Inside Buckinghamshire's chicest spa staycation
From Heckfield Place and Beaverbrook to Soho Farmhouse and The Pig properties, luxury staycations have never had as much social and style cachet. Another spa hotel vying for contender of the summer resting-place is The Langley, the former country estate of the third Duke of Marlborough.
Meticulously reimagined as a high-end hotel following a multi-million-pound renovation in 2019, The Langley lies within Buckinghamshire’s spectacular Langley Park, a wildlife wonderland merely 40 minutes from London. Not that you need to leave the estate’s extensive grounds to soak up the countryside, and–with Aigle welly boots and bikes on loan–exploration is encouraged. Panoramic views of the Langley Lake can also be enjoyed from the beautiful outdoor swimming pool, and the bar’s wrap-around terrace (while reclined with rosé in hand, we can recommend).
The hotel’s 41 plush bedrooms are split between the grand former hunting lodge of the third Duke of Marlborough, and the charming Grade II-listed 18th Century Brew House adjacent. While rooms in the latter have more of a rustic, country-chic aesthetic, all offer cosy luxury while subtly referencing the richness of the property’s past.
Forbidden to build up, a chic subterranean spa was created as part of the transformation, complete with a 16-metre marble-lined swimming pool which glistens like an oil painting. Facilities include hammams (with various bookable body rituals), vitality pools, a pink Himalayan salt-walled sauna, rose quartz steam room and samarium. There are ladies-only areas, and a private VIP suite, too.
Beauty-wise, you’ll find a hair salon, plus treatments courtesy of Sisley, Gentlemen’s Tonic, and Margaret Dabbs – in a dedicated manicure and pedicure studio. In addition to facials and massage therapies there are ‘The Langley Spa Journeys’. These two-hour treats transport you to exotic locations, from Bali to Darjeeling, inspired by native wellness traditions and philosophies.
From the cloud-like fluffy robes to the cocooning relaxation beds and nourishing lunches served in the Spa Lounge, the wellness experience is all excellently executed.
The same goes for fitness. At the slick gym, initially developed by renowned personal trainer Matt Roberts, you can work out alone or book bespoke training, plus group classes. It’s chic, discreet, and high-tech: think equipment like Prama (an interactive wall and flooring which looks like an arcade game but acts like a PT in itself), and the option of comprehensive health diagnostics offering 3D-printed figurines. Somehow it doesn’t intimidate, but inspires.
As for The Langley being the city set’s country retreat of choice, it’s a top contender. Insta moments are aplenty throughout, from the huge listed cedar tree framing the honey-coloured façade of the hunting lodge as you arrive, to the grand entrance hall’s original mosaic-tiled flooring and elaborate floral display below the grand staircase. The Churchill Bar’s traditional cigar humidor, and the European-inspired Cedar restaurant’s impeccably presented plates are all brag-worthy too – and rightly so. Plus, if you're bringing the brood, children will delight in meeting the hotel's resident pygmy goats, Cinnamon and Nutmeg, and (during school holidays) exploring the dedicated bell tent lined with activities or attending the Sharky & George kids' club camps.
From wellness weekenders to indulgent ones, for us The Langley ticks all the luxury staycation boxes. We'll see you there.
The Langley, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Buckinghamshire. Doubles from £425 per night, including breakfast.
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