Dearest readers,
The world is once again opening up as though the pandemic never existed, and what better time to resume our love for travel? If you haven’t been hiding under a rock somewhere, you may be familiar with Bridgerton — the romantic TV series about love during the Regency era in England. Ever since its debut season, viewers worldwide, including us here at Zafigo, couldn’t bear to tear away our atten-tion. How could we? The diverse cast, colourful costumes, the passionate affairs, and those absurdly opulent manors and houses had us rapt withal.
While we don’t possess the power to turn back time, we can lead you to some Bridgeton-like places around the world for you to live out your most lavish dreams. Warning: Neither Lord Anthony Bridgerton nor the Duke of Hastings is included in these locations.
1. Hotel Indigo, England
Being in Bath itself already sets a Bridgeton-like tone for Hotel Indigo, as this part of England was one of the series’ filming locations. This boutique hotel features 166 bedrooms that boast luxury Egyptian cotton linen, spa-like bathrooms, and reflects the age and style of the Regency era.
There’s also the Romance & Mischief room where abstract design meets Georgian splendour — sounds like something the Duke of Hastings and Lady Daphne would stay in! Check out the virtual tour here.
2. The Royal Crescent Hotel, England
Another dream location for all Bridgerton fans out there is none other than The Royal Crescent Hotel. In fact, it’as been featured multiple times in the series with Eloise and Penelope walking along the street, while Eloise herself is trying to reveal the identity of Lady Whistledown.
The 45 rooms and suites at The Royal Crescent Hotel have a blend of contemporary luxury and Re-gency opulence. You can also catch a peek at it in the first season of Bridgerton.
3. Castle Howard Holiday Cottages, England
Does this stately home look familiar to you? If it does, it’s because the exterior was featured in Season 1 of Bridgerton as home to the Duke and Duchess of Hastings. While you can’t book a stay in Castle Howard itself, there are plenty of charming cottages and farmhouses dotted nearby the property with spaces for up to six people.
4. Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, England
Thinking of recreating that famous pall-mall scene we saw in the second season of Bridgerton? Well, Lucknam Park is the space to do it. A popular shooting spot, the Palladian-style house has been seen in the Kingsman movie series and also Netflix’s The Crown. You can also put on your riding gears and trot down the tree-lined driveway on a horse, though you won’t have a viscount romantically chase after you.
Located 20 minutes from Bath, Lucknam Park is the kind of classic country house you’d read about in a Julia Quinn book, complete with afternoon tea, wellies, and plenty of peaceful spaces.
5. Brown’s Hotel, England
Want to live like the Bridgertons? Mayfair, the affluent district which the fictional Bridgerton family calls home, is also the site of London’s oldest hotel — a collection of interconnected Georgian town-houses that first welcomed guests in 1837. Moreover, Brown’s Hotel itself has a long history of serv-ing and hosting influential people that includes royals, prime ministers, and the likes of Mark Twain and Rudyard Kipling.
While you’re there, enjoy the afternoon tea served in the drawing room. Tiered trays of clotted cream, scones, jams, and pastries will have you feeling like Queen Victoria did when she took her af-ternoon tea at Brown’s too.
6. Cliveden House, England
Cliveden House is the only place to go if you want to experience the same level of glamour and scan-dal as the Shonda Rhimes phenomenon. Over the years, its function in society has evolved — from private residence to military hospital to movie set. But today, it’s one of the finest hotels in the UK, reminiscent of the Bridgerton era.
The grounds of Cliveden are comparable to Lucknam Park’s, and the hotel’s facade is undoubtedly suitable for usage as an imperial residence in the series. Request for the Lady Astor or Prince of Wales Suite, and have a full afternoon tea delivered to your room while you binge the entire series. Talk about feeling like royalty!
7. Heckfield Place, England
Lady Danbury’s high society events could take place at Heckfield Place, where the exterior boasts a red-brick front framed by gravel walkways. However, the atmosphere inside is anything but preten-tious. The 47-room sanctuary on 400 acres of land blends Georgian grandeur with farmhouse cosiness and was once home to aristocrats and politicians.
The rooms are distinctly British and subduedly opulent. The hotel also prioritises sustainabil-ity; there is no single-use plastic in the rooms, water is heated using wood pellets in biomass boilers, and the biodynamic farm on the property grows food for the restaurants.
8. The Newt, England
The country home was founded in 1687 and later developed by the Hobhouse Family, who spent dec-ades tending the 800-acre estate and woodlands. The Georgian limestone manor house is unques-tionably a classic and oozes those lush Bridgerton vibes we so love.
After being relaunched as The Newt in 2019, the grounds, which include a maze of 460 apple trees, bathing ponds, a Victorian glasshouse, and stunning groomed lawns where local deer frequently ap-pear, have become an instant appeal with tourists who desire to explore the grounds before relaxing in sophisticated but simple rooms.
9. Marlfield House, Ireland
Can’t get enough of the Regency era in general? A stay at Marfield House will give you the full experi-ence. Owned by the Bowe family, this exquisitely renovated Regency home is situated on 36 acres of land.
Every room is adorned with antiques, unique artworks, and vases of fresh flowers from the property’s garden. They also come with views of the gardens on the property, while six luxurious bedrooms open onto the lake and a wildfowl reserve.
In addition to the rose, vegetable, and herb gardens that supply much of the food for the kitchen, the expansive gardens also feature a tennis court and wooded paths. The conservatory restaurant at Marlfield, which features frescoed walls, is well-known for providing classical cuisine in one of Ireland‘s most attractive eating spaces.
10. The Merrion Hotel, Ireland
The Merrion, which dates back to the 1760s, underwent one of the most extensive restoration efforts in Dublin in recent years; it’s also the city’s most luxurious hotel. This Georgian-style architecture made it an ideal choice for a hotel, and its understated charm gives the property a fantastic sense of modesty.
Boasting 123 rooms and 19 suites, the interior is decorated with antiques and utilises Irish fabrics. This is to replicate the architecture and furnishings of the Main House. The elegance and grandeur of The Merrion will make you feel like a member of the upper crust as you wind down on a four-poster bed whilst surrounded by opulent furnishing.
