ON TOUR: Heythrop Park - A sort of 'no passport' landlocked cruise trip

Thinking of taking a fully inclusive break à la cruise style without leaving the country? Warner Leisure Hotels, part of the Bourne Group, has built up a substantial business with just this form of product.  Sixteen properties (or different cruise ships) mainly in the south.

Heythrop Park is not their most recent acquisition.  In recent times it has been joined by the Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club, near Edinburgh, and Forest of Arden Country Club, near Birmingham, and most recently The Runnymede on Thames, close by Heathrow and Windsor.

The 440-acre Cotswold property was taken over from Crowne Plaza in 2019, substantial sums spent, and then stricken by Covid.  There has been teething problems but is now a smooth well-organised operation. It is near the village of Enstone on the A44 Oxford to Moreton in Marsh road, which finally leads to Worcester.  London is 70 miles away, an easy run on the M40.

Simon Thompson, Managing Director of Warner Leisure Hotels, sums it up: “We’ve seen first-hand that the rise in demand for domestic breaks is here to stay as people recognise the treasures we have on our doorstep”.  It seems the boom on inclusive breaks, as seen with the cruise industry, is happening on land too.  You don’t have to leave the site, but many do, taking in the local leisure attractions. It’s just like a cruise ship.

Your Editor-in-Chief (and wife) took a long weekend break (Friday to Monday) at the end of this November just past, one glorious day with blue skies, another distinctly wet.  

Pricing varies on the entertainment engaged for your stay.  These include, depending on the venue, Beverley Knight, Brian Conley and the Stylistics plus a number of tribute groups including 'Rockloaf – Meatloaf and More', The Bohemians with Queen’s greatest hits, and even an evening devoted to the melodies of James Bond. Each break has a theme.  Ours was 'The 80s' perhaps a bit noisy for an elderly couple, but very well supported in the venue’s two theatres.  We sat through a terrific set by DJ Alum Webb, a real trip through that decade supported by big screen nostalgia.  Peter Kay was next up for Monday evening.  We missed that.

First impressions count.  The long nearly two-mile drive was most impressive, (signposts that say “you are nearly there” and “just a couple more minutes”, are tantalising) through glorious woodland from the village of Enstone, arriving short of the main south entrance.  A buggy collected our luggage and EV users will find a large number of plug-in points, sub-contracted to an electric power provider.  

A warm welcome was provided by an enthusiastic staff and our accommodation was allocated.  Needing an accessible room this was within a short walk of reception and very well provided for in terms of light switches and USB points, and tea and coffee making facilities were supplied.  No separate toilet for this grade, an excellent shower, but it was slippery and a bathmat is needed.  A typical cruise ship room with toiletries.  A mirror for shaving was needed but a pair of lovely soft dressing gowns were provided.  It was small (This is what happens when you take over existing facilities) with no lounge area to watch the 40-inch Smart screen tv.  To view Sky Sports a trip to the bar was required.

A new (north block) is being added, 24 rooms directly connected to the spa complex.

The automatically logged in wi-fi was the best experienced in a UK hotel.

Whilst the different facilities and the rooms are well signposted the architect must have been drunk when labelling the property.  The main entrance and reception is called -2.  Next up, with some of the dining areas is -1.  The main Heythrop Hall floor, with the no longer used main entrance, is the ground floor!  Warner should lash out with some funds and rededicate each level.  Not unlike large cruise ships, some guests were still looking lost after several days.

There is a small shop with daily newspapers and useful items.  For those less mobile accessibility is very good with lifts to all floors, and well positioned.  Much less buggies and walking frames than on an average cruise ship with the clientele ranging from youngsters of 20 plus to those in their more mature years.  Even with over 600 guests the property was quiet and peaceful even with loud music playing in the theatres.

Every morning your messaging system is updated with the day’s bookings for events and meal places and timings, plus credit card outgoings.

It is a very English hotel with no language problems in the reception and restaurants.

As for dining the package is all inclusive, the only extras being drinks (at pub prices) and the spa. The staff members are very friendly and helpful with no tipping required or expected.  

Heythrop Park offers three excellent distinctive restaurants, Market Kitchen (self-service plus waiter if needs be), Travelling Duke and Brasserie 32, a collection of rooms in The Manor House.  We sampled all of them, varied imaginative cuisine, with Italian, Asian and Indian evenings.  Just swap to suit your taste.  We had to reserve on booking but usually one could persuade the staff to find a table in a different venue.  

The weather was very much against golf, archery, laser clay shooting, and bowls!  And walks in the lovely parkland.

If you want a weekend break straight into the new year prices start from £205 for three nights.  Once into May they begin at £329 each, still exceptional value.

We are planning further visits to Warner properties for 2025. No passport trips. There is a good selection.


And a little bit more


Heythrop Park country club and hotel and golf course is a first class leisure resort combining classic and modern.

Set in 440 acres of parkland in the very centre of England and close by Oxford, Heythrop Park was originally designed by the architect Thomas Archer in the Baroque style for Charles Talbot, First Duke of Shrewsbury, and passed through that family until a fire swept through the house in 1831, destroying the original interior and rendering it uninhabitable. After this the house was sold and restored by subsequent owners.

From 1922 until 1999 Heythrop housed first a Jesuit tertiary education college, and later a training establishment. In 2019 Warner became the operators.

The opulent manor’s extensive grounds provide the perfect setting for parkland walks and bike rides, with gems such as the ‘whale cave’ and a hidden waterfall to discover. A walking path map is provided on the hotel’s app.

Surrounding the hotel are many wonderful tourist attractions, including Blenheim Palace, just a quarter of an hour’s drive away and Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm Shop which sells Cotswold’s produce and merchandise.  

Other highlights include shopping outlet Bicester Village, and Heythrop Zoological Gardens which is just next door – a private zoo specialising in exotic animal training and positive reinforcement.  Oxford itself is less than 20 minutes away.  If visiting the university City don’t try finding a space for your car.  Use the Park ‘n Ride.  And if you have access to private flying Kidlington Airport, one of the best non-scheduled operations in the country, is also 15 minutes away.  PPLs and long-range executive jets are always welcome.  

Maybe Heythrop will welcome wealthy Americans wanting to partake of an authentic English-style holiday.  There is plenty of land available for a helipad.



For more Warner Leisure Hotel reviews:
Hayling Island www.btnews.co.uk/article/15291
Isle of Wight www.btnews.co.uk/article/13536

www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk

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