When it comes to glamorous country house retreats, it doesn’t get much better than the resplendent Fairmont Windsor Park – a very grand English affair situated on the edge of the picturesque Windsor Great Park in Surrey, and right on the border with Royal Berkshire.
Combining flawless design and exemplary dining with a truly first-rate spa, this mansion-style hotel offers a stunning array of rooms and suites, slick service, and is just a 10-minute drive from central Windsor, making it conveniently located for those eager to explore the local sights. Nestled in good company amongst the millionaire’s mansions surrounding Windsor Great Park, Heathrow airport is also just a 25-minute drive away, so it’s easily accessible if you’re planning on jetting in for the weekend – but the location is still suitably rural and peaceful, making it the best of both worlds.
When it comes to the small details, the Fairmont Windsor has left no stone unturned in the pursuit of perfection. Make no mistake; this place is remarkably swanky and polished in every way, with the style pedigree to match its royal neighbours. Exuding class, sophistication and glamour at every turn, it’s the Rolls Royce of hotels, if you will – which is not something I say lightly. So if you’re looking for somewhere truly special to check in for an indulgent weekend break or winter staycation, then this is just the place.
The hotel, which is now owned by one of the UK’s most successful hoteliers, Surinder Arora, was previously a private home which was rebuilt from the ground up. The project took around four years and somewhere in the region of £200 million to complete, with the exterior of the Jacobean manor house that previously occupied the spot having been carefully respected and brought back to life in the most wonderful of ways
It certainly seems to have been money well spent, as as I discovered during my recent stay, the Fairmont Windsor is unequivocally one of the most luxurious country house hotels in the UK. The hotel opened its doors back in Jan 2022 and you can still smell the newness. It’s fresh, on point and still gleaming throughout.
Hotel
First impressions count, and arriving at this hotel is an event in itself. A long driveway leads from the main road down to the hotel, flanked by towering trees and huge rhododendrons, and takes you over a fairytale bridge to the other side of an expansive lake. The elegant fountains, manicured green lawns and Ferraris and Lamborghinis in the car park set the tone for what is a truly superior stay – perhaps the finest I have experienced outside of London to date.
Stepping inside the hotel, an impressive cream-stone atrium lobby with a striking glass dome and monochrome marble floor awaits. So grand is the lobby area that you might think, for a moment, that you had arrived at a luxury hotel in Dubai rather than on the Berkshire-Surrey border in the UK. The impressive décor extends beyond this, too, with wide, bright and airy walkways leading to the rooms, and a plush parlour with huge cream sofas for those moments when all you want to do is sit and relax.
As you enter the hotel there are also several retail shops where you can stop for a browse and perhaps treat yourself to a few goodies. Pop into Hublot to splurge on a new luxury timepiece, visit Floris London for a new high-end fragrance, or pop into Mr. Simms to stock up on some traditional sweet treats for the kids.
Rooms and suites
The hotel offers 251 rooms and suites, each decorated with a combination of natural stone and soft textures to create an elegant and sumptuous living environment. The overarching aesthetic is elegant but modern, and instantly welcoming, exuding the same sense of opulence found elsewhere in the hotel.
I stayed in a Fairmont One Bedroom King Terrace Suite, which is a part of the hotel’s Signature Suites collection. If you’re looking for an extra touch of luxury, then this is the perfect accommodation choice, with its distinctive red botanical-themed wallpaper, plush soft furnishings, sumptuous textures and stylish layered materials. Set against white panelling, the distinctive red is perhaps something of an acquired taste and not for everyone – but I found it to offer the perfect contrast and add an extra dash of interest and personality to the space.
It was clear that every element of the suite has been carefully considered and thoughtfully designed to offer just the right balance of opulence and functionality. The space comprised a living room with a dining table for six people, a cocktail bar, a large desk working area, a separate bedroom with a super comfy king-sized bed and a walk-in dressing area. There was also a very elegant bathroom featuring a stunning standalone copper bathtub, a massive separate walk-in shower and two big well lit vanity stations; it was so spacious that you could actually get lost in it, and the shiny white marble added an additional touch of luxury.
Nespresso machines, bathrobes, slippers and GHD hairdryers are standard as well, and the silver cocktail shaker accompanying the minibar was a rather splendid touch. Technology is also at play here, with touch screens controlling both the lights and the room temperature/air conditioning – and importantly, there was also a well stocked mini bar featuring a bottle of my favourite Laurent-Perrier champagne.
Another highlight of the suite was its large and private terrace, with commanding views of the beautifully landscaped gardens surrounding the hotel, which was the perfect place to sit and enjoy a secluded moment of calm.
Food and drink
The hotel’s fine-dining restaurant is named 1215, after the year the Magna Carta – one of the most important documents in history and indeed of medieval England – was signed in historic Runnymede, just a stone’s throw away from the hotel.
1215 offers exquisite dining in a very intimate and beautiful setting which overlooks the private terrace and manicured gardens. Although it doesn’t currently hold a Michelin star, such was the calibre of food on offer that it is a very close competitor, so watch this space.
Best described as modern British cuisine, the hotel is proud of the provenance of its locally grown products, and works with The Royal Farms and Windsor artisans to source the very finest, as well as having its very own herb and vegetable gardens from which many ingredients are freshly sourced each day.
I of course had to dine here during my stay and see what was on offer, opting for the tasting menu, which I’d highly recommend because it gives you the chance to taste a range of great dishes. Diners can opt for either five courses at £75 or seven courses for £95, with each course a true celebration of local, seasonal produce and the highest quality British ingredient.
After starting with a selection of fresh, homemade breads, it was a melt-in-the-mouth butternut squash tart with saffron and pumpkin seeds, which was simple but delicious and beautifully presented, setting the tone for what was to come next. The Cornish mackerel with tomato broth, coriander and spring onion was tender and tangy, and as closely followed up by a course of succulent roasted quail breast with fresh beans, onion and truffle and then what were for me, the highlights of the entire meal: first, the buttery-soft grilled turbot with grape, fennel and a decadent Champagne sauce; and the melt-in-the-mouth Westcountry lamb, which was served with punchy Merguez sausage, broccoli and kale.
No dining experience would be complete without something sweet to round things off, and the lemon with meringue and raspberry sorbet was the perfect palate cleanser, paving the way for the only slightly gluttonous 70 per cent dark chocolate with British cherry that would round things off in style.
Overall, it was a well balanced menu and a real showcase of the great produce and high quality cooking 1215 has become known for, although one small disappointment was the fact that there was no Windsor Park venison on the menu that night. A signature dish that has been highly praised, I was looking forward to trying it – but of course, there’s always next time.
The food was certainly up to my expectations, but having an experienced sommelier on hand to advise on wine pairings would have given the restaurant an additional flourish and up-levelled the dining experience even further.
For pre- or post-dinner drinks, guests can head to the 1215 bar, which serves Champagne, a selection of English sparkling wines and some tasty cocktails. Its carved stone fireplace was salvaged from the 18th-century mansion that once stood on this spot, and makes an interesting focal point for the space.
Breakfast was served at Moreish, and featured a seriously impressive buffet offering up everything from bacon and sausages to fresh honeycomb, plus à la carte options like eggs royale cooked to order as well.
Moreish also offers a culinary experience in itself, which captures original and authentic flavours to create an exceptional fusion of European and Middle-Eastern food. Although I didn’t dine here this time, I was tempted by the sound of mains like the Ras el Hanout marinated lamb rump, and the chicken and chickpea tagine. There’s also a great selection of flatbreads, small dishes to share, and dishes that come fresh from the charcoal oven, so there’s plenty of choice and something for everyone – all washed down with some excellent wines from the hotel’s extensive cellars.
For a quintessentially British experience, make sure to allocate some time for an afternoon tea in the Orchid Tea Room if you’re visiting – it comprises a selection of luxuriously filled finger sandwiches, followed by freshly baked fruit and plain scones, and a variety of decadent sweet treats, with either tea or champagne – and is an indulgent way to while away a blustery winter’s afternoon.
Spa
The hotel’s spa is one of the biggest in the country and perhaps the best as well. This tranquil wellness space boasts state-of-the-art facilities including 18 treatment rooms and a 20-metre lap pool, as well as a Himalayan salt room, sauna, steam, whirlpool, cryotherapy chamber and rainforest-themed experience shower – all you need to enjoy a relaxing and restorative experience.
There are, of course, a range of decadent treatments available to choose from before or after you’ve soaked and steamed away those initial stresses and strains, with The Fairmont Spa and Wellness consultation pathways entirely personalised to suit individual needs.
The deep-relax room, with its weighted blankets and sound-proofed booth beds, offers the perfect post-massage relaxation environment.
If you’re the type who likes to stay active rather than staying still, then there is also a decent sized gym featuring a Reformer Pilates studio, spin suite and cardio machines, making it easy to keep up your fitness routine during your stay.
Festive offering
Fairmont Windsor Park is offering a collection of exciting festive experiences this year. Starting on 18th December, a packed schedule including scavenger hunts, cookie baking and gingerbread house making, magical movie nights and pony riding awaits, making it the perfect time to take a pre-Christmas break with family.
The hotel is also offering special two and three-night stays for guests wishing to spend Christmas at the Fairmont Windsor, with warm mince pies and mulled wine, plus an exclusive Christmas Eve tasting menu at fine dining eatery 1215 awaiting. Christmas morning begins with a champagne toast to the day’s festivities followed by a sumptuous buffet lunch at Moreish, complete with Christmas carol karaoke and a visit from Santa. Those booked for a three-night stay will also get to enjoy an indulgent afternoon tea in the Orchid Tea Room, as well as lots more activities to keep everyone entertained.
You can also book in to spend your New Year’s Eve at the hotel, and choose from either a special adults only dining experience at 1215, or a family-friendly evening at Moreish. Guests at both will enjoy an exclusive five-course tasting menu and get to ring in the new year in style with dancing and entertainment later on in the evening.
Tickets for the Black Tie Gala Dinner, set in the regal Arora Ballroom, are also now available for the night. With its black-tie dress code and show-stopping culinary spectacle, it’s a more extravagant way to celebrate, and is the ultimate way to wave goodbye to 2023 and welcome in 2024 in the lap of luxury.
In a nutshell
Overall, the Fairmont Windsor would certainly appeal to high-end business guests, but it caters equally well to the demands of affluent couples, families and groups of friends, looking for a luxury spa break in the English countryside.
Factbox
Fairmont King rooms from £575. Breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi.
Address: Bishopsgate Rd, Windsor, Englefield Green, Egham TW20 0YL
Phone: 01784 535555
Website: fairmont-windsorpark.com
All imagery credit: Fairmont Windsor Park
