Fancy a smart little getaway – with or without the kids? Pack a bag and get yourself to Oakley Hall Hotel – and don’t spare the horses!

An impressive Georgian mansion with sweeping driveway, grand entrance and 315 acres of exceedingly strollable grounds, Oakley Hall is a large, romantic hotel and sought-after wedding venue.

The imposing house was originally built in 1795 for Wither Bramston. He lived here with his sister, Augusta, and his wife Mary (her family lived around the corner at the National Trust-owned Tudor mansion, The Vyne).

Their friend and fellow Hampshire local – a certain Jane Austen – lived close by and loved it here too, often popping by for a cuppa.

In 2014, Oakley Hall got a £4 million makeover. It was sympathetically updated as splendid, 50-bedroom country house hotel, with grand entrance and beautiful events spaces that make it an in-demand wedding venue.

Picture yourself kicking-back in a fluffy white robe and slippers as you gaze out over panoramic countryside views from the enormous windows…

Meals at the smart-yet-relaxed and unstuffy two AA Rosette Glasshouse Restaurant are superbly indulgent, with an all-day menu of well-executed restaurant fare for the grown-ups and a dedicated children’s menu. Afternoon teas are also a real treat, whether in the restaurant or taken outside on the sunny terrace.

Little wonder Oakley Hall was named as Beautiful South Large Hotel of the Year 2021.

Coming from out of town? Just 10 minutes from Laverstoke Mill, the home of Bombay Sapphire, close to National Trust big-hitter, The Vyne, and a short drive from Jane Austen’s House, Oakley Hall makes a luxurious base to explore the many attractions in the area.