Just Back: England Town + Country

England offers the quintessential town and country. Three generations of my family spent a blissful 5 nights at Heckfield Place, a grand estate nestled among sprawling hills. 
 
Reboot
A visit to the “boot room” stocked with wellies for all—including my littles (Beau 4, and Sawyer 2, who referred to them as “bellies”) allowed for full exploration of this working farm. The endless grounds (438 acres!) offered myriad paths for strolling, biking, fishing, falconry, and discovering unexpected wonders. The kids spent time visiting a wishing tree, looking for “giants” in the woods amongst giant trees, meeting newborn lambs, and having a teddy bear picnic. 
 
We visited greenhouses, and expansive gardens that produced the fresh flowers used to create an elaborate floral chandelier and filled vases in every room. The nooks found throughout the house were the perfect respite for puzzling or reading in front of a roaring fire.
 
Time to Dine
Traditional English breakfast and artisanal teatime cakes were balanced later in the day with grass-fed filet, squash risotto, and fresh seafood. Salads showcased every shade of the rainbow from freshly harvested kale, carrots, radishes, and beets.
 
We drove one of the property’s vintage Defenders to the local pub for a fix of fish and chips with mushy peas and pints of shandy. For our nightcaps, the Moon Bar provided expertly hand-crafted cocktails infused with freshly foraged ingredients sourced from the farm.

Well-being 
Wellness was woven into the fabric of our stay. We started our days with a cold plunge in the lake, dined on clean farm-to-table meals with fresh pressed juice, and spent time biking the estate's grounds. The Bathy was an experience in itself, worth the jaunt across the pond. Leaving your phone upon arrival is mandatory to ensure you truly disconnect. After the best lavender oil massage I’ve had, I was directed to the relaxation room—a sanctuary to be alone with peppermint tea and your thoughts until the hand-poured candle lit upon your arrival burns out.
 
London Town
We hopped on a double-decker bus to tour London Peppa Pig style. The kids were mesmerized by the changing of the guards, highlighting their elegant horses and stately hats. Our city sojourn ended with a private capsule ride in the London Eye, allowing us to spot Big Ben and watch Tower Bridge rise to allow a ship to pass.