The Cotswolds
Whether you fancy a good walk and a pub lunch, a pampering at a country house hotel or a spot of shopping and a cream tea, there is arguably no better place in England than the Cotswolds. For sure it's the countryside tamed, but you may just find you come back again and again, and as you would expect from the weekend destination of choice for England's well-heeled types, Cotswolds hotels take in everything from luxurious country houses to cool boutique hotels, cosy country inns and charming contemporary B&Bs.
The Cotswolds is England as it lives in our imagination – rolling green hills and stone villages, country pubs and pursuits, hedgerows and country churches. As an area it is hard to define – it straddles five counties, and although the vast proportion of it is within Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, it nudges into south Warwickshire, and touches the edges of Worcestershire and Wiltshire too. It's fairly easy to get to, not more than a two hour drive from several major conurbations. Yet despite sitting between three major motorways and several national rail lines, its rural steadfastness is what sets it apart. There are no cities here, nor even any large towns to speak of, and instead the gentle hills of the Cotswolds make up a bucolic idyll, dotted with picturesque villages, churchyards, and undulating fields with crops and sheep- or the occasional alpaca these days. The local stone perhaps defines the Cotswolds better than anything- a mellow warm colour which glows in the sunshine and does sunrise and sunset the most uplifting justice, and even looks fetching in the rain.
Best Places to Stay in The Cotswolds Holidays – Accommodation and Places to Stay in The Cotswolds I Cool Places
Best Places to Stay in The Cotswolds
Sumptuous rooms with dramatic flair in the capital of The Cotswolds
Ingleside House, 5 Beeches Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1BN
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Holidays in Cirencester
A superb country cottage with pool, spa and tennis court that's perfectly placed for the Cotswolds, Worcestershire and the Malvern Hills
Well Furlong Cottage, Little Comberton, Worcestershire WR10 3EP
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Holidays in Worcestershire
Holidays in Evesham
A range of beautiful luxury holiday cottages set within their own 70 acres of prime Cotswolds countryside.
Heath Farm Holiday Cottages, Swerford, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire OX74BN
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Holidays in Chipping Norton
A traditional Cotswolds cottage with the interior style of a boutique hotel
Five Bells Cottage, 2 Five Bells, Church Street, Bledington OX7 6XG
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Holidays in Oxfordshire
Holidays in Chipping Norton
Westley Farm, Cowcombe Hill, Frampton Mansell, Gloucestershire GL6 8HP
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Holidays in Stroud
Four beautiful, boutique studio apartments that offer a luxurious self-catering base in this famous foodie destination
Kin Rooms, 5 Old St, Ludlow, Shropshire SY8 1NW
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Holidays in Shropshire
Holidays in Ludlow
Cosy rooms and great food in the charming Cotswolds village of Filkins
The Five Alls, Filkins, Lechlade, Gloucestershire GL7 3JQ
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Holidays in Gloucestershire
Holidays in Lechlade
Self-catering lodge stays within the Blenheim Palace estate
Blenheim Palace Lodge Retreat , Bladon Rd, Bladon, Woodstock OX20 1PT
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Holidays in Woodstock
A cosy, boutique stay for two in a stylish, Cotswolds bolthole, full of quirky touches and charm
The Old Log Shed, Church Farm, Naunton, Gloucestershire GL54 3AJ
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Holidays in Gloucestershire
Holidays in Stow-on-the-Wold
A characterful two-bedroom getaway in The Cotswolds, housed in a former stables
Stable Cottage, Courtside, Painswick, Gloucestershire GL6 6UU
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Holidays in Gloucestershire
Holidays in Painswick
A luxury cottage for 6 in the heart of the lovely Cotswolds village of Painswick – part of the very comfortable Painswick Hotel next door!
The Cottage at The Painswick, The Painswick, Kemps Lane, Painswick, Gloucestershire GL6 6YB
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Holidays in Gloucestershire
Holidays in Painswick
Stylish boutique hotel with 17 bedrooms in a Cotswolds manor house
The Painswick, Kemps Lane, Painswick, Gloucestershire GL6 6YB
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Holidays in Painswick
A large holiday home that's rich in history and style, perfect for your next countryside escape.
Arlington Mill, Bibury, Gloucestershire
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This large Gloucestershire property is classic Cotswolds on the outside, super stylish self-catering on the inside
ARC Painswick, Tibbiwell Ln, Painswick, Stroud GL6 6XX
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Holidays in Gloucestershire
Holidays in Painswick
A Cotswolds country house hotel with a Michelin-starred restaurant
Whatley Manor, Easton Grey, Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 0RB
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Holidays in Malmesbury
A high-end country house hotel with loads of facilities that's great for both kids and grown-ups
Calcot & Spa, Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8YJ
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Holidays in Gloucestershire
Holidays in Tetbury
A heavenly rural retreat in an idyllic corner of Oxfordshire
The Double Red Duke, Bourton Road, Clanfield, Bampton, Oxfordshire OX18 2RB
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Holidays in Oxfordshire
Holidays in Faringdon
Chic country retreat with a trio of world-class restaurants in a former Cotswolds coaching inn
Bull, 105 High St, Burford, Oxfordshire OX18 4RG
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Holidays in Burford
A cosy – and contemporary – country inn that's a convenient home-from-home for both Oxford and the Cotswolds.
Artist Residence Oxfordshire, Station Road, South Leigh, Oxfordshire OX29 6XN
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Holidays in Witney
Great food and rooms in a terrific village pub.
The Kingham Plough, The Green, Kingham, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire OX7 6YD
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Holidays in Chipping Norton
A historic Wiltshire hotel whose contemporary – and quirky – rooms and excellent restaurant are also a great base for The Cotswolds
Old Bell Hotel, Abbey Row, Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 0BW
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Holidays in Wiltshire
Holidays in Malmesbury
Stunning boutique rooms and suites in a honey-coloured stone Cotswolds village inn
Wild Thyme & Honey, Ampney Crucis, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 5RS
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Holidays in Cirencester
Set in one of the county's prettiest villages, this welcoming country house hotel is a great choice for seeing the best of Warwickshire.
The Charlecote Pheasant Hotel, The Charlecote Pheasant Hotel, Charlecote Rd, Charlecote, Warwickshire CV35 9EW
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Holidays in Warwickshire
Holidays in Stratford upon Avon
A Midlands hotel with a touch of French opulence on the edge of the Cotswolds
The Wood Norton, Worcester Road, Evesham, Worcestershire WR11 4YB
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Holidays in Worcestershire
Holidays in Evesham
A beautiful boutique hotel in the Wiltshire countryside near Bath
Widbrook Grange, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, BA15 1UH
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Holidays in Wiltshire
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A country house hotel with spa on the outskirts of Cheltenham
The Greenway Hotel & Spa, Shurdington Rd, Shurdington, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL51 4UG
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A historic hotel, pub and restaurant that has been well updated while losing none of its traditional atmosphere.
The Porch House, Digbeth Street, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire GL54 1BN
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Holidays in Stow-on-the-Wold
Real ales, roaring log fires and all manner of good walking routes at this dog-friendly Stroud hotel
The Bear of Rodborough, Rodborough Common Stroud Gloucestershire GL5 5DE
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Holidays in Gloucestershire
Holidays in Stroud
Gracious town centre hotel that's the perfect romantic escape
Cotswold House Hotel & Spa, The Square, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire GL55 6AN
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Holidays in Chipping Campden
To-end Broadway hotel that's also a homage to horses, with its Jockey Bar, and with all the rooms named after racehorses
Broadway Hotel, The Green Broadway Worcestershire WR12 7AA
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This honey-stone Oxfordshire inn is a chic Cotswolds haven with 8 stylish rooms and superb food.
The Swan Inn, Ascott-under-Wychwood, Near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire OX7 6AY
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Holidays in Oxfordshire
Holidays in Chipping Norton
Great service, food and impressive rooms at this Burford historic landmark hotel.
The Bay Tree Hotel, Sheep Street Burford Oxfordshire OX18 4LW
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Holidays in Oxfordshire
Holidays in Burford
A historic and very comfortable Cotswolds inn, in the heart of Chipping Campden and serving fabulous Indian food.
The Noel Arms, Lower High St, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire GL55 6AT
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Holidays in Gloucestershire
Holidays in Chipping Campden
A perfect self-catering cottage for two amid classic Cotswolds countryside.
Ratty's Retreat, Lower Farm Cottages, School Lane, Blockley, Gloucestershire GL56 9DP
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Holidays in Moreton-in-Marsh
A beautiful dog friendly Cotswolds escape, with extensive riverside grounds and an excellent restaurant.
Minster Mill, Minster Riding, Minster Lovell, Witney, Oxfordshire OX29 0RN
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Holidays in Witney
A perfectly situated dog-friendly Cotswolds inn with extensive grounds.
The Inn at Fossebridge, Stow Rd, Fossebridge, Gloucestershire GL54 3JS
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This honey-coloured luxury hotel is a Broadway institution
Lygon Arms, High St, Broadway, Worcestershire WR12 7DU
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A cosy Cotswold pub with rooms that serves great food and has the warmest of welcomes.
The Plough Inn, Kelmscott, Lechlade, Gloucestershire GL7 3HG
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Holidays in Lechlade
A characterful 17th-century boutique coaching inn nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds
The Old Stocks Inn, The Square, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire GL54 1AF
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Holidays in Gloucestershire
Holidays in Stow-on-the-Wold
Contemporary boutique rooms above a busy modern restaurant in the heart of Stow-on-the-Wold.
The Sheep on Sheep St, Sheep St, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire GL54 1AG
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Holidays in Stow-on-the-Wold
An updated coaching inn with stylish boutique rooms and a busy bar and restaurant.
The George Townhouse, 8 High Street Shipston-on-Stour Warwickshire CV36 4AJ
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A lovely old Wiltshire pub with great food and stylish rooms.
The Horse & Groom, The Street, Charlton, Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 9DL
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Holidays in Malmesbury
A cosy and comfortable – yet thoroughly contemporary – old coaching inn, with luxurious rooms and great food.
The Bull Hotel, Market Place, Fairford, Gloucestershire GL7 4AA
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A contemporary Cotswolds bolthole on a beautiful country estate
The Fish Hotel, Farncombe Estate, Broadway, Worcestershire WR12 7LH
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Holidays in Broadway
A boutique country house hotel in the Cotswolds, just outside the small market town of Tetbury
Hare and Hounds Hotel, Bath Rd, Westonbirt, Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8QL
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Holidays in Tetbury
Luxury glamping at its best in the heart of the North Cotswolds!
Shepherds Retreat, Little Comberton, Worcestershire WR10 3EP
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Holidays in Worcestershire
Holidays in Evesham
A lovely, all-season glamping site within walking distance of the quintessential Cotswolds’ village of Bourton-on-the-Water
The Wildings, Lankett Lane, Bourton-on-the-Water, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
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Holidays in Gloucestershire
Holidays in Bourton-on-the-Water
Lodges, safari tents and pods in a fabulous – and famous! – Cotswolds farm location
Cotswold Farm Park Holidays, Cotswold Farm Park, Bemborough Farm, Guiting Power, Gloucestershire GL54 5UG
Holidays in South West England
Holidays in Gloucestershire
Holidays in Stow-on-the-Wold
