For me Hartwell House was a reprieve, a time to enjoy long garden walks, delicious meals, and languish in superior spa facilities.

Hartwell House is a compilation of many centuries of architectural style, from Georgian to Jacobean; the house is an eclectic and successful mingling of pomp and circumstance. My room, the "Persian Suite" was merely a continuation of theme of refined decadence that defines Hartwell.

With high ceilings, lots of satin, silk, and dreamy views over the extensive landscape one could easily feel like sultan for a night.

The rest of the rooms and suites of the house are no less extravagant, with the centerpiece of the hotel being its staircase. A fine wooden banister winds its way up two stories, adorned with fantastic and detailed figural carvings of everything from knights to Sir Winston Churchill himself.

The hotel is located 20 miles from Oxford, and within an hours drive from London, lending itself to quick city breaks, or as a base for exploring Oxford, and the Cotswolds.

Nearby there are an abundance of activities and historic sights, including Woburn Abbey, Blenheim Palace, Milton Cottage, and Frogmore Gardens, which are owned by the Queen.

Whether you are looking to escape the hustle and bustle of London, or a country hotel not too far from the city, I highly recommend holding court at Hartwell House.

 By Shannon Domiaonvitch          October, 1999

Frogmore Mausoleum and Gardens - Here is the final resting place of Queen Victoria and her beloved Albert. Contains lovely gardens, and within 30 miles of the hotel.