Is It Worth Visiting RH England Aynho Park?

If you’re in the States you’ll probably know RH (formerly Restoration Hardware) but did you know it’s now across the pond? And if you’re in Europe and you’ve never heard of RH you’ll probably be hearing a lot more about it very soon.

Having worked at RH a few years ago, I know how popular the luxury interior company is in the States and across North America. So when my RH colleagues said a few years ago RH was expanding overseas and into Europe, I was surprised and intrigued, to say the least. Especially with their first gallery opening in England.

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RH England Aynho

Well, it’s been over a year since RH England Aynho Park opened and I’ve finally made the visit down. RH England Aynho is located in Oxfordshire right on the border of the Cotswolds. A beautiful historic area of England known for its pretty villages of stone houses.

The historical manor house RH has taken over used to be a wedding venue and once a family home. Aynho was upgraded by one of the famous British architects Sir John Soane back years ago. There’s a little gallery dedicated to the architect and his background next to the library.

RH has always been known for its detail in design and as a result, has kept many of the original features of the stunning building. The grand curved windows in the Orangery and down to the original oven that was used which is situated in what is now the Juicery room.

You’re welcomed to the gallery with valet parking, it’s a nice touch but I was a little surprised as it’s not something we’re used to in England. And they didn’t have valet parking in the RH I used to work. But I’m sure other locations in the States have it.

When you step inside, the last thing you’d expect is a white unicorn in RH. But that’s exactly what greets you and takes centre stage at the front entrance of the foyer. A note to Aynho Park’s flamboyant party history.

The showrooms have the wow factor you’d expect in any RH gallery. Elegant and minimal and neutral tones with intentional decor pieces and statement lighting. Luxurious layered beds and plush living room setups.

And yes RH’s Cloud sofa has made its way over along with other signature RH pieces. If you’re new to RH and your design style is warm minimalism you’ll like it here.

The Aynho Gallery is divided into the East and West wings of the building. The Design Atelier is located on the west side of the building which hosts all the material samples, with more gorgeous showrooms upstairs.

Eating At RH Aynho Park

There are three places you can choose to eat at in the gallery. In The Tea Salon, you can lounge on comfy sofas and get a cake and sandwich selection.

If you walk through the Tea Salon, The Orangery restaurant is located at the end of the East wing. In The Orangery the menu has a range of starters, sandwiches, and mains and a dessert menu. It is on the expensive side so we steered clear of the main courses. We had salads and fries which were a good size.

The Orangery is decorated with marble tables, taupe velvet seating and gorgeous drop chandeliers from the ceiling. It overlooks the grounds at the back of Aynho through the floor-to-ceiling windows and the huge mirrors at the back of the room reflect the stunning scenery wherever you’re sitting.

For a nice summer day with a young family, The Loggia is your best option. An outdoor patio seating and wood-fired pizzas brought straight to you from the outdoor pizza oven.

As it was my first time visiting I decided to scope RH England out with my best friend and booked a table at The Orangery. We’ve both said we’d come back to RH England with the kids and family. We’ll try out the Loggia restaurant next time, it’ feels more of a more laid-back spot to eat. The pizza’s looked so good and there’s space for the kids to run about.

There were lots of families visiting when we were there and some people brought along their dogs too. They also have The Conservatory an American-style bistro which is due to open soon.

Visit RH Aynho?

If you’re a lover of interiors or just want a day trip out, RH England is worth a visit. Everything about it is stunning. The building, the interior showrooms, and the grounds around it.

The views are amazing as it’s surrounded by green fields stretching far beyond Aynho’s grounds. And is home to one of the largest herds of deer in the country. There’s also a beautiful little local church right next to it and its clock chimes ring out on the hour.

All in all, a nice day out to experience something different, explore the area, and get some inspiration.

Historical buildings like Aynho work perfectly with the RH brand, following the huge success of their flagship store, The 3 Arts Club Chicago which opened in 2015.

The historical buildings do offer something special about them. I’m looking forward to seeing what other RH galleries (new and old) will be popping up over Europe. RH has already opened a gallery in Madrid Spain and Brussels and they’re set to open a Paris and London location next year too.

I’ll be putting them all down on my visit list. And I’ll be coming back to RH England Aynho. Let me know if you go and visit!

Chloe