Barnett Hill, Surrey Hills, UK
Distance from airport - 35 minutes from London Heathrow airport.
Barnett Hill Hotel, Surrey Hills
The tree-lined road up to Barnett Hill gives no hints to what to expect once you arrive. This gingerbread-brick palace is hidden away at the end of the drive with pretty gardens and plenty of woodland to keep dogs and children amused. The history of this stunning Queen Anne-style country house dates back to 1905, when it was built by Frank Cook, grandson of travel agent Thomas Cook as a family home. Many of Barnett Hill's original features still remain, including the Summer House, Tea House and the greenhouse, which has seen better days but as it is grade 1 listed no repairs can be done. Contemporary chic meets country house hotel at Barnett Hill in the Surrey Hills.
Barnett Hill became part of the Alexander Hotels collection in October 2016 when it was transformed into a contemporary chic boutique hotel. This cool country house hotel just 15 minutes from Guildford and boasts 56 rooms, suites and residences spread across the main house, courtyard and stables. Each one is as individual as the next, designed by the owner. The en-suite bathrooms are modern and chic with a generous supply of L’Occitane bath and body products and heated towel rails, home to big fluffy towels. The suites are seriously large and can easily fit a family of four if you’re travelling en famille, those in the main house have a more cosy feel but the Master Suite (no. 43) in the courtyard has fresh, modern interiors and an indulgent bathroom. Dogs are welcome and there’s even a special pet-friendly dining area if you can’t bear being parted while you eat.
Children and Dogs
Both are welcome at Barnett Hill (and sister hotel Great Fosters) and there are family-friendly and dog-friendly rooms, kids menus, wellington boots and bikes to borrow. Four-legged friends are provided with comfy bed and stylish bowls to dine from along with delicious treats from Tunbridge Wells Dog Biscuit Company. There’s plenty of countryside and woodlands to explore (26 acres on the Barnett Hill estate) with exceptional views and some of the best walking routes in the south of England right on the edge of the Barnett Hill estate; the Surrey Hills is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Dining
New to Barnett Hill is the stunning, modern 1905 Bar. Choose from a menu of gins including the famous 'Silent Pool' Gin, cocktails, mocktails, wines and soft drinks. The bar looks out onto the gardens but during the cooler months there’s a cosy fireplace to sit next to.
Barnett Hill’s oak-panelled Oak Room restaurant looks onto the hotel’s terrace and the gardens, the perfect spot for Afternoon Tea and the children’s menu has been designed and worded by the GM’s children ensuring even tricky little eaters will be happy! During the cooler months cosy up in front of the fire in the library with a hot chocolate after a woodland walk.
Whether you’re staying or not, Sunday lunch at Barnett Hill is foodie heaven - with a mouth-watering menu of succulent meats, seasonal vegetables and popular British puddings it’s the perfect way to spend a Sunday with friends or family; there’s space in the Oak Room for several tables of five or six.
What to see and do around Barnett Hill
Gin-lovers should head to the Silent Pool Distillers and take a tour of the distillery and a tasting.
Drawn by a common passion for craft distilling, Silent Pool Distillers was set up by a group of friends to create a different kind of distillery, producing handcrafted, artisan spirits of outstanding quality. Located on the Duke of Northumberland’s Albury Estate, a group of dilapidated farm buildings on the banks of the legendary Silent Pool were completely transformed to become the home of the Silent Pool Distillers. In keeping with the original vision for a sustainable business, a vintage wood-fired steam boiler was renovated and restored to power the hand-built copper still, created for Silent Pool Distillers by the Arnold Holstein Company in the Lake Constance area of Germany.
The River Wey is just around the corner from Barnett Hill and on a sunny Summer’s day there’s nothing nicer than to enjoy a boat trip along the river. If you’re not keen on going on the water why not visit the monastery Waverley Abbey which you’ll find near the River Wey, it has retained much of its original features including parts of the monks’ dormitory, chapter-house and infirmary chapel, there’s also a museum to satisfy the curious history buffs.
If art is more your thing, then pop down to Watts Gallery in the nearby village of Compton. Here you can admire the Victorian paintings and sculptures.
Legoland is 35 minutes away and Chessington World of Adventures 45 minutes.
The Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is one of 46 nationally protected landscapes in the UK and has the equivalent protection as a national park. Famous beauty spots include Box Hill, Leith Hill and the Devil’s Punch Bowl and there’s an extensive footpath network and walking, running, cycling and horse riding routes to ensure everyone can discover the very best of the Surrey Hills.
Recommended for: Families and couples – dogs welcome
Name of Manager : Nicholas Roulier
Rates from £170 including breakfast.
Barnett Hill, Blackheath Lane, Guildford, GU5 0RF
Tel: +44 (0)1483 893361
Website: https://www.alexanderhotels.co.uk/barnett-hill/
Style - Contemporary country house hotel
Why stay here?
To get away for a mid-week break, great for families at weekends.