Retreat at Elcot Park – Hotel Review
There’s something uniquely ‘treaty’ about a staycation close to home. For sure it’s an indulgence when you’re only an hour or so from your own bed, but unbeatable for a low effort change of scene. We can think of no better treat than the Retreat at Elcot Park.
The Rooms
Each room at The Retreat boasts its own unique design and we were lucky enough to stay in one of their two-bedroom family suites which had two fully separate rooms with the most thoughtful children’s bunk room. The bunk-bed was like a beautiful fortress and made for great den building and the room had ample space to play. The double bedroom wasn’t an afterthought either and came with a complimentary night cap for post-bedtime.
The bathroom was laden with my go-to hotel product obsession, Bramley, and did I mention fresh cookies were hanging in a bag on the door on check in? All in all, the room signalled that the whole family was welcome and encouraged to feel at ease here.
Activities
The Retreat is one of those locations where you really have no reason to leave. The child-friendly outdoor pool is heated all year round and was like a beautiful bath on a cold spring day. You can grab electric bikes to explore the estate or try out your tennis skills on the on-site courts. For adults, there is a small but perfectly formed thermal spa and gym and I couldn’t recommend indulging in a GAIA treatment more!
If you do feel the need to venture outside of The Retreats’ cosy cocoon, their neighbouring estate is only Downton Abbey! The Grounds of Highclere are open all-year round for a stroll but if you want a closer look at the house and gardens, or even a summer picnic in the grounds, availability is limited so be sure to book ahead.
The Food
There are two main restaurants at The Retreat: 1772, a brasserie style restaurant and Yu, a pan-Asian offering more on the fine dining end of the spectrum. We ate both breakfast and dinner in 1772 and it was one of those settings where I was immediately comfotable about dining ‘en famille’.
With a ‘mini-me’ children’s menu which had child friendly versions of some of the adult meals – think ‘chicken schnitzel’ that helpfully resembles chicken tenders – and plastic beakers, it made for a relaxing experience. One thing I would say is we specifically picked an early sitting but service was slow and we had to keep our little boy entertained for nearly an hour until food came which got tricky towards the end! Breakfast was a delicious and generous affair but doesn’t immediately come included in the room rate, so do look out for that!
Overall
There’s something really special about coming away from a stay and saying ‘can you believe that was only yesterday?’, because you have truly stepped away from real life for a moment. That was exactly how we were left feeling after 24 hours at The Retreat. And with rooms from under £200 it really does tick the box for a special and restorative break.
That Holiday Mum x
(we stayed at the Retreat as a PR invite, but opinions are my own and honest!)