Wroxall Abbey Hotel & Estate : A Review

Wroxall Abbey is a splendid country house hotel located in Warwickshire. It has an impressive history dating back to the 12th century. Wroxall Priory, a Benedictine order of nuns, occupied the estate until the mid 1500s. The estate was home to the High Sheriff of Warwickshire, the Burgoyne family and Sir Christopher Wren for varying periods of time. The estate changed hands a few more times and was finally purchased by the Quinn family and converted into a hotel in 2001.

Set in 27 acres of beautiful gardens and grounds, the hotel is a seclusive retreat and is the perfect destination to celebrate special occasions. It is away from most of the hustle and bustle but is perfectly based to explore the nearby attractions.

The Building and The Grounds

The hotel is made of two separate buildings: an elegant Grade II listed Victorian building called the Mansion which exudes opulence and grandeur and a smaller self-contained listed building called the Court which houses a historic grand clock tower. The Mansion has 48 air-conditioned bedrooms, all of them en-suite and many with separate showers and spa baths while the Court has 24 bedrooms ranging from executive accommodation to bi-level loft suites.

The Mansion has a fantastic exterior. When I first saw it, I felt like I had been transported to the sets of a period movie. For a while it appeared like I was in some fantasy land and half expected a magical creature to come flying from the roof. Obviously nothing of that sort happened but the opulent building with its old architecture immediately won me over.

The mansion has all the main public rooms including the bar (Broadwood), a relaxing garden lounge and a restaurant called Sonnet. The restaurant has rich oak floors, a beautiful fireplace and offers splendid views of the garden and the grounds.

I love hotels that have expansive grounds. One recent trend I have seen is most hotels (whether big or small) having their own kitchen garden or herb garden. This is linked to the recent demand for using local produce where possible. Wroxall Abbey has a walled garden with some pear and apple trees. They also have a sunken garden with rose beds and large shaped trees. The vast open areas beyond have some historic trees and there is even a small private lake. The vast grounds offer the perfect opportunity for quiet strolls. All of this adds to the overall charm of the place.

One of the USPs of the hotel is the presence of a cathedral within the estate. The Wren's Cathedral has a grade I listing and around a millennium of heritage and history. It makes for a wonderful venue for weddings. If you are looking for a unique wedding destination, you should visit the Wroxall Abbey to have a look at the cathedral and the estate. It would make for a truly special venue.

The Room

We stayed in room no 46 - a very spacious first floor bedroom in the Mansion. It was located at the top of a grand staircase and offered wonderful views of the cathedral and parts of the ground. The room was clean, nicely decorated and had a bit of character keeping in line with the old building. One of the issues that plagues very old buildings is the lack of mod cons but the hotel has managed to find a good balance. The room had a pencil post bed that was very comfortable and made the room look elegant and luxurious. The carved wooden furniture harks back to a bygone era and I loved it. The paintings and artefacts in the room and in the public areas are all from an era gone by and I personally appreciate this. Historical, old buildings are charming because they are old. If you love modern art and décor you may not be able to appreciate what this hotel has to offer.

The best part about the room we stayed in was the space. It was very airy, spacious and well ventilated. I have never stayed in a hotel room that offered so much natural light. Totally loved it.

There were some minor drawbacks like the TV not being positioned centrally and the view being obstructed by the posts of the bed. But I am totally willing to overlook this as we did not plan to spend all our time watching TV. With beautiful grounds to explore, TV was the last thing on our mind. The chaise looked a tad bit tired but again it was not a major concern. But I did wish that complimentary water or drinks had been provided in the room.

The bathroom was also well ventilated and spacious. In addition to a bath there was a shower cubicle. Toiletries from ESPA were provided. Overall, the room did not disappoint us and we had a very comfortable stay.

The rooms in the Mansion range from loft suites to four poster bedrooms to cosy character bedrooms. All rooms are individually styled and are different in sizes. Some of the bedrooms include walk-in showers while some have high ceilings and original features. Some rooms offer very good views of the vast hotel grounds. I managed to have a look at some of the other room types and loved the room with the half tester bed.

Food and Drink

The food was lovely - well cooked, good sized portions and delicious. I especially liked the Hearty Winter Vegetable Soup (with a selection of bread). It was warm and tasty - perfect for the wintry evening. My partner liked the Bailey Cheesecake with Crème fraiche – looked good and tasted fantastic. The staff were attentive and efficient. They were always at hand to assist yet were unobtrusive.

Spa and Club

If you are planning a long holiday and are worried about keeping in shape while holidaying, then worry not. Wroxall has its own gym facilities with a small range of fitness equipment. Personal training can also be arranged on request. You can follow up your exercise with some relaxation in the leisure club which has facilities including a spa pool, steam room and a sauna. There is a full size, heated indoor swimming pool as well.

The spa has a team of well qualified, professional therapists and offers an extensive range of unisex beauty treatments. You can choose from half-day packages like the Detox programme (£90) which includes an ESPA Algae wrap and a full body massage or go for a Day package like Stress Recovery Spa package (£120) which includes an ESPA back treatment and aromatherapy facial plus O.P.I hand or foot treatment. Bridal and pre-wedding packages are also available.

Local Attractions

When you are done relaxing at the spa, you can visit one of the many great attractions nearby. Wroxall Abbey is within easy reach of Warwick Castle, Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden, Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Warwick and Stratford Racecourses, Heritage Motor Museum and Royal Shakespeare Company.

For those of you who would like to do a spot of shopping, Wroxall is again perfectly situated. Within an hour's drive from Wroxall are the Bull Ring and the Grand Central (in Birmingham), Touchwood Shopping Centre (in Solihull) and the very famous Bicester Village (in Oxfordshire).

If you are interested in other local attractions then do check with the hotel staff. They are quite helpful and will provide you with further information on where/how to go.

Plan Your Stay

Whether you are travelling with family or friends, as a couple or even solo on business, you are sure to enjoy your stay at the Wroxall Abbey. The hotel has a selection of single, double, superior, suites and studio rooms. The starting prices for a standard double room in the Court are from £79.00 and for a standard double room in the Mansion from £99.00.

Wroxall also have some special packages for Christmas and New Year. The hotel's Christmas Day Luncheon which features Champagne and Canapés followed by 5 sumptuous courses is priced at £94.50 for adults and £54.50 for under 12's. New year's eve packages include overnight accommodation, New Year gala dinner and continental breakfast. Indicative prices are £195pp (1 night) or £250pp (2 nights).

*We stayed as guests of the Wroxall Abbey Hotel but all opinions expressed are, as always, our own.