In the heart of the Surrey Hills, south west of and just an hour’s journey from London you will find Beaverbrook. Built in 1866, the Victorian mansion was purchased by Canadian Max Aitken in 1910 for just £30,000 after a single glance of the property. Aitken would then go on to be named Lord Beaverbrook, the publishing powerhouse and great friend of Winston Churchill.

You’ll notice wandering around the property, that the spitfire is a common motif. As Beaverbrook was wartime Minister of Aircraft Production, he famously tripled the production of spitfires, enabling Britain’s victory in the Battle of Britain. This snippet of history is celebrated throughout the property as the spitfire emblem can be seen in every layer of the experience. From the fresh bathrobes breast pocket to the halls lined with vintage prints of spitfires. Even the foam in the cappuccinos served at breakfast are dusted with a chocolate powdered spitfire.

Inside, you are embraced in its woodfired warmth and wonderful views of the rolling Surrey hills. The sunlight floods through its vast windows and the familiar aroma of burning tinder wafts gently around the interior from the grand fireplaces. Small details around the main house collectively add to the essence of Beaverbrook. From the dainty Jean Cocteau stained glass window panel, the mix of contemporary and antique pieces dotted around and the family photographs perched atop the grand piano.

The staff are intuitive, warm and more than happy to help at any given moment. The whiff of the cooking lunch, and the buzz of staff in the kitchen whirl around the corridors, and with The Main House retaining its domestic country house layout, there is all a familiarity to it. Beaverbrook has wonderfully captured that essence of a lived-in, cosy and harmonious country retreat.

Village-like, Beaverbrook is a collection of buildings spaced out across the green golf course, woodlands and gardens. The Main House, The Garden House, The Village and The Coach House Wellness & Spa are all just a golf buggy ride away from each other. Adding to the excitement and allure of the world of Beaverbrook.

Suites in the main house, aptly named after previous guests and tucked along narrow staircases and winding corridors, are fantastically tactile without feeling museum-like. Heritage-induced limitations allow for quirks and nooks, which compensate for the absence of underfloor heating or dual vanities in the bathrooms.

Churchill’s bedroom retains its history and spirit. This is hinted from the seat where his Private Secretary would take notes while he bathed, and the converted shower, formally his second exit point from his bedroom, which for security reasons was imperative for him. This room has been wonderfully curated with a fusion of modern pieces and patterns that compliment the original desk, which still proudly catches the light in the bay windows.

With four varying restaurants to choose from, Beaverbrook covers a range of cuisines. In The Main House, the cosy Dining Room restaurant with its floral and butterfly covered walls offers a modern Japanese grill. From a carpaccio hidden by white frothy yuzu foam, to halibut bathed in coffee sauce and a platter of sushi topped with Cornish ants, each dish is exciting. Leading on from here is Sir Frank’s Bar. A cacophony of opulence; the walls are a celebration of collectable Victorian botanical paintings, the art-deco bar faces out towards the terrace where you can enjoy the scenic views with a drink in hand. Their cocktail menu, inspired by Lord Beaverbrook’s House guests and the change of seasons, mingles contemporary techniques with the taste of his bygone era.

For hearty British cuisine, the characterful Mrs Beetons is set in the woodlands surrounding the Village. Wonderfully comforting timeless, traditional dishes are served with a wine-list hand selected by their in-house Sommelier team. Their indulgent Knickerbocker Glory is a highlight and an original Mrs Beeton’s cookbook is perched on a bookstand, gifted by a loyal guest.

Hidden behind a traditional walled kitchen garden, is The Garden House. Head chef Adam Sharpe creates Anglo-inspired Italian dishes on his menu showcasing the best of his fresh ingredients grown just meters away. Slow Sunday roasts are their forte and the cocktails offered here are a wonderful curation of delicious and harmonious botanical flavours. The relaxed Deli that sits in the spa building serves leafy salads, colourful juices as well as homemade woodfired pizza.

With a ritual-led wellness offering, the Coach House Health Club & Spa is home to an indoor and outdoor heated swimming pool, fitness facilities, treatment rooms, a hyperbaric oxygen chamber and a thermal spa. The colour-drenched tiles lining the floors and walls and the stained glass skylight designed by Brian Clarke continue the botanical theme. Each treatment room is named after florals found on the estate, and a watercolour painting of each one can be found adorning the walls. The stairway leading up to the spacious and modern fitness facilities is framed by an abundance of large retro Olympic Games posters.

For all the plaudits Beaverbrook deserves for its dining, spa, historic rooms, eclectic design and service, it could easily veer into a rural English Disneyland. Instead stands as an English countryside whimsy-land, where simply sitting by the fire in one of the many historic drawing rooms is what truly stays with you.

Photography courtesy of Beaverbrook