I stay here regularly & really like the hotel. I also like the Zodiac restaurant but the menu never changes. The food is good but needs more variety.

This year my family and I decided to treat ourselves and spend Xmas Eve and Xmas Day at nearby Hanbury Manor.

Unfortunately on Xmas Eve itself my mother had a fall and spent the duration of Xmas in hospital. The hotel were so sympathetic and gave us a full refund immediately.

We arrived on Xmas Eve to be greeted with Mulled Wine and mince pies and later they arranged for the arrival of reindeer for the children. We checked in and proceeded to our rooms which were beautiful. The hotel has an indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and spa. Our package included a £50 voucher per room for the spa which was an added bonus. Before dinner on Xmas Eve there was a carol service which was excellent and also a group of children sang carols and played instruments. The staff at the hotel were all so courteous and couldn't do enough for you and the food was delicious.

On Xmas morning we woke to find a Xmas stocking outside our room. It contained lots of gifts, including a diary, thermal scarf, miniature whisky and baileys, soap, chocolates, mouth wash and of course a satsuma!! Before lunch we enjoyed a complimentary glass of champagne and canapes which was followed by a sumptuous Xmas dinner.

If you fancy being pampered I would thoroughly recommend a break at this wonderful hotel.

My wife and I stayed at this lovely hotel last weekend and had a really fantastic stay. The staff were incredibly helpful and warm (even if the weather wasn't - it snowed!) and went out of their way to accomodate our requests. In particular, we asked for a variation to the vegetarian option at the main restuarant which was happily met (including the chef coming out to chat to us about our preferences!).
The food in the Zodiac restuarant was really delicious and beautifully presented with the staff extremely attentive. We had a great table just by the fire in the restuarant and continued our evening in front of the roaring log fire in the Oak Hall over a cup of tea.
The spa was everything we had hoped for although the jacuzzi was a bit small with not very powerful jets! We liked the relaxation area with free tea/coffee etc and a good selection of papers/magazines.
The grounds are very pretty and we were lucky enough to be able to wander across the golf course as it was too cold for anyone to be playing (but please note if the weather is better there is less area for a wander, although in the Summer months we are sure the walled garden would be very pretty).
Our room was very comfortable and generally met our request for a quiet room in terms of distance from the function rooms etc - however, the walls are far from soundproof as we heard every squeal and shriek from the family with three children in the room next door.
We had dinner in the Oak Grill on the second night which was okay but not up to the standard of the Zodiac, but I guess you get what you pay for (it was less than half the price!).
This is a great place to visit and just under an hour from North London where we live - highly recommended!
By the way, we got a special offer on the price as it was a winter promotion, so the high value score below represents this - we expect it may be a bit more pricey in the Summer months!

I have stayed in Hanbury Manor with my boyfriend twice now and would certainly stay again in the future. It is excellent for a straightforward, relaxing weekend break where you're not looking to pay a premium because it isn't a particularly special occasion.

Pros:
- proximity to London means that you can go late on Friday night, return Sunday afternoon and feel like you have actually had a bit of a break.
- price - very good value compared to other country hotels near London where you can expect to pay over £500 per night for a standard room.
- decent room service and afternoon teas.
- decent rooms
- decent spa facilities

Cons (but these aren't really cons given that the hotel isn't that expensive - you do, after all, get what you pay for)
- the rooms aren;t out of this world - some of the older ones are beginning to show their age a little.
- similarly, the spa facilities are nothing special. More akin to a decent members gym in London the excellent spa offerings at places like the Grove.

To summarise - it isn't the Grove or Limewood, but then you aren't paying those sorts of prices. Hanbury Manor is good for a decent weekend away but I wouldn't stay here for a particularly special occasion because the rooms and the spa may disappoint if expectations are too high.