Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa review: the ultimate escape to the country
The Brasserie is a strange affair; built as part of the spa it’s a little like dining in an airport – a bit soulless and incredibly bright which is probably fine during the day but on our evening visit didn’t create much of an atmosphere; a few candles and a slightly heavier hand on the dimmer switch would soon fix it. It’s a shame because the food was really well executed by a polished team – roasted cauliflower soup with a decadent, homemade warm cheddar brioche to start followed by a stunningly well-cooked lemon sole with caper butter; some of their extremely good chunky chips on the side are a must.
Save room for dessert at Restaurant Hywel Jones
The hotel’s principal and most notable food offering is Restaurant Hywel Jones which has held a Michelin star for 16 years; it’s a large, traditional dining room with more glitzy chandeliers, aforementioned lofty ceilings and heavy drapes. There are three tasting menus – vegetarian, seasonal and signature, a steal at £110 with wine pairing an additional £100.
On our visit we tried both the seasonal and signature and enjoyed elegant, delicious dishes like Roast Scottish Diver Scallop with brown shrimp, razor clam and cucumber and Wiltshire Venison with brussel sprouts, Bromham parsnips and Medjool date. Their “Caramelia” Chocolate Bar pudding, using one of the best Valrhona chocolate blends, served with popcorn ice cream and peanut butter finishes the meal in style.
The luxurious spa facilities at Lucknam Park
What to do
Lucknam Park’s newly-renovated spa is quite something; set just behind the house it is bright and airy and looks out onto a high-walled garden that feels just the right side of wild.
Top billing goes to the hydrotherapy pool; bath-tub warm, you can press a button to access the outdoor section and spend a little time warming your soul whilst gazing out across the trees. There are saunas, steam rooms, a Japanese Salt Room and an Amethyst Room (in case you need some further purification) and treatments are tip-top with talented therapists using ESPA products.
Lucknam Park is set in 500 acres of wooded grounds
The hotel can arrange horse riding in the grounds and has bicycles to borrow. Thoughtfully, there are plenty of wellies by the door to take on muddy strolls.
Nearby Melksham is worth a visit for those who like a good antiques hunt; two notable troves to track down a bargain are King Street Curios and Melksham Arcade.
Getting there
Our journey began in the dark hours of a Friday morning, cruising out of London in the new Lexus LC coupé. A concept turned production car, it’s all muscle both on the outside and under the hood featuring a huge 5 litre v8-engine giving growl and guts – it sounds spectacular; inside, though, it feels different – it’s built around extreme comfort, clever thinking and ease of use, balanced with the feeling that you’re sitting in a cockpit. One of our favourite moments was discovering the “hud” button which projects your speedo into the windscreen – so very Bladerunner.
The LC has carved out its own identity, doing things differently in the category. Is it a sports car? Yes, but it feels like a car that’s designed to be driven, not raced – a ten-speed gear box is set to auto by default, though there are magnesium gear levers behind the wheel for those wanting to take charge. As the sun came up and the weather warmed, we hit the magic button, dropped the roof and enjoyed a bit of fresh air. Not to wax overly lyrical but it was bloody economical to boot – London to Chippenham and back on a single tank with change.
For a slightly more pedestrian route, you can get a train to Bath or Chippenham, both on a direct route from London, though you’ll need a cab to ferry you to your final destination.
Lucknam Park Hotel Spa, Colerne, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN14 8AZ. Rooms start from £330 per night; lucknampark.co.uk
Article source: https://www.theweek.co.uk/arts-life/travel/955949/lucknam-park-hotel-spa-review-the-ultimate-escape-to-the-country