Hambleton Hall
Classic English country house. Chintz fabrics, marble bathrooms, open fires in the drawing room, flowers everywhere. Stefa Hart handles the décor personally and keeps it fresh without chasing trends. Traditional in the best sense — not stuffy, just proper.
Book a lake-facing room (Fern, Middlehurst, Lake, Lotus, Acorn) — the southerly views over Rutland Water are what you're paying for
Why It Matters
Holds the UK's longest-retained Michelin Star (since 1982). Four decades of single-family ownership means consistent, personal service that most hotels only pretend to offer. Its setting — grounds running all the way to the edge of Rutland Water — is genuinely unusual.
A Victorian country house hotel — built in 1881 — sitting on the peninsula above Rutland Water in England's smallest county. Owned and run by Tim and Stefa Hart since 1979, it has 17 individually decorated bedrooms and a Michelin-starred restaurant that's held its star since 1982, making it the UK's longest-retained. No spa, no gym, no mini-bar. That's the point.
Where You'll Stay
16 room types available
Acorn
A medium-sized room with raspberry-coloured linen on the walls and 18th-century French design fabric in cream, blue, and pink for curtains and headboard. Ceilings follow the gable line of the house. Views over the gardens and Rutland Water. Good marble bathroom 9ft 6in x 8ft with lots of natural light.
Double or Twin
Bay
A medium-sized room with a large bay window overlooking the gardens and Rutland Water. Walls fabric-lined in caramel linen with matching curtains. 6ft bed, two comfortable chairs, breakfast/writing table. Marble bathroom 7ft 3in x 8ft with mirrored walls and fixed shower over the bath.
Double or Twin
Blue
A delightful room with blue décor, king-size bed, freestanding wardrobe, and beautiful views over the gardens and Rutland Water. Marble-floor bathroom 8ft x 6ft 6in with a deep tub and marble vanity unit positioned in the window — views while you clean your teeth.
King or TwinCedar
Newly refurbished room over the porch looking onto the cedar trees planted by Walter Marshall in 1881. Marble tile bathroom 9ft x 5ft 9in with large bath and stand-up shower.
DoubleCherry
Medium-sized room in Senna linen with Sylvana Orchard Blossom Nina Campbell fabric. Views west towards the Croquet Pavilion and lawn, with Rutland Water visible. Canopy above the large bed. Excellent bathroom 12ft x 6ft with double basins, bath, and stand-up shower.
Double or TwinChota
Sunnily decorated in Nina Campbell yellow chintz with a dado rail. High-based bed with half-tester canopy, comfortable chair, writing desk. Bathroom 8ft x 8ft with bath, hand-held shower, and separate walk-in shower. Accessible via small hotel lift. Connects with Qazvin via a shared private lobby, making an ideal family combination.
Double or TwinFern
The larger of the two master bedrooms, decorated in green and white fern chintz with hand-stencilled bamboo and fern ceramics on the walls. A huge bay window faces south across the gardens and Rutland Water. The bed has a canopy. Large marble bathroom (11ft x 6ft) has a lake view, walk-in shower, large bath, and TV viewable from the bath.
King or TwinHouse Martin
Decorated with Manuel Canovas Tania Carmin range. Two armchairs, breakfast table. Bathroom 10ft x 6ft 6in. Lovely southerly view over the garden and Rutland Water. Air-conditioned.
Double or TwinLake
A spacious second-floor room approached through a private corridor, making it the quietest in the house. Superb Rutland Water view. Decorated in pale blue with hand-embroidered curtains and headboard. Marble bathroom 10ft 9in x 11ft 6in.
Double or TwinLotus
A spacious room decorated in Nina Campbell chintz with pale creamy wallpaper. Considered one of the three best rooms after the master bedroom. Wonderful views of Rutland Water and the gardens. Marble bathroom 8ft 6in x 8ft.
Double or TwinMiddlehurst
The second-largest room in the main house, with wonderful southerly views over the gardens and Rutland Water. Walls are papered in a Chinese 18th-century design in blues and cream. 6ft wide bed with a French 19th-century corona and pale blue curtains. One of the largest marble bathrooms in the hotel at 11ft 6in x 14ft 6in, with twin washbasins, mirrored wall, shower, and large bath. Can inter-connect with the Blue room for families.
King or TwinNoël Coward
Named after the famous entertainer who was a frequent visitor to Hambleton Hall in the 1920s and 30s. Charming medium-sized room overlooking the front gardens and a fine group of Cedar trees planted by Walter Marshall in 1881. Blue and yellow Nina Campbell design fabric covers the walls and curtains. Spacious bathroom 11ft 6in x 5ft 8in with large bath and double basins.
Double or TwinQazvin
A room with a Persian flavour — 17th-century hand-painted Persian panels and walls stencilled with a Persian 'Tree of Life' motif. Large bay window overlooking the gardens and historic cedar trees. Well-appointed marble bathroom 10ft x 5ft 6in. Connects with Chota room via a shared private lobby for families.
Double or TwinSwallow
Decorated in Colefax and Fowler Fuchsia wallpaper and chintz. Two armchairs, breakfast table, and bathroom 10ft x 6ft 6in. Lovely southerly view over the garden and Rutland Water. Air-conditioned.
Double or TwinThe Croquet Suite
A standalone building 40 metres from the main house with its own private terrace and views of Rutland Water. Two bedrooms — a king-sized double and a smaller double/twin — plus a comfortable sitting room and breakfast room on the ground floor. A marble en-suite bathroom serves the king bedroom; the second bedroom has its own bathroom on the half landing. Ideal for two couples or a family who want complete privacy away from the main house.
King + Double/TwinTreetops
Second-floor room with lower ceilings and views of the cedar trees on the entrance side of the house. Charming cream and coral Toile de Jouy decoration. Large marble bathroom 14ft 9in x 6ft with a bath, double window over the handbasin, and a separate walk-in shower.
Double or TwinThe Property
Eat & Drink
1 venue on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
The UK's biggest aqua park on Rutland Water — a 50m x 50m floating inflatable park with climbing walls, trampolines, balance bars, and more. Third-party operator, open May to September.
Rutland Water offers sailing boat hire, windsurfing, and fly fishing from boat or bank. These are third-party operators on the reservoir, not hotel-operated.
2 electric bikes available for hire (helmets included). Ideal for the 23-mile traffic-free circuit of Rutland Water. Half day (8:30am–1pm or 1:30pm–6pm) or full day.
3 mountain bikes available for hire (helmets included). Suitable for roads and tracks around Rutland Water. Full or half day.
Rutland Water is one of England's premier birdwatching locations, particularly for Ospreys. The hotel can provide guidance on viewing spots.
A full croquet lawn a few metres from the south-facing terrace. Mallets and rules available from reception. Ask Tim or Chris for a copy of the rules.
On-site hard tennis court available for guests.
Heated outdoor pool in the hotel grounds with exceptional views over Rutland Water. Open during the summer months only.
The Hart family's own bakery at Exton, a short drive from the hotel. Widely considered among the best artisan bakeries in England — once awarded Best Bakery in Britain by ITV. Bread from the bakery is available at the hotel.
The hotel grounds extend all the way to the water's edge — you can walk down from the terrace directly to Rutland Water. Longer walks around the perimeter are mapped and available from reception.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
A small lift available in the hotel. Note: some rooms have steps onto landings.
A cosy bar with open fire ideal for pre-dinner cocktails or a nightcap. A large, light drawing room at the rear with open fire and views across Rutland Water — morning coffee, newspapers, and afternoon drinks are served here.
Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.
Hambleton Hall experience vouchers available online via wearegifted.co.uk.
Beautiful terraced formal gardens on the south side of the house, with views across Rutland Water to the horizon.
Private parking on site at no extra charge.
Outdoor heated pool in the hotel grounds overlooking Rutland Water. Open summer months only.
Hambleton Hall intentionally has no spa, no gym, and no wellness centre. This is a stated philosophy of the owners.
BUILD YOUR HAMBLETON HALL PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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