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Nestled in 12 acres of tranquil gardens Sopwell House is a 4 star hotel in Hertfordshire and the former Georgian country residence of Lord Mountbatten. Once you enter this 'home away from home' our attentive staff, family friendly service and luxurious spa facilities will provide the perfect setting to your stay or event. Our Country House hotel enables you to escape from it all and is within easy reach of London, St Pancras National & International Train Station and Luton Airport. With 127 stylish bedrooms and suites including 16 soon to be completed Mews Apartments to choose from, exceptional service, delicious food and our opulent spa you'll find it hard to leave. As well as boasting 19 flexible function suites, Sopwell House has recently been awarded winner of the Best Independent Venue at the 2018 CHS Awards (Conference & Hospitality Show) recognising their outstanding contribution to the corporate and social world.
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Sopwell House has garnered positive attention for its comfortable rooms and top-notch cleanliness, with guests consistently praising the spotless and well-maintained environment. While the chic and stylish atmosphere contributes to a welcoming experience, some guests have expressed concerns about noise and maintenance in rooms.
The hotel's service, particularly in the spa and dining areas, receives accolades for its professionalism and warmth, although the value proposition is occasionally questioned due to the high cost of extras. Despite this, the spa amenities remain a highlight, even if a few travelers encountered service restrictions.
Atmosphere
Chic
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Relaxing
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A great set of restaurants, bars, spa but the rooms are far too tired and basic for the price point.
Pros:
Great parking Excellent service Club at cottonmill exceptional
Cons:
Rooms are very tired No fridge No coffee machine No clear upgrade option Cramped room feels hugely overpriced. Restaurant food excellent, atmosphere poor
I paid around £1k in total for a one night stay including club access and two treatments with lunch, dinner and breakfast.
We were truly wowed by the superb service by the hotel staff and such great decor. The club at cottonmill is one of the best. The regular spa is average. Sadly later going up to the room I was genuinely surprised. It’s fine but a premier inn plus room is better equipped, newer and comfier at the same price that I paid for lunch here.
Badly worn wardrobe and general upkeep (cracked and non-working towel rail, dented bin etc just took the edge off paying what I’d get a cheeky weeks holiday in Europe for). Shampoos are bolted to the wall for fear that at this price point I go around nicking the stuff, not even a coffee maker or a Fridge for our bubbly? First world problems yes, but at these prices they need to match up their rooms to the overall experience.
The restaurant (Brasserie) felt again that the price and excellent food (a superb steak) didn’t match up to the airport-cafe style seating.
Overall, as the spa was just other-worldly good, it was worth the stay but I wouldn’t return.
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Angelina Chua, General Manager at Sopwell House
Responded 9 Oct 2023
We are naturally disappointed to read that you felt a little let down by your room and we would always recommend speaking to a Duty Manager at the time rather than leaving us feeling underwhelmed. It is regrettable that you did not seek any assistance or give us an opportunity to assist. We are delighted that despite this you still enjoyed your time in the Spa, your dining experience and were wowed by the superb service my team gave you.
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Me and my family had a two night stay at Sopwell House and this hotel was incredible! From check in to check out our experience was amazing! The hotel is beautifully decorated with superb spa facilities and renovated areas all around. This was our first time here and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience.
Firstly special mention goes to all the reception staff and the young guy who helped with our luggage’s, they are all so polite and lovely and ensured a smooth check in! They even had our room ready early which is always a bonus!
Secondly all the catering staff that went above and beyond to meet our dietry requirements. As we required a halal non alcoholic menu the staff always went above and beyond to make sure all our requirements were met and advised us on the dishes. Special mention to Harry, Holly and I think the tall assistant manager name begins with a G- Gabor? for giving us a first class experience. They really made us feel welcome and ensured all dishes were throughly checked before serving. Even if we asked for several checks to be made it was never a bother for them. Having been to many spas across the UK and not having many halal options available to us this really made our stay exceptional and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience.
But it doesn’t stop there Top Chef Marilena came and spoke to us her self to ensure we were happy and also recommended us her version of a non alcoholic sauce to go on our steaks. Her efforts and kindness were extraordinary and her dishes were amazing! Thank you for going that extra mile and making our stay even more memorable! Her skills and expertise in the culinary industry is amazing and she is definitely an asset to the amazing Sopwell house!
The rooms are amazing and the hotel and atmosphere is just so peaceful! The spa is just luxury and tranquility all wrapped into one. The level of care and attention to this spa was absolutely amazing and the cleanliness was outstanding. Special mention to my therapist Ria- I had the scrub and massage and she was literally one of the best therapists I had. She took time to explain it all and her skills and professionalism was brilliant! She defo is very experienced in her field of work and I was literally on cloud 9 after my treatment. She took me to the relax room afterwards and offered me a tea and it was just so blissful!
This spa is one of the best in the uk, everything is managed exceptionally well and they look after you in every way! Literally one of the most serene peaceful breaks I have had and only an hour away from London! Can’t wait to be back!
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Date of stay: August 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Angelina Chua, General Manager at Sopwell House
Responded 15 Oct 2024
Thank you for taking the time to share you experience and we are delighted you had such an amazing time with us. To see such kind words and see so many staff receive a personal mention makes me very proud of the team and I have shared your review with them. We all look forward to welcoming you back again very soon.
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We had a superb overnight stay at Sopwell; our first visit and hoped it lived up to expectations. Staff were professional throughout from arrival to departure and the whole place felt fresh and comfortable. It was very clean too. The spa was fantastic - great facilities that are well maintained, though we didn’t have any treatments. The gym was better than those in most hotels. We only used the spa for a few hours (from check in until dinner, then before breakfast)and for that reason I’m glad we didn’t upgrade to the Club option, which seems expensive. We booked the basic Mansion House room which was fine for a short stay when you don’t have lots of luggage. No views from the window but that’s to be expected. I was surprised that there was not a fridge in the room. Dinner was also very good in the Brasserie and well priced for the hotel - it would not be easy to head into town so you want the meal to feel likes it’s good value. Overall, a lovely stay and we are looking forward to a return visit
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Angelina Chua, General Manager at Sopwell House
Responded 13 Apr 2023
My team and I are delighted that you had such a fabulous overnight stay and enjoyed the spa and Brasserie dinner. I am sorry that the room you booked did not have a fridge but we wold have been delighted to provide you with one of our little mobile fridges had we been made aware. Please do ensure you request this on your next visit so we can arrange this for you. We look forward to welcoming you back.
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My experience during my Christmas Eve and Christmas Day break was faultless from arrival to departure. Every single member of staff was absolutely amazing. Nothing was too much trouble and they were all extremely welcoming, professional and went that extra mile to ensure a 1st class stay. Whilst it is a little on the more expensive side of a hotel stay it is worth every penny. The décor is both stylish and chic but with a relaxed vibe and the welcoming open fire in the lobby was a wonderful feeling when arriving on a cold Winters night. Breakfast was superb with everything you could possible want in a buffet style with the addition of omelette, etc made to order. My room was spotless, warm and excellent tea/coffee facilities together with bottled water. Lunch in their conservatory was less formal with a dedicated children’s area idea for when my granddaughter joined me Boxing Day. However the standard of food was still of the same excellent quality and I even had the privilege of chatting with the Head Chef to compliment her on the amazing open salmon sandwich which was delicious. I did not personally use the Soa facilities during this stay but they looked amazing. I have been fortunate to be fairly well traveled and stayed in some very nice hotel but this is the first time I have felt that this excellent experience had to be recognised in writing. Well done to all the team at Sopwell House and I look forward to staying there again soon. Best wishes
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Date of stay: December 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Angelina Chua, General Manager at Sopwell House
Responded 3 Jan 2024
Thank you for choosing to celebrate the festive period with us at Sopwell House and we are delighted you had such an excellent time. Your kind words have been shared with the team and we all look forward to welcoming you back again very soon.
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This is an excellent hotel in almost all areas – décor, service, staff, food, bed comfort, facilities – with two notable exceptions. Firstly, the rooms, while nice, do not match the grandeur of the communal parts of the property, and are somewhat worn and old fashioned. Secondly, the spa is lovely but the entry times (3pm on day of entry to 11am on day of checkout) are restrictive and unusual compared to most other hotels. The hotel must have intentionally decided to take an off market position and I am surprised they don’t appreciate the impact on guests. For example, if you check in at 1pm because your room happens to be ready early, you are still not allowed in the spa until 3pm. And, if you are not catching your train/plane/ride till later in the afternoon on checkout, you are not allowed to use the spa for an hour or two in between. So if you are having a one-night getaway, there is quite limited time to enjoy the facilities once you factor in meals etc. The irony of it all is that the spa was virtually empty the entire time. This does not detract from the fact that overall it is a lovely place, but it is a bizarre policy for an establishment that markets itself as a spa hotel.
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Date of stay: May 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Angelina Chua, General Manager at Sopwell House
Responded 16 May 2024
We are delighted that you found the Hotel to be excellent but thought that some areas are worn and updated. We are currently going through a program of improvements and upgrades to our rooms and remaining public areas of the Hotel. Our Spa access times are clearly detailed on our website and one the confirmation that is sent at the time a reservation is made. We can from time to time permit early or late access, depending on capacity, and we are naturally disappointed that we were unable to assist on this occasion. We do hope that this will not deter you from visiting again.
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My husband and I stayed at Sopwell House to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary after we got married there there 10 years ago. There has been a lot of refurbishment done to Sopwell and a new spa added to it since we stayed. In order to get full access to the spa you need to make sure your stay includes access to the 'Club' part of the spa which is new and beautifully done up - especially the panoramic saunas. Our room wasn't available until 3pm but we were able to use the spa from 12pm and slippers/robes were provided in the lockers. Our room was spacious and as it was a special occasion the hotel had left rose petals, macaroons and a card in our room. Make sure you let them know ahead of your stay if you're celebrating a special occasion. We ate dinner in the Brasserie and the food was lovely although I found the dessert menu a little limited and we were disappointed not to receive an anniversary dessert while other couples around us did (and the hotel emailed that we would) but that's of course only a minor gripe. The breakfast included the next day was plentiful and great selection.
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Angelina Chua, General Manager at Sopwell House
Responded 14 Nov 2023
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience following your recent stay at Sopwell House. We are delighted that you had such a lovely time and especially as you hold such fond memories of your wedding day and we were delighted to have welcomed you back to celebrate your special anniversary. We are naturally disappointed that this special occasion was not acknowledged by the team when dining with us and please be assured that I have spoken directly to them regarding this. We all look forward to welcoming you back again very soon.
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Unfortunately this hotel is not up to scratch anymore. The hotel is trying to be like an exclusive limewood or four seasons and sadly it is not there. The new executive rooms are okay, not worth the price tag. The bathrooms are very small and barely functional. The shower is not big enough for a tall person. Room service is horrifyingly bad - 2 hour wait for breakfast one morning, 30 minute wait for coffees one afternoon. The hotel is very understaffed, especially when there is an event on. The real icing on the cake is: no children allowed in the swimming pool, not even during set times AND you are not allowed to use the spa facilities after checkout. Keep in mind, checkin is 3pm and checkout is 11am… there isn’t a lot of time for anything really. Food quality is sub par. Staff at reception are extremely arrogant, uptight, rude and sadly extremely stuck up. I can understand if it was the Ritz but it’s Sopwell house so the attitude needs to be taken down a notch. The hotel needs new management, they are not prepared for the hotel to be fully booked. We had housekeeping knocking on our door from 8.30am… plus a fire alarm drill at 11am. Definitely will not be recommending this hotel to anyone.
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Avoid going with families, if you have £800 for a mews room stay there if you have to. Otherwise...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Angelina Chua, General Manager at Sopwell House
Responded 18 May 2022
I am naturally disappointed to read your review and it is regrettable that we were not made aware of any of our comments during your stay or given an opportunity to be of assistance at the time. I am confident that our website clearly details our check in and out times and that Cottonmill is adults only, this is also on the confirmations that are sent to all guests once a reservation has been made. We take Health and Safety very seriously at the Hotel and we are required to carry out weekly tests of our fire alarms to ensure these are functional should they be required in an emergency for the safety of our guests and my staff. Your feedback regarding the Front of House team is much regretted and is not typical of the many great reviews received about my teams and I am sorry that you will not be recommending us.
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We came with my husband to enjoy some rest for 2 days at Sopwell house, I must admit I was disappointed by the hotel side of the experience. We couldn't find a parking space so we had to carry our luggage all over. The room was spacious and tastefully decorated, but at night there was mechanical noises, you could hear toilets flushing, water etc... it woke me up couples of times and kept me from sleeping in the morning, both mornings. The walls and the door is Paper thin, you can hear literally everything. So I come home more tired than when I came. We ordered some champagne at 6pm, we had to call reception to remind them and it arrived 30 min late.. same with breakfast in the room, it was late we had to call again reception, It's disappointing because the SPA and restaurants are well=managed and really good, but the hotel aspect is neglected. You can't charge such a high price in the hospitality industry when the absolute basis: is noise proof. blackout window and service on time is not covered. I really recommend the massages at the Spa and the Brasserie & Omboo restaurants, 10/10. I would say it's perfect for a Spa Day and dinner there. but sleeping at home is more recommended.
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Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Angelina Chua, General Manager at Sopwell House
Responded 10 Apr 2024
We are naturally disappointed to read that you did not joy all aspects of your stay and it is regrettable that you did not make us aware at the time to give us an opportunity to assist. We are pleased that you enjoyed your visit to our Brasserie, Omboo and the Spa and we do hope that some lapses in service will not deter you from visiting again.
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Really conflicted by my recent stay. Been to the spa previously and loved it so much booked another spa plus overnight at the hotel recently.
Spa: i have a half day full access voucher so worth over £200. I arrive at 240pm (my afternoon tea starts at 3pm so Im thinking plenty of time and it’s not busy) plonked on arrival in the bar area for their welcome experience. Well waiting nearly 15mins and no welcome drink. staff were apologetic but the drinks not necessary I’ve afternoon tea soon. Post massage I’m in the relaxation room - another guest is face timing! I’ve access all areas for the spa and the facilities are top notch but there’s dirty cups/towels from the day left by guests in the whisper room despite there being attendant’s and its and 630pm. I’d been there 40mins before I saw an attendant come on a cleaning round.
Hotel: in between my spa I check into my room at 4pm ish (I’ve paid separately another £269 for one night) room has a connecting door not great but is what it is, find a stained bathroom towel with heavy make up, so 10mins after checking in I go to the front desk. Ask for housekeeping to change towels whilst I’m in the spa. Get back to room 9pm nothing changed. Glad I showered in the spa! Rest of room clean. Room service was excellent and arrived hot. They really need soft close doors as the room doors were constantly banging my whole stay. And request a room change if you have a connecting door as the noise levels esp from drunk girls next door all night was awful, Went down to breakfast and was seen to a table and left with no explanation. Had to ask the lady delivering my tea was it order or is it self serve Buffett? Breakfast was tasty!
Overall the spa facilities are amazing despite the cleaning issue. All the staff I interacted with were great. Even those who for example were ahead of me in a corridor stopped and held doors which frankly I wasn’t expecting but it’s a nice touch. It’s just really small things which left me with a niggling disappointment
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Date of stay: June 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:Avoid a room with connecting doors, upgrade to access all areas in the spa.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Angelina Chua, General Manager at Sopwell House
Responded 17 Jun 2024
We are sorry to learn that you feel conflicted by your recent visit to Sopwell House and we would always recommend speaking to a Duty Manager at the time rather than leave us unhappy. We can only apologise for any lapses in service and that you encountered some guests who were not considerate of others. We do hope that this will not deter you from visiting us again.
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There is a great deal to like about Sopwell. Beautiful location, the club at Cottonmill is a very high quality spa and they did go the extra mile to acknowledge our anniversary. I always try to take into account that older buildings won’t be as perfect as modern hotels and not to expect the same type of rooms. However, when we arrived the lift wasn’t functioning and we were given a room overlooking the spa ventilation units which were quite noisy. Reception were very good about dealing with this and moved us to a lovely quiet room with garden views, albeit a tad smaller. The other complaint is dining. Food is decent, but the main restaurant has no real view and isn’t particularly special. Having booked a lunch, dinner and breakfast package we ate there 3 times, which was a little underwhelming. Also some staff were excellent, but one waitress was unable to explain what was in a vegetarian burger. Not sure if an upgrade to Omboo for one meal can happen, but it would definitely make the stay more special. Some might also find weddings going on in the conference / banqueting area a bit annoying, but we enjoyed the atmosphere. Upgrading to the club part of the spa really did make the experience more special and the massages were excellent. Whilst enjoyable in a hot June, the spa seemed well arranged and set out for a winter treat. All in all a special night, but for a thousand pounds it didn’t quite impress as much as it might have.
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Date of stay: June 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Angelina Chua, General Manager at Sopwell House
Responded 20 Jun 2023
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience of your recent visit to Sopwell House. We are pleased that despite some lapses in service you still enjoyed your time with us. We are currently undergoing some exciting renovations to parts of the Hotel which we are positive will be well received by our guests. We do offer the facility to change your dining option to Omboo and we would have been delighted to assist you with this had you made your reference known to us. We do hope that we will have an opportunity to welcome you back again.
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There are more places to choose from in the St. Albans area.
PRICE RANGE
£263 - £351 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
sopwell house country club hotel st. albans, sopwell house country club and spa, sopwell hotel country
LOCATION
United KingdomEnglandHertfordshireSt. Albans
NUMBER OF ROOMS
127
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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Are there any historical sites close to Sopwell House?
Many travellers enjoy visiting St Albans South Signal Box (1.0 miles), St Albans Hertfordshire England (1.5 miles), and The Wallingford Screen (1.2 miles).