Lee Wood Hotel will be sold to walking holiday group
HF Holidays has announced this week that it will acquire the historic Best Western Lee Wood Hotel, marking a significant expansion for the organisation and establishing a permanent base in the heart of the Peak District.
The purchase adds the Buxton property to HF Holidays’ growing portfolio of 16 UK country houses and strengthens its offering as Britain’s only walking holiday co-operative.
The sale is due to complete on 30th October 2026.
A Historic Buxton Landmark
The Lee Wood Hotel is a 40-bedroom Georgian property with deep roots in the town’s history. Originally built in 1830 by the Duke of Devonshire as three separate houses, the building was converted into a hotel in 1860. This transformation coincided with the arrival of the railways in Buxton, when the town began to flourish as a Victorian spa destination for its thermal spring waters and spa treatments.
Family Ownership Spanning 70 Years
The hotel has been owned and operated by the Millican family for the past seven decades. It was purchased in 1957 and, following renovation, reopened in 1958 by Margaret and Derwent Millican.
Their son, John Millican, later took over the business in 1980 after gaining experience managing hotels overseas. In more recent years, management passed to the next generation, with John’s daughter Nicola and her husband Owen Longden taking the reins after their marriage in 2007.
Plans for the Future
HF Holidays has confirmed that the hotel will undergo a light refurbishment to align with its nature-led, members’ club style, while preserving the building’s character and setting.
CEO of HF Holidays Chris Simmons said:
“We will carry out a light refurbishment to bring Lee Wood in line with our nature-led, members-club style look and feel, while respecting the character of the building and its setting. We expect to welcome our first HF Holidays guests to Buxton in early 2027, with bookings opening this summer, and HF Members given priority access before sales open more widely. This is a significant step forward for our estate and our Peak District programme, and I cannot wait to share more as we bring our new Buxton country house to life.”
No Immediate Changes
In the short term, the Lee Wood Hotel will continue to operate as normal, with no immediate changes for staff or guests. HF Holidays has said it plans to engage with employees later in 2026 to explore future opportunities as plans for the site progress.
The acquisition will mark a new chapter for one of Buxton’s best-known hotels, blending its long-standing heritage with a new future focused on walking holidays and countryside experiences.
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