Just before things went crazy last year we added this holiday house near London that sleeps 14 with a private pool to the Sleeps12 portfolio of luxury large group accommodation, and what a beauty! Garden Court is tucked away on a quiet winding lane in the Surrey Hills; Dorking is less than two miles away and you can be in central London within the hour by train – and yet you’d never think it because with its private setting and gorgeous 2 acre grounds, Garden Court is a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
That’s what makes this big holiday house ideal for all kinds of large group holidays; you get the best of both worlds. If for instance, you’d like to spend a few days sightseeing in London but don’t want to stay in the city – here’s the perfect solution. You can still see all those famous landmarks like the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and The London Eye, but by nightfall you can be back in the peace and quiet of Garden Court with no one else to bother you, a games room, and a fabulous indoor pool all to yourself. Like we said, the best of both worlds.
Of course, if you’re that close to London, you HAVE to go there really, but do you know what? We’d completely get it if you want to spend most of the time just chillin’ and being together at Garden Court. On the other hand it might be that you live in London and you want to get away for a few days, perhaps to celebrate a significant birthday or anniversary; you want somewhere that’s not too far away but kinda feels like it is, and somewhere that has everything you need – so a holiday house near London that sleeps 14 with a private pool will tick all the boxes.
What we love about the indoor pool is that it’s set in the gorgeous 2 acre private grounds, so you’ve got all that greenery around you. And when we say gorgeous, we mean gorgeous! There are formal areas with paths and wide lawns, a half size football pitch, and a ‘secret’ garden which the young ‘uns will love. It’s all so lovely and leafy, and beyond are the wooded slopes of Box Hill, one of the most well known beauty spots in the Surrey Hills AONB. Walk there from the stepping stones at the bottom of the village, take a picnic, enjoy the far reaching views. More of that later.
Inside, Garden Court feels so inviting. It’s got that wonderful soft ambience that you can’t quite put your finger on, but it makes you feel so relaxed, so happy to be here, and it’s got a certain cosiness, which is no mean feat to pull off for a house this size. There’s a well equipped kitchen that leads through to the dining area - such a sociable space, very well equipped, with somewhere to sit comfy and a long dining table in the orangery. Being an orangery the daylight and sunshine pours in, so when you’re all sat up ready to tuck into a scrumptious celebration feast you can look out over the garden, raise a glass and know that this moment will be etched in your memory for ever.
The sitting room is ample enough for you all to get together and play charades or watch a movie, or if one of you is well seasoned when it comes to tinkling the ivories, have a sing-song round the old Joanna – it’ll probably turn into a bit of a knees up and you’ll all have a jolly good time of it! Oh, and just a moment! We know it’s a long way off, but imagine Christmas! A big tree, twinkly lights, a tray of mulled wine and mince pies on the table… and carols around the piano! Maybe snow swirling down outside the window, but there you all are, together, snug as bugs.
Ahem, excuse us! We get a little carried away sometimes. Where were we? The sitting room, ah yes. Equally delightful in summer, as French doors open onto the terrace; fire up the barbecue, get your steaks sizzling, wander in and out with cocktails. Make the most of those balmy evenings, sit out and chat long into the night. Next to the sitting room there’s a snug, perhaps a quieter spot for a board game, or somewhere to get your head in a good book. Another bonus if you have children or teenagers in your party is the games room; there’s a pool table and air hockey, even seating and a fridge so this can be a very sociable space – and one that’s hard to drag people away from sometimes!
The bedrooms are all upstairs, six on the first floor, one on the second. The colour palette is mostly neutral which adds to the restful feel, along with soft lamplight and deep pile carpet; we think you’ll sleep well. Whoever gets Bedroom 1 are a couple of lucky duckies indeed – it’s enormous and has a dressing area, a balcony that overlooks the garden, and an en suite bathroom with a bath and a big walk-in shower. Bedroom 2 has an ensuite shower room and there are two shared bathrooms on this floor so we don’t imagine there’ll be any queues!
One sure thing about this area is the abundance of things to do – so much that we don’t really know where to start. On the doorstep are those glorious hills where you can walk to your heart’s content – Box Hill, as we’ve said, is a must, also good are the Deepdene Trail, Leith Hill and Denbies Hillside. On the Denbies Wine Estate you can have a guided tour of the vineyard, book for lunch at the café or one of the restaurants, or visit the Surrey Hills Brewery; go into Dorking for a tour of South Street Caves and a browse around the museum. There are historic market towns to bimble round, farm shops to shop at, cycling trail and golf clubs – wow, there are so many excellent golf clubs around here – Betchworth Park, Walton Heath and Rusper are all highly recommended.
Family attractions certainly aren’t thin on the ground either – of course, there’s the day trip to London were you can visit Madame Tussauds, the Tower Of London, the London Dungeon and the like, but closer are Hampton Court, Hobbledown Adventure Farm Park and Zoo, Chessington World of Adventures and Bocketts Farm Park. You’ll find plenty more ideas on our Things To Do page.
We think you’d be hard pushed to find a better holiday house near London that sleeps 14 with a private pool. Family holidays, gatherings of friends, celebrations, hen weekends and self-catering corporate breaks; this place will suit them all! Check availability and book today!
