Wotton House is amongst the top rated country house hotels in Surrey. Located in the stunning Surrey Hills area, in Dorking, with history stretching back to the 16th century. It makes a great place for corporate away days and retreats as well as for an escape to the countryside. PA Life’s Editor was excited to spend 24-hours exploring the beautiful 13-acre estate and the historic manor house hotel…
The drive from London to Wotton House took around one and a quarter hour, and as soon as we turned off the A3 the pace slowed down and the scene was set for our country escape. We enjoyed navigating the ever narrowing country lanes and the drive through the woods that lead to the imposing property. I felt as if I’ve stepped back in time as soon as we drove through the gates, and the nostalgic feeling stayed with me throughout our stay.
The hotel, and the grounds, are carefully designed and maintained to a high standard, honouring its history and the Evelyn family whose hope it was in the 17th century. The botanist and arbor-culturalist John Evelyn and his brother George created the stunning gardens. Italian Renaissance was very much their inspiration, and also in vogue in the garden design then. Terraces and balustrades created elevated vantage points to view the estate, and there is a lovely spot above the Italian Garden here too. Much of their work has been preserved and cultivated for today’s guests to enjoy.
Bedrooms and suites at Wotton house
After checking in at the beautiful reception hall we climbed the impressive staircase to the second floor, plus a few turns and narrow stairwells on the way to our third floor Premium Double Bedroom with a view. What a view it was too! Directly in front of us was the Italian Gardens, and its beautiful temple structure with imposing columns. No wonder it’s popular with outdoor wedding ceremonies. The extensive lawns include a kitchen garden, with newly added chickens and a cockerel – no need to set your alarm in the morning. There are also beehives producing honey for the kitchen and bar to use in their recipes.
There are 127 bedrooms and junior suites in total, some accessible for those with mobility issues. Pet-friendly rooms are available too. The Standard and Premium Double Rooms feature textiles and details inspired by the surrounding countryside, such a cushions with stag, pheasant and fauna motives. The rooms are unique in size and shape, depending on where they are located in the property. The Junior Suites are equally individual and offer extra space with a touch of luxury, such as roll-top bathtubs and large walk-in showers. The Junior Suites are accessed via a baroque 17th century staircase bedecked with stately portraits, and the suites, with their sky-high ceilings, come furnished with comfortable chesterfield sofas, writing desks and vintage phones.
The wonderful artwork adorning the walls throughout the hotel create a homely feel. The works are specially commissioned and inspired by the local history and gardens. Fascinating books, particularly the large coffee table editions were also a joy to discover.
Rooms include free Wi-Fi, Antipodes toiletries, flat screen tv, tea and coffee making facilities, safe, desk space, and bathrobes and slippers.
Accessibility: The old manor house side of the hotel has no lift as there simply isn’t a space for it without disturbing the structure of the house. There is however a lift serving bedrooms in the extension part of the hotel.
Guests have access to free parking, no need to book in advance.
Leisure facilities
All guests staying at Wotton House have access to the gym, indoor pool, steam room and tennis courts, as well as the immaculately kept Italian gardens.
We checked out the leisure pool and the sauna and steam room which was a wonderfully relaxing add-on to our stay.
Eating and drinking at Wotton House in Surrey Hills
The hotel’s 1877 restaurant combines local and hyper-local ingredients to create incredible dishes bursting with rustic, wholesome flavours. Whether enjoying a simple yet delicious meal under the olive tree at the heart of the dining room or savouring a more intimate experience at the bistro tables, every plate tells a story. Innovative vegan and vegetarian options are an integral part of Wotton House’s offering, bringing to life the botanical heritage of the Evelyn family.
Before dinner, we enjoyed a delicious glass of local Dorking wine, Albury Organic Vineyard English sparkling wine at the Orangery bar. The weather was perfect for us to sit outside on the large terrace, taking in the views and the sunset. The bar is a buzzing hub for guests and locals who are served by expert mixologist creating and serving infused cocktails, craft beers and local wines that reflect the natural surroundings.
We dined at the 1877, a lovely setting on the ground floor. The centre piece of the restaurant is a large olive tree circled by a gorgeous yellow sofa seating, shared with the tables around it.
1877 serves local produce as much as is available and in season. Some of the vegetables, including the beetroots are grown in their own kitchen garden. The Executive Head Chef, Alec Mackins has a penchant for beetroots and is known for his focus on hyper-local sourcing, sustainable practices, and seasonal produce.
For starters my guest chose smoked and cured mackerel fillet with horseradish cream, wild garlic and horseradish, homemade focaccia. I ordered the smoked ham hock pressing with pickled figs, Parma, Wotton honey potato crumble and egg yolk puree. Both were wonderfully inventive takes on the classic dishes, and very fresh. Tasty is an understatement.
My main course of a whole baked seabass with fennel and tomato was gorgeous and my guest enjoyed the local rib-eye steak which was perfectly medium. The sides of pickled beetroot and hummus – we simply had to have something with beets – and triple cooked chips and honey-roasted summer carrots we all so tasty.
The seasonal dessert menu was too inviting to ignore. English pear pavlova with marinated British berries, poached pear and Wotton elderflower syrup was a light, and delicious version of the the classic Eton mess. For me, the poached rhubarb, vanilla ganache and ginger crumble sounded like early summer on the plate and didn’t disappoint.
If you are organising a meeting or an event, you’ll naturally be working with the event team to finalise your menu options. What ever option you’ll choose I feel confident your guests will be impressed, not least because of the Wotton House story which food and drink are very much part of at here.
Breakfast was also served at 1877 with a wonderful, and plentiful buffet and great ala carte options too.
The new outdoor kitchen is now open too serving lunched and dinners throughout the warmer months.
Meetings and events at Wotton House
Whether hosting a company retreat, a board meeting for 10 or a conference for 250, the hotel’s 20 flexible meeting rooms, many housed in a modern wing, are designed to inspire innovation and creativity.
The beautiful surroundings, quintessential English country house setting and its proximity to London are big pulls for Wotton House as an events venue. It’s well connected to Heathrow and Gatwick airports and around 40 minutes from London Waterloo by train to Dorking, then a short 10 minute drive to Wotton House.
For those looking to celebrate a special moment, Wotton House is so much more than meets the eye. From the grandeur of the 17th century Library Hall with its vaulted ceilings, to the serenity of the walled garden, the dedicated events team will craft bespoke and inventive experiences for every type of occasion.
You may also enjoy reading about PA Life Club’s event organisers’ FAM Trip hosted by Wotton House in March 2025.
What to see and do in the Surrey Hills when staying at Wotton House
There is a plethora of walks criss-crossing the estate grounds alone, along the banks of the Tillingbourne river. If you want something more strenuous then Box Hill is a short drive away and offers great walks and mountain biking too. PA Life has tested Hurtwood Hideaway on a FAM Trip exploring Surrey Hills Enterprises, and there are plenty of other options too.
Albury Organic Vineyard and Silent Pool distillery are great pleases to visit nearby. Located next to each other, making it convenient to see both. The village of Shere, a picture perfect village, most famous as a primary filming location for the 2006 Christmas romantic comedy The Holiday. Denbies Wine Estate is also outside the historic town of Dorking, only moments away for those looking to explore, go antiquing or have a pint in a traditional countryside pub.
For more information please visit Wotton House.
