Genteel England: Middlethorpe Hall & Spa in York | 溫雅英格蘭：約克的「米多托爾普」歷史酒店
For my very first visit to York, England, I was adamant to stay at a historic hotel to fully absorb the quaintness of this ancient city. I went through the National Trust property list and was immediately drawn to one place - Middlethorpe Hall & Spa, just outside the city center.
首次拜訪英格蘭的約克之前，我只有一個篤定的要求: 住的旅館必須要古色古香，而且最好是古蹟。英國保護名勝古蹟的國家信託提供了許多建議，其中一家最吸引著我，就是位於老城郊區的米多托爾普酒店。
Constructed in 1699, Middlethorpe Hall is a classic William and Mary country house built for a prosperous master cutler named Thomas Barlow, who bought the Middlethorpe estate as a bid to establish himself as a country gentleman.
The style of the building was indirectly influenced by Christopher Wren's Hampton Court Palace, as reflected in its pattern of red brick, white sash windows and stone corners. In the 1980s Middlethorpe Hall was restored to its former glory and reopened as a luxury hotel. Now it's under the protection of the National Trust.
The main house is decorated in the manner of the 18th century and furnished with antiques and fine paintings. It also features a grand staircase with intricate carvings. There are 10 bedrooms in the main house, including a royal suite.
走進房子的主樓好像回到18世紀，室內裝飾使用了許多古董和精美畫作做點綴，還有一座木雕的大樓梯。主樓裡有10間臥室，包括了佔地最大，景觀最好的皇家套房。
THE DUKE OF YORK SUITE
Named after the stay of HRH Prince Andrew, this is Middlethorpe Hall's flagship suite.
Historically grand mansions across Britain would always have a room designated for potential visits from the royal family, befitted with the best of the best that the households could afford, even though most of them probably never got used for the intended purpose.
One proud feature of Middlethorpe Hall is its 20 acres of gardens, and the park land that surrounds the house.
We visited the property in the winter when the grounds were at their dullest, but we were impressed by the numerous quaint little gardens that produce vegetables, fruits as well as a variety of fragrant flowers.
We also saw a ha-ha for the very first time. It's literally just a ditch in the house's back garden, with benches facing out to the countryside for an uninterrupted view of the surrounding greenery. What a perfect setting for watching the sun rise and set!
Middlethorpe Hall特別驕傲的一點就是它佔地20英畝的花園與周邊綠地。我們拜訪的季節是冬天，所以花園的顏色黯淡，不過這裡有許多可愛的小花園，果園和菜園，種滿了蔬菜，水果以及各種芬芳的花朵，讓我們印象深刻。
我們也是第一次看到“哈哈”。什麼東西有如此好玩的名稱呢? 其實它是指後花園的一個溝，防止農場動物誤入莊園，溝內還設有面向鄉村草原的長凳，是欣賞日出日落的最佳地點。
What is a
Ha-Ha?
It's a ditch, in the garden.
The name reflects the reaction of unsuspecting visitors when they see the wide trench for the first time. (Haha!)
The ha-ha is designed to keep grazing animals out of the more formal parts of a garden, replacing the need for a fence.
It also allows an unrestricted view from the house and the garden to the vast countryside beyond.
The Cottage
Our home away from home.
Travelling as a party of three, the 2-bedroom cottage suite was the ideal choice. Just a short walk away from the main house, our apartment occupied the top floor of the cottage with a master bedroom, a single bedroom, and so much charm!
我們一行三人，爸媽與我，所以兩房的cottage suite是理想的選擇。小屋離主樓只有幾分鐘的步行路程，整個二樓都屬於我們的套房，有一間主臥室與一間單人房，寬敞又安靜。
I loved our cottage suite. It was an easy climb up the stairs to the first floor (second floor for the rest of the world), and the interior is what I would call English-prettiness -- lots of floral patterns, antique furniture, sketches and paintings depicting bygone times, all in an inviting and comfortable manner.
The weather was bitingly cold when we visited, and I spent a lot of time by the gas fireplace. Not only because it was cozy and beautiful, but that despite cranking the heat to the maximum, the cottage still felt a bit chilly and never warmed up like a modern-day flat. I guess that was part of the cottage-living experience. :)
小屋套房的裝潢是我所稱的英式優雅，使用許多花卉圖案，古董家具，描繪過去的時代藝術作品，來打造一個溫馨舒適的環境。
我們來訪時剛好碰上非常寒冷的冬天，客廳裡美麗的燃氣壁爐成為了我離不開的好朋友。老屋子不像現代公寓有中央空調，所以無論暖氣開的多強，總是感覺有點寒冷。這也是鄉間生活的必經體驗吧!
The cottage has a small, enclosed kitchenette where you'll find a tin of biscuits, English teas and Nespresso coffee. And if you reserve with the front desk the night before, in the morning the butler will bring you fresh coffee on a silver plate, at the break of dawn, so you can properly wake up before going to breakfast.
我們的套房設有一個小巧廚房，提供餅乾，英式茶和Nespresso咖啡膠囊。你也可以前一晚與櫃台預定，隔天早晨管家就會浩蕩的在黎明時刻送來熱咖啡，幫助客人在早餐前慢慢甦醒。
Morning Coffee/Tea
Delivered to your cottage at the break of dawn by the butler.
Country House Dining
From sunrise to sundown.
For me, the major incentive of getting up in the morning is food, and nothing beats a freshly cooked Yorkshire breakfast!
Breakfast and dinner are served in the 2 AA Rosettes restaurant in the main house, with two dining rooms overlooking the serene back garden. The dishes are nice and comforting, and the wait staff delightful. The all look like they've just come out of hospitality school, very professional and eager to ensure that the guests are well-looked after.
享受現做的約克夏式早餐，是我準時起床主要動機。
早晚餐是由主樓內的2 AA Rosettes級餐廳提供，菜餚美味，環境舒適，俯瞰著寧靜的後花園。這裡的服務生超級可愛，每個都像剛從餐飲學校剛畢業似的，每個動作都非常專業，認真的照顧客人。
What better way to walk off the hearty meal than to trek down the country lanes or explore the famous York Racecourse, located just right across from Middlethorpe Hall.
I'd also recommend the spa on site to anyone in need of relaxation. It's small and perfectly formed, with a swimming pool, whirlpool and really nice treatments.
吃飽後可以去附近許多的鄉村步道散步消化，酒店的正對面就是著名的約克賽馬場，有很美的天際線。
需要放鬆的話，我推薦去一趟酒店小而美的水療中心，這兒有游泳池，whirlpool和很棒的spa treatments。
York Racecourse
York has a steep history in horse racing that can be traced back some 2,000 years to the Roman and Viking times. Today it's one of the most famous racecourses in Europe and the reigning "Northern Racecourse of the Year", attracting 360,000 visitors every year.