There's just something about Saltburn.
It's difficult to remember a film in recent years that has generated such impassioned discourse as Emerald Fennell's 2023 now BAFTA-nominated pyschological thriller, which sees Barry Keoghan's Oliver thrust into the surrreal aristocratic wold of his Oxford classmate Felix (Jacob Elordi) for a decadent and dystopian summer.
No matter where you stand on the Great Saltburn Debate, there's no denying that the film's vibes are intoxicating, partly due to the impossibly beautiful setting of the Saltburn mansion. TikTok has suddenly filled with the "Saltburn house trend" where wealthy young people are recreating the film's final scene by dancing through their huge homes to the tune of Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Murder on the Dancefloor (slightly misunderstanding the point of the film, but that's social media for you).
The real Saltburn is actually a property called Drayton House in Lowick, in Northamptonshire, but sadly it's not open to the public.
However, if you still can't shake the Saltburn bug and want to play at being landed gentry, the UK boasts plenty of other private rentals and hotels perfect for a Saltburn-esque weekend of debauchery.
Estelle Manor, Cotswolds
Estelle Manor is best described as a hedonistic fever dream of ochre velvets, loud fabrics, chintz, and London's style set all staggering around and necking champagne. Set within 3,000 acres of untouched stunning Cotswold countryside, the Grade II-listed hotel and members’ club in rural Oxfordshire, (formerly Eynsham Hall) comes with a whopping 108 rooms and suites across the house, and 34 in the manor room. Think: Gatsby's infamous Long Island mansion.
In terms of amenities, the manor boasts all-day dining space The Brasserie, Chinese restaurant The Billiards Room, The Clubhouse with gym, yoga studio, working space, padel courts, family-style dining restaurant The Glasshouse and the Eynsham Baths — a Roman-inspired 3,000 sq m spa. And, breathe. For members, there are yet more delights — a library, cafe, late-night drinking den, hidden pool and waterfall will provide the privacy to party like you really mean it. Plus, no photos are allowed here — staff will cover your phone camera with a sticker,.
Double rooms with B&B from £450, estellemanor.com
The Dower House
Shh! Whisper it quietly... Beaverbrook's secret new party pad doesn't appear on its website so only those in the know will know (so that's you, lovely Evening Standard readers!). The private five-bedroom house has all the ingredients for a wild weekend with 60 expansive acres to romp in, a swimming pool, spa, recording studio, full staff and an Aston Martin for roaring through the countryside — along with all the luxury trappings of the hotel on the other side of the estate.
From £25,000 per night, beaverbrook.co.uk
Orpheus, Suffolk
Nestled in northeast Suffolk's Sotterley Estate, Orpheus is a Georgian masterpiece. ââEvery nook and cranny of the seven bedroom mansion has been adorned with decorative plasterwork, plush velvet curtains, and 18th-century wall hangings. Crystal chandeliers from Sotheby's and bespoke designs by Adam Ellis elevate the interiors — all of which is combined with cutting edge tech so that the lighting and sound systems are yours to control at the touch of an iPad.
For the moments you're recovering from the night before, the top floor hosts a cinema with a Dolby Atmos sound system, as well as a spa, gym, sauna and steam room featuring loungers with sweeping views of the bucolic Suffolk landscape. While Orpheus is only a short drive away from the heritage coast at Southwold or Covehithe, its allure may make it tempting to stay in and relish the estate, especially if what you’re really after is a good old-fashioned party.
Short breaks from £11,250, weeks from £14,995 , uniquehomestays.com
Kin House, Wiltshire
From the outside, this private-hire Grade-II listed Georgian manor might appear to resemble the typical country home on the edge of the Cotswolds. But cross the threshold and it’s an oasis of eccentricity. If you’re an interiors fan, by now you've likely already seen the property’s now Instagram-famous chequerboard rugs, tortoiseshell bar and free-standing tubs, and added them to your vision board.
And there's a reason this country pile has become a somewhat legendary party pad. In-house staff look after you for the duration of your stay, from chefs and housekeeping to mixologists ready to whip you up any cocktail request. Each of the 12 bedrooms comes with a fluffy robes as well as a shared dressing room with a styling station and swivel chairs at an ornate bar. In the morning, the inevitable whopping hangovers can be walked off in the Kin's walled gardens and private woodlands, while staff rustle up a killer breakfast.
B&B for 24, £7,000 a night, kinhouse.co.uk
Farleigh Wallop, Hampshire
What better way to get into the true Saltburn spirit than by staying at a towering country mansion with the same ridiculously posh name as one of the film’s ridiculously posh characters? The ancestral Farleigh Wallop estate (no relation to Archie Madekwe's character, we think) has reportedly been in the aristocratic Wallop family since the Domesday Book.
Just like in Saltburn itself, portraits of various Wallop relations line the walls, and the floor to ceiling bookcases are brimming with tales of the Wallop family history. Take a trip to the downstairs bathroom and you might see a familiar face looking back at you while you're sat on the loo — a host of school photographs which picture Wallop family member Lord Lymington alongside Prince William. Step outside, and an octagonal reception room opens on to a croquet lawn, with grand views of the land used for the Farleigh Shoot, beside a rose garden, Japanese ornamental garden and glasshouse.
Five nights’ full board for 21 for £76,125, akvillas.com
Limekiln, Sussex
From the team behind Kin House comes Limekiln – a brand new private-hire events space in Sussex, opening its doors in April 2024. Set against a backdrop of Sussex countryside, Limekiln is surrounded by sixty acres of private land, including a 9-hole golf course and ancient woodland, which has been gradually re-naturalised with wildflowers and been. Inspired by rural Sussex architecture, the whitewashed timber cladding and large metal windows that characterise Limekiln’s exterior wrap around a central open-air courtyard, adorned with parasols, striped sofas, armchairs and bistro tables for soaking up the sunshine.
And if there’s one thing Limekiln has no shortage of, it’s places to get sloshed. First you’ve got Kiln Bar, a large central lounge with a showstopping floor-to-ceiling fireplace clad in individually hand painted and fired tiles. Then next door, the Green Club contrasts to create a low-ceiling intimate speakeasy vibe. And, to top it all off, there are two grand halls, hosting 200 and 300 guests respectively.
Full-day venue hire starting from £7,250, limekilnsussex.co.uk
Babington House, Somerset
Part of the Soho House collection, Babington House is a notorious watering hole of the West Country’s elite. Nestled in the heart of the Somerset countryside, the chic and exclusive country house and hotel exudes an air of laid-back luxury — an ideal setting for a weekend of debauchery.
After a night of partying, you can relax on a decadently oversized striped sun-lounger by the pool, or visit the wellness centre for a Cowshed Spa deep tissue massage. And if that's not your ticket, perhaps the sauna, cinema, tennis courts, football pitch and gym will be. Rooms come with antique four-poster beds, roll-top baths, open fires, and hand-painted wallpapers. The ambiance is one that seamlessly blends sophistication with a relaxed, bohemian vibe. If you’re not a member, a Soho Friends membership (£100 a year) gives access to bedrooms, studio spaces and events.
From £220 per night, sohohouse.com
Cliveden, Berkshire
This infamous naughty country pile in the Berkshire countryside has seen it all. Perhaps best known for being the site of Profumo and Keeler’s nude encounter which spiralled into one of the greatest scandals in British political history (almost bringing down the government), the tale of temptation and debauchery is still palpable.
Elaborate chandeliers, sophisticated velvet sofas, and gilt-framed portraits deliver a generous dose of aristocratic grandeur. Paired with meticulously sculpted topiary gardens, its no wonder the pad has seen the likes of Michael Jackson, Charlie Chaplin and Stella McCartney (hosting her 40th birthday here) come to stay. And the place is known to get rowdy after hours — there are even rumours of guests taking off with some of the portraits.
Doubles from £445, clivedenhouse.co.uk
The Pig, Bridge Place, East Kent
Even before Robin Hutson’s cult Pig Group took over Bridge Place, the Grade II-listed Kentish beauty was notorious for its lavish country parties, rumbling on until 2am even on weekdays. With a nightclub in the basement, during its Sixties and Seventies heyday it was at the heart of the rock-and-roll scene, with intimate performances from the likes of Led Zeppelin, The Moody Blues, and The Kinks.
Today, the hotel has undergone a vast spruce-up by The Pig group. In the main house, a towering central staircase leads to seven bedrooms of varying sizes, with original wood panelling, ornate ceilings, deep jewel tones and magnificent beds. Outside, a new coach house offers another 12 rooms, while a two-story suite has been made from the old stables, and two family lodges are nearby. But the hotel's raucous reputation lives on — bar staff even recently recalled an impromptu singalong from an off-duty Hollywood icon at the piano.
Doubles from £200 per night; thepighotel.com
Honeybridge Estate, west Sussex
When the original house on Honeybridge Estate was built back in 1890 as a family residence for Charles and Henrietta Fyffe, it was described as being of no great architectural merit. 130 years later, and that couldn’t be further from the truth. The 17 acre west Sussex estate was remodelled from an Edwardian style to Georgian architecture, and is now home to a tennis court, cricket pitch, zip wire, mini lake, treehouse – and, most lavishly of all, a 14 metre infinity pool.
Describing itself as “almost” a hotel, Honeybridge leaves you to your own devices, whilst also ensuring you have everything you need on hand. It’s a self-catering job, but there are always staff on the grounds to assist. The abundance of space makes it hard to believe it’s only a quick hour and a half down the motorway from London, with the beach and the South Downs all an easy drive away too. You can even bring some extra friends to house in the adjacent cottage and the barn for a full-pelt party.
From £4,500 for three nights,www.honeybridgeestate.co.uk
Keythorpe Hall, Leicestershire
This 19th-century mansion, the brainchild of the 11th Lord Berners, overlooks 20 acres of picturesque Leicestershire landscapes, a dense woodland of ancient oaks, and a once-grand walled garden from the 1840s. The seven bedroom estate now belongs to Giles Godfrey and Barbara Van Teeffelen, who spent five years renovating it before opening it to the public in 2021. At Keythorpe, the devil really is in the detail – Van Teeffelen hand selected its delicate interiors, and sourced vintage pieces from across the UK and family heirlooms. There are also art collaborations every six months with a leading artist, facilitated by a relative of the owners who is a Tate Modern curator.
On the food and drink front, no expense has been spared – the estate comes with award-winning permanent chef, Nurdin Topham, who honed his craft at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and left his last restaurant posting, in Hong Kong, with a Michelin star. Guests can also take advantage a state-of-the-art wine cellar and wine pairings created by Which Wine When author Bert Blaize.
From £6,000 a night, www.keythorpehall.co.uk
Somerleyton Hall, Suffolk
This 5,000-acre estate has been in the Crossley family since 1863, when Sir Frances Crossley, the 1st Baronet of Halifax, bought the property after a successful stint in the carpeting industry. Now Hugh Crossley (4th Baron Somerleyton) lives in the property with his wife and young family, who recently decided to open up the Victorian stately home to guests wanting to live out their best landed gentry fantasies.
Before even crossing the threshold at Somerleyton, guests are greeted by a mile-long avenue of lime trees, and a glimpse of a stunning Norman church. It’s full Saltburn when you walk through the doors too – in the hall there's a dramatic welcome from a pair of taxidermied polar bears (from the 1st Baron Somerleyton's adventure to the Norwegian Arctic in the late 19th century). The set-up is perfect for a big group of friends who want to have a full throttle knees-up, especially as the 12 rooms must be rented in their entirety.
