Get Thee to the Billesley!
A Proper Manor in Shakespeare Country
by Alain Gayot

Countrified charm just outside Stratford-upon-Avon

Four-hundred years ago, Elizabeth I ruled Tudor England, and a young William Shakespeare walked the streets of Stratford-upon-Avon, a medieval market town that was undergoing transformation. The Middle Ages were ending, the protestant reformation was rising, and poetry and architecture (named after the monarch) would earn an elevated place in England’s history.

Traditional common space	Dining room

Today, the bucolic town of Stratford revels in its Shakespearean past and Elizabethan homes, attracting thousands of tourists who come for the town’s annual festivals and country charm. The Billesley Manor Hotel, a relic of the Old World located just outside of Stratford, is a classic Elizabethan mansion and a perfect base from which to explore the area and its history.

Modern exercise room	Classic décor

Aside from the helipad out front, the Billesley Manor has retained its historic exterior. And while most of the hotel’s 72 rooms have been outfitted with modern amenities and lavish contemporary furniture, the hotel also maintains three rooms that remain true to the mansion’s tradition. Located in the main house, these rooms are styled as they would have been in Elizabethan times, complete with oak paneling and four poster beds.

Heated indoor pool	Topiary gardens

Outside, enjoy a game of croquet, or a cup of tea in the massive topiary gardens before setting out to experience the nearby attractions of Stratford, mostly dominated by Shakespeare—the bard ’s birthplace, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the Living Shakespeare program, and various festivals and outings coordinated by the Shakespeare Centre.

But beyond the poet, a stay in Stratford can include visits to the Medieval Warwick Castle, the Heritage Motor Centre car museum, and the Stratford Horse Races.

The Manor’s restaurant, The Stuart serves modern British and pan-European cuisine with dishes such as breast of Gressingham duck on parsnip purée, layered terrine of goose and foie gras poached in vanilla butter sauce. The hotel’s spa, Bodysense, has its own bistro, too, with dishes that cater to the Manor’s health-conscious guests. The spa includes a full-featured health club, swimming pool, massage treatments, as well as regular yoga classes.

In this area of rich history and numerous attractions, the Billesley Manor Hotel is a destination, and a piece of history, in and of itself.

Going to Britain? Check out our guide.