America's Top-Ranked Boutique Hotel Is A North Carolina Gem Straight Out Of Downton Abbey

You don't have to cross the Atlantic to spend a night somewhere that feels like it belongs in a British period drama. Just 10 minutes from downtown Winston-Salem, the historic Graylyn Estate spans 55 acres and has a stately stone manor house surrounded by meticulously manicured grounds and charming outbuildings. This former private home is now an 85-room boutique hotel owned by Wake Forest University, and it offers guests the kind of luxury and Southern hospitality its previous owners shared with their family and friends.

The hotel has also earned national recognition. In August 2026, Graylyn Estate took the number one spot in USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards for Best Boutique Hotel — a ranking that starts with nominations from travel experts before opening up public voting to determine the winners. Graylyn has been recognized consistently over the past several years, placing fifth in 2023, fourth in 2024, and second in 2025. The property also appeared on Historic Hotels of America's 2024 and 2025 lists of the nation's 25 most romantic historic hotels.

The Graylyn Estate dates back to 1928, when Bowman and Nathalie Gray first began construction. Inside the Manor House, most notably, you'll find architecture reminiscent of the period, including grand archways, tall rectangular windows, a stunning circular staircase tower, and a French-carved entrance door dating back to the 15th century. Additionally, European interior design details like intricate ironwork, hand-painted marble tiling, and carved French oak paneling dating back to the 17th century are all part of why visitors often compare the opulent property to the grand country estate in "Downton Abbey." 

The historic design and architecture aren't the only things that make a stay at Graylyn Estate feel like a step back in time. Adding to the "Downton Abbey" atmosphere, the hotel also has professional butlers who cater to guests during their stay. In the popular Manor House, there are 34 rooms, 13 of which are Antique Guest Rooms that originally served as the private bedrooms and sitting rooms of the Gray family. These historic accommodations are especially appealing to visitors hoping to experience what it was like to live in the mansion when it was a home. 

The property features well-appointed rooms in several outbuildings, including The Mews, Gardener's Cottage, the Bungalows, and Bernard Cottage — the original temporary home of the Grays during construction of the manor. Among the outbuildings, guests find elegantly decorated rooms appointed in the classic European style of the Manor House. Scattered across several buildings are five Premium Suites and five Estate Suites. Depending on the room, guests may find a fireplace, a four-poster bed, or a marble soaking tub — but one of the most unusual features is a 17-head shower once used by Bowman Gray and a highlight of the Bowman Gray Suite in the Manor House (pictured). The Silo Suite, built in 1929 to store grain, is now a unique circular two-story accommodation with a living room on the first floor and a bedroom on the second. 

Beyond the guest rooms, graceful common areas in the Manor House and outbuildings allow guests to lounge in luxurious surroundings. Fireplaces and antiques bring warmth to the plush Sun Room where Mrs. Gray wrote her correspondence, as well as the sprawling, lavish Living Room. Guests can cozy up to a book in the Library, shoot pool in the Billiards Room, or gather in the Mews Keeping Room and Courtyard.

Guests don't need to leave Graylyn Estate to enjoy a full day of activities. The hotel provides bicycles for exploring the grounds, lawn games like croquet and volleyball, and a seasonal outdoor pool. Those wanting to play a game of tennis or cast a line in the pond also won't need to bring equipment, as the hotel provides tennis racquets and balls, as well as fishing gear. Pick up a map of the grounds and set out on your own walking tour.

You won't need to leave the property when hunger strikes, either. Sit down for a formal breakfast, lunch, or dinner experience straight out of "Downton Abby" in the elegant Manor House dining room (pictured), where the menu features herbs and produce grown in the Chef's Garden and locally-sourced ingredients such as North Carolina-raised bison ribeye. The Grille Room offers a less formal dinner-only menu including the signature Graylyn Burger plus classic cocktails and mocktails — all enjoyed by a cozy fire in a cavernous space with vaulted ceilings. In-room dining is available from early morning through dinnertime. For a sweet treat, help yourself to unlimited 24/7 complimentary ice cream as well as afternoon butterscotch cookies made using Mrs. Gray's recipe.

For all that Graylyn Estate offers, there's also much to do in Winston-Salem, one of North Carolina's most romantic destinations. Take the hotel's complimentary transportation to Reynolda Village about a mile from Graylyn. Here you'll find a collection of historic buildings that date back to the early 1900s, which now include almost two dozen shops and restaurants. A few minutes from the village is Reynolda House Museum of American Art. Visitors can take a stroll through the gardens surrounding the museum before touring its exhibitions. Then head downtown to Old Salem Museum & Gardens, a preserved historic district often compared to Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia's best holiday destination.