We review Birch, Selsdon and find a unique South London stay set in 200 acres of wilderness
Modern manor vibes without the hunting hounds.
When it comes to family-friendly hotels in London, Birch is renowned for its open spaces and extensive activities for the little ones. So when I, a childless 40-something, was asked to review the newly opened Birch, Selsdon in East Croydon, I was unsure of exactly what to expect. What I discovered was a haven of charm, hyper local cuisine, exceptional service, and a surprisingly good spot for a weekend with partners or friends.
November 2023 update: Birch, Selsdon is now closed.
While this stay was complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Review of Birch, Selsdon
The history of the Selsdon estate is quite something. It was gifted in the 9th century AD by Alfred the Great to Aelfred, The Earl of Surrey as gratitude for his success at the Battle of Thanet. Then, across the ages, it has seen many different owners and facelifts from Gothic to Art Deco. The country manor was a former private home that was eventually turned into a hotel in the 1920s. Now, as Birch, Selsdon, it offers 181 rooms from Snugs to Suites and focuses on the property’s connection to nature.
While it says on the website that the property is just 30 minutes from central London, we live in South London, so we took the bus. Walking down the long and winding driveway, loads of eco vehicles packed with families were heading out as we arrived. I’m not going to lie, I was a bit nervous that we were entering a really trendy Butlin’s overrun with children and loud noises.
Thankfully, upon entrance to the stunning brick-facade manor, my fears were abated by the wonderful Clarence, the friendly gentleman who checked us in and answered all our questions about the history of the property. The vibes in the lobby blend old and new, with stunning floral ceiling reliefs acting as the backdrop for a plethora of modern furniture pieces. Clarence also let us know that the place is a bit of a rabbit warren and to just ask any member of staff if we need any help getting around.
The room
While I’m tempted to explore all the spaces immediately, my more rational plus one suggests unpacking and settling into the room before our upcoming pottery class. Down the long hallways that feel a bit like an old boarding school or hospital thanks to the yellow tones and lack of art pieces, we arrive at our Large room.
The first thing we notice is how unbearably hot it is, but this is the price you pay for a sprawling view of the property in mid-August. The vista honestly looks more like an oil painting than real life, especially in the early morning and certainly does some immediate rejuvenation to the soul.
Fan set up, I can take in more of the room, but there’s not really much more to get into. A comfy bed, a wardrobe that doubles as a sculpture-like piece of art, a lovely pair of glass light shades, a few pieces of furniture to enjoy the view from… There’s a floating shelf, but there’s nothing on it. It’s a little perplexing to be honest. I understand the absence of a TV, but no artfully scattered second-hand books to flip through while taking in the view? No yoga mat in the corner for early morning sun salutations?
My guess is, Birch wants you to get out and experience the property, which I totally get and which probably feels fine in smaller rooms. But I do think a bit more character in the larger rooms could take the stay to the next level.
Filtered water stations are dotted around the property and you can fill your bottle up at any outlet, which is a great touch.
The design
The design for this second property in the Birch portfolio was completed by London-based firm A-nrd. Original paned glass windows have been retained across the building allowing for magical light castings on floors and furnishings throughout the day.
One of my favourite spaces is the snug, which retains its original dark wood panelling and has been modernised with an indigo blue used across walls and the bas-relief ceiling. Another cool spot is the Orangerie that includes a wonderful bespoke curved blue sofa and spaces for work and play with vistas of the outside.
Experiences
Birch is renowned for its experiences. I’d booked the Intro to Pottery session a few weeks before our arrival and was excited to get on the wheel. One of the team members walked us down to the pottery studio where we met our fellow students and tried not to melt from the heat. Thankfully, the teacher did have some fans going, but this didn’t stop us sweating into our clay.
Despite the temperature, the class was really fun. We learnt how to throw on a wheel and the teacher helped when we needed it. It was nice to have two hours to just experiment with creating things, and in the end, everyone had a few pieces that we chose coloured glazes for. The final products were then fired and sent out to us a few weeks later. It was such a great surprise to receive these the post and we really love our imperfectly perfect creations.
Of course, pottery isn’t the only experience on offer. There is a rewilding walk, where you learn about how Birch is letting nature do its thing, that I really wanted to do, but unfortunately didn’t work for our schedule. A selection of pilates, spin, and yoga sessions are also on offer. These are all at additional cost but discounted for Birch members.
For kids, there’s Birchlings, a club where everything from art and crafts to nature sessions and parties are on offer. There was even a Bat Safari the week before we got there which I was a bit jealous of.
One of the most special things about the location though is the 200 acres of land that you get to explore. We walked for a few hours on our first day and didn’t even get down as far as the wild pig area! But being out in nature was so refreshing. I’d definitely recommend an early-morning stroll too, as this is when I spotted some deer enjoying breakfast on my wanderings.
Eat and drink
We loved the bean bags and umbrellas on offer at the terrace, the perfect spot to take in the views with an expertly crafted cocktail or mocktail in hand. The outdoor firepits get lit up in the evenings, making it an ideal location to catch up with friends or family under the stars, plus the music across here and Meadow Bar spanned everything from Bran Van 3000 to The Temptations, which we really appreciated.
Vervain is the relaxed dining space that serves an all-day menu, including breakfast. The a-la carte selection is fleshed out with a small buffet featuring croissants, some pastries, and a selection of juices. I opted for poached eggs with a side of spinach, which was divine, while my partner in crime hoovered his full English.
But the absolute highlight and delight of our entire stay was our visit to Elodie, the flagship, farm-to-fork restaurant helmed by Michelin-starred chef Lee Westcott. From the moment we stepped in, we were looked after by an absolutely outstanding selection of hospitality professionals.
When my partner, who doesn’t drink asked for a virgin Bramble it was no bother and was presented by the bartender who talked us through what he’d used to creates it, including a syrup crafted from onsite produce. The five-course tasting menu that changes seasonally was absolutely sublime, and a steal for just £69. A large number of ingredients featured are foraged from the land itself, which is both impressive and inviting.
Swapping for a pescatarian menu was again no hassle and, without a word of a lie, every single dish was a winner. I must give special praise to the Summer Green Bean Croustade with cod roe, wild garlic capers, and marigold (which I could have happily eaten about 10 servings of) and to the Grilled Courgettes served with turnip, peach, sorrel, and elderflower, a dish that has me looking at courgettes in a whole new way. We revelled in the fresh pairings of ingredients and the thoughtfulness that went into every plate.
And also a huge thank you to our wonderful server who was so kind and charming and who we had so many laughs with. I was just about to ask your name when you got busy with another table, so apologies for not being able to give you the credit you deserve – but you are a star!
Facilities
These days, any hotel aiming for guests who may stay a while needs to offer a decent workout space, but the gym at Birch, Selsdon is off the charts. Yes, it has all the cardio and weights equipment you’d expect (and then some!), but it’s also fully kitted out with functional training equipment and large enough to always find a spot. There’s also a studio for yoga, pilates, and sund baths onsite.
To get to the gym, you need to walk through the co-working space. This is a wonderful area that includes a few booths for calls/meetings and lots of natural light.
We also timed out trip perfectly, with the new Lido opening a few days before our arrival. Decked out with striking red bunting and red umbrellas, it’s a buzzing spot filled with families having fun, but on Fridays and Saturdays, it’s adults-only from 3pm. While it says that it’s heated, it was still too cold for us but the number of people enjoying it showed that we were in the minority.
Birch, Selsdon has a lot to offer thanks to its epic location and onsite facilities. And even though it is popular with families, if you’re a couple or a group of friends looking for a break, you’ll really enjoy a stay here. The exceptional service from the team elevates the offering and please be sure to do yourself a favour and dine at Elodie (more than once, if you have time!)
We’ll be back.
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