Top Dartford Road, Dartford, United Kingdom | (586) 210-9239
19th-century
summer house set in attractive gardens
Less than an
hour's drive from central London
Plush, spacious rooms with Egyptian cotton sheets
Some rooms with gorgeous bathrooms complete with soaking tubs
Roman-themed spa
with swimming and hydrotherapy pools
19 treatment
rooms and wide range of massages
Two restaurants
on-site with alfresco terraces
Easy access to the M25 motorway and Dartford Tunnel
Free Wi-Fi
throughout
Dining is expensive
No minibar in
rooms
No air-conditioning in
rooms
The 38-room Rowhill
Grange Hotel & Utopia Spa is an upscale, peaceful property located in the
Kent countryside under an hour's drive from London. Occupying a
charming 19th-century manor house set in pretty gardens, this boutique has tasteful contemporary interiors including plush rooms, some with separate soaking tubs and walk-in showers. The Roman-style spa certainly impresses with indoor pools, a hot tub, and almost 20 treatment rooms. Dining is also high quality and
restaurants are pleasant (with the option to dine outdoors), however prices are high. Room rates too are on the
pricey side, though there's little competition in the area. Overall it's a solid choice
for a relaxing spa break not too far from the capital. Wi-Fi is free throughout.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Upmarket spa hotel occupying a period summer house in attractive gardens
A long, private driveway
winds up a gentle slope flanked by thicket and grassland which melds into
attractive gardens and ends at the four-pearl Rowhill Grange Hotel & Utopia Spa. Built
in 1868 as a summer retreat for a wealthy family, this manor house-style property has maintained much of its
original 19th-century charm. The property is surrounded by particularly
pleasant and peaceful grounds with manicured lawns, pretty flowers, and
sculpted shrubbery while the Clockhouse annex is a pretty marriage of
clapboard facade and thatched roof. Inside the main building, interiors are
a contemporary take on traditional styling in cool grays with floral motifs and
plenty of original fixtures. The hotel is largely aimed at couples looking for
a quiet spa break while also being very popular with wedding parties. The peaceful location and plush interiors achieve the property's goals as a luxurious retreat, though prices are perhaps unexpectedly a bit high.
Location
Set in the Kent countryside under an hour's drive from central London
This hotel is
located just outside the village of Hextable in the Sevenoaks district of Kent.
While there's little to appeal to tourists in the surrounding area beyond
countryside and fields, its position within close reach of the M25 motorway
means easy access from the Dartford Tunnel, London, and beyond. There's very
little in the way of public transport nearby, so driving is certainly
recommended and it's just 40 minutes' drive from Gatwick Airport while central
London takes under an hour.
Rooms
Plush, modern rooms with manor house-style touches and comfy beds
This hotel has 38
rooms, all of which are finished in a tasteful blend of plush contemporary
styling with English manor house decor and antique-style furnishings. Beds are
made particularly comfy with deep sprung mattresses and Egyptian sheets, while
standard amenities include free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and electric kettles. Although there are no minibars, upper-tier rooms may include Nespresso
machines (we spotted them in the Luxury Room and Master Suite we visited). Bathrooms are spotlessly clean with mostly modern bathware (some also
have polished Victorian-style tubs), bathrobes and slippers, and high-end Temple
Spa toiletries. Lack of air-conditioning in the rooms can mean that they overheat during the summer months (despite fans being available). Some rooms have shower/tub combos while others have soaking tubs with separate walk-in showers; a separate tub completes the peaceful retreat feel.
Features
Roman-themed full-service spa over two floors with swimming pool plus two restaurants and free Wi-Fi
The hotel's
bright and modern RG's Restaurant serves set and a la carte lunch and dinner
menus in a conservatory overlooking the garden -- though dining is certainly on
the pricey side. The less formal Elements Bar & Lounge is also open for
brunch and afternoon tea while there's plenty of terrace seating for alfresco
eating. The hotel's Roman-inspired Utopia Spa is spread over two floors and
features a decent-length swimming pool and hot tub and hydrotherapy pool room
complete with classical ruins and statues. There's even a waterfall that
cascades from an ancient temple-like columned facade -- though the men's changing rooms are in need of a makeover. A wide range of massage and beauty
treatments are available in one of 19 treatment rooms as well as a gym, fitness
studio, and hair salon. The hotel also caters to wedding parties, and includes
a bandstand for ceremonies and a separate building for banqueting. Wi-Fi is free throughout.
