If ever there were a place that embodies England’s green and pleasant lands, it’d be the Cotswolds. With its honeyed limestone villages and never-ending rolling hills, it’s no wonder it’s a hotspot for a weekend away. Now, with S2 of the raunchy Rivals available for binging, set in the fictional Rutshire, Cotswolds fever is quickly heating up. If the show has you craving a rural fix, whether or not you’re seeking any Rivals-esque debauchery, read on – we’ve curated the finest places to stay in the southwest.
The Best Cotswolds Hotels
Words by
Grace Bishop
21st May 2026
With Rivals S2 now streaming, everyone’s romanticising The Cotswolds. As one of the country’s areas of outstanding natural beauty, it’s perfect for the quintessential staycation, so we’ve selected the best hotels to stay in.
Cowley Manor Experimental, Cheltenham
©Mr Tripper
Cowley Manor’s wellness offering has long had exhausted city slickers running to the hills for a weekend of rest and relaxation. With its renowned spa, offering all-natural treatments using products crafted from locally sourced ingredients, it’d be criminal not to book a massage or facial while you’re staying.
The Manor itself, which inspired the house in Alice in Wonderland, dates back to 1695. And while the exterior resembles a traditional manor house, the interior certainly isn’t dated. Weaving together classical and contemporary elements, each room features touches of rattan, bold colours, and glossy lacquer. Of the 36 rooms available, the Swan Lake Suite is the one to book. The south-facing terrace is its own oasis, the perfect spot to enjoy your morning coffee, away from the other guests.
Food-wise, British Chef Jackson Boxer has curated the hotel’s offering to reflect the local area with hints of French gastronomy. The fresh tagliolini with Cornish crab or lobster and pickled chilli are amongst some house favourites, but you simply can’t finish the night without taking a bite of the Caprese cake with lemon and almonds. Afterwards, head over to the cocktail bar for a nightcap to sample the Experimental Cocktail Club Cotswolds for some zany interiors and even zanier drinks.
Find out more via their website cowleymanorexperimental.com
The Fish Hotel, Broadway
Inspired by a local monastery that stored fish in cool caves under the hillside, The Fish Hotel’s name makes perfect sense. Surrounded by 400 acres of the Farncombe estate, it offers breathtaking Cotswold views. The rooms are scattered separately from the main hotel for privacy, and for a unique countryside escape, you can stay in a contemporary treehouse or hideaway hut, each with its own woodland hot tub.
Dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, Home to Hook, is a must. Culinary Director Martin Burge has created the hearty menu featuring seafood platters with oysters, pickled crab, shell-on prawns, scallops, mussels, cockles, clams, seaweed fries (try saying that in one breath) and crusty bread. Truly a feast fit for a king, however, if you’d prefer some more down-to-earth comforts, the lounge bar serves pizza and bar snacks to satisfy your comfort-food cravings.
Book your stay now via farncombeestate
Slaughters Manor, Cheltenham
As ominous as Slaughters Manor sounds, we promise it’s safe to stay here. Located in Cheltenham, this hotel is just a short drive to Bourton-on-the-Water, which has been dubbed the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’.
This striking 17th-century manor is home to 19 beautifully designed bedrooms, nestled slap bang in the middle of five acres of manicured land – a great option if you’re a fan of croquet, tennis or slow walks.
Inside, the rooms are all equipped with crisp white linens and sumptuous Vispring beds. The Garden Suites are the standout, featuring side-by-side roll-top baths where you and your guest can fully relax without arguing about water temperature.
Book your stay at slaughtersmanor.co.uk
Foxhill Manor, Broadway
The great appeal of Foxhill Manor is the Full Fox package, where every aspect of your stay is taken care of. From unlimited cocktails to delicious dinners, you won’t have to lift a finger during your stay – as it should be!
During your stay, the talented kitchen team are on hand to satisfy every craving – try the homemade granola for breakfast, or perhaps, some warm, fresh pastries. From morning to midnight, the snacks are unlimited, and before you even order, they’re on the table, ready and waiting. Foxhill Manor has been voted the no.1 hotel in the UK, and it’s no wonder why – melt into your four-poster bed and let the pampering begin.
All details can be found on their website, foxhillmanor.com
Double Red Duke, Clanfield
From the honeyed stone to the open fires, Double Red Duke puts the cosy in cosy countryside getaway. With a selection of 19 quirky yet characterful bedrooms, it’ll be as difficult to choose one as it will be to check out in the morning.
Open fire cooking of British produce is at the heart of this establishment. If you decide to book yourself into the pub – and you definitely should – make sure to indulge in the grill or the ‘from the embers’ selection, which serves woodfire rice, rump of lamb or a sticky pork belly. You also simply can’t leave without trying their smoked white chocolate fudge.
One of the Double Red Duke’s best features is that it is dog-friendly, so make sure to pack both your furry friend and your wellies to take them on a log countryside stomp.
Book your room now via countrycreatures.com
Soho Farmhouse, Oxfordshire
Renowned for its high-profile clientele, Soho Farmhouse is considered one of the UK’s most exclusive countryside retreats. Just a short drive from London, this rural escape is set in 100 acres of Oxfordshire countryside. With 114 bedrooms, the Farmhouse offers something for any mood, from the health club and spa to a sunken hot tub and padel courts.
The health club combines fitness, holistic wellbeing and advanced technology to help its members unwind. Whether you’re pushing through an intense workout or recharging with a signature smoothie at the bar, recovery and rejuvenation are paramount. The club also offers some innovative solutions, including IV drips and hyperbaric oxygen therapy to enhance your relaxation.
We recommend staying in one of the Farm Huts with a field view. Not only will you be treated to an enormous bed and a wood-burner, but you can also indulge in a soak in the outdoor bathtub. Better yet, bring a big group of friends and rent out the Farm Cottage or Farmhouse, which sleeps up to 14.
Read more on their website, sohohouse.com
Thyme, Cirencester
Take Thyme to reconnect with nature at this historic English countryside estate. Sink into your comfortable linen mattress and tuck into your complementary goodies – from homemade liquors to teas and coffees. Each botanical-inspired room has channelled the original botanical names with its colours and fixtures, with no two rooms alike.
Head down to the fully stocked bar, Baa Bar, where Head Bar Manager, Bradley, has developed a new signature cocktail recipe, ‘Get a Rhum’. This mouthwatering blend of rhubarb-infused gin, dry vermouth and homemade rhubarb cordial produces a tart drink in a soft blush pink. Or, instead, try one of the cocktail masterclasses and learn to shake and stir – a definite way to impress your dinner guests for years to come. More importantly, you can taste test along the way.
Book your stay now via thyme.co.uk
The Bull, Charlbury
The big draw at the Bull is, of course, the food. Part of the Public House Group – known for iconic London locals like The Fat Badger, The Hart, The Pelican and co. With a kitchen full of former River Café and Dorian-trained chefs, including alumni like Sally Abé, there’s plenty of opportunity to gorge on elevated pub-grub.
And while you may come for the food, you’ll want to stay for the rooms. With a full belly, you can trudge upstairs for a calming post-dinner soak in one of the free-standing tubs, equipped with Wildsmith amenities, before hauling yourself into a cloud-soft bed.
For those drawn to the outdoors, guests can choose from a range of countryside activities, including yoga, clay-pigeon shooting, and tennis. Alternatively, those looking for a more immersive escape might consider signing up for The Bushcamp – an English safari experience in the wilderness where all meals are cooked over an open flame under the stars.
Book your stay via thebullcharlbury.com
