The Blurb
In little over half an hour from our West London home (two giddy kids in tow), we pulled up to The Grove. Set in 300 acres of stunning Hertfordshire parkland, The Grove combines the luxury of a five-star retreat with the welcoming charm of a family-friendly hotel. The atmosphere is relaxed but refined; grand spaces softened by warm lighting, dark polished wood, and a freshly-clean-home scent filling the air. Bowls of fruit and sweets (they know their audience) sit atop shiny counters at reception, while a harpist effortlessly strums away in the lobby. The grounds are expansive, to say the least, and we were all excited to start exploring them.
Sleep
Our King Deluxe Room was cosy and chic all at once: muted tones, plush fabrics, and balcony windows framing the stunning views of the manicured grounds, the line-up of candy-striped hot air balloons that make up Cloud 9, the renowned afternoon tea restaurant, and the rows of impressive trees that danced around it. The bed was vast and dressed in crisp, white linen – mini beds the same; the bathroom, a sleek mix of marble and glass, stocked with Bamford products for us, and miniature bathrobes, slippers, and Le Petit Prince toiletries for the children. Nights were silent, the blackout curtains doing their job perfectly, ensuring everyone (even the little sleep dodgers) had a restful snooze.
Dine
When it comes to the food, you are spoilt for choice at The Grove. Guests can choose from various restaurants, each with its own distinct style. The Glasshouse serves a wide-ranging international buffet with live cooking stations, while The Stables focuses on classic British dishes made with seasonal ingredients. For those craving spice and colour, Madhu’s at The Grove offers authentic Indian cuisine, including banquet-style dining and a creative twist on afternoon tea. Meanwhile, The Lounges provide a relaxed setting for light bites, sushi, and small plates overlooking the gardens, and seasonal pop-ups like Skewd, Summer of Sushi, and Sequoia Kitchen introduce fresh flavours throughout the year.
Our reservation for dinner was at The Stables, and it was a masterclass in relaxed, confident cooking. We started with a selection of starters to share: creamy burrata with sumac and lavash; torched South Coast mackerel with kohlrabi remoulade and pickled cucumber; smoked venison carpaccio with capers and mustard vinaigrette; and a twice-baked British cheese soufflé that was light enough to float—my personal highlight.
For the main, I kept it meaty with a tender medium-rare British grass-fed, 28-day-aged sirloin, cooked perfectly, alongside a rocket and parmesan salad and roasted vine tomatoes — delicately charred, intensely flavourful. The children’s menu hit all the right notes with my kids: pasta, fish and chips, sausage and mash, and ice cream sundaes, served without fuss but with the same crisp service as our dishes. Dessert was a decadent finale — a giant hazelnut Rocher hiding an unctuous molten salted caramel: a must try.
Breakfast at The Glasshouse the next morning was memorable. It’s no secret that I am a fan of a breakfast buffet, and this one was exceptional. From granola, smoothies, dried fruit, seeds and nuts, to fresh pastries, freshly cooked pancakes and waffles, seasonal fruit, a hot selection, including an omelette, eggs Benedict/Florentine station, and a charcuterie section filled with options like smoked salmon, beetroot carpaccio, cheeses of every kind; there wasn’t a palate uncatered to. Just be sure to go with an empty stomach and a big appetite.
The Spa
The Sequoia Spa is a destination — a sanctuary that people travel far and wide to for a full spa day, not just hotel guests, and it’s instantly easy to see why. The interiors are stunning: a clean, light and open entrance that leads to a world of spaces; the cocoon-like tranquillity room, the sauna, heaven shower and wellness pool, complete with the gentle scent of botanicals that evoke a sense of calm before you’ve even changed into your robe. My Diamond Facial was a ritual in precision — starting with a deep exfoliation and glycolic peel that brought about a satisfying tingle (that means it’s working, surely), followed by red-light therapy. My therapist treated me to a slow, meditative neck and scalp massage while we let the red light do its magic, and I melted into the massage bed under a bundle of fluffy towels. The treatment concluded with a diamond-infused gold mask and the full Natura Bissé Diamond skincare range, leaving my skin glassy and luminous, my shoulders loose, and my mind entirely clear.
Families
The Grove integrates its family offering seamlessly; every detail is deliberate, and each detail offers convenience to families. The walled garden is the hub, home to Ralph’s Beach with its golden, clean sand and shallow pool, a heated outdoor pool for longer swims, and a toddler-friendly indoor pool that my kids refused to leave. When we first arrived, we were given a family-sized day bed complete with a trunk of drinks and pots of fruit on ice; the children occupied in the activities tent in sight, while we relaxed and lapped up some quiet time in the sun – chilled rosé in hand, snacks on route: pure bliss.
Elsewhere, there’s an adventure playground, lawns for running and games (plus an Everyman screen during summer months), and staff who treat children as genuine guests rather than tagalongs. For parents needing time to unwind, Anouska’s kids club offers an Ofsted-registered service to take care of your little ones, aged 2 to 9, while you make the most of the spa and facilities. Seeking some fun family time? A seasonal activity calendar is available to book and fill the days.
The Best Thing
In summer, The Grove has that rare, chameleon quality of feeling like you could be abroad — sun-warmed terraces, loungers by the pool, and a walled garden that could just as easily be in the South of France. Every single detail is considered for families, from child-sized robes to menus that genuinely appeal to younger palates, yet couples could easily spend a romantic weekend here without feeling they’d booked into a family resort. The breadth of dining and bars adds to the all-inclusive feel, and touches like Everyman on the Lawn — watching a film under the stars with blankets and cocktails — only add to the sense that this is more than just a hotel stay.
The Worst Thing
Leaving. We only wish we could have stayed longer — it’s the kind of place that makes you start mentally checking your diary for when you can come back. To say that The Grove is a rare find is an absolute understatement. I can’t think of another luxury destination that does what this place does, and on the level it does it. While it’s undoubtedly refined, The Grove offers a relaxed ambience all in all, and the options are endless when it comes to food, drink, and activities for everyone. There is a level of service that anticipates rather than reacts, and The Grove is ultimately a place where you leave not just rested but restored, even as a young family of four.
The Details
For bookings and further information, visit www.thegrove.co.uk
Contact no: 01923 807807
Rooms range between £500 to £900 on average for a one-night stay.
