Hambleton Hall

With the rise of the boutique hotel, more than a few English country houses responded by jazzing up their décor and their offerings. But not Hambleton Hall. This Victorian house is as classic as they come, and it’s been owned and operated by the same family for decades — there are options elsewhere for irreverent, modern country-house hotels, but this is the genre in its original form. Hambleton stands on the peninsula that cuts across Rutland Water, which makes for an unusual setting; Hambleton Hall’s grounds extend all the way to the water’s edge. The house itself contains just 17 bedrooms, which helps ensure that its atmosphere remains residential and its service personal. And though its style is traditional, it’s no museum — the proprietors have kept its decoration fresh, and given each room its own visual identity. Of particular note is the Dining Room at Hambleton Hall, which counts among its distinctions one of the UK’s longest-held MICHELIN Stars. Other diversions include country-house classics like croquet and tennis, as well as bikes for hire, and there’s much to see in the towns and countryside of Rutland.