Great Tangley Manor

Great Tangley Manor - A historic moated manor in the Surrey Hills

Great Tangley Manor is a Grade I-listed country house with a history stretching back almost 1,000 years, set within three acres of secluded gardens on the edge of the Surrey Hills. Mentioned in the Domesday Book and later shaped by figures associated with the Arts and Crafts movement, the manor is an unusually characterful private house available for exclusive stays of up to 12 guests.

Moated gardens, historic interiors and centuries of architectural detail give Great Tangley a genuine sense of occasion, while the indoor swimming pool, tennis court and modern facilities make it a wonderfully comfortable place to spend a few days. It is particularly well-suited to family gatherings, celebrations, and relaxed residential stays where having an entire house to yourselves is part of the appeal.

Accommodation

There are five individually styled bedrooms, each with its own character and views across the house, moat or gardens. Rooms can accommodate a mixture of double and twin arrangements, with two full-size folding beds also available to increase overall capacity to 12 guests.

The King John bedroom is the principal suite, with an antique French bed, original Tudor windows, a separate dressing room and a distinctive en-suite bathroom. Elsewhere, bedrooms range from the light-filled Queen Mary room to the ground-floor John Evelyn and Oriental bedrooms, providing a useful degree of flexibility for mixed family or group stays.

Living Spaces

The interiors are one of Great Tangley Manor's strongest features. The spacious drawing room opens onto the gardens and courtyard, while the library provides a quieter place to read, relax or watch television. A separate study includes a computer and printer and can also provide a useful workspace during longer stays.

Historic details appear throughout the house. The 16th-century dining room is panelled in dark oak said to incorporate timbers from the Spanish Armada, while panes of glass bear signatures associated with royal visitors including King George V and Queen Mary. Later additions to the manor reflect its Arts and Crafts connections, including work associated with architect Philip Webb and William Morris.

Dining & Catering

The formal dining room can seat up to 16 guests and provides an atmospheric setting for celebratory meals and private dinners. Alongside it, the contemporary glass breakfast room seats 10 and overlooks the sheltered inner courtyard, providing a striking contrast to the historic interiors elsewhere in the house.

Guests can self-cater using the well-equipped kitchen, bring their own caterer, or choose from a selection of recommended local catering suppliers. The courtyard also has outdoor seating and a gas barbecue, while caterers can arrange anything from relaxed barbecues to more formal dining.

Gardens & Grounds

Great Tangley is surrounded by three acres of mature Victorian gardens designed to connect the house naturally with its landscape. The grounds include the moat, lake, walled areas, a courtyard garden, bog garden and a long wisteria walk, with mature planting and numerous secluded places to sit and enjoy the surroundings.

The gardens have particularly strong Arts and Crafts connections. Their late-19th-century development was undertaken during the ownership of Wickham Flower, with architect Philip Webb closely associated with work at the manor. Today, they remain one of the property's defining features, giving guests considerable privacy despite Great Tangley's accessible Surrey location.

Pool & Leisure

A 40ft indoor swimming pool, heated throughout the year, is available privately to guests during designated hours. The manor also has its own hard tennis court, games lawn and extensive gardens, making it particularly easy to spend time at the property without needing to organise a full itinerary.

The surrounding Surrey Hills provide excellent opportunities for walking and exploring the countryside, while golf, fishing, horse racing, gardens and historic houses can all be found nearby.

Private & Group Stays

Great Tangley's relatively small scale is part of its appeal. Rather than operating like a hotel or conventional events venue, it gives a group the privacy of an entire historic house, with shared living rooms, dining spaces, gardens and leisure facilities all to themselves.

That makes it particularly attractive for extended family stays, milestone celebrations and gatherings of friends. It can also work well for very small residential retreats, board gatherings or leadership stays where privacy and time together are more important than dedicated conference facilities.

Facilities & Amenities

• Exclusive use for up to 12 guests
• Five individually styled bedrooms
• Three acres of private gardens and grounds
• Historic moat, lake and courtyard
• 40ft indoor heated swimming pool
• Private hard tennis court
• Formal dining room for up to 16 guests
• Fully equipped kitchen and catering options
• Library, drawing room and separate study
• High-speed broadband and Wi-Fi throughout
• Parking for up to 15 cars
• Electric vehicle charging

What's Nearby

Great Tangley Manor sits close to Guildford and provides a convenient base for exploring the Surrey Hills and surrounding countryside. Nearby attractions include RHS Garden Wisley, Loseley Park, Winkworth Arboretum, Watts Gallery and a number of National Trust properties, while the River Wey offers scenic boat trips and waterside walks.

Further afield, guests can reach the racecourses at Epsom, Sandown and Ascot, as well as Hampton Court and central London. The combination of countryside and accessibility makes the manor particularly useful for groups travelling from different parts of the South East.

Getting There

By car: Great Tangley Manor is located near Guildford in the Surrey Hills, with London accessible in under an hour depending on traffic.
By train: Guildford provides frequent rail services to London Waterloo, with onward travel to the manor by taxi.