Location
Keythorpe Hall has an enviable position in the centre of the country, and is ideal as a base to explore many of the historical towns and houses around the UK. We are just over an hour’s travel by train from London, under two hours to York and just over an hour by car to Cambridge and Stratford upon Avon. Locally you can visit historic market towns of Uppingham, Oakham and Stamford or the forgotten burial place of King Richard III in nearby Leicester.
We are on the border of Leicestershire and Rutland and in the heart of an area of natural beauty called High Leicestershire, typified by rolling hills and broad ridges and chocolate-box stone villages. Think of the Cotswolds but without the hoards of tourists. The local towns have art galleries and antique shops and there are fantastic local village pubs. This is an area of productive farmland networked with ancient trackways and quiet roads. There are historic stately homes and Iron-age settlements, and Norman conquest castles – some mere archaeological sites and others still thriving homes.
Rutland Water – Europe’s biggest man-made lake is on our doorstep and is not only a place for sailing, paddleboarding or wild swimming but is an internationally recognised Site of Special Scientific interest (SSSI), Special Protection Area (SPA) and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. It is one of the best places to enjoy birds and wildlife in the UK. Search for rare spring migrants, admire fishing ospreys in the summer, enjoy the autumn wader passage and marvel at huge flocks of winter wildfowl. With events year round, walking trails and two visitor centres, you'll be sure of an immersive wildlife experience for the whole family.
There is a wealth of local historic houses & gardens to explore from the grand Elizabethan Burghley House to the birthplace of Sir Isaac Newton at Woolsthorpe Manor and beautiful stone market towns to explore. We can arrange guides, transport and of course a fabulous picnic!
Browse the antique shops and boutiques of Uppingham and Stamford with an expert guide.
Cycle along green lanes and visit Saxon churches and 17th century historic Inns.
Explore Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon, just over an hour’s drive away. We can arrange a private guide to bring Shakespeare alive in the historic town where he was born.
Visit Cambridge or Oxford and see the world renowned colleges and beautiful architecture. Combine a trip to Cambridge with the stunning medieval cathedrals at Ely and Peterborough, or a shopping trip at Bicester Village if you are visiting Oxford!
Things to Do
Each stay with us is bespoke and we can arrange a fully packed schedule or leave you to your own devices.
We can tailor any of our activities for any age. How about the children harvesting tomatoes and herbs in the walled garden then making pizzas with them with one of the chefs? Or picking flowers with our florist to create real flower crowns.
We’d like to share some of the many in-house possibilities central to our core: The Garden, The Kitchen, The Cellar.
The Garden
The garden is a key pillar of the estate and underpins our local and sustainable philosophy. We offer the opportunity to learn how to grow fruit, vegetables, and flowers in the walled garden from our expert team. Play tennis, enjoy the wood-fired cedar hot-tub or relax under a tree with a good book in the 20acres of grounds
Fruit & Vegetables
Claudio is our wild food expert. He can guide you in sustainable foraging, ensuring not to deplete nature of its wonderful wild plants. Growing up in Venice, Italy, he started hunting for edible plants as a child, and went on to become a foraging expert in the Italian army. Claudio could take you around the grounds and show you what wild foods the season has in stock or taste your way around the walled garden and learn about the history of what we grow and why. For a more energetic activity you can even harvest the ingredients for the chefs to prepare for you later!
Flowers
Cut flowers are central to the Walled Garden and to the house. We believe in using ‘grown not flown’ blooms. We are renowned for our flowers by florists, brides and the local community. Our in house florist is proud to share her experience to help you in honing your sustainable floristry skills. Enjoy picking your own flowers from the garden and spend time creating glorious table arrangements, flower crowns or the perfect hand-tie bouquet.
The Kitchen
We are more than a kitchen table – you can always pop into the kitchen to watch the chefs preparing your food, but we can arrange for tutorials in the behind-the-scenes techniques and preparation that you would see in a world class restaurant or ask for a masterclass in bread making or the perfect mayonnaise.
The Cellar
Wine Tasting Masterclass
Bert Blaize, our wine concierge is the author of Which Wine When and an authority on food and wine pairing. He can create a bespoke wine tasting, from verticals of Burgundy to a English sparkling vs Champagne competition.
Gin Making
Begin you day foraging for botanicals, then head over to our friends at Brentingby Gin in Melton Mowbray, for a tour of the distillery and to learn about the process of gin making using the freshly harvested botanicals and making your own gin.
Major Local Events
Nevill Holt Festival June 2025
F1 British Grand Prix 4th-6th July 2025
Burghley Horse Trials 4th-7th September 2025