14 best hotels in the Cotswolds for an idyllic countryside getaway
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The best hotels in the Cotswolds have served as the inspiration for countless #cottagecore posts over the years, igniting our desire to leave the city behind and embrace life in the great British countryside. But – if you’re not ready to commit to a packing up your entire life ala Cameron Diaz in The Holiday, then maybe a blissful weekend getaway to the Cotswolds will do.
Home to some of the most picturesque villages and market towns in the world, including Burford, Broadway, Chipping Campden, Chipping Norton, Tetbury, Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, Southrop, Painswick, Stratford-upon-Avon and Bibury, there’s a never-ending list of places to see and explore that are only a quick drive away in the English countryside. Plus, some of the UK’s most visited cities including Bath, Oxford, Bristol and the Regency-era city of Cheltenham (also home to the famous racecourse) are all within driving distance and can also be accessed by train.
What to do when you're there? A real foodie paradise, The Cotswolds has everything from charming independent delis, cafés, cute farm shops, cosy village pubs, chintzy tea shops and even fine dining Michelin-starred restaurants. There are also some pretty amazing wineries and distilleries such as The Cotswolds Distillery – which give excellent distillery tours that will delight, whisky, rum and gin aficionados alike. There are also plenty of breath-taking manor houses, country homes and gardens to see via the National Trust. We especially like Blenheim Palace, which boasts a 300 year history and is the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Avid walking and biking enthusiasts will enjoy The Cotswolds Way, which is an incredible 100 mile stretch of walking route that passes through some of the most beautiful villages and views in the Cotswolds.
Speaking of views, The Cotswolds has plenty of that too with Broadway Tower, Drover’s Hill, Cleve Hill, The Malvern Hills and Crickley Hill some of its most popular viewing points.
And because there are endless reasons why you should visit the Cotswolds today, we’ve rounded up the very best country house hotels, manor houses, boutique hotels, coaching inns, luxury hotels, townhouses, country inns, and spa hotels that the English countryside has to offer. So, whether you’re looking to hide away in cosy shepherd’s huts, relax in a luxury spa hotel, or simply get lost in good book by the fireplace of a quaint coaching inn, we’ve got the Cotswolds accommodation for you.
Best Cotswolds hotels at a glance:
- Best five-star hotel: Ellenborough Park
- Best family-friendly hotel: Lucknam Park
- Best country inn: The Swan
- Best boutique hotel: Queens Hotel Cheltenham
- Best self-catering: Barn Owl with Habitat Escapes
Scroll down for the best hotels in the Cotswolds to stay at in 2023.
Best new hotel in the Cotswolds
The Bell is the latest addition to the Daylesford portfolio. The 17th century pub (and the dreamy bedrooms above it) have been beautifully restored to offer cosy log fires, incredible food and a choice of stays. Depending on how bougie you want to go there's Cosy rooms, Classic rooms, Spacious rooms or Family rooms. All are decorated to draw inspiration from the nearby ancient woodland surrounding the picturesque honeypot village. One of it's cosy rooms, The Nest, for instance, features robin red upholstery, leaf-embroidered linen curtains and a robin wall print created by artist, Hugo Guinness. Classic rooms boast four-poster oak beds with pretty, patterned canopies. It's the perfect place to explore nearby Blenheim Palace or cotswold villages like Stow-on-the-Wold. Or head for a local walk, then flop for a Sunday roast or evening meal by the fire.
Spa: No. But it's sister property, Daylesford Farm (a 20 minute drive away), offers its Bamford Spa facilities.
Address: 1 Church Street, Charlbury, Chipping Norton, OX7 3PP
Price per night: From £162.
Best dog-friendly hotel in the Cotswolds
Situated in the village of Broadway in Worcestershire, The Lygon Arms is just the hotel for PAW-rents who can’t stand to leave their fur babies at home. Once a former coaching inn, the hotel’s roots go back to the 14th-century and features incredibly restored original architectural features. The classy Charles I suite is truly a wonder and great for a splash out stay. Plus, The Lygon Arms has an incredible Nails & Tails package that gives pampered pooches an incredible spa experience too. Thanks to a partnership with Broadway Dog Groomers, while dog mums relax at the spa, their pooches are treated to a full body groom, blueberry facial, choice of perfume (from Jimmy Chow to Jean Paw Gaultier) and even a menu of fabulous treats.
Spa: Yes.
Address: High Street, Broadway, WR12 7DU, United Kingdom.
Price per night: From £210.
Best resort hotel in the Cotswolds
Set in the picturesque village of Minster Lovell, Minster Mill is a contemporary country hotel that combines bright Scandi chic interiors with rural elegance. Set inside a traditional Cotswold stone buildings, complete with a small swimming pool and the fabulous The Garden Spa, Minster Mill is a great place to get lost and leave the daily stress of city life behind. There are three tranquil spa suites that offer everything from relaxing massages to Rasul mud treatments. Outside the hotel guests can enjoy fly and course fishing, go cycling or play a game at the badminton and tennis courts. Minster Mill is ideally located near Blenheim Palace, Bicester Village and Oxford, making it a great base for exploring all that the Cotswolds has to offer.
Spa: Yes.
Address: Minster Mill, Old Minster, Minster Lovell, OX29 0RN, United Kingdom.
Price per night: From £122.
Best family-friendly hotel in the Cotswolds
Lucknam Park is our top pick for a luxury family-friendly getaway in the Cotswolds. This 18th-century Palladian mansion house is home to a Michelin-starred restaurant and 43 elegant bedrooms. Set across 500 acres of gorgeous parkland, Lucknam Park is so vast that there’s enough space and activities to entertain the whole family. The hotel has an on-site equestrian centre, an outdoor play area and a host of other countryside activities that include cycling, tennis, duck herding, lawn croquet and five a side football. The spa is a palace of tranquillity. There is a heated outdoor therapy swimming pool with incredible tree-lined views, saunas, steam room and even a Japanese salt room. You can even get non-surgical facelifts care of swish beauty brand 111Skin. The Hywel Jones-led Michelin-starred restaurant is worth mentioning too and offers some pretty incredible British dishes.
Spa: Yes.
Address: Lucknam Park, Colerne,Bath, Chippenham, SN14 8AZ, United Kingdom.
Price per night: Start from £295 per night for a Classic Room, excluding breakfast.
Best self-catering property in the Cotswolds
If you’re looking for a big place to spend the weekend in the Cotswolds with the whole gang, then this beautiful barn-style cottage on top of Howells Mere lake is the perfect retreat. This stunning four bedroom house by Habitat Escapes sleeps up to eight, while the open plan living room and kitchen offer plenty of space to hang out and bond with your besties. The outside deck, complete with hot tub, is the ideal place to spend a balmy summer afternoon.
Spa: No.
Address: Lower Mill Estate, Cotswold, Somerford Keynes, GL7 6BG, United Kingdom.
Price per night: Habitat Escapes offers a four-night stay at Barn Owl from £176 per person for four nights in April. This property sleeps up to eight people.
Best manor house hotel in the Cotswolds
This 17th-century country house hotel is located in the idyllic Cotswolds village of Slaughters, near Cheltenham and Stow-on-the-World. Part of the Brownsword Hotel Group, this handsome hotel has everything from beautiful gardens, croquet, tennis courts and a cosy library and snug. The hotel has 19 bedrooms, with our favourite being Antoinette – which has a fairy-tale-esque four-poster bed.
Spa: No.
Address: Copsehill Road, Lower Slaughter, Cheltenham, GL54 2HP, England.
Price per night: From £240
Best hotel in the Cotswolds with golf course
From the long and winding drive that leads up to this gorgeous 14th-century retreat, you will instantly fall in love with the magic of The Manor House. You can wander through the stunning Italian gardens or explore the historical attractions of Castle Combe, which holds a special place in the history of Wiltshire. The star of The Manor House though is the 18-hole championship golf course, which is set amidst rolling landscapes and attracts avid golfers from across the UK. The Potting Shed spa is cute, cosy and does a wicked facial – and don’t worry – no garden tools are involved. The Michelin-starred restaurant, Bybrook, is a true gastronomic wonder and will surely sweep foodies off their feet.
Spa: Yes.
Address: Castle Combe, SN14 7HX, United Kingdom.
Price per night: From £290.
Best pub in the Cotswolds with rooms
Picture a 12th century, classic Cotswolds village. Houses made from thick honey-coloured stone, covered with ivy and a river flows slowly through underneath. You’ve just pictured Castle Combe in Wiltshire – the untouched village that’s been named the ‘Prettiest Village in England’ more than a few times. Located in the heart of the old market square in Castle Combe, the Castle Inn is exactly what you’d expect from a charming coaching inn in The Cotswolds. Part of the Exclusive Collection, The Castle Inn has 12 traditional and cosy rooms, which spill off twisting, low-ceilinged corridors. The pub downstairs is excellent and has roaring fireplaces, exposed beams and sloping walls. The menu features seasonally inspired dishes made with local and homegrown ingredients that will delight foodies and the gastronomically curious alike. Once the retreat of Oliver Cromwell, the Castle Inn boasts plenty of history and is close to nearby Cotswolds attractions like The Manor House Golf Club and Bath.
Spa: No.
Address: Nr Chippenham, Castle Combe, SN14 7HN, United Kingdom.
Price per night: From £155.
Best for a romantic getaway in the Cotswolds
Occupying a 16th-century mansion house, No. 38 The Park is a stylish art-filed guest house with plenty of pizazz. This vibrant boutique hotel doesn’t shy away from bold colours and we are totally feeling it. The vibe is eclectic cool with big art books, contemporary prints and giant flower vases dotted throughout the space. There are 13 rooms spread over three floors which all feature colourful wallpaper, sumptuous Egyptian cotton sheets, with some coming with idyllic roll-top baths. This is our top pick for a sexy weekend getaway with your beau.
Spa: No.
Address: 38 Evesham Road, Cheltenham, GL52 2AH, United Kingdom.
Price per night: From £150.
Best hotel in the Cotswolds for foodies
Set across 12 acres of beautiful English gardens in a Grade II listed building, Whatley Manor is a grown-up getaway in the heart of the Cotswolds. With just 23 individually designed rooms in classic English style, this is the quintessential countryside retreat in the Cotswolds. The key draw at Whatley Manor is its fantastic culinary offer. The Dining Room, the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, and the more casual Grey’s Brasserie, are true gastronomic gems in the Cotswolds. Both led by the superb Executive Chef Rick Weston, the restaurants offer delicious seasonal dishes that make the most of locally sourced ingredients from Wiltshire, Somerset and the hotel’s own kitchen garden. The Dining Room is one of the few restaurants in the UK to be awarded a Green Michelin Star for its sustainable initiatives. Wellbeing enthusiasts will also love the Aquarias Spa, which has a range of state-of-the-art wellness facilities including a floatation hydrotherapy pod, heated stone recliners and salt scrub showers.
Spa: Yes.
Address: Easton Grey, Malmesbury, SN16 0RB, United Kingdom.
Price per night: £379 including breakfast and use of the spa.
Best country inn in the Cotswolds
From the outside looking in, The Swan looks like it could have been lifted from a Cotswolds postcard. Inside, is very much the same. Located in a picturesque waterfront setting by the River Coln in the very Instagrammable village of Bibury, The Swan is as quintessentially English as you’re going to get in the Cotswolds. The Swan is ideally located near Cirencester, and Burford with Moreton-in-Marsh station just a half hour’s drive away. This 17th-century inn occupies a row of fairy tale cottages. It is stylish and contemporary while maintaining the traditional beauty of its rural setting. The 22 rooms, all coming in various shapes and sizes, are charming and generously sized, with some having hot tubs and four poster beds. Life by the river has certainly never been this sweet.
Spa: No.
Address: Bibury, Bibury, GL7 5NW, United Kingdom.
Price per night: £240.
Best five-star hotel in The Cotswolds
Ellenborough Park is a stunning 15th century manor house surrounded by 90 acres of beautiful parkland in Cheltenham. Known as Gloucestershire’s only five-star hotel, Ellenborough Park certainly delivers an impeccable luxury hotel experience. Picture beautiful stone walls, exposed wooden beams and vast open fireplaces, which all come together to create a luxurious yet inviting atmosphere. The wood-panelled Great Hall is a great spot for afternoon tea and is also home to the fine dining restaurant. The Cedar Pavilion Tent is more casual dining, while the hotel’s quirky dining carriages, which are a cheeky reference to the Cheltenham’s equestrian history, offer a fun and unique dining experience. The Elemis Spa is a great place to relax and unwind and has a heated outside pool. Oh, and did we mention that Ellenborough Park was dog-friendly too?
Spa: Yes.
Address: Southam Road, Cheltenham, GL52 3NJ, United Kingdom.
Price per night: £224.
Best Cotswolds hotel in Cheltenham
At the Queens Hotel in Cheltenham you will certainly be treated like a queen. All the Regency-style rooms are gorgeous, with four-poster beds and beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows. Opened in 1838, the same year as Queen Victoria’s coronation, the Queens Hotel was named in her honour and certainly pays tribute to its royal heritage. Plus, its near all the Cheltenham sites including Sanford Park, Pittville Park and the Imperial Gardens.
Spa: No.
Address: The Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 1NN.
Price per night: Room rates at Queens Hotel Cheltenham start from £117.00 inclusive of breakfast and VAT.
Most stylish hotel in the Cotswolds with rooms
The Fox at Oddington is a newly opened pub with rooms that will make all your cottage core dreams come true. This honey-coloured 16th century building has been renovated to house six stylish bedrooms above the restored pub which serves traditional British cuisine, cooked to perfection by Head Chef Alan Gleeson. All the lush fabrics in the bedrooms are from Nila, a non-profit founded by Carole Bamford (who also owns The Fox at Oddington) which helps preserve the natural dye and handloom traditions of India. Unsurprisingly, all the toiletries are Bamford too. Guests can rent bikes to explore the surrounding areas and visit the nearby Daylesford Organic Farm, Bamford Wellness Spa and Market Garden. Plus, sister property and pub The Wild Rabbit is pretty spectacular too.
Spa: No.
Address: High St Lower Oddington Moreton-in-Marsh GL56 0UR.
Price per night: Rooms from £225 per night includes breakfast, Market Garden or Farm Tour at Daylesford Farm (on Thursdays), 10% discount on Cookery School courses, floristry workshops (excluding guest hosted) and treatments and classes at the Bamford Wellness.
