Kub House, Wigginton, Hertfordshire

Buckinghamshire. Sleeps up to 2

Found on a tranquil no-through road, Kub House sits between the attractive towns of Berkhamsted and Tring on the outskirts of Wigginton, deep in the Hertfordshire countryside. The peaceful greenery around it gives Kub House an atmosphere very distant from the city, yet it’s no more than 10 minutes by cab from the mainline stations of Tring and Berkhamsted, and 40 minutes from London Euston. Kub House has its own gated off-road parking, and from there it’s a short walk along a private shingle path to the front door, passing the neat, south-facing garden with its wooden furniture and fire pit. Refurbished by the owners with thoughtfulness and care, the oak-floored, galley-style kitchen has a sleek black finish capped with wooden worktops and all the appliances you’ll need for your self-catered stay. The open plan feel of the kitchen, dining area and living room creates a connection to the garden featuring native and evergreen trees that attract wildlife, including deer. The dining area beyond the kitchen is perfectly scaled for one or two, with high stools and a table that allows you to enjoy a framed view of the garden. It’s the perfect place for a romantic dinner, a casual lunch or a relaxed breakfast. In the living room, opposite the integrated wall-mounted smart TV, is a sofa long enough to allow plenty of indulgent lounging. There are magazines, books and board games, and a spacious desk beside a window overlooking the garden. Kub House has broadband, so you’ll stay connected. Beyond the kitchen and living area an internal hallway leads to a bedroom providing a king-size bed, bedside tables, a dressing table, and chair overhung with a large ornate mirror. Just outside the bedroom is a separate dressing area with a bespoke mirrored wardrobe and a place to store your luggage. Opposite the bedroom, across the hallway, is a well-lit, sparkling and generously sized shower room providing a tiled corner shower, a fitted WC and a basin. Fresh towels are warmed on a large towel radiator and there’s plenty of space for your toiletries and accessories on the deep wooden windowsill. You’ll find Kub House a very comfortable and relaxing space with the added benefit of plenty to enjoy when you venture out including, if you fancy it, a 10-minute walk to Champneys, Britain’s original health spa. Set in 170 acres, you can kick-back and book day or evening spas here, the house reached via a tunnel of trees worthy of the finest Downton-esque country pile. Further afield Berkhamsted and Tring offer a wide selection of restaurants, from Thai to Turkish, Italian to Indian and contemporary to Chinese. There are plenty of independent shops and cafes too, some with familiar names, some unique to the area. There’s also a choice of some excellent quality takeaways, should you fancy a snug night in. Apart from fabulous country walks starting from the moment you step outside; a notable local attraction includes the Art Deco Rex cinema in Berkhamsted. Reckoned to be one of the finest picture houses in Britain, it screens over 30 movies monthly, from mainstream blockbusters to the best foreign films. There’s a bar offering snacks, and downstairs you can leisurely consume them while viewing the screen from opulent swivelling velvet armchairs. Another Berkhamsted highlight is Home and Colonial, an intriguing multi-floor antiques emporium, with a beautiful double frontage and instagrammable café and interior. Tring isn’t short of memorable activities either, including a somewhat unexpected extension of London’s Natural History Museum. Built in 1889 to house the incredible and slightly bonkers private collections of Walter Rothschild, a keen zoologist and eccentric, it’s a short walk away from beautiful Tring Park. If you fancy seeing exotic live animals rather than the stuffed kind, Whipsnade Zoo is a 20-minute drive away. Further afield are the fascinating Henry Moore studios at Perry Green, their gardens showcasing his sculptures from July to November. Kub House is ideally placed for exploring the Chiltern Hills on foot, on bikes or by car. This refreshingly un-crowded Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty offers many beautiful trails and walks, while cyclists can indulge the 173 miles of the circular Chilterns Cycleway (part of which runs along the bottom of our road) taking you through Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Being less than 40 miles from the centre of London, Kub House is also within easy reach of attractions like the Warner Bros. London Studio Tour (great for Harry Potter fans) and Wembley Stadium, as well as Kew Gardens, Hampton Court Palace, Twickenham and more practically, Heathrow and Luton Airports.Whether you’re in the mood to explore, eat, drink or simply chill, Kub House offers an idyllic retreat for two, or, just for you.