Nuwara Eliya · Hill Country · Sri Lanka
A Tudor heritage manor set among the tea gardens of Sri Lanka's hill country. Nine rooms. Award-winning private gardens. Established 1990 in the heart of Little England.
Our Heritage
"If you appreciate the chance to travel back in time — to the era of the British in Nuwara Eliya — Glendower is the place for you."
Set at 1,868 metres in Sri Lanka's central highlands, Hotel Glendower is one of Nuwara Eliya's most intimate and distinguished addresses. Nine rooms. A Tudor-style manor. Gabled rooflines rising above banks of hydrangea and rose. Gardens cultivated over decades, entirely private — invisible from the road, known only to those who stay here.
Every arrival begins the same way: a warm towel, a freshly brewed pot of Ceylon tea, and the attentive welcome of staff who have served here for years.
Invisible from the road. Immaculately kept. Home to a resident pony.
Open fireplaces lit each evening throughout the season.
Original. Still played. Guests are always welcome to sit and play.
Accommodation
Nine rooms. Each a considered composition of warmth and character — antique furnishings, warm textiles, and views across the private gardens that make waking here a particular pleasure.
Direct views over the award-winning grounds. King or twin beds, period furnishings, and all the warmth of a countryside sitting room. Our most intimate rooms, and among our most loved.
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Elevated in both position and character. The Devonshire rooms command views of the hill country through wide bay windows. A room that rewards those who linger.
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A private sitting room. A Victorian claw-foot bath. A fireplace lit against the cool of the highland evening. Our most distinguished accommodation — and the one to which guests most often return.
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Breakfast through to Evening Dinner
Dining
Chinese Cuisine. Western Classics. Sri Lankan Cooking. One Firelit Dining Room.
The King Prawn is one of Nuwara Eliya's most enduring dining destinations. Set within the manor's original dining hall, two open fireplaces warm the room as the highland evening draws in.
Best known for its Chinese cuisine — a tradition guests have travelled considerable distances to experience — the same kitchen also serves Western classics, Sri Lankan cooking, Indian dishes, and Middle Eastern fare, prepared with locally sourced highland vegetables.
A Glendower Tradition
"A properly brewed pot of Ceylon, the garden in full colour, and the day's last unhurried hour before the mist descends.
Every afternoon, as the shadows lengthen across the rose garden, tea is laid on the lawn. Finger sandwiches. Warm scones. Single-estate Ceylon teas chosen with care — consistently described as the finest high tea in Nuwara Eliya.
Available daily from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Advance reservation recommended for weekend service.
Curated Experiences
A 9.5 km circuit through cloud forest culminating at an 880-metre escarpment. Baker's Falls en route.
Nuwara Eliya's finest vantage point at 6,890 feet. The Haggala Mountains and Lake Gregory unfold below.
A working factory established 1885, 3.5 km away. Walk the fields. Witness the plucking. Taste single-estate tea.
Founded in 1889 and among the oldest courses in Asia. Eighteen holes, directly opposite the hotel.
The world's only temple dedicated to Sita. Stone figures believed to be over 10,000 years old.
Five race meets each April. The Governor's Cup draws enthusiasts from across the island.
Gentle rides through the highland lanes on well-trained mounts. All levels. Arranged through the hotel.
Two of Nuwara Eliya's most beautiful waterfalls. Glen Falls can be seen from the hotel grounds.
Wellness · Open Daily 8 AM – 8 PM
Ayu — meaning life in Sanskrit — is practised here with the patience of a tradition that predates us all. Ancient remedies. Highland herbs. The stillness of a treatment room when the mist is outside the window.
Warm medicated oil, poured in an unbroken thread across the forehead.
A full-body warm oil treatment. Long, rhythmic strokes. Tension released by degrees.
Heat. Steam. Cool water. Rest. The sequence as designed.
Muslin bundles of highland herbs, warmed and pressed into key points. A Glendower speciality.
The 19th Hole
Directly opposite the hotel, the Nuwara Eliya Golf Club has stood since 1889. The 19th Hole Pub takes its name from a tradition as old as the game itself — the gathering place after the final hole is played.
The room carries the atmosphere of a private club: warm, unhurried, and built for conversation that extends well into the evening. At its centre, a 150-year-old snooker and billiards table, hand-crafted in Victorian England, remains in full use each evening.
Our billiards table — hand-crafted in Victorian England — has presided over this room for 150 years.
Special Offers
Each package designed to ensure your stay at Glendower is precisely what you had in mind.
Champagne on ice. A rose bouquet cut fresh from the garden. A turn-down prepared with particular care.
Stay for 3 nights and your third is complimentary. No conditions beyond the pleasure of good company.
Residents of Sri Lanka are warmly received with a 20% discount on accommodation and a complimentary room upgrade.
Chilled and waiting on arrival.
Cut fresh from our garden — when in season.
A hamper from the kitchen, laid on the lawn.
Baked to order. Please advise 24 hours in advance.
Recognition
Accolades accepted with gratitude. Measured always against the expectation of our guests.
Google Reviews · 378 Reviews
Booking.com · 131 Reviews
TripAdvisor · Top Hotel Sri Lanka
Green Tourism · Silver Award
Condé Nast Traveller · Sri Lanka
Guest Testimonials
"A genuine British countryside hotel — distinguished inside and out. The staff are exceptional. The Chinese cuisine is their speciality, and it is extraordinarily good."
"I arrived late after a long day of travel. The staff were waiting. A warm towel and freshly brewed tea at half past ten. That quality of attentiveness is increasingly rare."
"We are Singaporean Chinese — and the food at the King Prawn bore a remarkable resemblance to the cuisine of home."
"The garden was immaculate and serene. The presence of a resident pony was an entirely charming discovery."
"From the moment of arrival, we were received with warmth and care that made us feel entirely at ease. A room upgrade awaited us. An experience we shall not forget."
"Our particular thanks to Benedict, whose attentiveness made the visit a genuine pleasure — so much so that we returned the following day."
Contact
For reservations, dining, spa appointments, experience enquiries, and all matters of arrangement — our team is available around the clock.
WhatsApp Concierge: Available 7 AM to 10 PM daily.
