Visiting The Manor Country House Hotel is like walking into a National Trust property where you can touch the furniture
Shop – then drop
Grade II-listed Weston Manor dates back to the 13thcentury. Built in mellow local stone, it has always been well-situated, within easy distance of Oxford, the Cotswolds and Blenheim Palace. These days there’s an added draw. Bicester Shopping Village is just down the road.
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Immerse yourself in history
From the moment you pass the ancient wooden front door, history comes alive. A log fire still burns in the 16thcentury fireplace; the paintings on the walls are of the Bertie family, who once warmed themselves by it.
Wonderful Tudor details, such as the rare feather panelling, intricate ceilings and tracery have been carefully incorporated into the design so that it is both comfortable and beautiful.
Sleep tight
Thirty-two individually-decorated rooms can be reached by timbered corridors and delightful, up-and-down stairs. For a slightly more contemporary twist, there are also rooms in the tastefully restored coach house. Some have four-poster beds, some are ideal for families. All are en-suite. Furry friends are welcome in the special dog-friendly rooms.
Romantic strolls in a topiary fantasy
The Manor is set in twelve acres of stunningly kept grounds. There is a seasonal outdoor swimming pool and tennis court. Less energetic guests can explore the various garden ‘rooms’ of sleek hedges, comic topiary animals, sunken beds, herbaceous borders, quiet formal parterres and even a ‘secret garden’. Enjoy a drink on the stone-flagged terrace as the sun sets or step into the garden at dusk to see rabbits and deer sneaking into their night-time playground.
Dine like a Baron
The magnificent hammer-beamed dining room is the oldest part of the manor. It was once the Baron’s Hall, where the Abbot of Osney’s bailiff held court. Today it serves a constantly changing, traditional British menu using locally sourced ingredients.
Choose from a wide range of selected wines to accompany your meal. If you’re very lucky, you may get to dine privately in the fabulous minstrels’ gallery, overlooking the great hall without being seen yourself: ideal for the ultimate romantic tryst.
If you don’t have time to dine, why not enjoy afternoon tea – in the snug in winter, the Topiary Terrace when the weather permits.
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