A luxury hotel in a quiet corner of the Cotswolds, where heated indoor and outdoor pools, spacious rooms and stylish interiors – plus an award-winning restaurant –combine for a peaceful country escape
Location
Adjacant to the River Churn, Cowley Manor is surrounded by 55 acres of parkland (look out for llamas grazing) in the Cotswolds. Woods, meadows, natural springs and a lake create a magical setting. In fact, Lewis Carroll was inspired by the hotel’s grounds when writing Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
The regency spa town of Cheltenham is a 15-minute drive north, while the quintessentially English villages of Burton-on-the-Water, Upper Slaughter and Bibury, as well as the bustling market town Stow-on-the-World, are a mere 20 minutes away. Cowley Manor offers a base for exploring the popular honey-hued stone villages, while being able to escape the crowds when you bed down at night. Drive 50 minutes drive east and you’ll land at the Cotswolds hotspots of Soho Farmhouse, Chipping Norton, the Daylesford empire and Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat farm shop (be prepared for a two-hour queue).
Read more: How the Bull became the Cotswolds’ hottest hotel
The vibe
Built in the 17th century, Cowley Manor was once owned by the kings of England. A refuge during wartime, it became a hotel two decades ago before the slick French Experimental group took over in 2022 and overhauled the interiors. There are on-the-nose nods to Alice in Wonderland – think Queen of Hearts print dining chairs, miniature doors and checkerboard carpets and wallpapers. Maximalists will love the rattan textures, coloured glossy lacquer and lava stone set against original features.
The hotel has a relaxed but exclusive atmosphere, reflected in the stylish and sophisticated interiors. Bold details are balanced with comfort – rugs are soft under feet while the bar and lounge have plush armchairs and sofas to sink into in the evening. There’s even a games room with a pool table, chess sets and draughts tables that creates a communal vibe.
Service
Check in is smooth (your bags are in the room before you are) and check out is equally effortless. Polite but not intrusive, staff are always close by to assist, whether it’s serving drinks to guests…
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