Cotswold House
Cotswolds, United Kingdom[view map]
Local restaurants
A 10-minute drive away in Shipston on Stour, The George (+44 (0)1608 661453) has a relaxed bar with all-day eating options, as well as a dining room with more refined fare on offer. If you crave all-out luxury, hot-foot it to Cheltenham, where, as well as culinary heavyweight Le Champignon Sauvage (+44 (0)1242 573449) and upscale Lumière (+44 (0)1242 222200), there’s The Daffodil (+44 (0)1242 700055), elegantly housed in a converted art deco cinema. Expect a neat line in mouthwatering modern Anglo-Mediterranean dishes.
Local bars
On Church Street in the centre of the village, Eight Bells (+44 (0)1386 840371) is a traditional pub that’s ideal for a Sunday roast after a long walk, or a casual supper. You’ll need to book – but if you’re lucky, you might be able to get an alfresco table on the lovely terrace. Also on the Square, The Kings’ restaurant (+44 (0)1386 840256) oozes country charm and cheer, and has a ‘greatest hits’ menu of British classics with an experimental streak: try steak and kidney sausages with bubble and squeak. The Feathers at Woodstock (+44 (0)1993 812291) is a well-respected inn and restaurant. Montpellier Wine Bar in Cheltenham (+44 (0)1242 527774) has a lively atmosphere.
For a full list of eating and drinking recommendations in Cotswolds, check out our Cotswolds eating & drinking guide
Worth getting out of bed for
Cotswold House can organise all manner of diverting activities, from quad biking and clay-pigeon shooting to horse riding and trout fishing. Cirencester Park Polo Club – the UK’s oldest – is set in gorgeous grounds and offers day membership to visitors; rock up on a Sunday and enjoy a picnic while you watch a couple of chukkas, followed by a few sundowners at the bar (www.cirencesterpolo.co.uk). Archery, quad-biking, hot-air ballooning and clay-pigeon shooting can be arranged through Rob Ireland (+44 (0)1608 650413). For horse riding, try Jill Gabb (+44 (0)1386 584250), Willersey Stables (+44 (0)1386 858189) or Oaklands Riding School (+44 (0)1926 640053). Coarse fishing at the Lemington Lakes (+44 (0)1608 650872) or trout fishing at Salford Trout Lakes (+44 (0)1608 643209). There are several golf courses nearby, too.
Diary
March Cheltenham races, including Gold Cup (www.cheltenham.co.uk); polo at Cirencester Park Polo Club (www.cirencesterpolo.co.uk). May–December horse-racing at Stratford-upon-Avon (www.stratfordracecourse.net). June/July Longborough Opera Festival (www.longboroughopera.com). October Cheltenham Festival of Literature (www.cheltenhamfestivals.co.uk).
For a full list of recommended activities in Cotswolds, check out our Cotswolds destination guide
