Luxury Travel to the Cotswolds made for you

Dotted around the Cotswolds are clusters of honey-coloured cottages and fitting right in to the scenery is Dormy House, near the picture-perfect village of Broadway. The boutique country hotel is perched on the top of Willersey Hill within the 400-acre Farncombe Estate. A 17th-century farmhouse, it has plenty of English charm and is nestled in the heart of the rolling hills and beautiful countryside. Each of the 38 rooms and suites are individually designed, blending classic country charm with contemporary British design, splashes of colour and bold prints. You’ll be forgiven for wanting to hole up in suites with such inviting names as The Den, The Snug and The Hideaway or you can make yourself at home at Rose Cottage which comes with its own stone courtyard and Jacuzzi. Take a seat in The Garden Room or The Potting Shed and enjoy modern, seasonal cuisine cooked by chefs who are passionate about championing British cooking. The Garden Room is a bright and airy space that looks over the pretty garden, while The Potting Shed is a more informal centred around a huge oak bar. There’s plenty to keep you occupied at the hotel, including a spa with indoor pool, fitness studio and champagne nail parlour. However, you’re also ideally located to explore the surrounding countryside. Walk through the Farncombe estate to Broadway village or take a day trip to Stratford upon Avon, birthplace of Shakespeare. There is also a perfectly manicure 18-hole golf course next door.

Set within the 400-acre Farncombe Estate is Foxhill Manor, a beautiful Grade II-listed country house that has been converted into a boutique hotel with plenty of English charm. The Arts and Crafts building is home to just eight rooms and suites, each named after a native British tree. Whether you stay in Willow, Beech, Juniper or Chestnut you can expect classic British style with a contemporary twist. Sophisticated neutral colour schemes are brought to life with splashes of bright colour and printed textiles and there are cosy woollen blankets for those chillier days. Bathrooms come with freestanding rolltop baths, some with views over the Vale of Evesham and out towards the Welsh Black Mountains. Foxhill Manor is located a short walk from the pretty village of Broadway and less than two miles from their sister hotel, Dormy House. Transport is included should you wish to use the spa there. Dining at the hotel is a real treat with a daily changing four-course menu using locally sourced and freshly foraged ingredients. If you’d like something a little different, you are welcome to have a chat with the head chef and come up with a menu specifically tailored to you. If hunger strikes in between meals, then there is a pantry which is restocked every day with beers, soft drinks and snacks. There is also an impressive wine cellar so finding the right wine to match your meal is easy.

Nestled in the heart of the picture-perfect market town of Tetbury, and counting Prince Charles as neighbour, Oak House No.1 is a beautiful boutique guest house and a treasure trove of exquisite design pieces. An incredible and eclectic art collection adorns the walls, with original works by Andy Warhol and Grayson Perry in the breakfast room and countless others scattered throughout the hotel. Antiques and trinkets from all four corners of the globe sit alongside designer furniture, creating a charming mix of old and new. There are just three rooms, giving the guest house an intimate and personal feel. Look out over the pergola, trees and sculptures from the Garden Suite or relax and admire artwork from as close as London and Tetbury and as far away as India and Thailand in the Prince’s Suite. For the ultimate luxury, bed down in the Cavalier Suite with a bedroom and sitting room and a bathroom set in its own corridor. As with every room, the suite is impeccably styled with glass art hand delivered from a factory in Murano, Venice. Sit down at the magnificent maple table for breakfast, then curl up with a good book and a glass of wine or whisky in the sitting room. Guests will receive a complimentary afternoon tea which can be enjoyed inside or in the beautiful garden. There is plenty to explore in Tetbury itself, home to Prince Charles’ flagship Highgrove Shop, wonderful antique dealers, as well as stately homes and gardens further afield. A brisk countryside walk is the highlight of any trip to the Cotswolds so winter-wellies and thick woolly socks are provided so you can make it to the nearest pub in comfort.

Escape to an elegant country home set on 500 acres of parkland and gardens. Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa combines luxury and tradition, offering guests an indulgent space to retreat and feel pampered. The 42 rooms and suites in the Palladian mansion have been designed with the utmost comfort in mind. Antiques and deluxe furnishings are combined with modern elements, celebrating the hotel’s history as well as ensuring guests have everything they would expect from a luxury country hotel. Dine at the Michelin starred Park restaurant where the menu features organic ingredients from nearby suppliers, as well as from the hotel’s own gardens. For alfresco dining and more informal lighter meals, take a table at the stylish Brasserie near the spa. The beautifully maintained gardens around Lucknam Park make for invigorating outings on foot or on horseback. Explore the historic Walled Garden, The Rose Garden, the Arboretum and the old Vinery greenhouse. Visit the spa to make use of the indoor swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool and outdoor salt water plunge pool. Guests can choose from a variety of relaxing treatments and spend time in several thermal cabins. Or spend some time in the Wellbeing House where there are yoga and pilates studios, a Haslauer Reflective Sunlight Therapy room and a relaxation room. There are also on-site equestrian facilities including training, all-weather and lunge arenas and a cross country course. Or let the fresh produce from the lush gardens inspire you to take part in a cookery course.

The Slaughters Manor House is a beautiful 17th-century country house in the pretty village of Lower Slaughter. Sat on the banks of the River Eye with redwoods and horse chestnuts framing the hotel, there are few locations more charming. The 19 rooms and suites are classically British in style, with antique furniture and fine fabrics, and flashes of contemporary design. Some of the suites comes with dark wooden beams, and many come with rolltop baths. The hotel sits in five acres of landscaped gardens, filled with roses, fragrant lavender and tinkling fountains. There is a croquet lawn and a tennis court for those who want to partake in these most British of sports. When you want to relax, sit back with the papers in the lounge, take a seat in front of the crackling fire in the library or retire to the billiards room. With three AA rosettes, eating at the restaurant is one of the highlights of a stay at Slaughters Manor House. The à la carte and the tasting menus are filled with creative dishes using locally sourced and seasonal produce. You can also indulge in afternoon tea and enjoy a selection of sandwiches, cakes and pastries. The bar is the perfect place to enjoy a tipple and there is a specialist gin menu, each one coming with a well matched tonic and garnish. If you fancy exploring then the hotel is a short walk from Upper Slaughter and Bourton-on-the-Water and a short drive from Stow-on-the-Wold.

Situated in the pretty and charming village of Broadway amid the pristine rural beauty of the Cotswolds, the Lygon Arms is a striking Grade II* listed hotel, which once served as a coaching inn as early as the 1300s. Amongst its most distinguished guests include Charles I, Edward II and Prince Phillip, while the coaching inn also played a role in the English Civil War, hosting Oliver Cromwell the night before the Battle of Worcester in 1651. The present-day hotel is hosted in a building dating from the 17th century and has been restored in recent times to present a stylish, chic character, which blends with a cosy and homely atmosphere. It has, however, managed to retain its rural charm and touches of its historic grandeur, featuring the likes of attractive furnishings, restored antiques and inviting grand fireplaces. It’s easy to feel relaxed throughout this hotel, with numerous snug and cosy corners proving the perfect place to unwind with a drink and a good book. Guests at the Lygon Arms have a choice of 86 bedrooms, spread across the main building, the courtyard, adjoining cottages and two modern wings. All of the rooms are stylish, warm and welcoming, equipped with the likes of tartan bedheads and decorated with warm and comforting colours. There are also features, such as desks and armchairs in all rooms, while those looking for an extra memorable stay should consider residing in the suite in which Charles I purportedly slept. The dining opportunities at the hotel are both relaxed and fulfilling, with a choice of two restaurants and two bars. From a Mediterranean wine bar and some delicious pizza options to refreshing cocktails and a spot of afternoon tea, there’s an option for countless occasions. You’ll find plenty of other avenues for relaxation and indulgence, especially in the shape of the hotel’s rejuvenating spa, which offers a range of soothing treatments, while an inviting swimming pool is perfect for a cooling dip.