I love London, I really do, but sometimes the chaos gets so overwhelming that the only thing that soothes the soul is a weekend in the forest. Glamping. In a tent. Hanging from a tree.
I discovered Brook House Woods through Girl vs. Globe last year, and immediately saved it to my ‘Places to Stay Before You Die’ Instagram collection (I’ve got 63 other tents/hotels/hostels/bunkers in there right now!). A couple of months ago I was planning my upcoming travels and after ticking off Hong Kong, Iceland, Finland and a month back home in NZ in the first quarter of 2018, I needed to give my wallet and passport a rest. It was the perfect excuse to see more of the UK anyway. My travel buddy Bex and I got out a map app and searched for glamping near London and, voila, Brook House Woods here we come!
Brook House Farm is located near Bromyard, which is two and a half hours north-west of London without traffic. It’s definitely doable for a two-night trip if you’re happy to leave after work on Friday, and that gives you all day Saturday and most of Sunday to explore the villages, manors and gardens nearby. Penny and Will run the accommodation and they’re super helpful, very friendly and insanely talented.
The Woods offers a couple of different glamping options, from wooden cabins and a yurt to a hobbit hut and the Goji hanging tree tent we stayed in. The tree tent and the hobbit hut share an outdoor space complete with a fridge and stove, a compost toilet, a beautiful outdoor shower cabin thing with organic toiletries, and a dining area with fairy lights and a fire pit. There’s no WiFi (duh) but there are solar-powered USB ports and data reception for bragging about your hanging bedroom on your Instagram Story (guilty…). We stocked up on our own food to cook, but Penny and Will offer a delicious menu of breakfast hampers, DIY pizza packages or hot home-cooked meals if you’re going all out.
The tent itself is pretty freakin’ cool. It’s suspended from the trees above and it has a private deck with chairs and a mini table to soak up the sun while snacking on cheese and bread. Dream life! Inside you’ll find two single beds, a wood fire and a skylight to stargaze through at night. Given the sleeping arrangement and the fact that the whole thing wobbles with sudden movements, I would say the tree tent is best suited to a zen BFF getaway or weekend of couple’s relaxation, if you’re picking up what I’m putting down? Basically, the tent is not made for *ahem* extracurricular activities…
After enjoying breakfast with Mother Nature and her friends, opt for a day of exploring the nearby Cotswolds, or get amongst the activities right at your doorstep on the farm. Take a woodwork class, treat yourself with a massage, or – my personal favourite – play hunter-gatherer with a botanical gin foraging course and sip your creation by the fire that evening. If you’ve heard of a cooler holiday activity than that then please comment below, because you must be a super fun person and we should be friends.
As appealing as berries and DIY gin were, we were on a mission to find the cutest English towns in the Cotswolds. We visited Bibury, Stow, Bourton-on-the-Water, Winchcombe, Batsford and the Slaughters (which are much prettier than they sound). If you’re a fan of doggos you’ll probably die of cuteness before the day ends – I honestly felt like I was at a convention where canines were plotting to take over the world. They are EVERYWHERE with their Land Rover chariots and V-neck jumper-wearing owners. How do sausage dogs even walk with such a long body and tiny legs? I will never know.
Our day hooning around the country lanes took about six or seven hours, before we stopped at Cheltenham’s Tesco Superstore for essential platter ingredients. The Woods’ kitchen is equipped with everything you’d need for a normal dinner, but who wants normal dinner when you could eat cheese, prosciutto, bread, popcorn and grapes? Not me. Wrap up the night with smores and cross your fingers that the sky is clear so you can stargaze from your bed. Turns out iPhones aren’t great for nighttime photos, so you’ll just have to take my word for it.
Brook House Woods is without a doubt one of the coolest places I’ve ever stayed – super unique, run by incredibly talented people and a proper haven from the craziness of the city. I’m already desperate to go back and try out their hobbit hut and tree cabins! If you’re looking for an escape to let your mind wander and your heart rest, I guarantee this place won’t disappoint. You can book online here, and I’d love to know who’s going to check it out so comment below if you lock in a visit!
This post was in collaboration with Brook House Woods, but as always all opinions are my own and are based on my personal experience. I would never advertise a product I don’t use, or want to use, and this commission helps Finding Alexx reach more travellers just like yourself. Thanks for supporting me!
Leave a Reply