One Writer's Honest Review Of Dumbleton Hall, With Photos

Fresh from a £25 million restoration, Dumbleton Hall is a grand new take on the quintessential English country-house escape, and one I already can’t wait to revisit.

First impressions

Following a two-year, £25 million refurb, Dumbleton Hall recently reopened, bringing its Grade II-listed 19th-century architecture back to life with a dose of country-house luxury. When you first arrive and make your way down the long driveway, you’ll be greeted by sheep grazing all around you, making you feel like you’ve just stepped into a beautifully British rom-com. The grand manor is surrounded by rolling Cotswolds countryside, ancient trees and acres of lush grounds.

The location feels secluded and wonderfully removed from London life, while still being within easy reach of some of the Cotswolds’ best-known villages and towns. For me, that sense of escape was one of Dumbleton Hall’s biggest draws. In the height of summer, it felt like I’d pressed pause on London and been transported somewhere abroad. It really does feel special from the moment you arrive.

The interiors

This is a historic manor, and the renovation hasn’t tried to disguise that. Instead, original architectural details have been retained and complemented by modern touches that make the rooms feel fresh and luxe. Think beautiful detailing, antique furnishings and heritage-inspired patterns, but with enough contemporary design to stop the interiors from feeling overly traditional.

One of my favourite details was the hint of animal-print rugs in reception. Seriously, how chic is that? The restoration has drawn heavily on the building’s history, incorporating details including Neoclassical coving, William Morris prints, heritage chinoiserie and animal prints inspired by the Eyres-Monsell family, former owners of the estate. Every room has the ‘wow’ factor from the moment you step in.

One of my favourite details was the hint of animal-print rugs in reception. Seriously, how chic is that?
Daisie, Beauty Contributor

The rooms

Our room felt like its own little country-house cocoon. The styling manages to be grand and luxe while retaining that wonderfully cosy Cotswolds feeling. Soft colours, chic furnishings and thoughtful details make the rooms feel much more like staying in an exceptionally beautiful private home than a conventional hotel.

It was the little touches that really won me over, though. The robes and towels were some of the fluffiest I’ve ever experienced, and I thoroughly enjoyed drenching myself in Penhaligon’s Quercus bodycare, which smells absolutely divine and adds another little layer of luxury to the stay.

Then there was the welcome. Waiting for us in the room were handmade shortbread biscuits and lemon cake, which felt like the ultimate country-house welcome. But my favourite part of the room? The beautiful standalone roll-top bath that, quite frankly, makes a very convincing argument for spending the entire weekend doing absolutely nothing.

Waiting for us in the room were handmade shortbread biscuits and lemon cake, which felt like the ultimate country-house welcome.

The food

If the interiors make you want to stay in, the food gives you another very good reason not to leave. Their culinary approach is centred around contemporary British cooking and locally sourced Cotswolds produce. Our dinner was five-star in every sense of the word. For starters, we chose the crab and burrata dishes, both of which were light, fresh and beautifully presented. For mains, we opted for the steak and the sea bass – the steak was quite possibly the best I’ve ever eaten.

The setting made our dinner even more special. We sat outside on the terrace overlooking the lake and the surrounding grounds, and for a moment it genuinely felt as though we’d been transported to the French countryside.

What I particularly loved was how effortlessly social it felt. During our evening, we met a couple who had chosen these very grounds to pop the question and were celebrating their engagement. We spoke to another couple who had driven all the way from Jersey and had been visiting Dumbleton Hall every year before the refurbishment. Then there was a couple from New York who had done extensive research before their trip and had specifically chosen this hotel for their idyllic English countryside escape. Different journeys, different reasons for being there, but exactly the same reaction: everyone seemed completely taken aback by how incredible this location was.

Different journeys, different reasons for being there, but exactly the same reaction: everyone seemed completely taken aback by how incredible this location was.

Dog-friendly

For me, this might just be the cherry on the cake: Dumbleton Hall is dog friendly! Our four-legged companions can be welcomed into the experience with their own chic dog bed and bowls in the room, while being able to join you on the terrace, bar and lounges.

Plus, the grounds are made for dog walks. You have 19 acres of countryside, woodland and parkland to explore around the estate, while the surrounding Cotswolds provide endless opportunities for adventures. This is the ultimate luxury stay for anyone who refuses to leave their dog behind when escaping the city.

The grounds

If the hotel itself is beautiful, the grounds are what make this hotel feel like a true escape. The lake, lawns, woodland and rolling countryside create a sense of space that is increasingly difficult to find when you’re looking for a countryside hotel close enough for a relatively easy escape from London. The grounds also give the hotel a wonderful sense of privacy. You don’t feel as though you’re simply staying in a beautiful building; you’re staying within an entire country estate.

The grounds also give the hotel a wonderful sense of privacy.

And while summer showed Dumbleton Hall at its prettiest, I can’t help but think what it must be like in winter when the ground is frosty, the leaves have fallen, and the air is crisp. This truly would be a magical stay during the Christmas period.

The verdict

Dumbleton Hall is a hotel that really is a 5 star experience through and through. The grand manor-house setting, beautiful interiors, luxurious rooms, exceptional food, and, perhaps most importantly for me, the ability to bring my dog along and experience it together.

This hotel feels exclusive without feeling inaccessible. And perhaps that’s why, sitting on that terrace and looking out over the lake, surrounded by people who had travelled so far to experience this corner of the Cotswolds, it felt like we’d discovered somewhere rather special.

I cannot wait to go back. Next time, I’ll be bringing my dog, booking the room with the roll-top bath, ordering that steak again and, if I’m lucky, arriving just as the first snow starts to fall.