Grim's Dyke Hotel, Harrow
Grim's Dyke Hotel
Grims Dyke is famous for its association with the librettist Sir William Schwenck Gilbert, the writing half of the Gilbert and Sullivan partnership, who had lived in the house from 1890 until his death in 1911.
During his 21 years there Gilbert made a number of changes to the house and grounds. He planted trees and rhododendrons, developed the farm which was part of the estate, and built a number of greenhouses beyond the moat and over the dyke. There was a kitchen garden, orchard and vinery and, for Lady Gilbert who was a keen gardener, a sunken rose garden was constructed on the terrace above the moat.
The name Grim's Dyke comes from an ancient defensive earthwork which runs from Pinner Hill to Bentley Priory.
Once you step inside the front door you will feel a world away from the hustle and bustle of modern life.
Here, in the tranquil surroundings of a Victorian country house, you will find the promise of a warm welcome, good food and fine wines and courteous service.
The library where Sir William Gilbert wrote many of his librettos is now the hotel bar. This pleasant room looks out over the terrace, lawn and shrubbery, a blaze of colour when the rhododendrons and azaleas are in flower in the spring.
The Music Room is one of the most impressive rooms in the house with its stunning floor to ceiling Cornish alabaster fireplace and minstrels gallery, used in Gilbert's time to stage the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. The Music Room which is the hotel's principal dining room, is also used for concerts and receptions.
The hotel has a total of 44 bedrooms and suites, 34 of which are in the adjacent Lodge. Facilities in the rooms include television, direct dial telephones, same day laundry service and an optional a la carte breakfast menu in the suites.
The terrace outside the Library Bar is a popular spot in the summer for drinks, coffee or afternoon tea, while some of the more energetic guests might enjoy a game of croquet on the lawn.
For smaller functions the Azalea Suite, with its magnificent fireplace, provides a more intimate setting. The Lodge also has facilities for conferences and receptions.
Grim's Dyke Hotel, Harrow
