There’s no doubt about it: Brits love a staycation. The popularity of domestic holidays has surged in recent years and they show no sign of slowing down. 56% of Brits went on a UK-based holiday last year, with Wales, London, Cornwall, the Lake District and Devon topping the locations of choice.
From villas to hotels, cottages and B&Bs – one thing remains consistent – Brits want to stay in heritage properties that look great on the ‘gram.
Love it or hate it, Instagram holiday snaps dominate our feeds this time of year. People love showing off their holiday digs, and incredibly flash heritage properties often get the most likes. We wanted to hear from an expert about which staycation homes they think will rack up the most impressive Instagram portfolio.
For insight, we spoke to Kevin Brown, Managing Director at The Heritage Window Company, who manufacture slimline aluminium windows and specialise in heritage aesthetics.
5. San Domenico House, Chelsea (1,466 posts)
A luxurious, intimate and boutique townhouse, Chelsea’s San Domenico House is a social influencer mainstay. With 19 themed suites and Victorian façade, many an Instagrammer has posed in the decadent halls, stylish rooms and royal bathrooms.
“Originally built in 1887, this stunning townhouse has been consistently renovated and recently extended in keeping with the original Victorian aesthetics,” says Kevin. “Inside, you can find many original paintings from the building’s history as well as newer additions, adorning the halls with an eclectic mix of art history.”
Thanks to its beautiful façade, stylish interiors and 4.7-star rating on Google, San Domenico House has been posted 1,446 times on Instagram by social influencers, entrepreneurs and guests flashing their taste of the high life. And with photos like the one below, we can’t blame them.
4. Nutfield Priory Hotel & Spa, Surrey (2,876 posts)
Nutfield Priory has a wonderfully rich history, functioning as everything from a 13th-century monastery to a WW2 base for Canadian soldiers, evolving to become a treasured hotel and spa enjoyed by visitors every year.
The hotel as we see it today was designed by architect John Gibson. “It’s a beautiful restoration of the original building,” Kevin adds. “Gibson has retained the original stone carvings and wooden panels, capturing the essence of the monastery amongst tasteful modern detailing.”
From first glancing at this period property, it’s easy to see why it has struck a chord with Instagrammers and social influencers. Timelessly beautiful, full of greenery and looking like a scene from Bridgerton, this stunning property has been snapped nearly 3,000 times.
Social media influencer and fashion writer Jordan Emily is one of many taking advantage of the beautiful backdrop Nutfield Priory Hotel provides, both in its interior and exterior.
3. The Pig, New Forrest (5304 posts)
Priding itself on its “homemade ethos” and community interaction, The Pig is a 1634 farmhouse, restaurant and pub that does things a bit differently. Capturing a homegrown aesthetic, The Pig operates a beautiful kitchen garden, restores furniture and upcycles its interior, investing in local vintage charity shop finds.
This leaves the 17th-century house looking like a homely, higgledy-piggledy mishmash of English countryside history – making it a uniquely beautiful backdrop on social media. “The Pig is a little different,” laughs Kevin, “but its eclectic design has been carefully considered to maximise the building’s rustic charm.”
The Pig currently has 5304 posts on social media, in equal parts due to its beautiful grounds and attractive approach to community interaction. They even save some garden plots for staff to plant their favourite flowers and garnishes to make cocktails for residents. That’s worth an Instagram post or two in our book.
Estée Lalonde, jeweller, businesswoman and social influencer treated her 670k Instagram followers to a photo of her with The Pig’s local wildlife, which – ironically – was an adorable photo of her with a goat.
2. Heckfield Place, Hampshire (7,043 posts)
A lovingly restored 1820 Georgian home, Heckfield Place is a working estate in the heart of the English countryside. Today, Heckfield has retained most of its working routes, including its organic farm, market garden, Guernsey cow dairy, vegetable patches and more.
Overlooking a beautiful lake, rolling landscape and ancient woodland, this location makes every photo look like a postcard. “The gorgeous walled garden is testament to the unerring class of this estate,” adds Kevin. “Sustainability has been ingrained in the restoration and operation process, and careful curation is at the heart of this heritage design.”
“Cottage-core” influencer Ramona enjoyed a visit to Heckfield Place in 2019, showing off the backdrop of the house to her 843k Instagram followers.
The country home makes for a beautiful vista, perfect for family photos.
1. Armathwaite Hall, Bassenthwaite (8,335 posts)
Topping our list is the historic Armathwaite Hall, a luxury hotel and award-winning spa with views of Bassenthwaite Lake in the Lake District.
Set in 400 acres of deer park and woodland, this estate is believed to be dated back to the 11th century – with more reliable records dating back to 1548. One glance at the building and it’s easy to see why it’s an attractive staycation spot: an award-winning spa, tranquil Lake District walking routes and plenty of activities lend themselves well to a dynamic Instagram post.
“Coupling timeless exterior and interior design with contemporary detailing, Armathwaite Hall is nestled amongst some of the UK’s most beautiful natural vistas,” says Kevin.
Joining the 8,335 posts already on Instagram is bound to make your followers jealous.
Will you be glamming up the ‘gram with a heritage staycation of your own this summer? If so, be sure to give the building a tag or two to spread the love of heritage properties across the UK.
