Kingsley House - The House That Nearly Wasn't

Duncan said no on the way back down the drive. "There's no way we're buying that money pit." A few weeks later, he and Craig had the keys.

That tells you quite a lot about Kingsley House. And quite a lot about Duncan and Craig.

A Journey of Transformation

The house had been sitting on the market for two years when they first saw it in May 2019. It was passed over by agent after agent, its rot well hidden in the photographs. Built in 1906 in the arts and crafts style, it had good bones but needed everything else. Every joist, every window, every door, and every roof truss would eventually need to be replaced. The bay window on the first floor was attached to the building by render only, swaying gently in the wind. The kitchen had an island that moved across the floor if you leaned on it, despite being plumbed in.

They bought it anyway.

What followed was four years of renovation in a Surrey Hills national park, with all the planning restrictions that implies. A pandemic-era materials shortage added to the challenge. Somewhere in the middle of it all, they welcomed a puppy, built a bungalow for Duncan's elderly parents, converted a double garage for temporary living, and even celebrated a wedding. As Duncan tells it: "We thought we weren't quite busy enough."

The Heart of Hospitality

The people behind a place matter more than most travel writing lets on. You can describe a pillow menu and a marble bathroom, but that tells you almost nothing about whether you'll feel looked after or enjoy the experience. What truly matters is who is doing the looking after and why.

Duncan came to hospitality at 17, ringing a village hotel and asking for work.

He stayed long enough to understand how a house runs from the inside out. What came next was decades in finance, co-founding City Capital in London, and a long-standing interest in property. He learned to pay attention to how a space feels to live in rather than just to look at. Craig, with a PhD in surface chemistry, has a career that moved between finance, recruitment, and People and Culture roles across several countries. He is the one who cooks. His food, by all accounts, is generous and unpretentious, the kind that makes you want to linger at the table longer than you planned, think fish pie, Thai curry, and risottos.

A Thoughtful Design

Together, before Kingsley House existed as anything other than a problem to solve, they travelled. They stayed in places they admired and took note of what didn’t work. Those conversations over time became a shared vision of what property hosting should feel like.

The house that emerged from four years of renovations and hard work is an arts and crafts property in the Surrey Hills, just outside Haslemere and just over an hour from London. It features three suites, adults only (though if you want to take it exclusively for the weekend, there are six rooms). A landing that Craig turned into a library, albeit not quite big enough for every book he's read, includes a whisky decanter for guests who wish to sit and read for a while. The drawing room is designed to 'feel like the classic age of trans-Atlantic crossings', complete with a wood burner and a bay window overlooking the garden, enlarged to pull in the light. A panelled dining room serves as a club room, a place to sit with a stiff drink and a cheeseboard after dinner, candles lit, music playing softly in the background.

Morning Delights

In the morning, Duncan will bring freshly brewed Brazilian coffee and fresh juice (along with fresh flowers!) to your door at whatever time you've requested. If you wish to dine in the evenings, Craig cooks (though booking in advance is required). If you seek quiet, the drawing room is there for your enjoyment. There's also a beautiful Great Dane named Hudson, who resides there too and has his own following, though he will only be present if invited (the house isn't set up to accept dogs).

Luxurious Details

Details that make Kingsley House one of the best places to stay in Surrey include duvet protectors (did you know?!), fresh flowers from Field Flowers, seasonal and sustainable British blooms grown nearby, candles, and bath and body products from 100 Acres. They also partner with several British vineyards, including Tinwood Estates, which produces some of the finest English sparkling wines.

Dining Options

Staying two nights? Consider dining in for one evening and heading to the nearby The Duke of Cumberland, a chef/owner-run establishment by Simon Goodman:

“It’s hard to think of a more perfect country pub: infectiously welcoming, centuries old, in a glorious location and with all the seasons covered, from winter fires to fantastic alfresco opportunities. Drinkers are truly welcome, and Simon Goodman’s menu keeps pace with a nifty mix of the traditional and the cosmopolitan. It’s a simple recipe for success, but not many manage to get it so right.”

Elizabeth Carter, editor of The Good Food Guide.

A Unique Experience

What Kingsley House is not is a hotel that has been styled to look like someone's home. It is someone's home, opened to guests by two people who have spent most of their working lives figuring out, in different ways, how to read a room and how to create the best experience possible.

Who Should Stay?

Kingsley House is ideal for couples wanting to escape for a night or two, looking to have a long lie and be pampered. Solo travellers seeking time to themselves would love Kingsley House; in-room massages can be arranged, as can taxis to and from The Duke of Cumberland. If you let him, Duncan will take care of all decisions during your stay, arranging everything for you.

A stay at Kingsley House truly feels like receiving the best hug ever.

I've stayed. I know.

by Lulu Townsend