Coworth Park | weekend getaway outside London

the beautiful grounds of Coworth Park

I had the opportunity to spend an evening at Coworth Park for an overnight layover at Heathrow. The hotel is ideally suited for this purpose, being just a twenty minute drive from the airport (and infinitely more luxurious than any of the airport hotels on the perimeter of Heathrow). But you should also consider this property for a weekend leisure stay (for a corporate meeting or retreat).

One of ten hotels comprising the Dorchester Collection, Coworth Park offers the attentive service of a boutique hotel (just 71 rooms and suites) set on an expansive and picturesque country estate with two restaurants, a spa, gym, exercise room, horseback riding, tennis court, biking, croquet lawn, and a children's program. Just three years old in September, 2013, Dorchester Collection completed an extensive renovation of the original mansion and constructed new accommodations in the Stable and Cottage sections of the estate. Click here for pictures I took at Coworth Park.

We stayed in a Cottage Executive Suite, a large, two storied accommodation. The ground floor provided a substantial living area, small dining area, powder room, kitchenette, and work desk with desktop international power outlets, two Ethernet ports, as well as various output ports. Internet is fast and free for one device; Diamond Club guests receive free premium internet for unlimited devices. Upstairs was our large King bedroom with a second desk, a small bathroom with vanity and rain shower, a second small bathroom with a vanity, and a copper bathtub in the bedroom area. While I'm not a fan of duplex suites (why climb stairs?), the accommodations were spacious and the bedding on the four poster King bed was extraordinarily comfortable. The custom Muhldorfer down pillows were so perfect I looked for the label to order some myself (model 2010, 60/80 cm with 550 grams of 90% goose down, 10% goose feather filling).

The interiors at Coworth Park have a fresh contemporary style that blended some traditional elements, employed soft, restful colors, and displayed very good original art. Because the hotel was nearly full, I was unable to see many rooms. I did see a Superior Mansion room — sized as one would expect from a Superior — but Diamond Club guests receive a guaranteed upgrade at booking to a Deluxe. The high-ceiling end room felt spacious with a four poster bed. The bathroom was large with dual vanities, copper soaking tub, step-in rainshower, and WC. Ask to be blocked into "The Bothy," a small standalone cottage that is classified as a Deluxe room.

Diamond Club guests enjoy a guaranteed upgrade at booking, 100£ hotel credit, full breakfast for two daily (including room service), and the free unlimited internet previously mentioned. Coworth Park is a winner and highly recommended for locals seeking a weekend getaway or visitors wanting to stay in beautiful parklands outside of London.

Coworth Park (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2013 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.