Scenes of timeless beauty roll out across the gentle hills and valleys of the Cotswolds; church spires stand tall over quiet, honey-stone villages; ancient woodlands dip down to rivers fringed by footpaths; tapestries of fields are grazed here and there by arcadian sheep. This is bucolic Britain at its best… and most costly. The Cotswolds is one of the most expensive regions in England for a staycation – along with Cornwall and the Lake District.
Yet, if you know where to go, you can find a wonderful combination of good value and quality in this picturesque district. Sure, there are manor house hotels where a room for the night will cost you more than a return flight (or two) to New York, and there are Michelin-star restaurants with prices to match. But, equally, there’s a good choice of lesscostly options for stylish accommodation and very decent meals. From pubs to hotels big and small, here is our selection of the best.
Location: Langford
The 16th-century Bell Inn has eight rooms above its two dining rooms
(Harriet O’Brien)
Trust the locals. If you want to know where to eat well at sensible prices, follow their lead – in this case, to a delightful 16th-century pub in the tucked-away village of Langford, south of Burford. Step into the cream-rendered Bell and you’re in a gloriously traditional hostelry with fireplaces, exposed beams and a cosy atmosphere. Its two dining rooms, invariably busy at lunch and dinner, serve deliciously wholesome food, from fluffy-dough pizzas to pub classics (think succulent cheeseburgers) to zesty flavour combinations such as sea bream with fennel and radicchio. The inn also has eight smallish bedrooms, well-priced and furnished with stylish simplicity.
Location: Cirencester
Enjoy calming views over the water from the comfort of your bed
(De Vere Cotswold Water Park)
Cotswold Water Park is both a wildlife conservation area and a haven for holidaymakers. It was devised from a wide tract of gravel pits that were filled in during the late 1960s to create some 170 lakes. Today, it offers watersports, beaches (of imported sand), wonderful birdlife, a wealth of walks and more. Set on Lake 6, about six miles south of Cirencester, De Vere Cotswold Water Park is a kick-back resort hotel; a sleek world unto itself, with restaurants, a spa, plenty of chill-out space and fabulous watery views….
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