The best hotels in the Cotswolds for an idyllic UK break
From a great-value hotel to an excellent one for foodies, here's where to stay in the Cotswolds this year
The Cotswolds are famous for impossibly pretty villages, miles of rolling hills and quaint country pubs - and the best hotels in the Cotswolds are the perfect base for exploring this idyllic spot.
It's arguably one of the most picturesque places in the world and we're extremely lucky to have it on our doorstep, whether for a solo trip, family holiday or romantic weekend away in the countryside.
In fact, as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, there's a huge 800 square miles of unspoilt countryside to explore. Alongside the cute villages built in the famous honey-hued Cotswold stone such as Lower Slaughter, Kingham and Bourton-on-the-Water, you'll find charming towns like Cirencester and Burford to discover.
There's plenty of history and natural sites to visit too, such as Sudeley Castle, Westonbirt Arboretum and Hidcote Manor. As the Cotswolds cover five counties (Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Wiltshire), you can imagine how many country pubs, walks and tea rooms you'll be able to to fit into one trip.
To encourage you to spend more time exploring the UK this year, we've brought you a selection of our favourite Cotswold hotels for a staycation, whether you're after a spa hotel in the Cotswolds or an affordable break at a restaurant with rooms.
Whether you're looking for great-value country charm or a foodie haven, you'll love our pick of the best hotels in the Cotswolds for 2023.
The Old Stocks Inn, Stow-on-the-Wold
Restful rooms, hearty food, hand-crafted ales and artisan coffees… this 17th-century coaching inn has the Cotswolds formula down to a tee while eschewing tweeness. Its 16 rooms (some with rolltop baths, some with direct access to the lovely garden for those here with their pooches) combine original features with zingy modern colours and quirky touches such as retro phones and anemone-like beanbags.
Equally appealing, the restaurant offers everything from bar snacks to a six-course tasting menu showcasing the best produce from the 790m2 of the Cotswolds.
St Michaels Bistro, Painswick
Quirky (and child-friendly, with two family options), this boutique haven offers just five rooms and suites in a Grade II listed 17th-century building with views over the village church and its yew trees. They mix original features such as exposed stone walls with themed decor – including Indian in one and Art Deco in another. But the top pick at St Michaels Bistro is the Bohemian room for its cast-iron roll-top bath.
Breakfasts here are raved about for their homemade bread and granola, dairy produce from local farms, village honey and artisan coffee. Food in the cosy restaurant is a mix of European and English classics.
Minster Mill Hotel & Spa, Minster Lovell
Sitting amidst wildflower meadows on the banks of the charmingly named River Windrush, Minster Mill is a breath of fresh air - a cluster of Cotswolds-stone buildings concealing uncluttered Scandi-accented rooms plus the blissful retreat of the Garden Spa with its plunge pool, rock sauna and forest shower.
Dining is stand-out, too – in the restaurant with its vaulted ceilings and oak beams, serving classic and contemporary British cooking with a local twist, and in the sister property across the road - the flagstone-floored Old Swan, where pies are the star turn.
The Greenway Hotel & Spa, near Cheltenham
In eight acres of stunning countryside grounds on the edge of the Cotswolds, the Greenway in its 16th-century Elizabethan manor is popular for its spa with decor inspired by the region, including exposed brickwork and rustic beams. As well as fantastic treatments, it offers an alfresco hot tub, a hydrotherapy pool and a champagne nail bar.
Rooms, of which there are just 21, are charming, cosseting retreats; our favourite is the Manor Four Poster with its pastel hues and slipper bath. Fresh contemporary flavours predominate in the restaurant with its views over the sunken garden and ornate lily pond.
Cotswold House Hotel and Spa, Chipping Campden
In a central location with views of the surrounding honey-coloured architecture and rolling hills, this Grade II listed Regency townhouse is known for its wonderful afternoon teas, served with dutiful panache in its gorgeous high-ceiling Fig restaurant. Cotswold House is also home to Bistro on the Square, highly regarded for its sharing platters, brunches and 70+ kinds of gin.
Hot-tub suites and dog-friendly options are among the hotel's charming rooms, and there’s a little gem of spa in the old stables, with a hydrotherapy pool and steam room.
The Slaughters Manor House, Lower Slaughter
This gracious honey-coloured stone hotel looks like a traditional Cotswold retreat, yet step inside and there’s a modern vibe. If you’re one for country walks, slick cocktail bars and beautifully presented cuisine, The Slaughters Manor House is the place for you.
The bedrooms come with opulent fabrics and classic country house appeal; others with a more contemporary, pared-back look, while the generous bathrooms are stocked with L’Occitane products. Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water are nearby, if you can tear yourself away from the majestic redwoods in the five-acre grounds.
Thyme, Southrop
Set in pretty Southrop Thyme's stylish rooms are spread out across houses, cottages and garden rooms, and the spacious Ox Barn restaurant comes complete with a south-facing terrace.
The food and spa are first-class, as are the other facilities, yet it all feels in harmony with its surroundings. There's even a cookery school as proof that this is a place for foodies.
The Fish, Broadway
Set on the 400-acre Farncombe Estate, The Fish Hotel is a collection of stylish properties, ranging from an old coach house and former stables to treehouses and shepherd’s huts.
All offer serious comfort and are kitted out with retro radios and Nespresso machines; some even have outdoor tubs. The hub is the Scandi-style Lodge, where all dining, drinking and activities are centred.
Noel Arms Hotel, Chipping Campden
Looking for a great-value Cotswold stay? This is it. Situated on Chipping Campden’s high street, this inn dates back to the 14th century. The rooms at Noel Arms Hotel all offer real comfort, with tea and coffee and The White Company toiletries.
Food is a highlight, with award-winning curries courtesy of the Sri Lankan head chef. You’re also welcome to stroll the gardens of Cotswold House Hotel across the road and use its spa for a small fee.
The Manor House, Castle Combe
Set in Castle Combe, often named England’s prettiest village and used as the location for Hollywood films including Steven Spielberg’s War Horse, The Manor House is at the bottom of a breathtakingly beautiful wooded valley and boasts Michelin-starred food, an 18-hole golf course and a choice of rooms in the grand, ivy-clad house or the cute row of cottages in the grounds.
Those looking for a romantic country break with fabulous food will love it here, with the option to dine extravagantly in Bybrook, have a relaxed meal or a G&T in The Full Glass Bar, or simply order up room service from the tablet by your bed - surrounded by stunning antique furniture and lovely original features like wooden beams.
Lucknam Park, Colerne
Perched gracefully in 500 acres of gorgeous grounds, Lucknam Park is a favourite with dog-owners and nature-lovers in search of an elegant English retreat. Approach up the tree-lined drive to discover a magnificent country manor, with a wood-panelled library to lounge in, an excellent spa with outdoor and indoor pools, and two top-notch restaurants: The Brasserie, and Restaurant Hywel Jones, which crafts local produce into exquisite Michelin-starred dishes.
There’s plenty to do nearby, too. Explore the Roman city of Bath or the ancient monuments at Stonehenge, both within about an hour’s drive, or head to the landscape gardens at Stourhead, a lavish stately home owned by the National Trust.
Buckland Manor, Broadway
With its fragrant rose beds, croquet lawns, tennis courts and dainty afternoon teas, Buckland Manor has all the ingredients for an idyllic, relaxing break in the Cotswolds. Just outside Broadway, one of the region’s most famous villages, it’s decked out in classic style, with mullion windows, wood panelling, big old fireplaces, oil paintings and rugs on the flagstone floors.
All the rooms have nice touches, like modern en-suites stocked with L'Occitane bath products, antique furniture and homemade biscuits, while some of the higher categories are even more atmospheric thanks to grand four-poster beds.
Barnsley House, Cirencester
In a charmingly rural spot next to a working farm near Cirencester, Barnsley House is perhaps best known for its beautifully quaint gardens, created by world-famous garden designer Rosemary Verey, who lived in the house until her death in 2001.
But, while the gardens have the gentle atmosphere of the English countryside, inside the hotel is fashionable and contemporary, with stylish light fittings, trendy armchairs and egg-shaped bathtubs in some of the larger rooms. An indulgent spa and private cinema complete the package at this romantic, adults-only retreat.
Calcot Hotel & Spa, Tebury
Enclosed in a whopping 220 acres of private grounds, Calcot & Spa is made up of a main manor house, plus a collection of converted barns and cottages. The decor inside marries attractive original features like big wooden beams with modern, Scandi-inspired furnishings, and while everything is carefully chosen for its elegant design. But, it's not lacking in comfort – you can look forward to sinking into huge, comfy armchairs in the in lounge and snuggling up next to cosy fireplaces.
The attention to detail extends to the bedrooms too, where luxurious touches include Nespresso coffee machines, spacious beds, Aromatherapy Associates bath products and a pantry with fresh milk and homemade biscuits. The main draw has to be the spa though, with its gorgeous outdoor pool and fireside hot tub out in a lavender-lined courtyard, sauna, steam room and seven treatment rooms.
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