There is nowhere more quintessentially British than the Cotswolds. We have already reviewed The Greenway pictured above. Here are the top 5 best guesthouses located in these rolling green hills that provide the perfect luxury break in a home-away-from-home environment and less than 2 hours from London.
1. The Guest House at Manor Cottage
For your own secluded little hideaway, The Guest House at Manor Cottage in Bagendon (pictured above) is a must. This beautiful self-contained guest house has extensive, unspoiled rural views over one of the ‘lost’ valleys of the Cotswolds.
A huge 30ft dual-aspect living room is the centerpiece of the light and airy Guest House. A beautiful space with wooden floors and old oak furniture, large French windows lead to the terraces positioned beautifully to catch the sun throughout the day and into the evening; the perfect spot for relaxing with a glass of something! A kitchenette offers a small double hob unit, fridge, Nespresso machine, toaster, and microwave oven. To keep you occupied during your relaxation, SKY TV, iPod docks, magazines, cards, games, and free Wi-Fi are all provided. The quaint but spacious bedroom can be found right up in the eaves! Featuring a very comfortable king-size bed and oriental rugs, the views of the garden are sensational. The bedding is duck feather and down with organic Indian and Egyptian cotton. For a peaceful, secluded spot, you couldn’t do better.
2. Pauntley Court Bed & Breakfast
Wrapped around a central courtyard and surrounded by a series of fascinating formal gardens, the terracotta walls of Pauntley Court positively glow in the early evening sunshine (see photos below). This half-timber house, part medieval, part Elizabethan, with an early 18th Century addition, will enchant from both inside and out with its very own dovecote, mill house, Norman church, and trout pond with weeping willows all set in a beautiful and tranquil valley looking out towards the Cotswolds. This property features two spacious and stunning ensuite guestrooms named after remarkable figures in the house’s history.
The Dick Whittington Suite is light and airy and has been decorated in a colorful English country house style, while the John Masefield Suite has a more classical feel with a marble fireplace and color palette of creams and terracotta. Both rooms feature indulgently comfortable super-king size beds with the highest quality bed linen; sweeping long curtains hung around beautiful sash windows looking out over the ‘ruin garden’ and surrounding countryside as well as all the luxuries and modern amenities you could require, including Nespresso coffee machines, TV, DAB radios and Wi-Fi. The bathrooms feature modern yet tasteful-to-the-period fixtures and fittings, one with a bath and rain shower and one with a walk-in shower, as well as fluffy towels and Neals Yard amenities.
Enjoy afternoon refreshments of tea, coffee, and homemade cake in the stunning wood-paneled drawing room with a magnificent rustic open hearth (with roaring log fires). Pauntley Court is ideally located for walking enthusiasts, as footpaths run right past the door! You can also try hunting, fishing, golf, and clay pigeon shooting, which is all close by, and racing at Cheltenham is only half an hour away.
3. Blaisdon House Bed & Breakfast
a href=”/2016/04/blaisdon-house-luxury-bed-breakfast/”>Blaisdon House Bed & Breakfast sits in a quiet village in west Gloucestershire, tucked in a tranquil valley with views to the Seven Estuary – perfect for the Royal Forest of Dean and the beautiful Wye Valley. A former rectory with elements dating back to the 12th Century, Blaisdon House has been sympathetically renovated. Take afternoon tea in front of a roaring fire in the guest living room or on the terrace in finer weather, or take a stroll around the beautiful garden. In the mornings, enjoy a lovingly prepared full English breakfast, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, freshly baked croissants, and any other seasonal delights.
With three spacious bedrooms bathing in natural light, accommodation at Blaisdon House is truly a 5-star experience. Ensuite bathrooms, cloud-like mattresses, and buttery bathrobes are all thoughtful features of each room. You will find all the comforts of home at Blaisdon House, along with the indulgences and artful decor of a luxury hotel.
4. The Bull Inn
The Bull Inn is billed as your home away from home, offering a cozy, intimate atmosphere, roaring fires, and huge inviting beds. The service is friendly welcoming with real attention to detail. The Inn has recently undergone a renovation; the resulting decor is classic and charming with a fun twist; funky patterns sit alongside more traditional artwork with quirky accessories and enormous roll-top baths. Outside, a grapevine-covered terrace provides outdoor seating and a horsebox outdoor bar. With free outdoor parking and a downstairs pub offering classics such as pie of the day and fish & chips, what more could you want?
5. Water Meadow Cottage
Water Meadow Cottage is really a boutique-luxury cottage rental rather than a guesthouse, but we are such fans of this place that I couldn’t resist including this gorgeous cottage in our number 5 position! Drive through the private gates marked ‘Blenheim Palace Estate Private Road’, and your only neighbors are the friendly ducks and ducklings in the river, deer strolling by, squirrels in the trees, and tiny rabbits that sunbathe on the pristine green lawn.
Staying at Water Meadow Cottage is like a step back in time as you’re living in a two-hundred-year-old, beautifully restored Cotswold stone hunting lodge on the Blenheim Palace Estate. From the outside, you wouldn’t think a day had passed since it was originally built, but inside, you’re welcomed by a wealth of mod-cons and amenities to ensure you have a wonderfully indulgent stay with two bedrooms and stylish interiors. You will not want for anything if you stay at this beautiful little cottage.
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