Ontario: Langdon Hall
Langdon Hall Country House Hotel & Spa is located in Cambridge and is Ontario’s only Relais & Chateaux property. Located about an hour from Toronto, Langdon Hall is an excellent country getaway to celebrate something special or just to relax away from the city.
The Property
Langdon Hall was built in 1898 as a summer home for Eugene Langdon Wilks, a New Yorker with British roots looking for a place where he could escape from the city. The Colonial Revival building was heavily influenced by American architecture but the gardens were created in a British tradition, as the Wilks family had originally hailed from London. For the rest of their lives, the Wilks family split their time between homes in Canada, New York, London, and France. Oh, to be so wealthy!
Langdon Hall was ranked as the #2 hotel in Eastern Canada by Condé Nast Traveler. The restaurant was ranked the 4th best in Canada by Canada’s 100 Best in 2019 and also has earned the prestigious CAA/AAA Five Diamond Award, the only restaurant in Ontario to do so.
The Room
You’ll have your choice of the perfect accommodation here with 60 rooms and suites available. We opted for the King Cloister Room with Fireplace. While we didn’t need the fireplace in August, I could see that the wood and lighting materials were all ready to go right by the fireplace. How cozy for the colder months!
I was pleasantly surprised by the size of this room. With an incredibly comfortable king size bed, a desk area, a sitting area across from the fireplace, and a beautiful view overlooking the croquet lawn, I was quite pleased with this room choice! The plaid was also a nice touch that gives you a feel for the family’s British roots.
The room had bottled water in the fridge and a perfect little coffee station with a Nespresso machine and Sloane Tea. We also had some fresh pastries waiting for us in the room, which was a delicious touch!
The bathroom is also huge, with a toilet area off the main bathroom. You’ll find a stand alone shower, large bathtub, and toiletries from the British owned White Company.
Common Spaces & Dining
You’ll have no shortage of comfy places to have a sit and enjoy a book or a drink with friends. While food isn’t currently available at Wilks’ Bar, you’ll still find an extensive and creative cocktail list on offer. There’s also a billiards room to enjoy.
If you’re at Langdon Hall, one of the reasons you booked your stay is to enjoy dinner in the dining room. Chef Jason Bangerter’s menu is fresh, seasonal, and inspired directly by the gardens and forest on the Langdon Hall property.
While the Chef’s Tasting Menu is, sadly, not available right now, you can still easily create a three course meal from the a la carte menu. After starting with cocktails, I enjoyed the crispy pork belly as my first course, the line caught halibut as my entrée, and the blackberries + blossoms for dessert. (Which was quite possibly one of the best desserts of my life.) You’ll also be given a couple other small treats to enjoy during your meal. Finally, the onsite sommelier helped us to perfectly pair each course with an accompanying wine.
While the restaurant attempts to provide outdoor dining, this is weather dependent. On the night of our dinner, the rain kept us indoors, but the dining room is beautiful and spacious, allowing you plenty of space between neighbors. The ambient sound is low and you’re able to enjoy conversation with your dining companions.
We did, however, get a chance to check out the outdoor dining space after dinner. The Camperdown Elm tree strung with lights is pretty magical.
The next morning, we enjoyed breakfast at the restaurant. I ordered the lobster and champagne eggs with a side of bacon. Everything was cooked to perfection. And we were able to dine outside, under that beautiful elm tree.
Amenities & Activities
Being a country estate, Langdon Hall is very connected to nature. The property offers a total of 11 km of nature trails weaving throughout the grounds. The stroll is a beautiful way to spend your morning and work off some of that delicious breakfast! One path even traverses a nature reserve and provides lovely views of woodlands, meadows, and lots of pretty flowers. If you’re lucky, you might spot some deer. (We weren’t lucky.) Additionally, this didn’t seem like a very popular morning activity, so we had the trails almost entirely to ourselves during our hour long walk. A perfect way to start a day, I think!
Additional amenities on site include a swimming pool with plenty of lounge seating, a croquet lawn, and complimentary bicycle rentals on site. I also recommend you walk through the garden on your way to the pool. You’ll find beautiful flowers and a vegetable garden for the restaurant. And who doesn’t love seeing their food grown so locally?
Finally, we noticed a beautiful event space during our walk around the grounds after dinner. A magical space for a wedding, no?
The Location
Langdon Hall is located in southern Ontario in a quiet, country setting. It’s an hour from Toronto and about an hour and a half from the Niagara region. While there are plenty of activities on site to keep you occupied, I also recommend you take the 25 minute drive to visit nearby St. Jacob’s village. It’s an adorable little town with great places to eat, shop local, and grab a beer.
COVID Conscious
The staff at Langdon Hall have clearly made health and safety a priority. The check-in desk has installed a plexiglass shield to protect guests and staff. When walking around the property, I saw staff members constantly wiping down spaces. Hand sanitizing stations have been installed at various locations around the property, tables in the dining room and seating at the pool have been spaced out, and masks are worn by everyone in any common space. Unfortunately, some services like turn-down have been eliminated to keep staff from having to enter rooms. While this is a service you come to expect in a luxury property, I think we can all agree moves like this are for the best right now.
Finally, a wellness box is provided to each guest at check-in. The box contained masks, hand sanitizers, and additional information about the hotel and the policies that have been put in place to keep COVID at bay. Overall, I felt very safe at this property and everyone was very respectful of the rules.
Price
Room rates at Langdon Hall start at $375 CAD mid-week and $475 CAD on weekends. All rates include the complimentary activities on the property. Meals are extra, unless you book a package deal on their website that includes breakfast and/or dinner.
Ready to book? Visit the website to view all available dates and packages here!
Langdon Hall is a special property that’s great for anyone looking to get some peace and quiet in the countryside on Ontario. The staff are warm and welcoming and you’ll feel right at home. Just don’t forget to make at least one dinner reservation! You will definitely not regret it…
In any season, I’m sure you’ll enjoy your stay at Langdon Hall.
