Why go?
For a stay that feels lifted from the pages of a smoky memoir-where English country house splendour meets silver-screen seduction. Beaverbrook is the kind of place where the fire’s always lit, the Champagne’s always cold, and the guest list, past and present, reads like a romantic novel.
Honeymoon style
A retreat for aesthetes, film buffs and design-led dreamers looking to escape the city without sacrificing style. This is a place for those who crave laid-back opulence-hand-in-hand strolls through walled gardens, whisky by the fire and views that stretch out over Surrey’s rolling hills.
Set the scene
The moment you pass through the neatly clipped gates of the estate, there’s a distinct feeling you’ve arrived somewhere very special. Not just because of the perfectly preened lawns or the mischievous glint in the eyes of staff dressed in cricket whites, but because everything-from the commissioned artwork to the scent of the hand lotion-is so deliberately, quietly excellent.
Inside the Main House, interiors are a masterclass in escapism. Designed by Susie Atkinson, rooms unfold with jewel tones, vintage curiosities and portrait-lined walls. Fireplaces crackle, soft jazz plays, and the Gerhard Richter tapestry glows gently in the morning sun. There’s a sense of old-school club cool without the snobbery. Guests drift between the library and The Parrot Bar, wrapped in Missoni throws or clinking glasses of negronis before supper. Couples, creatives, low-key lords and the occasional supermodel all seem to know this is the country bolt-hole where one can truly disappear-and do so beautifully.
Rooms
Beaverbrook doesn’t shout about its rooms – it doesn’t need to. Instead, it hands you a key and lets the magic unfold. In the Main House, it’s all velvet headboards, mahogany armoires and the kind of beds that make you cancel breakfast plans. The Dowager Suite is the grande dame: all sweeping sashes, claw-footed tubs and quiet, carpeted drama. Elsewhere, the Turret Rooms deliver escapism in its purest form – vaulted ceilings, bibliophile’s nooks and views that roll out like opening credits across the Surrey hills.
Over at The Coach House, things take a lighter turn. Think botanical prints, glossy panelling, and garden-facing balconies where couples sip something chilled before dinner. The rooms here are a little more contemporary, but still steeped in charm – less country pile, more elegant guest wing with a fondness for fresh air.
Tucked further into the estate, The Village offers a more secluded setup – perfect for families travelling with staff in tow, or for honeymooners wanting complete discretion. Interiors are a touch more modern, with whimsical wallpaper, soft green palettes and generous space to just… be.
Across them all, it’s the quiet layers of comfort that linger: the art on the walls, the handwritten notes, the sense that someone’s thought this all through – and done so beautifully.
Food and drink
Evenings here begin at The Parrot Bar, where the lighting is low, the velvet is deep, and the cocktails come with a knowing wink to Lord Beaverbrook himself. The Viceroy Martini – gin, dry vermouth, grapefruit bitters – lands with just the right level of theatricality, served by waistcoated staff who know not to interrupt a story mid-flow.
Upstairs at The Japanese Grill, things are precise and pared-back – buttery wagyu slips into yuzu ponzu as if it’s always known how, while the sashimi arrives so artfully arranged it’s almost impolite to touch. This is the quieter, more cinematic corner of the estate – sushi, silk drapes, and that hush that comes with good design and better conversation.
Down a garden path – quite literally – The Garden House offers a softer kind of seduction. This is where the seasons speak. Expect plates of slow-roast lamb with mint oil, grilled peaches with torn burrata, or beef carpaccio so fine it flutters. It’s all served under rafters strung with dried herbs, the scent of lavender clinging to your glass of Provençal rosé. Take the terrace table if you can – it’s the one you’ll want to linger at long after pudding.
Over in The Village, Mrs Beeton’s brings something entirely different – warm, convivial, and built with younger guests in mind. Expect glossy bistro chairs, striped banquettes, and a menu that works hard to please everyone. Homemade pastas, grilled fish with nothing fancy, chicken pie with a proper crust. Children are catered to without condescension – their penne with parmesan is as carefully plated as the côte de boeuf. It’s relaxed, but not lazy. And if the littles are happy, the grown-ups can sip their wine just a little bit slower.
The story
Lord Beaverbrook, Churchill’s wartime confidante and one of the 20th century’s great political provocateurs, was famed for his lavish hosting. This house was his theatre, and he filled it with writers, politicians, film stars-anyone who could bring good conversation and a thirst for life. His legacy remains in the eccentric elegance of the interiors and the devil-may-care sense of fun that permeates the place. The main house has been restored with reverence and whimsy: expect silk-lined walls, mid-century curios and original murals that tell stories at every turn. The spirit of the place is unshakeable-equal parts debauched and divine.
Family-friendly
Beaverbrook isn’t just somewhere that tolerates children – it’s a place that seems to have been quietly designed with them in mind, while never compromising on style. The founders, also behind KidZania London, know a thing or two about small people with big imaginations. And it shows.
The Village is where it all begins -a paradise for children that might as well have been dreamt up by Roald Dahl with a technicolour cluster of play zones, wild trails and secret hideouts wrapped in 400 acres of leafy possibility. There’s a Sharky & George HQ where glue sticks and glitter flow freely, and an actual £75,000 treehouse that looks like something a Bond villain might holiday in. The Home Cinema, smelling faintly of popcorn and promise, screens classics that make everyone happy. And if you’re in need of a moment to yourself? There’s always the spa – while they’re making dens, you can be drifting between steam and plunge.
One of the most inspired additions is the Bear Grylls Survival Academy – not just a name-drop, but the real thing. Young guests (and their grown-ups) can spend hours learning to forage, build shelters, master knot-tying, or take on team challenges that involve more critical thinking than any iPad app could conjure. It’s all designed to bring families closer together, with just enough mud and mischief to keep it thrilling.
Whether it’s beekeeping with the resident hive manager or cycling through woodland trails with a picnic stashed in your basket, this is a rare place where parents can truly unwind knowing their children are not just ‘looked after’ but inspired.
Spa
The Coach House Spa sits in a secluded corner of the estate, all white clapboard charm and botanical calm. Treatments are rooted in nature, with Bamford oils and aromatherapy-led facials the hero draw. Couples should book the private Rasul mud ritual followed by time in the vitality pool with views over the gardens. The contrast between the hot hammam and the plunge pool outside is deliciously invigorating. The spa isn’t trying to be a temple of wellness-it’s comfortable, elegant and knows exactly what it’s doing. Highlights include the sound bath meditation, which quietly resets even the most city-frazzled guests, and the outdoor thermal pool surrounded by hydrangeas.
Eco-friendly
Beaverbrook treats sustainability not as a slogan, but as quiet practice. Energy use is tracked and trimmed, produce is pulled from the kitchen garden, and woodlands are managed to protect biodiversity – bees, bug hotels and all. There’s a gentle circularity to the estate, from EV chargers at the gate to handmade furniture sourced from their own grounds. Local suppliers are favoured, waste is minimised, and even children’s activities come laced with lessons in nature. Thoughtfully done, nothing showy – just a deep-rooted respect for the 470 acres it calls home, and a commitment to preserving it for the long game.
Location
A one-hour drive from central London, Beaverbrook sits just outside Leatherhead in the Surrey Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You’re minutes from market towns, stately gardens and a particularly good antiques trail. This is London’s countryside at its finest.
To book go to: beaverbrook.co.uk
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