Review: Great Fosters Hotel, Egham, Surrey | ⋆⋆⋆⋆

Read our review of Great Fosters Hotel, Egham, Surrey. Only a 39-minute train ride from London, it’s the perfect weekend retreat.

A short train journey away from Central London, it’s the perfect place to spend a weekend away. Great food, good service and stunning grounds.

Great Fosters Hotel is based in Egham, a town in Surrey, only 39 minutes ride away from London Waterloo. From there, a 5-minute taxi ride will take you to the magnificent building set amongst 50 acres of the countryside where you can begin to relax and unwind.

We arrived at the hotel after Christmas and left refreshed and rejuvenated in the first few days of 2020. After having an excellent stay, we are very happy to add this hotel to The Crimson List and recommend it to you – it’s the perfect getaway for an impromptu weekend out of the City.

Our review

Accommodation

With 43 rooms, the hotel is not too small to relax anonymously but not too large that you cannot receive personal attentive service.

You can choose between smaller rooms that are decorated in a contemporary English country style or magnificent suites that have their own historic décor to match the building’s history:

• Single/Double rooms (12 to 14m²)
• King Rooms (17 to 27m²)
• Standard Suites (25 to 32m²)
• Historic Suites (33 to 57m²)

We recommend the 40m² Panel II suite with a luxurious four-poster bed and wooden panelling on the walls – perfect for a romantic weekend away.

If we wanted to be picky, we’d say that some of the standard suites are really just large rooms (often called ‘deluxe’ or ‘executive’ rooms) rather than proper suites with an adjoining room, or hallway.

Food and Drink

The real gem at Great Fosters is the one-Michelin star Tudor Room by Tony Parkin; book ahead though because it’s intimate setting only serves 20 guests at a time.

Unfortunately, it was not open when we visited so we defer to the Michelin guide itself which said the “classically based menus are intentionally concise to allow for maximum consistency, and dishes are accomplished and well-balanced, with a lightness of touch.”

There is also another restaurant, The Estate Grill, a more informal eatery with ingredients grown on the estate. When we dined, there was a very well priced set menu at £35pp for 3 courses or £27 for 2 courses:

• Starters: Celeriac Soup, Smoked Salmon, Ham Hock Terrine, or Beetroot with Spiced Pear and Fennel
• Main Courses: Duck Breast, Chicken with Kale and Lentils, Sirloin Steak, Sea Bream Sag Aloo, or Mushroom Tagliatelle
• Desserts: Apple and Cinnamon Mousse, Sticky Toffee Pudding, Panna Cotta, or Cheese Board

Afternoon Tea at Great Fosters Hotel

The hotel offers afternoon tea, which we tried on our first day. It’s served in the historic Anne Boleyn drawing room (with a roaring fire in the winter!) and in the summer months on the terrace overlooking the gardens.

There is a selection of black, white and green teas. You could probably ask them to make one of their hot chocolates from their extensive chocolate menu.

We were offered the traditional sandwich combinations – cucumber, salmon and egg, and there was a turkey cranberry one to mark the season. Next were the scones (both fruit and plain) with clotted cream and blackberry jam. For desserts, there were banoffee eclairs (our favourite!), macaroons, mont blanc and bavarois.

And if you can’t finish it all then they have boxes to take your leftovers away with you.

It comes in vegetarian and gluten-free options and at £39 per head, it’s a well-priced treat during your stay.

If you haven’t been able to come out to Great Fosters and want afternoon tea while you are in London, try Kettner’s or Royal Lancaster London.

Conclusion

The hotel is a perfect weekend getaway destination – high-quality dining options, beautiful grounds, great proximity to London and historic rooms. As you would expect, there is 24/7 room service, secretarial support/photocopying for last-minute business, a babysitting service and a full range of activities, from tennis to croquet and golf.

One thing that sets apart any good hotel is service and we felt very welcome at the hotel from the moment the taxi drove up to the grounds. Staff were always eager to please and go the extra mile. The room service requests were also delivered in lightning speed.

With four stars at the moment, we could see the hotel getting its fifth star in the future with some more amenities. There is no full spa facility yet which comparable 5-star hotels would be able to offer, although you can get spa treatments in your the comfort of your own room.

All in all, we are very happy to add Great Fosters to The Crimson List. Next time you want to pop out of London for a weekend, think about coming here.

FAQs

How do I get to Great Fosters Hotel?
The hotel is a 39-minute train ride from London Waterloo (a return journey is about £20) to Egham station. From there it is a 5 minute taxi ride, or 20-minute walk. Or drive from Central London in just under an hour.

How much are the rooms?
Depending on season, small rooms start around £150 with suites beginning at £450 per night.

What time can I check-in and what time is check out?
Check-in is 3pm and check-out is 11am. Contact the hotel if you need longer, or want to check in earlier, when you book.

Is there a gym, pool or spa?
There is an outdoor pool open May to September. No spa but you can have massage and spa treatments in the comfort of your own room. No gym.

What things are there to do?
There are 2 restaurants (one of which has a Michelin star), bar, afternoon tea, 50 acres of garden, tennis, croquet, archery and an outdoor pool.

Is there free WiFi?
Guests have free wifi across the hotel. We had no problem with the broadband in our room and had speeds of 40mb/s.

What is the dress code at Great Fosters and Tony Parkin?
The dress code is smart casual throughout the hotel. No shorts or trainers permitted after 7pm.

Further reading

• The Telegraph: Review of Great Fosters Hotel
• Evening Standard: Review of Great Fosters Hotel
• Wikipedia: History of Great Fosters
• Visit Windsor: Great Fosters Hotel
• Great British Gardens: Great Fosters Hotel
• Travel Weekly: Great Fosters Hotel

Details

Name: Great Fosters Hotel
Owner: Alexander Hotels
Address: Great Fosters, Stroude Road, Egham, Surrey, TW20 9UR
Telephone: +44 (0)1784 433822
Transport: 39m train from London Waterloo, plus a 5 minute taxi
Website: www.alexanderhotels.co.uk/great-fosters

Social buzz

Some of the newer, lighter dishes from chef @tonyparkinASR at The Tudor Room @GreatFosters #Egham #Surrey pic.twitter.com/7GOupyrRiq

— The MICHELIN Guide (@MichelinGuideUK) June 14, 2019

Still time to 'Meet the Bees' this summer. Come & get up close and personal with our #bees and enjoy lunch afterwards https://t.co/5qpGDDf8GG pic.twitter.com/8isqCwgbHE

— Great Fosters (@GreatFosters) June 4, 2019