The Old Surgery

This four-bedroomed former 1940s doctor's surgery couldn't have more character, especially for anyone looking for a stylish cottage to hire in the Cotswolds. The nearest station is Kemble, which is only and hour and 15 minutes from London Paddington – getting away from it all has never been so easy to do.

An Elizabethan townhouse lovingly rejuvenated by acclaimed photographer and artist Maria Stengard-Green, and her husband Nigel, the Old Surgery is steeped in history, modern and old. This dynamic duo has considered everything from what you can do to what you can see. There’s been no scrimping on imaginative eye candy; in the hallway, framed 16th-century deeds hang across from a gilded antique typewriter mounted on the wall. As for creature comforts, the amenities are anything but antique. Downstairs in a cosy sitting room Wii and PS2 beg to be taken advantage of on the plasma TV. And what better evidence that this cheap-chic self-catering stay is the ideal holiday home for an extended family?

Original oak floorboards hark back to the building’s impressive heritage and an imposing stone fireplace in the grand but small dining hall provides manor-house grandeur. 21st-century design flourishes are apparent in Dalsouple rubber flooring in a cool monochrome bathroom, and the neatly stacked showpiece logs in the reception room. But it’s the impressive modern artworks scattered throughout that really give the decor gravitas. Maria’s signature layered fine-art photographic pieces are known as ‘organic decollage’ – and if you ask nicely enough, you might be able to talk her into a commission.

In the bathroom there’s an eye-catching contemporary montage of the Stengard-Green’s ancestral portraits. But it’s not human peepers that most noticeably follow you around the room. It’s the monkeys in the striking image above the freestanding tub that really engage. This is also a nod to the fact some of the proceeds of your stay might help the Stengard-Green’s preservation projects to help bonobos, chimps and gorillas in Africa. Meanwhile their charity also begins at home. As well as supporting local businesses and suppliers, profits from Nigel’s book ‘The Seasonal Lunchbox’ contributes to the Haller Foundation, which helps to improve Africa’s chances at feeding itself. (See an excerpt recipe on our Blog.)

This rental house’s luxury doesn’t come from anything especially shiny or fancy – its real appeal is the prime Cotswolds location. Indeed one of the most alluring features of this Gloucestershire getaway is that you step outside onto one of the country’s most delightful high streets. Tetbury is not just aesthetically heart-warming with its yellow-stone facades and absence of chain-store signage. The real treat is that you couldn’t be better appointed for delis, gastropubs and even chic boutiques and galleries. If the great outdoors is more appealing, be assured that you have every sporting possibility on  your lap too from horseriding to golf. Or keep it in a very low gear and just amble through some of this fabulous countryside – there are fantastic walks from the moment you step outside the house. Just what the doctor ordered? We thought you’d think so.

Reviewed by Juliet Kinsman