Overview

Pleasantly surprised with our first visit to a Warner Leisure resort, far more than we expected, and a trip through the Cotswold to get here added more to the day than we thought. Set in 440 acres of parkland, this grade 11 listed building is well worth while. If you would like to visit for a day, you are more than welcomed to do so, they realise that when you visit you will be tempted to book a holiday break with them afterwards, so do go and enjoy this beautiful parkland beauty. However, we would recommend you booking at least a day beforehand to take afternoon tea with them. This was an experience we will not forget, and well worth the very reasonable charge they made, you will not leave table feeling Hungry we can assure you. The food was quite outstanding, from excellent sandwiches with fresh homemade bread, to delightful and filling scones with loads of cream provided, followed by delicate little cakes that are different from the norm, a truly delightful experience. Then spend the rest of your day exploring this charming hotel and grounds. Thats enough now, let’s get on with our review before you get hungry. It’s a lovely drive through the Cotswolds to get here before you arrive at the only entrance into the park. Then you can enjoy its one and a half mile long driveway through woodland before joining the huge golf course. During the day you may be stopped at the wooden reception hut, on your left, where you will be warmly welcomed, and told how to proceed from there on. If you are here on a holiday break, then directions will be given on how to reach the South wing car park, which offers a flat and well laid path to get you the short distance to the South Wing entrance. However, if like ourselves you just want to spend a day here, then for day visitors you will be directed to stay straight ahead and continue to the North Wing car park. This way will take you past the grand old Manor House itself and on a few more yards to the car park that will be on your left. There are plenty of parking bays, but no designated disabled bays, just park where you can on the hardcore small pebble land. (Photo 4). You will see that the first two rows are for the use of those holiday makers who need to charge up their electric motors, with about a good dozen or more charging points. HOWEVER, from this car park it is quite a long way to reach the entrance For the hotel. OUR ADVICE. DO NOT RIDE AHEAD on the main roadside path ( as seen on photo 6) which heads towards the zebra crossing, which would lead you to the main stairs to climb up to the Manor House entry, it’s a killer, however, if you feel you could manage these old steps, they will lead you up to the main entrance of the mansion (as seen on photo 9 ) this is certainly a nice historical entrance to the reception desk. HOWEVER, we advice you to ride out of the car park on your wheelchair or scooter and immediately cross the road to your left towards the canopy covered path (photo 6) that leads to the right towards the Mansion. Follow this path and when it bends, enter via the doorway straight ahead of you. Then stay ahead inside on the corridor to then turn right and into the reception area, and the desk ahead of you. (Photo 12). THE PHOTOS SHOW THE WAY IF YOU WANT TO CLIMB THE STEPS INTO THE MANOR HOUSE RECEPTION AREA. Reception will now help you to go to the area you would like to see, perhaps the bar, or one of the restaurants for a light lunch, or as we had chosen to do, to take Afternoon tea. A PLAN OF BUILDING AND GROUNDS PROVIDED (photo 5) Enjoy looking around the grand entrance reception, history has been made here, then if you need the use of a toilet, from the reception desk ride along to your right and just along this passage, (toilet signed) and turning left, you will see the disabled toilet sign (photo 18) which is just about big enough to get most chairs into (photo 19) It does have a grab rail. MAY WE NOW OFFER YOU A FEW HISTORICAL NOTES THAT MAY INTEREST YOU. Heythrop Park is an early 18th century Mansion House, and is set in a 440 acre parkland. The 1st Duke of Shrewsbury Charles Talbut, had a love for classical architecture, so that when he returned after visiting Italy, he asked the Architect Thomas Archer to build him a modern Italian Palazzo, in this Oxfordshire countryside of the Cotswolds. They used local Chipping Norton limestone from local quarries, and was built with three elevations, the centre being a portico with Corinthian columns. The windows on the ground floor are from a design by Bernini. Work began in 1706, and was partially occupied in 1713, but by 1716 it was still incomplete and in that condition when Lord Shrewsbury died on 1718. However a fire destroyed the original interiors in 1831, before it was later on restored. After this fire, it remained derelict until 1870 before being sold to a railway contractor, Thomas Brassey. He used the Architect Alfred Waterhouse to rebuild the interiors. He then added Gothic motifs in the form of stained glass windows. So having been rebuilt by 1871 it remained in the Brassey family line until 1926. In 1970 the house was bought by National Westminster bank group, and became their training and conference centre. Nat West then sold the house in 1999 to Firoz Kassandras company of Firoka ltd, and they now turned it into a hotel and country club. In 2018 Bourne Leisure bought the estate and it is now used as a Warner Leisure hotel from 2022.

Transport & Parking

A long mile and a half driveway will,lead the way to the car parks. Day visitors will use the North Wing car park. However, it is quite a walk to get to the reception area. Read our main summery notes. Holiday visitors will use the South Wing car park. There is a distance from car park to the South Wing reception desk, but it’s all on the level, through pleasant gardens.

Access

Once inside it is quite level, with an occasional ramp slope, but easy enough. The old mansion does not have lifts, but the buildings used for bedrooms and restaurants ect does have lifts.

Toilets

Normal everyday public toilets are in use, smallish but with grab rails. Mixed feelings about toilets in bedrooms, but all do the job.

Staff

Certainly hardworking, but friendly enough and very willing to help you enjoy your visit.

Photos