Glencot House – Somerset’s Lost Country Inn of Curiosities

May 12

Written By Sky

We discovered it while exploring Somerset and the West Country, after a pause at the cathedral in the tiny city of Wells. A short drive brought us to Wookey Hole and into a house that felt less like a place to stay and more like a lived-in story. On the first magical immersive day, we wandered through room after room, shelves bending under the weight of miles of books, a plethora of antiques—and, of course, the grounds.

The house itself dates to the late nineteenth century, rebuilt in Jacobean style by architects Ernest George and Harold Peto after the original structure burned down. Over the years, its life unfolded in chapters: initially serving as a private home, then a school with a sad history, before once again becoming a residence. In 2006, it entered its most memorable phase when it was acquired by Martin Miller, founder of Miller’s Antiques Guides and Miller’s Gin. Miller transformed the house into an eccentric hotel with a unique personality, a true cabinet of curiosities where each room was a surprise.

The lovely gardens are home to sculpted scenes scripted from a storybook. The River Axe passed gently through the grounds, adding movement and sound, as if the landscape itself participated in the spell. Inside, comfort never took a back seat to character. Each bedroom followed its own private line of thought, overly furnished with antiques to keep the eye continually discovering new nooks and treasures. Our room, with its dark walls contrasted with floral drapery, a bit theatrical yet welcoming, its window opening onto a sweep of green below.

Meals matched the setting. The restaurant offered confident British-style cooking in well-designed rooms, supported by a staff whose warmth felt genuine. The house also hosts a steady rhythm of events, from writers’ retreats to food-focused weekends, giving it the feel of a place engaged with ideas.

For us, Glencot House captured the reason travel matters. It offered a full departure from the ordinary world, not through luxury alone, but through imagination.

Glencot House no longer welcomes guests. Once a whimsical country inn near Wookey Hole in Somerset, it closed its doors in 2010 and is now a private residence. Though its doors are now closed, the memory remains intact.