Hotel Endsleigh

Milton Abbot, Devon

‘An enchanting destination’ is how readers describe Olga Polizzi’s Regency hunting lodge, which stands by the River Tamar in an Elysian landscape designed by Humphry Repton. More

Book now

Good Hotel Guide Review

Enjoying ‘an incomparably beautiful position by the Tamar’, Olga Polizzi’s Regency hunting lodge stands in an Elysian landscape designed by Humphry Repton. Built for the 6th Duke of Bedford and his Duchess, Georgiana, it has eight miles of riverbank on which to fish for salmon and sea trout and 100 acres of formal gardens, woodlands, follies and grottoes to explore. Bedrooms have a restrained elegance, with hand-painted wallpaper, fresh flowers, vintage bathroom fittings, Bramley toiletries. 'The room was big, lots of storage and a view of the splendid gardens,' wrote readers. Another, with mobility issues, asked to change their first-floor room for one with a more accessible bath and shower. Families would enjoy the two new spacious suites. You can take afternoon tea in the panelled library, but save room for an 'excellent menu' at dinner. Seafood is strong here, with dishes such as scallop and morteau sausage, turbot with seaweed and beurre blanc, but there are plenty of dishes inspired from the land, such as venison, pork and duck breast. At breakfast there is ‘good fruit salad, excellent porridge’, kippers, local sausages. ‘We left with a warm glow of a brilliant two days away.’ See also Tresanton, St Mawes, and The Star, Alfriston. (PA, and others)

Hotel details

Address

Milton Abbot
Tavistock
Devon
PL19 0PQ
England

Telephone

01822 870000

Bedrooms

21. 1 on ground floor, 5 in stables, 1 in lodge (1 mile from house), 1 suite suitable for disabled.

Open

all year.

Facilities

drawing room, library, card room, bar, 2 dining rooms, in-room TV, civil wedding licence, 108-acre estate (fishing, ghillie), EV charging, public rooms wheelchair accessible, adapted toilet.

Background music

none.

Children

all ages welcomed, cots free, extra bed £40.

Dogs

allowed in bedrooms (£25 a night), lounges, not in restaurant (but allowed in library at tea time).

Credit cards

MC, Visa.

Prices

B&B doubles from £260. Set-price dinner £67.50. 1-night bookings refused Fri, Sat, but ring to check.

Good Hotel Guide articles about
Hotel Endsleigh

Britain magazine: The 10 best British country house hotels
Britain magazine: 10 of the best British hotels with beautiful gardens
Luxury Travel Magazine: 10 of the top luxury hotels in the UK
Britain magazine: 10 of the best hotels for Autumn breaks
Britain Magazine: 10 of Britain’s best hotels for Valentine’s Day
Round and About Magazine: 10 top hotels in Devon
The i: Ten of Britain’s best hotel gardens
The Observer: 10 of the best hotels in Britain and Ireland
USA Today: British hotels with gorgeous gardens

Comments about Hotel Endsleigh

Endsleigh was our short escape destination l to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We were welcomed on arrival as though we were regulars whereas we had only stayed once before. The fires were roaring. The room on the top floor though dificult to reach up two very steep sets of stairs was welcoming and bright. The menu, though reduced, was excellent. The wine list was adequate. Seating was cleverly organised, with all the ground -floor reception rooms being used to create social distanced dining arrangements. As you have mentioned numerous times, many otherwise good hotels let themselves down at breakfast. Endsleigh does not by the simple device of having the head waiter in charge! We left with a warm glow of a brilliant two days away from COVID, Brexit and Johnson at an enchanting destination by the Tamar. - Chris and Erika Savory - January 2020

It’s hard to fathom just how many things the Endsleigh does right. Even the awful mobile reception and lack of 4g seem discretely put in place to preserve the pristine nature and atmosphere that delicate designs, alongside very personal service, evoke. It’s a place where you’re unlikely to hear a "No"’from any staff. Every time we visited, we’ve had the most delightful alarm one can think of. A little bird determinedly knocking against the window. The hotel insists the bird isn’t on the payroll but we can’t help think it’s just part of the harmonious relationship of the hotel, the grounds and all its animal life. The grounds are spectacular . - SG - July 2019

The most striking feature of our stay was the professionalism of the staff. Whoever trains them should write a handbook to be distributed to every hotel in the land. You are encouraged to feel like a house guest rather than a hotel client. - Andrew and Hannah Butterworth - January 2017

Have you stayed here?
Submit a review

Name	Phone number
Email address	Date of check in
Message	Number of nights Number of rooms I wish to receive the GHG newsletter and special offers