7 minute read
Best of both worlds
Best of both worlds If you’re looking for a London city-break with a country twist, Richmond Harbour Hotel & Spa will provide, says CLAUDIA DUDMAN
Sitting atop Richmond Hill in south-west London is an elegant, sparkling white 18th century Georgian building: the Richmond Harbour Hotel & Spa. Guests here are able to sample a taste of London life without the hassle of having to head into the city centre: with its independent boutiques, established high street shops, plethora of cafes, ne restaurants and even a dedicated theatre, you can enjoy much of what you would in town in the London borough of Richmondupon- ames. And with Richmond Park – the largest of all of London’s royal parks – right on your doorstep, you and your family can steal yourselves away and max out on the bene ts of being in the countryside too.
Walking into the 90-room hotel’s impressive entrance lobby, we were immediately greeted with contemporary and luxurious wallpaper and textiles in bright vibrant colours; sumptuous high-backed armchairs, low, warm lighting and contemporary artwork, which gave it a distinctly bohemian, city-chic feel that belies the hotel’s rather grand exterior. Our room, which was a standard, featured a kingsize bed, an ample wardrobe, a at-screen TV and an en-suite bathroom with double sinks, a bath and rain shower with White Company toiletries. As with all the rooms at the hotel, the artwork is a constant reminder of the hotel’s parkside location: paintings of pretty, delicate park deer (Richmond was established as a deer park by Charles I in the 17th century) and handsome stags adorn the walls. Even the decanters containing complimentary gin and sherry for guests feature a sterling silver topper in the form of a
The interiors have an eclectic, bohemian feel with jewel tones and rich textures The charming hotel sits atop Richmond Hill
stag’s head (complete with impressive antlers), making for the perfect luxe nightcap.
Ravenous a er a day’s browsing the shops in the village and a hearty a ernoon walk, we made our way to e Gate, the hotel’s all-day dining concept which has fast established itself as a culinary destination in the area. We visited on a Friday night, when it was buzzing and lively with hotel guests, local professionals and Richmond residents eager for some a erdark downtime at the start of the November weekend. Shown to our table by the maître d, as we perused our menus he informed us that the produce served was locally sourced and grown, with wild-caught sh and seafood
Hotel restaurant The Gate is a local culinary destination
The standard rooms boast kingsize beds, sumptuous textiles and plenty of little everyday luxuries The hotel’s HarSpa is a veritable oasis of calm and wellness, from its 20m indoor pool to its luxe treatment menu
FAMILY ATTRACTIONS
From 30 minutes to several hours, there’s something to suit everyone
• Walk among the deer in Richmond Park a mere two-minute stroll away. • Visit the world-famous Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew. • Cycle along the River Thames. • Get lost in the 1690 Hedge Maze at King Henry VIII’s Royal Hampton Court Palace. • Catch a play at Richmond Theatre. • Enjoy a family picnic on the Isabella Plantation – a 40-acre ornamental woodland. • Paddle board or row a boat along the Thames. • Take afternoon tea, including fi nger sandwiches, freshly-baked scones with jam and clotted cream, and a selection of delicious cakes.
HE INFORMED US THAT THE PRODUCE SERVED WAS LOCALLY SOURCED AND GROWN, with wild-caught fi sh and seafood and farm-assured meat, ALL OVERSEEN BY THE WATCHFUL EYE OF EXECUTIVE CHEF DIRECTOR JOHN POLLARD
and farm-assured meat – all overseen by the watchful eye of executive chef director John Pollard. For starters, we had a marinated heritage beetroot and stilton salad and a cured beef carpaccio, followed by a Harbour cheeseburger served in a brioche bun with fries; and a club steak. Vegan family members need not despair though, as there’s a fairly extensive plant-based menu featuring caesar salad, kale tagliatelle and grilled cauli ower steak, to name but a few, on o er.
A er the previous day’s excitement of exploring our new-found surroundings, we turned our stay down a notch and headed to the hotel’s HarSpa – the only spa in Richmond – for some serious R&R. A hotel spa is increasingly becoming a getaway prerequisite and with its promised oasis of calm and wellness, we couldn’t wait to try this one out. Reader, it did not disappoint: there’s a 20m, three-lane swimming pool, an outdoor Scandinavian hot tub, and a selection of 13 brand-new treatment rooms to choose from. e spa menu includes relaxing massages, super-deluxe facials and invigorating scrubs, all carried out by the HarSpa’s team of expert therapists. e products from Temple Spa combine luscious botanicals with high-tech ingredients, which are designed to revitalise body recovery a er a long workout – which is well needed a er you have taken advantage of timetabled exercise on o er that ranges from martial arts classes to yoga to a very invigorating spin class in the gym, seven days a week. Children are more than welcome too, with the daily swimming classes proving particularly popular.
Whether it’s for a half-term treat or an endof-exams minibreak, you can tick a multitude of activities o your bucket list while enjoying quality time together here.
Rates at Richmond Harbour Hotel & Spa start from £140 per night on a B&B basis, harbourhotels.co.uk/richmond
Ballard School
Fernhill Lane, New Milton, Hampshire, BH25 5SU
Head Teacher: Mr Andrew McCleave Admissions: The Registrar registrar@ballardschool.co.uk 01425 626900
GENDER/AGES: Boys and girls, 2-16 years TOTAL PUPILS: 460 (excluding Nursery & Kindergarten), boys 251, girls 209 TYPE: Day FEES: Nursery from £52.10 including lunch per day, Pre-Prep from £3,015 per term, Prep from £4,535 – £5,275 per term, Senior from £5,550 per term ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Please see our website for details and also for more details on our academic, pastoral and co-curricular strengths.
School Philosophy: To provide a supportive and caring environment for learning and excellent teaching, designed to ensure all pupils achieve their academic best. At Ballard, we have a passion for developing the ‘whole child’. We believe that in addition to providing a vigorous and challenging academic programme, education must also extend well beyond this, opening up experiences and opportunities that allow all our pupils to develop skills including creativity, independence, teamwork and critical thinking; we prepare them for work and life in a rapidly changing world. Academic Record: In 2021, 100% of pupils achieved at least five GCSE passes graded 9 - 4 (A - C), including Maths and English. 40% achieved the top 9 - 7 (A or A*) grades with an average added value of 0.9. This means that on average, each pupil gained nearly a grade more than expected for each of their subjects. Extra-curricular: 120+ activities and GCSE “Raising Attainment” sessions a week, Ballard’s co-curricular programme is designed to give pupils of all ages a breadth of opportunities, from Archaeology to Zumba! Whatever their individual strengths or curiosities, there is something for everyone. Notable Achievements and Alumni: Shortlisted for Independent School of the Year -Co-Educational (2020) and Student Wellbeing (2021) and Wilder School (2021). Current awards include: Artsmark Gold Award, Schools Sport Gold and Eco Schools Silver, alongside National championships in a number of sports and ISA Musician of the Year Award. Our alumni include World Champions and Olympic medalists as well as International opera stars, pop bands and harpists.
Open Days: Termly and visitors welcome at any time by appointment. www.ballardschool.co.uk
The Royal School
Wolverhampton Gold Medal Standards
*State boarding provision *Award winning pastoral care *Elite athlete education programme *Extensive enrichment opportunities *Easy access to major UK travel hubs *Centrally located within the UK *Excellent GCSE & A Level results
