Few places can rival the Cotswolds for a minibreak — it has precisely the right formula of chocolate-box villages and ancient cottages, plus crooked pubs and rolling hills to make tourists swoon and keep the staycation-seeking Brits coming back. It also has farm shops and foodie hotspots, antique stores and market towns, not to mention some of the most stand-out boutique hotels in the country.
So whether you’re in search of somewhere pet-friendly, wellness-focused or unabashedly romantic, our roundup of 10 of the best hotels in the Cotswolds has the one for you.
FOR A ROMANTIC BREAK
Thyme
Thyme was originally a cookery school, with the winner of Masterchef in the year 2000, Marjorie Lang, one of its early head chefs (luckily for guests, Marj is still on hand to teach you how to master a skill, such as canapés or mince pies).
The hotel occupies an expansive estate incorporating the existing elements of the village of Southrop (pronounced ‘Suth-er-up’, before you expose yourself as an out-of-towner or, worse, a DFL) — including a pub and a church with a carved Norman font, alongside a farm, wildflower meadows and, more recently, a super spa. It’s so romantic that Cotswolds local Kate Moss chose it as the venue for her wedding to musician Jamie Hince in 2011.
Best room for couples If romance had a colour, it would be pink (or maybe red for the more passionate affairs) — one of the Garden Rooms is almost entirely adorned in shades of blush and rose. These have a small private garden with a fire pit and most have a roll-top bath tub, too.
Something to eat The Ox Barn serves simple Mediterranean-influenced dishes such as pork chop with tomato, caper and agretti, and chicken, frites and aioli. The potato pavé is a highlight.
A bracing country walk Skirt the serene edge of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, by completing the two-hour route that starts in Southrop, through the surrounding fields, heading north-east. You can either turn back to the starting point or make for Eastleach Turville.
Cosiest pub nearby There’s The Swan, a classic ivy-covered Cotswolds pub just steps away in Southrop village, but if you’d prefer a pub to greet you at the end of a walk, try the Victoria Inn in Eastleach Turville for a rewarding pint and packet of crisps.
FOR SPA SPOILING
Cowley Manor Experimental
The fabulous French schoolfriends behind the Experimental hotel group can do no wrong, and they had yet another hit on their hands when they revamped Cowley Manor, one of the Cotswolds’ original boutique hotels, a couple of summers ago. The Grade II-listed manor held onto its Italianate gardens and lake, but interiors had a full upgrade, courtesy of the brand’s star designer Dorothée Meilichzon.
At the C-Side Spa, you can enjoy treatments by the miracle-working British brand Oskia and French stablemate Biologique Recherche, followed by swims in the indoor and outdoor pools. Afterwards, there’s dinner at the Jackson Boxer-helmed restaurant to look forward to.
Best room for spa seekers Continue the hydrotherapy quest in a Wildflower with Terrace room, set in the stable block overlooking the estate, with a soaking tub and a four-poster super-king.
Something to eat Gloucestershire goes Gallic at the wood-panelled hotel restaurant — starting with Old Spot croquettes and Stinking Bishop gougères at the bar.
A bracing country walk Head east from Cowley on this two-hour circuit, tramping across farm fields towards Cowley Wood, before looping back up to the hotel. Watch out for the livestock.
Cosiest pub nearby In the hamlet of Cockleford a 10-minute walk away from Cowley Manor is the 17th-century Green Dragon Inn.
FOR A DOG-FRIENDLY STAY
The Lygon Arms
There’s a lot of history in the Cotswolds, but The Lygon Arms in the honey-coloured Worcestershire village of Broadway is just showing off. Its notable former guests run the full range, from Charles II to Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. The earliest record of the inn is in 1377, though the current structure dates back to the early 17th century.
Today, canine guests are the new royalty, with a wash station in the courtyard, beds, treats and bowls laid on for dogs, Le Chameau collars and leads and Ruff and Tumble robes for sale, and a special pet menu by star chef James Martin.
Best room for pet parents One of the courtyard suites right by the wash station, such as the Courtyard Open Plan Suite, will be best for rinsing off muddy paws post-walkies.
Something to eat TV favourite James Martin has created The Lygon Arms’ Grill restaurant, along with the Tavern on Broadway’s high street. Guests with pets in tow can dine with their dogs in the Russell Room.
A bracing country walk The four-mile Broadway and the Tower route takes you from the high street up to the Broadway Tower and its views across the Severn Vale towards Wales.
Cosiest pub nearby There are lots of taverns in Broadway, or if you like your pubs ancient and multi-chimneyed, you can head to the National Trust-owned Fleece Inn in Bretforton.
FOR FAMILY GETAWAYS
The Lakes by Yoo
Fun for all the family awaits at the 850-acre The Lakes by Yoo estate near Lechlade in Oxfordshire, home to self-catering residences and, predictably, lots of bodies of water.
Guests can go kayaking, sailing, paddle-boarding, zip-lining or wild swimming — or you can let your kids do all that while you retreat to the spa. And the Cotswold Water Park is less than half an hour away by car for yet more aquatic activities.
Best room for families The Lakeside Cabin, which looks like a sleek modern treehouse, is ideal for families of four; there are also options that sleep six and 10 for bigger groups.
Something to eat Keep an eye out for the regular supper clubs, kicking off this spring with the chef Tom Aikens. The rest of the time, the Lakes Bar & Kitchen serves crayfish cocktails and cheddar soufflés with a view of the sailing lake.
A bracing country walk Go for a refreshing ramble through the estate’s meadows and ancient woodland, or head to the village of Buscot and make your way north to Lechlade, passing the first lock on the River Thames and a Second World War bunker.
Cosiest pub nearby If you like your pubs a bit wonky, you’ll love The Lamb Inn in the market town of Burford, a 20-minute drive away.
FOR CULTURE
The Feathers
The Feathers Hotel is in Woodstock, a market town eight miles north-west of the centre of Oxford. At the Nest, you can dine on locally sourced meat or vegetarian options that don’t feel like an after-thought. It’s open Wednesday to Sunday, with the Aviary (we’re sensing a theme here) on hand to tackle hunger out-of-hours. The latter is more of a bar and bistro, with stiff cocktails and a 100-bottle-strong wine list.
Highbrow activities nearby include visits to Woodstock Town Hall, which was built in 1766, or the Unesco World Heritage Site of Blenheim Palace, where Winston Churchill was born. And you can go full circle by visiting his grave in the churchyard of St Martin’s in the village of Bladon.
Best room for literary sorts Each room has a desk so if you feel a sudden urge to get your quill out, you’ll be well served in them all.
Something to eat Vegetarians will be well fed at the Nest, with dishes such as pumpkin risotto and roast cauliflower on the menu, along with sides of crispy layered potato and hispi cabbage with chilli and lime butter.
A bracing country walk Set off from Woodstock for a leisurely amble around its many shops and cafés, before heading towards Blenheim’s parkland — you’ll pass the original Woodstock settlement before reaching the grand Capability Brown-designed grounds. Film wizards might recognise the 300-year-old cedar of Lebanon tree from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Cosiest pub nearby On your way back from Blenheim Palace, in the village of Wootton, The Killingworth Castle is the perfect pitstop.
FOR A BUDGET-FRIENDLY TRIP
Double Red Duke
For a Cotswolds pub with rooms, the Double Red Duke in the Oxfordshire hamlet of Clanfield promises the perfect mix of hearty food, wooden beams, crooked stairwells, creaky floors and a spacious beer garden. Obviously things improve in the summer, when the striped parasols bloom and the frozen margs flow, alongside barbecued flatbreads and delicious dips. But even in the winter, it’s peak levels of cosiness, with freestanding copper bath tubs to fill if you’re still feeling a chill.
Celeb chefs are known to call in at the 16th-century coaching inn for pop-ups — these have included Thomasina Miers and Richard Corrigan in the past.
Best room for a bargain The Cosy Rooms have everything you need and some even squeeze in a bath tub.
Something to eat The restaurant has a well-earned reputation for its flatbreads and wood-fired aubergine and miso dips, and the menu has an entire subsection dedicated to beef.
A bracing country walk A trail starts from Radcot Bridge and crosses the Thames for a six-mile loop through the village of Clanfield and its surrounding countryside.
Cosiest pub nearby You won’t have to head very far, since there’s another pub just over the road (The Mason’s Arms).
FOR ALL-OUT LUXURY
Estelle Manor
At the edge of the official Cotswolds designation in Oxfordshire, Estelle Manor is the countryside edition of the London members’ club Maison Estelle. It’s a listed manor on a 60-acre estate, surrounded by thousands more acres of immaculate parkland, with an oak-lined driveway aiding with the general Austen air (we can definitely picture Mr Darcy emerging from nearby Blenheim Lake).
Modern countryside pursuits for the temporarily landed gentry include padel, dips in the heated outdoor pool and taking the waters in the Roman-style spa, alongside the classic aristocratic endeavours of archery, axe-throwing and falconry. There’s also The Armoury restaurant for Japanese, the Billiards Room for Chinese, and a brasserie for plain old English favourites like beef Wellington and cheddar soufflé.
Best room for a blow-out The Estelle Suite with Private Balcony in the manor will have you busting out the Empire-line dresses; or hide away in the Woodland Cottage, which sleeps four.
Something to eat The Billiards Room serves a dim sum brunch, char siu pork belly and whole roasted ducks; for sushi and sake, make for The Armoury.
A bracing country walk It’s a good two hours or so, but the Eynsham and South Leigh circular trail rewards ramblers with scenic villages, Dylan Thomas’s old manor and the St James the Great church.
Cosiest pub nearby On the other side of the A40, The Swan Eynsham has a folk night every third Monday of the month, a darts team convening every Wednesday and board games to borrow — in short, the dream friendly boozer.
FOR A PUB WITH ROOMS
The Wheatsheaf Inn
The Cotswolds excels at the cosy country pub with rooms and one of its most favoured is The Wheatsheaf Inn in the village of Northleach, approved by the Chipping Norton set as well as the rest of us.
The creeper-covered building dates back to the 17th century, but it has been eased into the 2020s with Pop art and retro seating, without foregoing the flagstones and fireplaces. Outside, there are landscaped gardens, which some of the rooms overlook, and a pizza oven for the summer months.
Best room for pub proximity Regardless of how many pints you’ve sunk, it won’t take long to reach your room. If you’re bringing the kids along, the Boutique and Bigger Boutique categories have space for a baby cot or an extra bed.
Something to eat Carnivores are catered to with sharing steaks weighing in at just under a kilo; for the veggies, there’s mushroom gnocchi and a squash-and-chestnut Wellington.
A bracing country walk There are lots of trails to sate hungry hikers, including a stroll from Northleach via The Old Prison (once a penitentiary, now a café) to the nearby village of Hampnett.
Cosiest pub nearby The one you’re already in, naturally. If you’re in search of a superlative Sunday roast, drive 20 minutes north towards Stow-on-the-Wold and locate the Horse and Groom in the village of Upper Oddington.
FOR FOODIES
The Pig in the Cotswolds
The Pig group recently rebranded Barnsley House into one of their own, a beloved British hotel and one of Mr & Mrs Smith’s earliest properties. The Grade II-listed, Arts and Crafts house itself once belonged to the family of David Barnsley, husband to the lauded garden designer Rosemary Verey, whose horticultural legacy remains intact. The ornamental gardens here were her first creation — and they’re joined today by a classic Pig kitchen garden, of course, which assists with the 25-mile provenance goals.
As well as a signature Pig restaurant, the hotel has its very own Village Pub. It’s four miles from Cirencester and close to picturesque villages Burford, Bourton-on-the-Water and Bibury, too.
Best room for diners and drinkers If you prefer to be within stumbling distance of the local, book one of the rooms in the pub.
Something to eat Take your pick of the plant-based options plucked that morning from the potager garden or polytunnel; or embrace the porcine name and order an Old Spot chop with beetroot and cider sauce.
A bracing country walk The Barnsley circular passes near Cirencester Abbey in a three mile or so round trip.
Cosiest pub nearby The Village Pub, of course, but the 18th-century Bear Inn in Cirencester is a close second.
FOR TOWN AND COUNTRY
Wild Thyme & Honey
You probably aren’t coming to the Cotswolds for urbanity, but Wild Thyme & Honey lets you have the best of both worlds — it’s close to the market town of Cirencester for (relative) buzz, but technically located in a village for the rural respite you most likely seek. The village in question is Ampney Crucis, which is as ancient as it sounds.
The hotel occupies a 16th-century building, with The Crown at Ampney Brook pub attached — here you can be sure of a cosy corner and low food miles. There are Hunter wellies to borrow to help you get the look.
Best room for getting away from it all In the No 3 London Road apartment, there’s a private terrace, barrel sauna and hot tub — so you probably won’t be going very far.
Something to eat The menu is mostly British in flavour, but there are few well-seasoned additions: spiced monkfish tail, nduja chicken and hoisin-glazed crispy duck.
A bracing country walk The walk into Cirencester should take around an hour, or you can do a loop of all the Ampneys, starting from Ampney Crucis, down to Ampney St Peter and around to Ampney St Mary, before retreating home.
Cosiest pub nearby Beams, ancient stone and fireplaces are mere steps away, thanks to The Crown at Ampney Brook.
Ready for more golden villages, rolling hills and abundant tea rooms? See the rest of our Cotswolds collection