Twenty-four hours in Somerset, UK

People dining al fresco outside a country house.
Green vegetation by a pond.

Photographer Laurence Ellis drives out to the Somerset countryside with his girlfriend Aurora Manning (and their dog Daphne) for a weekend at Babington House

Laurence and Aurora stayed in a Walled Garden room    Images by Laurence Ellis

The top corner of a country house with blue sky behind.
A dog sitting in the lap of somebody in a car.
Looking through curtains at a garden.
Coffee on a tray.
Looking through leaves at ducks in a pond.

‘We come across a beautiful lake and some of the friendliest ducks we’ve ever met. Daphne makes lots of new friends’

Above, clockwise from top left: outside the Main House; the view from our window; ducks on the lake; morning coffee; Daphne in the front seat

Photographer Laurence Ellis and his girlfriend Aurora Manning leave London for a country retreat in Somerset. Staying in one of Babington House’s Walled Garden rooms, they ride bikes around the 18-acre grounds, share wine and steak at the Orangery, and stop for an afternoon picnic by the pond. 

1pm: arrive at the House

We arrive at Babington House with our dog Daphne, very happy that Babs is Pomeranian friendly. It’s been a little drizzly, but Daphne doesn’t seem to mind – she’s excited at her ride in the luggage cart. We quickly warm up with a couple of well-deserved cocktails after our scenic drive down from London.

2pm: ride around the grounds

The wonderful reception staff kindly look after our bags, so we can take a bike ride around the hotel grounds. We come across a beautiful lake and some of the friendliest ducks we’ve ever met. Daphne makes lots of new friends.

3pm: check in 

The room is ready. We walk out onto our patio that overlooks the enchanting Walled Garden. It even has an outdoor Jacuzzi. Seems like a great excuse to have a glass of Champagne, or two.
Green vegetation.
A woman riding a bicycle down a country path in a field.
A woman holding a butterfly up to her eye.

5pm: relax in the room

After a long and much needed nap (in an outrageously comfortable bed), we get ready for the evening ahead. Although, I must say, we would have happily spent the night in – the room and gardens were so magical, it was a shame to leave.

7pm: cocktail hour

We head to the bar before dinner and enjoy a couple of cocktails: some Picante de la Casas, extra spicy. It’s our favourite cocktail when we visit the Electric, so it’s lovely to have them at our new home away from home.
A naked woman looking in a mirror.

‘The gardens look beautiful in the late evening; still a slight glow from the long summer’s day mixed with a little moonlight’

A steamy bathroom.

Reflections in the shower

Two glasses of rose wine.

Rosé with dinner

8pm: dinner with friends

We join our friends Darrell and Emma for dinner in the Orangery. We have the scallops and tempura zucchini to start, and share the T-bone steak for two with a bottle of red. The room is filled with plants and we wonder how they manage to water all of them, especially the ones in the ceiling.

11pm: moonlit stroll

A late evening stroll back to our room. The gardens look beautiful with a slight glow from the long summer’s day mixed with a little moonlight. Time for bed and one last cocktail, ready-made in the minibar. We sit outside, taking in the night sky above the starlit flowers of the garden.
A dinner table with food and plates on it.
Two people eating a pudding.
A hard back book with Morning Noon and Night printed on it.
Above, clockwise from top left: our decadent dessert; our dinner spread; Morning, Noon, Night

9.30am: breakfast on the terrace

It’s very difficult to choose between breakfast in bed or breakfast outside on our terrace. Although, as the garden is so beautiful, we decide to make the most of it for our last morning. We have something very delicious and are joined by some of the butterflies from the garden.

12pm: checkout time

It’s time to check out, but we don’t want to go. So, again, the lovely staff look after our bags while we make the most of a gloriously sunny day.

‘We enjoy a very English picnic beside the pond with a Pimm’s and a wonderfully decadent picnic basket’

A country house under an overcast sky.
Pink flowers in a garden.
Picnic foods.

1pm: picnic lunch

We enjoy a very English picnic beside the pond with a Pimm’s and a wonderfully decadent picnic basket from the House.

2pm: stop in at The Newt 

On the drive home, we stop by The Newt and wonder how on earth we haven’t discovered it before (or their incredible homemade cider). We spend the rest of the day exploring its endless gardens and walks – a relaxing end to a very special weekend.

4pm: drive home

We head back to London, and even Daphne is sad to leave. 
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