Warner Hotels in Southwest England
Littlecote House and Cricket St. Thomas
A parkland escape rich with pristine gardens and sparkling lakes.
For those looking for a country escape like no other, look no further than Southwest England. Steeped in history, this must-visit county is home to all manner of vibrant stately homes, parks, and towns. The historic city of Exeter, stunning Somerset, and the bustling county of Berkshire will provide plenty of pinch-me moments. Nearby must-see attractions include the Neolithic stone circle at Avebury, the infamous Cobb harbour of Lyme Regis, Blenheim Palace and Gardens, Ashdown House, Highclere Castle, Lacock village, Yeovil Country Park, and Beer Beach.
Montacute House
25 min drive from Cricket St. Thomas, TA15 6XP
Almost unchanged since the Elizabethan era, this grade I listed building was built in 1598 and boasts the longest Long Gallery in England, 5 different garden areas, and the first-ever National Portrait Gallery local partnership, featuring a collection of 16th- and 17th- century pieces.
Barrington Court
21 min drive from Cricket St. Thomas, TA19 0NQ
A Tudor manor house that has stood since the 1550s, Barrington Court is surrounded by a moat filled with ducks and dragonflies. When you cross the bridge you’ll find a series of garden ‘rooms’, each with their themes, as well as a working kitchen garden.
Perry's Cider Mill
12 min drive from Cricket St. Thomas, TA19 0NY
This award-winning cidery has been using only Somerset apples for almost 100 years and still operates on the same farm as they did in 1920. Take in their working mills, locally sourced café, and museum housed in a 16th-century thatched barn – Somerset to a tea (or cider).
Cotswold Water Park
47 min drive from Littlecote House, GL7 6FJ
Stretching out over 40 square miles (that’s as big as 250 Vatican Cities) with 14 individual nature reserves and 170 lakes, this is a birdwatcher’s paradise. 20,000 waterfowl winter in the park, often taking flight en masse if one of the local peregrine falcons is hunting.
Lydiard Park
40 min drive from Littlecote House, SN5 3PE
Expansive parkland, two lakes, pockets of woodland, a six-section Georgian walled garden with fruit trees and colourful flowers, Lydiard Park is as big as 200 football pitches and home to roe deer, badgers, woodpeckers and tawny olds (amongst others).
Blenheim Palace and Gardens
55 min drive from Littlecote House, OX20 1UL
Built in the early 1700s during the short-lived English Baroque architectural period, Blenheim Palace’s extensive grounds include the Formal Gardens with their majestic water terraces, private Italian garden, rose garden and more, as well as the beautiful lake and famous Grand Bridge.
Highclere Castle
30 min drive from Littlecote House, RG20 9RN
Also known as Downton Abbey, the Highclere Castle estate dates back to 749AD, with the present-day Castle completed in 1842. Set within 1,000 acres of parkland and surrounded by six individual gardens, you could walk all day here.
Lyme Regis
27 min drive from Cricket St. Thomas, DT7 3HX
The Dorset town of Lyme Regis is notable for its fossil cliffs, stony and sandy beaches, and the iconic Cobb harbour, possibly the only landmark to be made famous by both Jane Austen and Meryl Streep. While there are some steep routes, there’s also plenty of easy walking to explore.
Yeovil Country Park
40 min drive from Cricket St. Thomas, BA20 1AQ
The five areas of Yeovil Country Park include the wooded hillside of Ninesprings, open grassland of Summerhouse Hill, the lime tree-topped Wyndham Hill, shrubs and trees of Penn Hill Park, and the meandering Riverside Walk, home to birds, butterflies and otters, with routes for all walking levels.
Avebury Village
31 min drive from Littlecote House, SN8 1RD
Surrounded by the world’s largest Neolithic stone circle, the earliest part of the Avebury monument dates to around 3,000 BC. Walking routes take in various landmarks, from Windmill Hill to the mysterious structure of ‘The Sanctuary’, approximately 4,500 years old.
Pre-booking is recommended for weekend visits.
Lacock Village
55 min drive from Littlecote House, SN15 2LG
Unique in that the National Trust owns most of the village, Lacock looks the same now as it did 200 years ago. This medieval planned town has featured in ‘Pride and Prejudice’, ‘Cranford’ and the ‘Harry Potter’ films.
Newbury
23 min drive from Littlecote House, RG14 1AY
The historic market town of Newbury is well known for its racecourse, canal, shopping and castles (more on them later). With plenty of walking and cycling routes nearby (most featuring a pub or two on the way), it’s perfect for a day of exploring.
Marlborough Town
23 min drive from Littlecote House, SN8 1HD
Boasting one of the widest High Streets in the UK, lined on both sides by characterful, historic buildings and an array of high-quality shops, Marlborough is ideal for a day's shopping. Visit on Wednesday or Saturday for market day.
Ashdown House
27 min drive from Littlecote House, RG17 8RE
A 17th-century Dutch-style house on the edge of Oxfordshire (it was officially ‘moved’ from Berkshire in 1974), much of the house is off-limits due to its tenant (Pete Towshend of ‘The Who’ fame) but the gardens and nearby Ashdown Woods provide walking routes with panoramic views of the countryside.
Exeter City
50 min drive from Cricket St. Thomas, EX1 1EU
With free guided tours, underground passages, 900-year-old Cathedral, volcanic stone city wall and quayside gazing out over the river Exe, there’s more to Exeter than just retail therapy – although the shopping is pretty spectacular too.
Beer Beach
35 min drive from Cricket St. Thomas, EX12 3BZ
A shingle beach surrounded by white chalk cliffs, the village of Beer is the quintessential Jurassic Coast. Guided tours of the 2,000-year-old man-made caves run several times a day, and mackerel-laden boats deliver fresh catches to the village's eateries.