Escape the madness of city living with a long, relaxing weekend at one of our favourite Cotswold retreats
Words Elizabeth Hutton
Barnsley House – Cirencester
Located in the centre of the Cotswold village of Barnsley, this country retreat is just 90 minutes from West London by car. As your very own fully staffed country house, the hotel has a luxurious spa, private cinema and 18 beautiful bedrooms to choose from. Across the road is The Village Pub that delivers everything you want from a proper pub – open fires, papers, pints and delicious food.
Barnsley, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7;
Soho Farmhouse – Chipping Norton
Created by the Soho House group, this members’ club-cum-country house is as chichi as it gets. Just an hour and 45 minutes away from London, accommodation ranges from the unbelievably perfect cabins (inspired by the website, Cabin Porn) to nostalgia-inducing farmhouses. Spend a long weekend riding the farmhouses’ horses and ponies around the 100 acres of land or boating on the lake.
Great Tew, Chipping Norton, OX7;
Dormy House – Worcestershire
With views across the Cotswolds, this boutique hotel has everything you’d want from a classic country break; log fires, comfy interiors and an indulgent spa. For a long and lazy lunch, head to the The Potting Shed where a Bertha charcoal and wood fired oven cooks the most incredible Chateaubriand.
Willersey Hill, Broadway, WR12;
Calcot Manor, Gloucestershire
Set in 220 acres of meadowland, this manor house has it’s own tennis courts, outdoor pool and woodland gymnasium. Bikes are available to hire and horse riding is available at the right time of year so you can spend an active weekend breathing in that fresh country air. A relaxing place to stay.
Calcot, Near Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8;
The Painswick – Gloucestershire
This modern take on a traditional country inn offers visitors the best of country living with a delightfully contemporary edge. The 18th century Grade-II listed house is billed as a restaurant with rooms so the food here is taken seriously. The short but sweet menus are strong and rely on locally sourced seasonal food. If you can, you must try the wood-fired Cornish lobster and parsley linguini.
Kemps Lane, Painswick, Gloucestershire, GL6;
