Belmond Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons

Raymond Blanc’s 15th-century manor opened in 1984 and has since earned itself a global reputation for fine gastronomy. I arrived excited at this world-famous hotel located in the village of Great Milton near Oxford. Le Manoir is a member both a member of Relais & Châteaux and Belmond, formerly known as Orient-Express. That and two Michelin stars certainly raised my expectations.

Room
I stayed in a lovely spacious and charming room with a comfortable bed, bathtub and separate shower. Easy access to the beautiful garden. There are 32 rooms total at this property and are imagined by prestigious UK interior designers.

Dinner
An excellent dining experience at their two Michelin-starred restaurants. The restaurant also scored 9/10 in the Good Food Guide, and I enjoyed the evening. The menu celebrates 90 different herbs and vegetables from Raymond Blanc’s two-acre kitchen garden, and the wine cellar has a collection of around 600 carefully selected wines according to the hotel’s website. At the moment you have the following dining options: Five-Course Lunch, Seven-Course Lunch, Seven-Course Dinner, Vegetarian, Weekend Lunch and Three Course Discovery. I was especially impressed with the attention to detail and the terrine of garden beetroot, my favourite of the starters.

Belmond Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons is not a cheap place to stay, but it is among the better country hotels I have experienced so far in the world.