On a visit to the four-star country house hotel and spa in Buckinghamshire, Customer Experience Executive Amy, and Digital Marketing Apprentice Nilesh, discovered a world of luxury wellness. Here they share what they loved about this stylish retreat.
Horwood House is a hidden gem of a spa destination - understated and achingly elegant, it’s a place that makes you feel instantly at home. The historic hotel dates to 1911 - once the home of the famous gardener, Percy Thrower, it's perhaps little surprise that the gardens are not only exceptional, but also provide the theme for every aspect of your stay. For example, the restaurant, Harry’s Bar & Kitchen, is named for Percy's father - the original Head Gardener.
Alongside this historic haven, H Spa at Horwood House is an ultra modern addition, inviting you into a contemporary world of wellbeing that celebrates nature with its organic style, and treatments from Caudalie - known for harnessing the power of grape vines.
From the moment you step through the doors, the experience is amazing and every inch its four-star status - it's little wonder it's part of Spabreaks.com's Elysium collection. The decor is lovely - right from the reception area, it's stylish, but also they have thought of everything, paying careful attention to detail. Every aspect is spotless and beautifully decorated, but it's also so easy to relax right away.
Throughout our stay it was sunny, so we went for several walks around the grounds, which are incredibly beautiful, with a lily pond, tennis courts, and plenty of spaces to sit. We had afternoon tea outside the main manor house and practically melted into our seats - they were so comfortable. It's also lovely to lounge in the outside spaces within the spa, on a dedicated terrace with loungers - it feels incredibly private.
The food is excellent, and also really reasonably priced, especially considering the hotel's luxury credentials. The quality of everything was also superb, so unsurprisingly the restaurant was fully booked, but they still managed not to make it feel too busy. The breakfast buffet was a real favourite, with really high quality ingredients and all freshly served.
The treatments were amazing - so much so that we both nearly fell asleep. We both had a 25-minute facial followed by a 25-minute back, neck, and shoulder massage. The therapists were wonderful, talking you through the treatment to explain each step, and checking the pressure of the massage throughout. We both agreed it was one of the best treatments we've ever had.
The staff were out of this world. There was nothing we could fault - on the contrary, they really added to the experience. From the reception team to the waiters and the hotel manager, they were incredibly helpful and all seemed very happy to be there, enjoying their jobs and contributing to a positive environment.
We visited in early May and were incredibly lucky with the weather, so naturally we made full use of the outside spaces, from relaxing in the spa garden to settling in with a bottle of Prosecco on the loungers and tucking into afternoon tea. While we would recommend it for anyone, definitely consider it for a last-minute getaway inspired by the sunshine over the summer!
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