The Many Faces of Lucknam Park

If you think you know Lucknam Park, think again.

For all its classical good looks and deep-rooted sense of tradition, Lucknam Park has never been a country house preserved in aspic. The estate has evolved with a deft hand, introducing a fresh modernity without disturbing the character that has made it one of Britain’s most prized country house hotels.

And there is considerably more to Lucknam than first meets the eye. Beyond the main house, 500 acres are home to an intimate spa and renowned equestrian centre, while beautiful rooms and suites sit alongside private country cottages for those seeking a little more seclusion. It is an estate with many faces – and the dining rooms now reveal three particularly distinctive ones.

Modern-day majesty

Restaurant Hywel Jones sits within the main house, but any expectation of traditional country-house formality is quickly dispelled.

The dining room has an instant sense of generous comfort. Beautifully poised tables dressed in crisp white linen sit against a palette of muted hues, tactile fabrics and confident accents of colour. Chinoiserie-inspired wallcoverings bring decorative flourish and just enough theatre. It is contemporary classicism on a grand scale – glamorous, deeply comfortable and unmistakably of today.

Of course, a beautiful room only gets you so far.

Hywel Jones has held a Michelin star at Lucknam Park consistently since 2006, an achievement that speaks for itself. His menus remain rooted in the British seasons, with exceptional ingredients handled with precision and technical skill. The cooking is accomplished without becoming unnecessarily elaborate, while polished, intuitive service preserves that increasingly precious sense that dinner here is an occasion.

Unashamedly refined, and all the better for it.

Gentle glamour in the garden

Step outside the main house and Lucknam changes character again.

Cradled within the restored Victorian walled garden, The Walled Garden Restaurant brings a lighter architectural language to the estate. Glass walls and expansive sliding doors dissolve the distinction between indoors and out, drawing the garden into the dining room and opening onto the terrace when the weather plays along.

This space is gentle glamour. Turn right to the restaurant, left to the spa. Light, slick and wonderfully relaxed, it feels entirely at home in its historic setting without attempting to imitate it.

The menu takes a similarly relaxed approach. House-made pasta, wood-fired pizza and fresh fish sit alongside seasonal dishes shaped by British produce, bringing a distinctly Mediterranean note to the Wiltshire countryside. Come for lunch on the terrace or dinner as the garden settles into evening; either way, the surroundings are very much part of the experience.

The art of tea taking

Some places are simply made for Afternoon Tea.

Lucknam Park embodies everything we love about the great English country house, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the Drawing Room and Library. Here, the emphasis shifts from modernity back to tradition – not as nostalgia, but as something worth preserving.

Deep armchairs, elegant surroundings and the serenity of the estate beyond provide a glorious backdrop for the ceremony of it all: tiered stands, fine china, delicate sandwiches, warm scones and beautiful patisserie.

Afternoon Tea has survived changing fashions for good reason. At Lucknam Park, it is difficult to imagine wanting it any other way.

Experience Lucknam Park

Luxury Restaurant Guide members are recognised with a collection of privileges across all three dining experiences.

At Restaurant Hywel Jones, your membership includes a complimentary bottle of house Champagne when two or more guests dine from the eight-course tasting menu, with an average value of £95.

At The Walled Garden, members and their guests enjoy a complimentary glass of house wine when dining from the à la carte menu, with an average value of £26 based on two guests.

And for Afternoon Tea, membership includes a complimentary upgrade to Champagne Afternoon Tea when two or more guests order Full Afternoon Tea, with an average value of £40.

Not yet a member?

Explore Luxury Restaurant Guide with a complimentary 14-day preview, or join from £9 per month or £95 annually.

At Lucknam Park, it seems, there is always another good reason to return.

Lucknam Park
Colerne
Wiltshire
SN14 8AZ