Victorian Gothic manor house with colorful interior in England’s Peak District

Wildhive Callow Hall / Ashbourne / Derbyshire / Great Britain

I don’t know what it is with these British manor houses. They always make me feel like I am in some kind of Jane Austen novel living out my 19th century upper class fantasy. I realize that my posture becomes a little taller, my manors a little more gentleman-y and my English sounds like Madonna when she was married to Guy Ritchie living in the UK, pseudo posh.

Wildhive Callow Hall is located right outside the market town of Ashbourne, the gateway to the Peak District, south of Manchester. It is an old Victorian gothic manor surrounded by extensive gardens, fields and forests, truly embedded in greenery.

There is a total of 28 rooms, 15 of which are in the main building, 2 tree houses and 11 woodland hives scattered in the landscape, nestled between the trees. We stayed in the main building in a huge room with massive windows facing the forest. The interior has been created by designer Isabella Worsley. She has brought in colors, patterns and playfulness which creates a great contrast against the sombre, grey stone. In the hands of another designer, it could have gone so wrong, but here it feels light and rich.

Wildhive Callow Hall is one of those hotels where you want to spend a romantic weekend where you stay in bed, drinking coffee for hours in the morning followed by a lazy breakfast. Maybe a walk in the forest before you return to the hotel for a drink in one of the plush sofas that seamlessly turns into a wine soaked dinner. Sounds like a British countryside dream.

Welcome to Wildhive Callow Hall! An impressive Victorian Gothic manor house.

Heading upstairs to our room. This is one of my favorite spots in the hotel.

I love when windows are covered by ivy. It is like the most beautiful painting.

Our room had these old lead lined windows.

Always a plus in my book when there are magazines in the room.

Planning to do with our time at Wildhive.

M has just woken up and is demanding some coffee from me, his bedroom barista.

After coffee but before breakfast we went for a walk to build up an appetite and explore the grounds.

If you want some more privacy, you can book these cabins nestled in the woods.

Me heading back towards the hotel, ready for breakfast.

The contermpary glass extension is the Garden Room Restaurant.

If you didn’t bring your own, you can borrow wellies from the hotel.

The interior is all about colors, patterns and vibrant colors.

This is my favorite photo from our stay at Wildhive. I love the play with light and shadows.

This hand painted wall paper in one of the function rooms is so beautiful.

RG inside info

This place is perfect if you…

…are looking for a romantic spot where you can live out your Jane Austen style fantasy. If you love the English countryside with rolling hills and stately manor houses filled with colorful design where the service is attentive, you will not be disappointed when staying at Wildhive Callow Hall.

My favorite thing about this place…

…is the playful design. It is warm, colorful, vibrant and unique. Designer Isabella Worsley has done an amazing job with her bold patterns and color choices, eradicating any potentially stuffiness without risking to destroy any of the heritage of Callow Hall.

What not to miss when staying here…

…is nothing. Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty to do but to me this is one of those hotels that encourages you to wind down and find a slower pace. Have a drink, read a book, take a nap. Maybe go for a short walk around the grounds but focus on doing as little as possible. This hotel is made for it.

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