English Countryside: Soho Farmhouse

London is one of the greatest cities in the world – there is always something going on and never a dull moment. While I love the electricity of city life, sometimes you just need to get out of town. There-in comes the glorious English countryside, rolling hills, roaming livestock, fresh air and charming little hotels and inns perfect for a weekend getaway.

Recently, I celebrated a birthday and my husband booked us into the new talk-of-the-(London)town hotel, from the Soho House group, Soho Farmhouse. The country estate in Oxfordshire, just 90 minutes outside London, is rustic charm at its finest. Set across 100 acres of posh countryside on the edge of the Cotswolds, the idea here is to decompress, but in style. Check-in is done immediately when you drive through the security gates of the property at the gatehouse, where guests cars will remain as no personal cars are allowed into the main village. Not too worry, to get around a bicycle with your name awaits you at your cabin and a ‘farmhand’ driving a vintage milk truck. Your assigned farmhand will show you the lay of the land, take care of your luggage and anything else you may need during your stay (ie. spa appointments, dining reservations, activity bookings, rides throughout the property if raining).

With three restaurants and deli, a COWSHED spa, indoor/outdoor pool, gym, a boathouse, stables with horses for horseback riding, an ice rink, outdoor pool tables and games there is plenty to do. Or you can do not much at all and just run a hot outdoor bath on the deck of your cabin to ease city-life tensions, which worked very well for me,

Lets not forget about the fashion. Almost more fun than dressing up for a night in town, country chic, steps up a notch when staying at The Farmhouse. During the winter months, pack a parka, the necessary red and black gingham buffalo flannel, cozy hats, chunky sweaters and durable yet stylish boots for the often very wet and muddy setting.