseen by Executive Chef Alex Payne, with much of its ingredients sourced locally or from the hotel’s own gardens. Afternoon tea at Great Fosters has become a fixture in its own right, served in the historic Anne Boleyn drawing room or outside amongst the topiary gardens. Combining Tudor heritage and award-winning dining, Great Fosters makes a strong case for why the English country-house hotel endures.
Also Read: The Best Spa Hotels in Surrey
Barnett Hill
Barnett Hill stands on Blackheath Lane, just outside of Guildford, with stunning views over the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The estate was built in 1905 as a Queen Anne-style mansion by Frank Cook, who chose the site for its picturesque hilltop location. In recent years, it has been refurbished under the umbrella of the Alexander Hotels Collection and positioned as a contemporary country-house hotel in the Surrey Hills. Guest accommodation ranges across the Main House, Courtyard and Stables wings. The real highlights are the Named Suites, each linked to the estate’s early 20th-century heritage. The Arnold Mitchell Suite has garden views and a statement freestanding copper bath at its centre, and The Frank Cook Suite, named after the estate’s founder, features bay windows, a lounge area, and an oversized marble-clad bathroom.
The flagship dining option is the two-rosette Oak Hall Restaurant & Terrace, which serves breakfast through to dinner, including Sunday lunch overlooking the gardens. The 1905 Bar & Grill caters for lighter gatherings or pre-dinner drinks, and Afternoon Tea is offered in one of the hotel’s drawing rooms or on the garden terrace. Beyond the hotel, Barnett Hill makes full use of its countryside location. Guests can explore walking trails in the Surrey Hills, head to the nearby organic Albury Vineyard for tours and tastings, visit the Silent Pool Distillery for gin experiences, or tour the flagship gardens at RHS Wisley. A stay at Barnett Hill offers a relaxed approach to country-house hospitality, with some of Surrey’s best countryside right on its doorstep.
Whether visiting Pennyhill Park for spa-led relaxation, or Great Fosters for Tudor character and fine dining, each hotel captures a different side of the county’s appeal. A getaway in Surrey shows that the English country break still has real relevance. Not as nostalgia, but as a way to slow down, eat well, and stay somewhere built with wellness and history in mind.
