Middleton Lodge | A Georgian Country House Retreat

Set in 200 acres of English countryside and private gardens, the main house at Middleton Lodge was built by architect John Carr in 1780. Privately owned by James and Rebecca Allison, this beautiful historic spot in North Yorkshire is accessed via a picturesque tree-lined driveway that leads into the 200-acre estate. Divided among five properties: the Main House, a Georgian Palladian mansion, built in 1708, the Coach House and Restaurant, the Old Farmhouse, The Dairy, and Fig House, the latter four restored using recycled stone.

Creative director and architect, Rebecca designed each of the 45 individual bedrooms and suites. Rebecca has selected a range of unusual antiques and handpicked soft furnishings to complement the original Georgian features of the estate. The sixteen-bedroom main house is complete with a library bar, drawing room and billiard room for guests to enjoy, and these are all centred around the original sweeping gallery and staircase.

There’s also a late-night Cellar bar for those wedding guests looking to party into the early hours…

The Coach House Restaurant is found in the lovingly restored honey coloured sandstone stables and farmhouse building. This has become a destination in its own right with a relaxed restaurant serving delicious dinners inspired by the estate’s Walled Garden. The Treatment Rooms can also be found here, renowned for their relaxing massages and beauty treatments.

Wherever possible, the restaurants use produce from the 2.5-acre garden which is where guests will also find a restored wedding venue known as the Fig House. Overlooking the garden which was designed by renowned landscape architect Tom Stuart- Smith, it’s the perfect place for a winter wedding or summer soirée!

Guests can also take a leisurely morning stroll through the Elizabethan-style Walled Garden – two acres of apple, fig and peach trees, vegetable plots, a prairie garden. Alternatively, you can partake in shooting on the estate or hire a bicycle to explore the grounds. There’s estate also runs a series of creative events for their residents and local guests, in February you can enjoy a still life art class where you can explore techniques and broaden your artistic horizons.

Children’s bedtime workshop with the calm folk could be a major benefit for your little (or not so little) ones. While in March the gardening workshops begin, then by the end of March, photographer Charlotte Eve is hosting an introduction to Photography class with the walled garden and fig house as a dreamy backdrop.

Middleton Lodge is the ideal getaway whether it’s for one night or up to a week. Easy to get to and just 5 minutes from Richmond; ten minutes from Tees Valley Airport and Darlington Train station; 40 minutes from Newcastle, an hour from York and 2.5 hours from London via train.

Take a look at the website here for more information and how to book.

Images: Middleton Lodge, Gasp Photo Co