Check in to the country house hotels embracing the holiday spirit on a weekend getaway from London.

Fairmont Windsor Park

The end-of-2021-opened Fairmont Windsor Park is celebrating the holidays with a series of curated festive stays. The country estate hotel houses a collection of luxurious guest rooms alongside a spa and seven restaurants and bars with cosy fireplaces. From December 16, guests will be able to take part in seasonal activities ranging from treasure hunts and Christmas letter writing for children to gingerbread decorating and cooking classes. For the younger guests, Santa will also be making an appearance on Christmas day. At this time, the hotel is hosting specially curated two- and three-night Christmas stays, with festive meals and these activities included. Highlights of the culinary offering will include a Christmas Eve Tasting Menu at 1215 fine dining restaurant and a Christmas Afternoon Tea in Orchid Tea Room.

Ellenborough Park

Gloucestershire’s five-star country house hotel, Ellenborough Park, is marking the Christmas period with a series of specially curated activities and events. Two- and three-night stays over the holidays allow you to be a part of festive lunches, dinners and afternoon teas, see carol singers in the Old Chapel and join the hotel’s seasonally themed master classes – held from November 26 to December 15, the hotel is hosting a series of wreath making master classes with the Flower Studio. By staying in this manor house when it’s festooned for the season with twinkling lights, exploration of the surrounding area can include discovery of the local Christmas markets, skating across an open-air ice rink and visiting Sudeley Castle & Gardens for the Spectacle of Light.

Horwood House Hotel

This Grade II listed manor house hotel, which unveiled new manor suites this year as the latest milestone in its multi-million refurbishment, is enticing guests to its pocket of the Buckinghamshire countryside for a series of culinary and wellness experiences this Christmas. In newly designed space of this historic property, seasonal experiences include a Festive Afternoon Tea, Christmas Feasts incorporating specialties such as whisky-cured salmon and confit duck and the Horwood House Christmas pudding to finish, a Boxing Day Brunch and Festive Spa Days with seasonal details. Time here can be spent exploring the house’s wintery 38-acre garden and woodlands and exploring local sites like Bletchley Park, which is celebrating a vintage Christmas throughout December.

Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa

Well-being and indulgence come together in the festive breaks curated by Careys Manor Hotel in the New Forest where the experience of staying in this grand 18^th-century manor house is enhanced with use of the serene Thai-inspired spa, also home to hydrotherapy facilities, and access to the ancient woodland it’s surrounded by. The hotel’s three- and four-night Christmas Breaks come with use of the award-winning spa plus a Christmas afternoon tea, entertainment including a car treasure hunt, festive meals including a Boxing Day black tie dinner party, music performances and cheese and wine tasting. A stay here can also incorporate exploration of the New Forest as the property is located near the picturesque village of Brockenhurst.

Coworth Park

At this country house hotel in the Berkshire countryside, the holidays are being marked with festive décor transforming the historic property and seasonally themed activities and dining experiences. The hotel’s specially curated three-night Christmas break includes family activities like storytelling along with a champagne afternoon tea, live music and a dining experience at the new Woven by Adam Smith restaurant on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day will feature more family activities, a visit from Father Christmas, live music and festive dining, then Boxing Day will encompass country pursuits on the estate as well as specially created dining experiences and entertainment. This is added to throughout the festive period with special spa evenings including champagne and nibbles.