24 Hours on a Private Island in Bray

My Stay at Monkey Island Estate.

There are some hotels that make you feel as though you’ve travelled much further than you actually have, and Monkey Island Estate in Bray is definitely one of them.

Set on its own private island in the middle of the River Thames, surrounded by water, beautiful gardens and quintessential English countryside, it feels wonderfully secluded, yet it’s less than an hour from London.

I recently spent 24 hours here and came away thinking it’s one of those places you should have on your radar for so many different reasons. A romantic night away, a special celebration, a wedding, an event, or simply an excuse to escape somewhere beautiful without having to get on a plane.

And then there’s the name… because, of course, everyone asks: why Monkey Island?

A Little Bit of History

This is somewhere with a fascinating past.

The history of the island stretches back more than 800 years. One theory behind its unusual name dates to 1197, when monks connected to Merton Priory settled nearby and the island became known as Monks Eyot – “eyot” being an old word for a small island. Over time, Monks Eyot may have evolved into Monkey Island.

In 1723, the 3rd Duke of Marlborough bought the island and created his own private fishing retreat here, commissioning two beautiful Palladian buildings, the Fishing Temple and Fishing Pavilion.

The island went on to attract an extraordinary collection of visitors over the years, from royalty and aristocrats to artists, writers and musicians. Edward VII visited, H.G. Wells and Rebecca West were connected with the island, and Sir Edward Elgar worked nearby.

Today, those historic buildings have been carefully restored as part of Monkey Island Estate, so although the hotel feels luxurious and contemporary, there are reminders of its rather colourful past everywhere.

Arriving on the Island

Part of the charm is simply arriving.

You cross the little footbridge over the Thames and immediately get that sense of leaving normal life behind. There’s water on either side, boats passing by and beautifully kept grounds, and everything suddenly feels a little slower.

The estate covers seven acres, but it doesn’t feel like a sprawling resort. It has much more of an intimate country-house atmosphere, with the river constantly drawing your eye back outside.

The interiors have that lovely mix of English heritage and contemporary luxury. They’re elegant without feeling overly formal, which is something I really liked.

For me, the location is the star. There’s something incredibly relaxing about being surrounded by water, particularly first thing in the morning or as the light starts to change in the evening.

Take to the Thames

If you stay here, make some time to actually get out onto the river.

Taking the hotels little electric boat along the Thames gives you a completely different perspective of this beautiful part of Berkshire. I enjoyed time on the water during my stay and it was one of those simple experiences that made the trip feel particularly special.

A Spa That Actually Floats

Then there’s one of Monkey Island Estate’s most unusual features, its Floating Spa.

And when I say floating, I mean it.

The spa is housed on a beautifully converted barge moored on the Thames, and offers treatments including massages and facials. It’s a clever concept because it feels completely connected to the setting rather than simply being another hotel spa.

There is something wonderfully calming about stepping aboard and knowing you are literally floating on the river.

If the idea of your perfect 24 hours involves good food, a treatment and very little rushing around, you could quite happily arrive at Monkey Island and not leave the estate until checkout.

Come Hungry…

Of course, you can’t really talk about staying in Bray without talking about food.

This tiny Berkshire village has an extraordinary reputation for dining and has become a destination in its own right for food lovers.

At Monkey Island Estate itself, the Brasserie serves modern British food in an elegant but relaxed setting overlooking the Thames, with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients and produce sourced locally and from the estate.

I always think food can make or break a short hotel stay. If you only have 24 hours somewhere, you don’t necessarily want to spend half of it travelling elsewhere for dinner.

Here, you really don’t need to.

There’s something rather lovely about having dinner by the river, heading back to your room and waking up the next morning still surrounded by the Thames.

If you are staying longer, however, Bray itself gives you plenty of reasons to turn a one-night escape into a foodie weekend.

One to Save for a Wedding or Special Event

Although I visited for a short break, one thing that really struck me was what a fabulous setting Monkey Island Estate would be for an event.

If you’re planning a wedding, milestone birthday, anniversary or special celebration and want somewhere that feels like a destination without asking everyone to travel overseas, this is absolutely one to look at.

The private-island setting gives it an immediate sense of occasion.

You have historic buildings, gardens, the Thames, beautiful spaces for photographs and the possibility of incorporating the river into the experience. It feels special before you’ve actually done anything to it.

And being within relatively easy reach of London and Heathrow makes it far more practical for guests than its secluded setting might initially suggest.

I can imagine a summer wedding here being particularly beautiful.

Who Would I Recommend Monkey Island Estate For?

I think this is a hotel that works particularly well if you want your stay to feel like an occasion.

It would be lovely for a romantic night or weekend away, an anniversary, birthday or surprise escape. Equally, if you’re searching for a wedding or private-event venue, I’d put it on the viewing list.

It’s also a great option if you’re visiting Windsor or this part of Berkshire but would prefer to stay somewhere peaceful and a little different.

And if, like me, you love discovering places in the UK that make you question why you’re always so quick to head to the airport, this is exactly that sort of escape.

My Verdict

Can you really escape to a private island without leaving the UK?

Absolutely.

Monkey Island Estate manages to combine history, beautiful surroundings, good food and a sense of occasion without feeling stuffy or overly formal.

My advice would be to embrace the setting rather than simply using it as somewhere to sleep. Book some time in the Floating Spa, have dinner overlooking the river, take a boat out on the Thames and give yourself time to wander around the estate.

Twenty-four hours was enough to switch off, although I could very easily have stayed longer.

Sometimes the best travel discoveries aren’t about how far you go.

They’re about finding somewhere that feels a world away.

Laura x