The Beckford Arms

Rooms

As an i-escape favourite, we’ve stayed in many of The Beckford’s rooms and lodges over the years. The décor is contemporary country, with lovely touches throughout. Walls are Farrow & Ball, carpets are seagrass. kingsize beds, Egyptian cotton sheets and Siberian goosedown bedding guarantee a good night’s sleep.

In the main inn, light-filled Large Double Room 7 stands out for its in-room rolltop bathtub - perfect for romantic getaways. We also loved Medium Double Room 1’s French windows and Juliet balcony facing an old magnolia tree. The long Attic suite is extra spacious and private - great for small families. The Small and Extra Small Doubles are compact in comparison; modest windows and squishy beds that dominate the room give them a snug feel. Comfortably cosy for one night, but for longer stays it would be worth spending a little more money for a lot more space.

Some bathrooms are compact, but they're filled with divine organic Bramley products. Excellent water pressure (a treat in old buildings like this) makes morning showers a pleasure. There are fresh flowers, pretty water glasses, Roberts radios and knitted hot water bottles. And in true homely style, you get a teapot with a cosy; fresh milk is left outside your door each morning.

Ten minutes down the lane you'll find 2 beautiful lodges. Perfectly suited to couples looking for space and seclusion, the Splendens Pavillions are nestled amongst Fonthill Estate’s woodland. A rural take on loft-living, they are light and airy with well-equipped kitchens, open-plan lounges and mezzanine bedrooms. Rolltop tubs gaze across the green and a wood-burner warms wintery evenings. They also benefit from having basic kitchens, so make a great choice for longer visits. We always love staying here.

The latest addition is the great Fonthill Victory Arch at the entrance to the estate, 20 minutes' walk from The Beckford Arms. Straddling the approach lane, this unique and historic building has been cleverly and painstakingly converted into a secret hideaway for 2-4, with one double bedroom, a compact bunk room for 2 up a spiral staircase, plus a cosy, comfy sitting room and kitchen-dining room on the ground floor.

Features include:

• Hairdryer
• Iron
• WiFi

Eating

The relaxed restaurant’s food measures up to the hype; everything we ate was fantastic. The only problem was choosing... We were almost swayed by the chicken liver parfait starter, but we plumped for the Jerusalem artichoke with runny poached egg, Berkswell cheese and crunchy garlic crumb. Our main - a rich, hearty whole Cornish plaice with kale - had a delicious kick of lemon and tangy horseradish cream. Afterwards, peanuts added a satisfying crunch to the dark chocolate tart with crème fraiche ice cream. Drinks were no afterthought either, we washed everything down with cucumber-infused water and the Beckford Bottle Shop’s Picpoul de Pinet.

For lunch, there are pub classics like cider-battered fish and chips, or smoky chorizo burgers. It's popular with locals, so book ahead and make time to revel in the pub ambiance. At the bar, try the Beckford Phoenix ale.

In the morning, there's a hearty help-yourself breakfast table. We also ordered the Full English (the local sausages were superb) and the Nutella pancakes. When we return, we'll try the avocado on toast and a Bloody Mary...

If you’re staying in Splendens Pavillions or The Arch, you can walk up to the pub for breakfast or make use of your cute little kitchen. The team will stock the fridge with ingredients - local Foots Farm eggs, smoked back bacon, Berkshire pork sausages, plus everything for tea, coffee and toast. In summer, you can whip up a lazy breakfast and dine al fresco on the lawn or terrace.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Kids' meals
• Organic produce
• Restaurant
• Room service

Activities

• Stourhead Gardens (pictured) are a short drive away - particularly picturesque in spring and autumn
  
• If you feel like a spot of shooting (real or simulated), or perhaps a shiatsu session is more your style, the team will be able to point you in the right direction
  
• Head into Tisbury village and peruse the local independent shops, which include a charming florist, a deli, antiques and homeware shops
  
• On the edge of the village, the tithe barn is now home to Messums art gallery, a pioneering multi-purpose gallery and arts centre
  
• A short drive away, 14th-century Old Wardour Castle is a great place to while away an afternoon; explore its many rooms and beautiful grounds before stopping off for lunch at the enchanting Pythouse Kitchen Garden
  
• There are lots of racecourses nearby, if you fancy a flutter (Salisbury, Wincanton and Bath) and the excellent Rushmore Golf Club is an easy 30-minute drive
  
• Despite being in a different county, Bath is an easy day trip (40-minute drive)

  Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Historical sites
  • Horse racing
  • Well being
  • Wildlife

Kids

The Beckford Arms is great for families with a large garden and lots of room for kids to run around, so they don't disturb other guests. The Attic and The Arch are well set up to accommodate families, and a couple of the Double rooms can interconnect. Travel cots are available to use (at an extra fee).

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

The Attic is the best room in the inn for families; tucked in the eaves, it has a double bedroom, a sitting area, and a tiny extra bedroom with a two single beds (suitable for 2 children). The Arch is another great option for a family of 4; kids will love the experience of staying in such a quirky conversion, but be mindful of the stone spiral staircase and the road (albeit quiet) running through the building. For these reasons, it is only suitable for children aged 4 and up.

There are no extra beds, but Medium Double room 1 and Extra Small Double room 2 can interconnect. Baby cots can fit in Medium Double rooms 1 and 3, Attic and Large Double only.

Cots Available, Family Rooms

Distances:

• Airport 1.5 hours
• London: 2 hours
• Hospital: 25 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Beckford Arms is set on the Fonthill Estate, near the village of Tisbury, in Wiltshire, southwest of England.

By Car
The Beckford Arms is just over an hour from Bristol, and 2 hours from London; see our car rental recommendations.

By Train
The nearest station, Tisbury, is 5 minutes away in a taxi or 25 minutes' walk (no pavements). Trains from London Waterloo take 1 hour and 45 minutes and leave every hour.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

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