There is something undeniably romantic about the idea of owning an English country estate: winding drives through parkland, grand rooms steeped in history and space to escape the outside world. At Stapleford Park, that vision could become reality.

Set in the heart of Leicestershire, the Grade I listed mansion and estate is on the market for £18 million. Spanning 54 acres, the property comprises 48 bedrooms, a wellness centre, cottages, tennis courts and a collection of historic buildings. Formerly operated as a country house hotel and wedding venue, it offers both the grandeur of a historic estate and the infrastructure to shape its next chapter.

The history of Stapleford Park stretches back centuries. The Sherard family held the estate for almost 500 years, reuniting two manors in the early 16th century. They later commissioned Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown to redesign the parkland and Hall, creating much of the landscape that survives today.

At the heart of the estate stands the Hall, built principally from dressed stone beneath a pitched roof and carved stone parapet. Inside, a magnificent double-height staircase leads to a series of elegant reception rooms. The drawing room features an open fireplace, fluted columns and intricately carved cornicing, while the Gilt Rooms provide sophisticated spaces for entertaining. The ‘Grinling Gibbons’ dining room, named for its ornate carving attributed to the celebrated Dutch-born master, adds further distinction. Two commercial kitchens, including one adjoining the Orangery, reflect the property’s former hospitality use.

The accommodation is equally impressive, with 48 bedrooms across the first and second floors, many individually decorated and named after their interior designers. Lady Gretton’s room is particularly notable for its views across the parkland. An indoor swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi and steam room complete the wellness facilities introduced during Peter de Savary’s ownership.

Beyond the Hall, the Grade II* listed Stableyard, built in 1899 for John Gretton in the Baroque Revival style, has been converted into a spa and gymnasium while retaining many original features. Its facilities include a full-sized gym, dance studio and treatment rooms, with four all-weather tennis courts nearby. A servery for light meals and drinks adds to the appeal.

Additional accommodation is spread across a collection of cottages and lodges. Gardener’s Cottage overlooks the walled garden and has four bedroom suites, while Stud Grooms Cottage offers six bedrooms and Pavilion Cottage a further three suites. North and South Lodges each have three bedrooms. Tree Cottage, formerly an accounts office and later a creche, could offer potential for conversion into a single-storey dwelling, subject to planning consent. The Pavilion, once the clubhouse for Stapleford Park Golf Club, retains reception, changing and catering facilities.

Outside, the 54 acres of grounds feature mature trees, sweeping lawns and landscaped gardens. A two-acre walled garden once supplied the house with fruit and vegetables, while a ha-ha separates the formal gardens from the open parkland. A large lake and surrounding woodland complete the picture, with the wider Stapleford Park Estate extending to almost 3,000 acres.

Perhaps the greatest appeal lies in the possibilities for the future. As Mark Rimell, Director of Strutt & Parker’s National Country House Department, explains, the estate offers “the blueprint” for reviving a country house hotel or creating an exclusive members’ club with a spa, treatment rooms and restaurants. A return to private residential use is another possibility. Offered ‘lock, stock and barrel’, the property comes with much of the infrastructure needed to bring a new vision to life.

For £18 million, Stapleford Park offers far more than an impressive country house. It is an opportunity to become custodian of a remarkable piece of English heritage, whether as a private retreat, a renewed hospitality destination or something entirely different. Few estates offer such a compelling combination of history, scale and scope for reinvention.

Strutt & Parker

Stapleford Park

£18,000,000.00

Learn more