Historic boutique hotel Taylors Hill joins The Sri Lanka Collection

The Sri Lanka Collection has announced the addition of a new Collection member, Taylors Hill. 

This peaceful five-bedroom hillside boutique hotel in Sri Lanka with swimming pool is located close to the historic Loolacondera Estate – the birthplace of commercial tea production in Ceylon – and is 28km from Kandy. With the inclusion of Taylors Hill, The Sri Lanka Collection, a UK-based representation and marketing company, now represents 11 hotels in Sri Lanka.

 Sister hotel to The Kandy House (near Kandy) and The Last House (near Tangalle), Taylors Hill is owned and operated by Manor House Concepts. All three hotels share similar characteristics of being small, intimate and highly atmospheric properties with high standards of service, comfort and food set amidst sensitively converted historic buildings. Taylors Hill is set in a century old granite planters abode. Bedrooms are boldly hued; there are multiple living areas including a TV room, a snooker room and a kids play area; and in the garden, a croquet lawn and plenty of sunny afternoon tea spots.   

“Taylors Hill is as close as you can stay to the heart and vital history of tea in Sri Lanka. It is another of our concepts as a small, stylised and unique hotel with a story, heritage and experiences attached. We are again delighted that The Sri Lanka Collection will be our partner,” commented Tim Jacobson, owner of Manor House Concepts.

Taylors Hill stands amidst extensive gardens around a 60-90-minute drive west of Kandy. Set amidst lush hilly terrain, Loolacondera Estate, the birthplace of Ceylon Tea, is 7 km away. The hotel is named after James Taylor, the pioneering British planter who arrived in Ceylon in the late nineteenth century and gifted the island the art of commercial tea production, which still exists to this day. A visit to Loolacondera Estate where Taylor lived and innovated is a highlight to a stay at Taylors Hill, and you can stroll through Field No. 7 and picnic amidst some of the oldest tea bushes in Sri Lanka.

Taylors Hill was built by a British planter over 100 years ago yet was extensively and stylishly renovated by Manor House Concepts in 2014. The bedrooms – each of which is individually decorated with contemporary wallpaper and period fittings – are on the first floor, and comprise three doubles and two twins with ensuite bathrooms. One of the double bedrooms has an anteroom with twin beds making it ideal for families.

 On the menu are Asian fusion dishes and Sri Lankan curries. Dining is not limited to the indoors since the garden has many beautiful spots for an alfresco lunch or afternoon tea. Open-air dinners may also be arranged as can picnics at Loolacondera Estate.

Location information

Taylors Hill is located near the rural village of Deltota, 28 km west of Kandy and 7 km from Loolacondera Estate. Kandy’s premier sights – the Temple of the Tooth, British Garrison Cemetery, Royal Botanical Gardens, Ceylon Tea Museum, Trinity College Chapel, and International Test Cricket Ground – may be reached in 60-90 minutes. Colombo is 4-5 hours away and Colombo’s international airport is 3.5-4.5 hours distant. Alternatively, you can take a 70-minute domestic flight from the airport to Polgolla Reservoir, near Kandy, which is a 60-90 minute drive away from the hotel.

The Sri Lanka Collection, a UK-based representation and marketing company, works on behalf of a distinguished collection of Sri Lankan boutique hotels, villas and safari camps. The company raises awareness of Sri Lanka’s outstanding boutique travel products and helps them to maximise their visibility in the UK. The Sri Lanka Collection is the first representation company of its kind to focus on the high-end client and on Sri Lanka alone.