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Prices have been converted from the hotel’s local currency (GBP119.58), via openexchangerates.org, using today’s exchange rate.
Once you have taken in the astonishing grandeur of this Italianate stone house near Cheltenham, you may think yourself convinced that whatever is within cannot match it. To call the look 'designer' doesn’t do justice to Cowley Manor’s funky, flamboyant aesthetic; the effect of cowhide window seats and comical papier-mâché ‘hunting trophies’ is certainly a world away from the usual country-house hotels.
Smith Extra
Get this when you book through us:
A cocktail each and daily breakfast; GoldSmiths get a bottle of prosecco, daily breakfast and – subject to availability – a room upgrade
Double rooms from £143.50, including tax at 20 per cent.
More details
Rates include a Continental breakfast (a full English for Smiths).
Also
On sunny, English afternoons, keep the waddling ducks company and have tea on the terrace overlooking the lake. If even this sounds like too much effort for a lazy holiday, seek out one of the hammocks in the grounds for a spot of well-deserved shut-eye.
At the hotel
55 acres of land, billiards room, spa (the C-Side) with four treatment rooms, gym, sauna.
Our favourite rooms
The stable-block rooms, especially the split-level ones; these are especially handy if you have children, and need a bit more space. If you're travelling à deux, try to book the Best room (actual name) – it has a private terrace (with lake views, 'natch), enormous bath and four-poster bed.
Poolside
There are two pools: a 17m, slate-lined indoor pool and an elegant outdoor pool with a bar, waiter service and rows of sleek sun loungers. Both are heated year round.
Spa
The gorgeous C-Side spa uses all natural, organic products, including unguents by eco-friendly Pink's Boutique and EmerginC, which plants a tree for every product, and even the water is from a nearby Cowley spring. Treatments are designed by award-winning therapist Michelle Roques-O'Neil, and are exclusive to Cowley – so you won't find their facials or massages anywhere else. We're particularly partial to a 'Cloud 9' massage, which combines aromatherapy and reflexology in a heavenly, 90-minute treatment. Pregnancy treatments have been created exclusively for C-Side by Pink's Boutique. If you're feeling spritely, try one of the fitness classes: there's 'rebel yoga' (much more fun than the usual, hushed version), 'bootcamp' sessions and aqua aerobics.
Packing tips
Bring your running kit, if you fancy scenic cross-country jogs. In June and July, a Panama hat and a few linen shirts wouldn't go amiss; year round, pack your waterproofs: the English weather is notoriously unpredictable.
Also
CD and DVD library. Wellington boots are provided. Two-night minimum stay at weekends. Some rooms are suitable for guests with mobility issues; please ask the Smith24 Team when booking.
Pet‐friendly
The hotel is very accommodating of furry Smiths: you and your pooch can stay in one of the two pet-friendly rooms for an extra £25 a night, and man's best friend will even get dog treats, a bowl and a bed free of charge. See more pet-friendly hotels in Cotswolds.
Children
All ages are welcome at Cowley. Extra beds (£50 a night) are for children only; the charge includes breakfast and dinner from the children's menu. The hotel is also very accommodating of mums-to-be, who get a pregnancy pillow and little gift on arrival.
More uptown than dressed down: think smart jeans, heels and tailored shirts.
Hotel restaurant
The grand, oak-panelled dining room is formal but candlelit and welcoming. The chef, David Kelman, whips up punchy, flavoursome food that focuses on the very best of seasonal, local ingredients. We're fond of the breakfast, particularly the huevos rancheros: as good as any you'd find in Mexico.
Last orders
Food: 9.30pm at weekends and 9pm during the week. Breakfast is available from 7.30am until 10.30am; 11am at weekends. Afternoon tea is served Monday to Saturday, 2.30pm–4.30pm.
Room service
Soups, salads and sandwiches are available 24 hours.
London Heathrow is the closest major airport – it's around an hour and 40 minutes from the hotel, following the M4 west to Swindon, Cirencester and eventually Cheltenham.
Trains
The nearest train station is in Kemble, around 25 minutes from the hotel. Direct trains go from here to London Paddington in an hour and 20 minutes.
Automobiles
The nearest big town is Cheltenham – the drive from here should take around 10 minutes, following the A40 towards Oxford before turning right onto the A435 to Cirencester. Driving time from Oxford is just under an hour, using the A436 towards Gloucester before picking up the A435 to Cirencester.
Worth getting out of bed for
Book a spot of hot-air ballooning – you can even hover over Cowley's grounds, if you're so inclined. Those itching to test out their credit limit should hit the boutique shops in Cheltenham’s Montpellier, while those after a flutter should know that Cheltenham races are a 30-minute drive away. Sportif Smiths might want to try clay-pigeon shooting at Ian Coley Shooting School, or gee up with Cotswolds Riding. Of course, in this comely stretch of countryside, there's nothing to match wandering o'er hill and dale, so pull your wellies on and strike out across the fields.
Local restaurants
We're big fans of Le Champignon Sauvage on Suffolk Road in Cheltenham, which has fully earned its acclaim with a menu of world-class English and French cuisine. For something more relaxed, The Daffodil on Suffolk Parade serves modern, Mediterranean-esque dishes in Art Deco-inspired surroundings.
Local bars
Head to Montpellier Wine Bar at Bayshill Lodge in Regency Cheltenham for a lively atmosphere and great cocktails, or TheStump in Foss Cross for delicious, gastropub food.The Fossebridge Inn near Northleach is ideal for Sunday lunch, but make sure you book ahead, as it's nearly always packed.TheBellat Sapperton near Cirencester is good for lunch and has a great variety of ales. The Green Dragon in Cowley has a classic country pub vibe, with crackling fires, low-slung beams and flagstone floors.
As Smith Junior and babysitter disappear from view in the rear-view mirror, this Mrs Smith surreptitiously wipes away a tear and asserts that Cowley Manor in the Cotswolds is ‘going to have to be very special indeed’ to make up for being separated from the little darling for 48 hours. This is the last chance to get away before Smith Junior Number 2 arrives, and the first break from the rat race for what feels like an eternity.
We’re definitely in need of some ‘Cowley magic’. The subtle, minimalist signage that indicates your arrival at Cowley gives no real hint of what awaits. Then a rolling lawn… a towering stand of oaks… a glimpse of lake. And a picture begins to emerge of the pleasures to come. There’s a palpable sense of jangled City nerves starting to melt away. This is reinforced by a genuinely friendly welcome at reception that, combined with the contemporary furniture and background music, make it feel like you’ve arrived at a country house owned by the coolest people you know.
Things are starting to look good. Then Cowley ups the ante and we go from merely ‘good’ to ‘exceptional’. To explain: the hotel’s bedroom categories are referred to as ‘Good’, ‘Better’, ‘Great’ or ‘Exceptional’ – and we’re exceptionally happy to find that we’ve been handed the keys to the latter.
Floor-to-ceiling windows give views out over the sun terrace, yet another lake and glorious grounds beyond. A modern four-poster bed the size of the Smith family lounge, a private balcony large enough for a game of five-a-side football and a bathroom bigger and better-equipped than many a grand spa.
It’s when we clap eyes on the hotel’s C-Side Spa that things really start to look up. Despite the nautical-but-nice pun in its name, it’s all clean lines, slate-tiled pools and soothing treatment rooms. Not a kiss-me-quick sign in sight. (Though when I discover that specialist pregnancy massages are one of the treatments on offer, this Mrs Smith almost plants a smacker on her masseuse.)
Green & Spring is the hotel’s own brand of products (available also from the onsite Village Shop as well as other, less villagey boutiques, like Selfridges), the cares of modern life are rubbed, soothed and kneaded away over the course of a restful and rejuvenating hour, soundtracked by a playlist of your choice; Phillip Glass was perhaps, in hindsight, a little too angular a choice for what was otherwise such a deeply smooth experience.
Smoothness of another kind was provided in freshly squeezed fruit juice, and, taken in conjunction with a rare opportunity to catch up on all of the papers, made for a state of utter relaxation. You know you’ve hit the relaxation reset button when the major decisions of the day became choices between indoor or outdoor pool; room service or restaurant. A happy dilemma.
After a punishing schedule of massages and the giddy excitement of not having to look after Mini Smith for a day, room service it was. According to a quick straw poll among friends who know about these things, the – totally unscientific – litmus test of any hotel room service is based on the relationship between two vital factors: that is, the quality of the House Club Sandwich multiplied by the ice-creaminess of the vanilla milkshake. And the results showed Cowley Manor excelling on both scores.
Waking the next morning to bright, autumnal sunshine, we were fortified by the extensive breakfast on offer in the very impressive, but relaxed, dining room, and ready to face the delightful challenge of exploring the hotel grounds.
Surprisingly extensive, they gardens and woodland stretches to nearly 60 acres and include lakes, swans, hidden walkways with amusing signage (‘A path of exceptional virtue’), and any number of quiet resting places with benches or loungers to take in the views. Added to this, scattered about, are a number of pieces of modern art – not so many that they overwhelm, but enough to keep reminding you that, just as you think you’ve got a handle on Cowley, it’ll surprise you with a nice little twist on what a modern, country-house hotel should be.
After this, a game of pool on the unusual blue-baized table, followed by drinks in the buzzing bar (clearly popular with locals looking to take advantage of a great wine list and knowledgeable mixologists) was the perfect warm-up for dinner.
Served in the wood-pannelled surrounds of the dining room, the ambiance was a little more grown-up than at breakfast, but still warm and welcoming. The food was a comforting blend of staple classics and slightly more unusual options, and all of it was delivered and discussed with the unfailing courtesy we encountered from every member of staff during our stay.
As we settled down for a last night on the extraordinarily comfortable bed, we wondered when we could next come back, and if we could wangle another night away from Smith Jr.
Cowley Manor had clearly worked its magic.
The Guestbook
Whenever you book a stay at a Smith hotel or villa, we’ll invite you to review it when you get back. Read what other Smith members had to say in Cowley Manor’s Guestbook below.
We loved
The grounds were lovely and the spa was just what we needed. The rooms were spacious and much bigger than we expected.
Don’t expect
We were a little disappointed as when we arrived (after having driven 3 hours) she said she didn't have our booking on the system - I then showed her my confirmation and a few minutes later she eventually found it. This wasn't a great way to start and she just laughed rather than apologising. Secondly, the male bartender had a rather poor attitude when we went to order our drinks in the evening and we were away on a trip to relax and escape the city, however were woken up by a long fire alarm at 7.30am (long enough for us to leave the room and start heading outside) and then another one shortly after - with only a letter under the door 2 hours later as an apology.
Rating
ByHannah, BlackSmith
Stayed on 1 Dec 2019
We loved
The most stunning drive up, the beautiful house and grounds and a very warm and friendly welcome. The rooms are insane! The setting is incredible! The pool and spa are simply the most relaxing spaces, we have had probably the best time anywhere ever! We will 100% be returning.
Don’t expect
Wellies for walks and upgrades from Mr and Mrs Smith to die for, processco and breakfast and room! Amazing.
Rating
ByRebecca, BlackSmith
Stayed on 17 Nov 2019
We loved
The excellent service, cosy stylish amenities, cleanliness and feeling of freshness as well as the dinner menu and the wine list.
Don’t expect
Nightlife although the nearby pub is marvellous with a good crowd, excellent food and sophisticated music.
Rating
ByDespoina, BlackSmith
Stayed on 13 Nov 2019
We loved
The quirky decor and furniture. It's a really fun place! The staff are friendly and professional. The food, drinks and service are great. 55 acres of lawn and woodland gives you plenty to do and explore (wellies and brollies are provided). The bedrooms are beautiful, comfortable and well equipped.
Don’t expect
We told the hotel in advance that we were celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary, but this wasn't acted upon in any way which was a bit disappointing.
Rating
ByStephen, BlackSmith
Stayed on 14 Aug 2019
We loved
Stunning grounds, the generously-sized room, huge bathroom, big outdoor and indoor pools, beautiful restaurant.
Don’t expect
Luxury - the hotel is in dire need of some reno! Also there is no indoor spa relaxation area to speak of.
Rating
ByJulija, BlackSmith
Stayed on 27 Jul 2019
We loved
The food was good and the grounds of the hotel are amazing. Beautiful gardens and lovely staff.
Don’t expect
The spa treatments lasted 20 minutes, not half an hour. The food service was very slow which is great when you are relaxing but not should you be in a hurry to get out and about in the morning. The air con/fan units in the bedrooms were poor so in the peak of summer it was extremely hot.
Rating
ByChristine, BlackSmith
Stayed on 21 Jul 2019
We loved
The very generously sized rooms, particularly out in the stables. The grounds were amazing. The spa was fully booked by the time we booked which was a shame but the pools were fab. We stayed with our baby and dogs, was amazingly easy to do so.
Don’t expect
Spa treatments on short notice. The lunch menu is limited (the same as the room service menu). Would recommend venturing out to a local pub or restaurant if you're staying for a long time.
Rating
ByCharles%26Phoebe, BlackSmith
Stayed on 21 Jun 2019
We loved
The grounds were fantastic, better than some botanical gardens that we have visited. There were numerous mature trees and the we lost count of the different shades of green on show. The gardeners looking after the lawns and plants were very friendly and informative. There were lots of outdoor activities available for children and a choice of garden seats which included hammocks for the adults. The rest of the hotel staff were some of the most helpful and friendly that I have ever met. The rooms were spacious, the reception areas had lots of games and books for all ages, the food was good and the bar was comfortable and convivial with some great barmen. The pools and the spa were perfect for relaxing in.
Don’t expect
Raucous hen and stag parties.
Rating
ByLesley, GoldSmith
Stayed on 23 May 2019
We loved
We loved the location of the hotel surrounded by beautiful grounds that you can borrow a pair of wellies to walk around. We booked ourselves a massage in the spa and it was just what we needed for a relaxing afternoon. Dinner in the restaurant was also superb and we loved our room, especially the huge bath and walk-in shower.
Don’t expect
Don't expect a jacuzzi in the spa! The relaxation room could also be roomier. The steam room, however, was scented with lemongrass, which was really lovely, and the service was great.
Rating
ByBryony, BlackSmith
Stayed on 19 Nov 2018
We loved
The stylish rooms, the magnificent spa with two swimming pools, laid back menu and choice of restaurant or bar options. Wonderful setting and great for walks.
Don’t expect
Weddings and other functions are frequent so don't expect calm in the public spaces at all times.
Rating
ByAnn, SilverSmith
Stayed on 25 Oct 2018
We loved
The hotel has such a relaxed vibe. The staff are wonderful and very accommodating. I have never had such a relaxing night away and the spa package was an added luxury.
Rating
BySarah, BlackSmith
Stayed on 20 Sep 2018
We loved
Our third stay in a decade or so. Has been redecorated in past three years. Rooms beautifully furnished and laid out. Staff in all areas very helpful. Plenty of loves spaces to chill. Grounds stunning.
Rating
ByClaire, BlackSmith
Stayed on 10 Sep 2018
We loved
The food. The spa. The pools. The room. The service. The staff were incredibly helpful and welcoming. The interior design is quirky and well thought-out.
Don’t expect
Music that fits the occasion. Dubstep in the spa, and Stacey's Mom in the restaurant!? Very odd.
Rating
ByBen, BlackSmith
Stayed on 3 Sep 2018
We loved
ThesSpa is lovely – sunbathing by the outside pool made us feel like we were abroad. The gardens are delightful. Walking round the grounds looking back at the manor felt like something out of a Jane Austen novel.
Don’t expect
But don't expect it to be too quiet – the lovely thing about the manor is it's family-friendly, so lots of young children around. Great to have somewhere like this for families to enjoy.
