When it comes to quick getaways, Barnsley Resort has been our family favorite for years! Just an hour and a half north of the city, although close, it truly feels like a world away. Origanlly bought and built as a wedding gift to his bride some 175 years ago, the original gardens and manor (now ruins) are truly beautiful and a place that inspired my own love of gardening years ago. The kids and I love getting lost in the mazes of the hundreds year old boxwoods!

And since the resort has evolved from centuries ago, it now offers a modern european village to bike and stay in and you can book reservations here!

I love all the charming cottages and should availbilty and your budget allow, I strongly encourage you opt for a cottage. They also have a newly built inn that looks beautiful as well! For cottages, they have one bedroom offerings, as well as whole cottages to rent. I’ve always found last minute bookings offer a steal of a price for the cottages that are still available. Our latest stay, I was able to scoop up a deal on a whole cottage. It was perfect for a young family and we also brought our dog! We had two private porches, a king bed and a large living space with a pullout couch. And after 16 months of staying at home, we were so grateful to have this time away.

Above, the cottage we stayed in this trip. Outside of the gardens and relaxing accomodations, there is something fun for everyone. Golfing, a spa, multiple restaurants (we opted for their takeout & delivery options this trip), trails and lakes.

Of course for the kids, the hightlight was the pool! During peak periods they are still offering pool reservation times due to covid (so of course reserve ahead if this is still the case for your trip). For us, we booked the week after a major holiday…which is always my favorite time at Barnsley as bookings in the summer are slower during the weekdays, and lucky us, we had the pool practically to ourselves most days.