The “landed gentry” feeling begins just a few minutes outside of London. The estate was built in 1703, and explorer James Cook gave the owners the seeds to the walnut tree that still shades the terrace today. The illustrious guest list of this exclusive hotel includes names such as Queen Victoria, Horace Walpole, and Lord Palmerston. In 2006, Tiger Woods won the World Golf Championships on the adjacent golf course. In his victory, Woods had little difficulty with the undulating fairways and lightning-swift greens—he achieved the unheard-of score of 23 under par, eight strokes better than runners-up Adam Scott and Ian Poulter. “One of the best courses I’ve ever played on,” he was reported to have said afterwards. In addition, Woods set a very special record: On the 18th hole (now the 9th) he played an eagle three days in a row.
