Mini Moon Series: Cosy Autumn Staycations Perfect For Couples - Recommended By Us

Grab your weekend bag - our mini moon series has launched with personal recommendations on the best places to go near and far after the big day.

Professionally, we’re all about ‘the big day’. From the proverbial nine to five (although for us, it’s a lot longer!) our heads are full with logistical options, menu planning, tablescape ideas and every kind of prep you can imagine involved with pulling off the perfect wedding.

Personally, we love a holiday as much as anyone - in fact, maybe even a little bit more. Our team are obsessed with knowing the newest hotel openings across the UK and treat ourselves to a staycation whenever possible. We love talking to couples about their plans before and after their wedding day with us, happily swapping tips from our own stand-out stays. Director, Chelsea Croft, is particularly known for her penchant for the Cotswolds and a good spa trip, while editorial collaborator, Megan Murray, makes it her business - literally - to know (and write about!) design-led hotels, guest houses and even treehouses, both close to Nottinghamshire and the Midlands, or as far away as the Scottish Highlands.

Well, consider this the official invitation to our mini-moon series, where we’ll be sharing our personal recommendations on our favourite stays, both short and long, whether that be for a quick trip to decompress after such a huge event, or inspiration for a more substantial honeymoon. First up, it makes sense to start local so we’re picking out staycations we’ve not only loved, but are wonderfully suited for newly-weds. Below, you’ll find sprawling manor houses in the Cotswolds and cute treehouses in Derbyshire, as well as ‘The Ritz of Scotland’ if you fancy somewhere further afield.

Estelle Manor, Cotswolds

In May 2023, Cotswolds luxury hotel and members club, Estelle Manor, opened its doors and became the new kid on the ‘staycations’ block. There’s a whiff of Soho House about it with richly-toned interiors and a members-only area, set within a sprawling Jacobean mansion, Eynsham Hall. But, the historic backdrop really dials things up a notch - it’s like living in Downton Abbey for the weekend, but a hell of a lot chicer. Boasting a Cotswolds postcode also gives Estelle Manor the edge. Not only is the Cotswolds idyllic - in fact, almost surreally pretty, it’s actually cool. Within driving distance you’ll find stylish gastropubs like The Bull in Charlbury, the deliciously bouji Burford Garden Centre, and Soho Farmhouse is just down the road - if you fancy a night there, too.

Inside the hall, guests are welcome with plush lounges and libraries where antiques sit alongside modern artworks for a cultured, worldly feel. You can enjoy a cocktail next to an open fire in the winter, or lie under one of the now-iconic raspberry-striped parasols in the summer. Upstairs, bedrooms feel richly opulent with silk-upholstered furniture and four poster beds, but crisp white bedding keeps things contemporary. While the site revolves around the manor house, this isn’t where the Estelle Manor experience starts and ends: there’s also a selection of garden rooms, private woodland cabins and even some cottages for larger groups. You also have to try the newly-opened Eynsham Baths which are inspired by the Romans, spanning 3,000 square metres with villa-like proportions. Carved out of marble, it has five thermal pools, a lounge and ten treatment rooms - which include couples options. Sounds like a romantic way to relax, doesn’t it? Alongside archery, axe-throwing, off-roading and multiple dining options, you won’t need to leave the grounds or lift a finger.

Restaries, Suffolk

Farm stays have been this year’s big travel trend with hotels across the country embracing a home-grown feel. Covered by everyone from Conde Nast Traveller to the Financial Times, stylish, farm-based getaways bring together beautiful aesthetics and a rural backdrop - some even have livestock. To understand Restaries, first you have to get to know Gem and Thom; the couple behind the project. Their romance started in London when Gem headed up Topshop’s PR in the midst of its heyday and Thom was a fashion stylist. Over the last decade they’ve become known as the party couple - their wedding even saw the words ‘Til Death Do We Party’ emblazoned on a huge banner at their reception. After living in the London fast lane for long enough, they swapped Shoreditch for Suffolk and bought a stunning Tudor mansion with dreams of building their own place. Now, with two toddlers in tow, they’ve renovated the surrounding farmland and outbuildings to curate a collection of staycation spaces.

For couples, The Gate House is a perfect choice with a double height ceiling and statement arched window, nodding to its previous use. Gem worked with Design & That Studio to define the aesthetic with lime washed walls, dark wood bistro-style furniture and a moody, black iron staircase that spirals to the mezzanine bedroom. The space is small but cosy, and knows where to put an emphasis on size - the bed and the bath! Across Paradise Farm there’s several other nooks ideal for couples like The Log Store and The Tack Room, also designed in a similar style. As for the grounds themselves, the retro pool with striped loungers and yoga space offer ways to entertain yourselves, as well as saying hello to sheep, pigs, goats and alpacas that roam around happily.

Gleneagles, Scotland

If you think England has staycation game, wait until you get to Scotland. With its heather-covered hills and gothic architecture, the UK’s bonniest land knows how to create a bolthole so cosy, you’ll have trouble leaving it for home. From design-led pubs to isolated bothies, there’s a range of options that cater to different itineraries and price points, but if you’re looking for some glamour on your mini moon, Gleneagles is the one. You could say, Gleneagles is The Ritz of the Highlands. It’s unique because while many country houses were once private residences that have been renovated for hospitality, Gleneagles was always intended as a hotel. It was originally commissioned by the Caledonian railway to accompany tracks being laid further into Scotland. The idea being that a five-star hotel would lure Londonders up north, thus proving the railway a success - and, it worked. Gleneagles has been a destination hotel for over a hundred years now and its design reflects that, with a grand entranceway and impressive selection of dining options including a bistro, candle-lit dining parlour and Michelin Starred restaurant. It was even dubbed the ‘glorious playground’ in its first ever review, thanks to its incredible mix of pursuits such as horse riding, shooting, picnics, off-roading and the extensive spa. Bedrooms are a little more traditional but they’re ever so comfortable and you’ll feel a million miles away from home waking up on a cloud-like mattress and heading down for the legendary Gleneagles all-out breakfast, including whisky-stirred porridge and Bloody Mary bar.

Glebe House, Devon

They say Devon is heaven and for your mini moon, it absolutely could be. If rustic and colourful is your thing, Glebe House is an adorable idea for a few days away. Sitting close to the coast in Southleigh, Glebe House was originally a family-run bed and breakfast and where now-owner Hugo spent his childhood. After working in London’s The City he missed the countryside and decided to take over from his mum and dad, moving back with partner Olive who had her own vision for the place, too. Together, they’ve transformed it into an artsy, bustling guest house with a sunny yellow kitchen, maximalist living room and conservatory breakfast space with beautiful views. Bedrooms really vary here - you could go for The Old Kitchen; a self-contained annexe with free-standing bath, or The Tulip Room, which is on the snuggly side and under £200 a night.

All of the common spaces are to be enjoyed alongside other guests, so you might find while sipping on a cocktail from the Honest Bar in front of the fire, that friends or families are taking up the other sofas. In other words, it’s not for the misanthropic. One of the best things about staying at Glebe House is Hugo’s cooking. He’s long dreamed of converting Glebe House into an Italian-inspired agriturismo, using produce grown on the land, curing their own meat and working closely with local suppliers. Make sure you book in for the four-course kitchen supper which is a real highlight, and means you won’t have to go out elsewhere. In summary, days at Glebe House are spent reading, walking, cocooning and eating - the perfect way to just reconnect with each other, especially after the big day.

Charlotte’s Folly, Western-Under-Lizard

Now, this isn’t the most typical spot for a mini moon staycation for a few reasons: first, it’s not actually a hotel but a self-catering accommodation, and second it hosts six, instead of two. It is, however, an incredibly special place that feels ever-so appropriate for soaking up that post-wedding glow. Tucked away in the wilds of Western-Under-Lizard, even the address sounds like something from a fairytale. Charlotte’s Folly is nestled on a generous estate owned by Viscount and Viscountess Newport, alongside another few cottages (all far away, so don’t worry - no neighbours), walking trails and a lake which is ideal for wild swimming.This was a special project for the Newports as a chance to work with star designer Emma Ainscough who took this 19th-century cottage and went wild with colour and pattern, sprinkling it with magic.

The exterior is hued a rose pink and inside, the rulebook is well and truly torn up when it comes to interiors. One bedroom features a billowing canopy studded with a star-shaped lantern, another is covered in ivy-strewn wallpaper with two antique children’s beds, in case you decide to bring the kiddos. Downstairs, the dining room stands out with floor-to-ceiling stripes, while the kitchen feels trend-led with burgundy checkerboard tiles and a stunning blue island. Aesthetic interiors are a major selling point here, but it’s also wonderfully comfortable, too. Beds are super-king sizes; there’s two free standing tubs for long soaks together and in winter, some rooms have log burners while the living room boasts an open fire and low, snuggly sofa. In summer, sip champagne in the garden and toast marshmallows on the fire pit. You can cosy up here away from the rest of the world - no concierge, no house keeping, just you two and your wedding photos.

Wild Hive, Derbyshire

Is it really a staycation round-up without a treehouse? We think not! Wild Hive in Derbyshire is perfectly placed for The Old Vicarage couples, just over an hour’s drive from our venue making it an ideal spot to retreat to after the big day. The main house is Callow Hall: this is where you’ll find sumptuous lounges and living spaces that have a calming feel, decked out in country-style tones of blues and greens with a contemporary-classic look. Attached is also the conservatory restaurant with gorgeous views out over Derbyshire’s famously rolling hills, serving up breakfast and dinner. But, for Wildhive guests, a short walk or buggy trip into the woodlands reveals a whole other side to the property, with a host of treehouse stays hoisted on wooden stilts. As the hillside builds, you’ll work your way towards individual wooden bridges which lead out to your own private ‘hive’. Here, you can enjoy a tree-top terrace (take a bottle of wine with you, ready to pop!) and inside, a big, cosy bed with kitchenette and small bathroom. It’s a petite space but lovely, with handpainted murals on the walls inspired by Swedish folklore and plenty of natural colours and materials. Stay in your hive, take a walk, go down to the main restaurant for dinner and cocktails - the choice is yours.