Pulling into the drive on a rainy Friday afternoon, the lobby was busy and bustling but we were greeted with smiles and it didn’t take long for our reservation to be found and for us to be escorted to our room – the Marlborough Suite – which is one of the historical suites in the renovated courtyard.
The history
Mere meters from the Tudor manor and eager to look around, we were taken for a brief tour of the old house before being seated in the great dining hall and offered a complimentary glass of fizz. The room is marvellous, with huge stain glass windows that pay homage to Henry VIII, replica armour on the walls and the original oak banqueting table that was made in the dining hall and never left. The House itself was built in the mid-1500s and is a Grade I listed building. To name just a few historic events the house has catered for, this is where Jane Seymour was courted by Henry VIII and where the D-Day landings were planned.
The history of the house does not stop at the doors but seeps into the grounds. Just a short walk from the main entrance is Littlecote’s Roma Villa, which boasts a beautiful Roman mosaic floor. The mosaic, now lovingly restored, lays proudly for visitors to see. With so many stories surrounding the manor and its history, house and garden tours are available to guests and I’d strongly recommend booking onto these – the knowledge and pride the staff have over this dwelling is remarkable.
The facilities
The Marlborough Suite is located in the Grade II stables courtyard. Whilst keeping true to its historic setting, the room perfectly combines tradition with modern comforts in an eloquent room, with the star of the show being, of course, the king size bed. To accompany the usual amenities you’d expect from Warner for a comfortable night, waiting for us upon arrival was a bottle of wine from the cellar, fluffy white robes and a sweet and savoury snack – a lovely touch that made settling in easy.
The courtyard stables are conveniently located next to the leisure club where guests have full use of the indoor heated swimming pool, steam room, sauna, gym and bubble pool. In need of some time to sit back and relax, this was our first port of call. The pool is large enough to get in some pre-dinner lengths and the bubble pool is the perfect spot to admire the courtyard views.
However, for those looking for a truly relaxing vacation, the Littlecote spa offers a range of treatments from pampering manicures and pedicures to facials and massages that will leave you feeling rejuvenated. I booked in to have a 55-minute Swedish full body massage and was very impressed with the treatment I received. Made to feel instantly relaxed; I was able to customise the massage to my own needs, choosing a pressure I was comfortable with and highlighting any tension areas. The room itself was small but provided the perfect environment to drift off into a relaxed trance, helped along by the wonderful heated blankets – there is nothing worse than feeling cold during a massage.
The Food
Dinner and breakfast were served in the bright Popham restaurant that overlooks the gardens – I’d highly recommend a window table. Warner pride themselves on making a holiday with them as easy and hassle-free as possible and this approach is evident when it comes to dining. Each room is allocated a table throughout the duration of their stay and guests are welcome to dine anytime between 6.15-8pm – something that was explained to us upon arrival. This ease of use continues with the menu, each meal was labelled with a health rating and wine pairings are offered alongside the mains. For guests who’d prefer to go and choose their dinner, a cavalry and salad bar are also available. Breakfast follows in a similar suit with a buffet, continental station and hot plates served straight to your table available anytime between 8.30-10am.
Entertainment
A holiday with Warner Leisure is a social once. There is always a variety of sports classes and activities to try out and Littlecote is no different. From Yoga classes, water aerobics and indoor cycling to archery, rifle shooting, and darts, there is something for everyone, whatever ability.
Situated in the North Wessex Downs, the hotel offers Day excursions into the Cotswolds including a visit to Burford, the village used by the ITV series Downton Abbey, Bourton on the Water and Stow on the Wold. However, for those wanted to stay closer to home, there is so much to see within walking distance from the Manor and – if like us you’re graced with a few hours of glorious weather – head to the pop-up beach, lounge back in a deck chair and open a good book.
No evening at Littlecote is complete without a visit to their evening entertainment room. Hosting a feature act every night – we had the wonderful comedian Lloyd Hollett take to the stage. The night was a memorable one that offered guests the chance to take to the dance floor, request their favourite tracks or just sit back and enjoy the show!
I arrived in need of some relaxation and certainly left feeling pampered and refuelled thanks to the exceptional care from staff and the idyllic setting that surrounds Littlecote Manor.
For further information, dates to look out for and to book your stay, visit Warner Leisure Littlecote
About the Author / Gareth Hargreaves
Gareth looks after all editorial content on 50connect. He is the Swiss Army knife of content ideas and production.
