Excellent British Boltholes: Shed oneself in remarkable luxurious at The Kings Arms Lodge in London’s Hampton Court docket
- Kings Arms Hotel is sandwiched between Bushy Park and Hampton Court Palace
- It champions the very best of British during – from delicate furnishings to develop
- James Mannion visited and explained the hotel is ‘a jewel in the crown of the area’
When he wasn’t on the hunt for yet another queen (or disposing of the former incumbent), King Henry VIII usually devoted his time to amassing residence – with substantial accomplishment. By the conclusion of his reign he owned much more than 60 residences and palaces – unrivalled by any British monarch in advance of or given that – and amongst their amount was Hampton Court docket Palace. It’s a single of two of his palaces even now standing (St James’s becoming the other) and it draws admirers by the coachload.
Set in beautiful grounds, Hampton Courtroom is a sight to behold – even on a gray, soaked working day at the tail stop of wintertime. It helped immensely that our base for discovering was The Kings Arms – a Quality II listed 18th Century former inn, now a wonderful boutique resort and cafe.
It is a serene saunter from the hotel to the palace alone, and in actuality The Kings Arms is so close that it basically backs on to the palace’s well-known maze, the UK’s oldest surviving illustration. The resort was not long ago extensively refurbished above two years, formally reopening last summer time.
Fit for a king: The lodge with the well known Hampton Court maze at the rear of it
Championing the finest of British all through – be it comfortable furnishings or foods substances – the resort is a jewel in the crown of the area.
Downstairs is the cafe and bar, although upstairs are the 14 visitor bedrooms. The natural way, supplied the historic character of the building, the en suite rooms differ in sizing and shape, even though each individual has tea- and espresso-building facilities and a absolutely stocked (payable) mini-bar. It beats me, however, why any individual would select to drink in their area when downstairs is the aforementioned comfy bar – and out front is a spacious, non-public terrace providing enough seating for a cocktail or two in the sunshine when the climate permits.
The place restaurant – named The Six, following the number of Henry’s wives – is property to the Michelin-starred Mark Kempson.
His dishes boast refreshing vegetables, fruit and herbs type the Hampton Court docket Palace kitchen backyard garden, so you can rightfully claim to be consuming meals fit for royalty. We tucked into oxtail and gruyere croquettes and crispy whitebait for starters, mains were gossamer-gentle battered fish and chips and a significant aged sirloin, also with chips. Dessert was at first passed above for panic of gluttony, but the supply of treacle tart and a chocolate pavé proved too a great deal to transform down.
There are 14 guestrooms upstairs with ‘super-comfy’ beds and confined-edition prints
The USP: Hampton Courtroom Palace. The resort is sandwiched among Bushy Park and the palace itself. Slightly further afield – but still walkable – are strolls down the banking institutions of the River Thames and, if you extravagant a flutter, Kempton Park racecourse.
The rooms: These are either remarkable, luxurious or deluxe and every single is adorned with unique or confined-version prints overlooking super-comfortable beds.
The food: The 6 is definitely its secret weapon and all our foods was exceptional: £35pp for 3 courses. Continental breakfast is integrated, showcasing such delights as Chapel Farm duck eggs on toasted sourdough, cooked any design.