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Discover the best boutique hotels in the Cotswolds, from cosy country inns to chic retreats, perfect for any stylish countryside escape!
Chloe and I visit the Cotswolds every year for a weekend away. It’s a spot that’s really close to our hearts, and we have so many amazing memories there. I keep saying we’ll probably move there one day, along with half of America at the moment!
We recently stayed at The Fish in Broadway for our wedding anniversary, and it was one of the most relaxing stays I’ve had in a long time. We had this cute shepherd’s hut that was uber luxurious, we had our own private hot tub out the back, and the restaurant was 10/10 good. Honestly, this place was everything you’d want it to be, and it’s perfect for a special occasion.
Over the years, we’ve stayed at The Lygon Arms, The Close Hotel and Log House Holidays, so it’s safe to say I know what I’m talking about when it comes to the top boutique hotels in the Cotswolds. Every year we try and add a new one to the list too, all in the name of research of course.
So, if you’re planning a trip to this beautiful part of Britain, hopefully this guide can help you. I can promise you one thing: if you stay at one of these places in the Cotswolds, you’re in for an incredible time.
Short on time? Here’s how all eight compare at a glance.
| Hotel | Best for | Dogs |
|---|---|---|
| The Fish, Broadway | Hot tub huts and special occasions | Selected rooms |
| The Lygon Arms, Broadway | History lovers and spa days | Yes |
| The Pig in the Cotswolds, Barnsley | Foodies and garden lovers | Field Luxe rooms only |
| The Bull, Charlbury | Couples and car-free weekends | Ask when booking |
| Wild Thyme & Honey, Ampney Crucis | A relaxed pub-with-rooms stay | Selected rooms |
| The Close, Tetbury | Exploring Tetbury on foot | Ask when booking |
| Whatley Manor, Malmesbury | Spa days and Michelin-star dining | Selected rooms |
| Log House Holidays, Cotswold Water Park | Families and groups, self-catering | All cabins |
Planning a trip to the Cotswolds? Then read my guides on how to spend 2 days in the Cotswolds, all the best things to do in Tetbury, and what are the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds.
The Fish, Broadway
- Where: Farncombe Estate, just above Broadway
- Stay: 66 rooms, suites, huts and treehouses
- Price: rooms from £256, Hilly Huts from £365, Hideaway Huts from £425
- Dogs: selected rooms, £30 per dog per night (huts are adults only)
- Don’t miss: dinner at Hook by Martin Burge
The Fish is one of those places that just gets the balance right between quirky and luxurious. Set on the Farncombe Estate, it’s not your typical countryside hotel. Here you can stay in stylish rooms, cosy treehouses, or our personal favourite, the shepherd’s huts. As I said, Chloe and I stayed in one for our wedding anniversary and it came with its own private hot tub. Honestly, sinking into hot, bubbling water while looking out at the Cotswolds hills… it doesn’t get better than that.
There’s also an award-winning restaurant on site, Hook by Martin Burge, serving fresh, seasonal dishes. As the name suggests, it’s mainly fish, and I am completely here for it. To start with I had the crab parfait, followed by a deep unctuous bowl of bouillabaisse. Hands down the best meal I’ve had in ages.
The hotel is dog-friendly too, so you can bring your four-legged family members along for the ride. Just bear in mind the huts are adults only, and only two of them take dogs. If your pup is coming, book a dog-friendly room instead. There’s loads of outdoor space for walks straight from your door.
Whether you’re celebrating something special or just need a proper escape from the city, The Fish has that rare quality where you feel relaxed the moment you arrive.
If you love a quirky stay like this, have a look at my round-up of unusual places to stay in the UK.
The Lygon Arms, Broadway
- Where: Broadway High Street
- Stay: 86 rooms and suites, including the Charles I Suite
- Dogs: yes
- Accessibility: accessible Courtyard rooms and suites
- Don’t miss: the Lygon Spa’s indoor pool
Not only is this one of the best hotels in the Cotswolds, but it is probably the cosiest hotel I’ve stayed in the whole UK. Dating all the way back to the 1300s, there’s been an inn on this spot for around 650 years. How crazy is that!?
This is the place where Oliver Cromwell stayed the night before the Battle of Worcester in 1651, and kings have even plotted wars here. There aren’t many places around the country where you can stay in the same room as a king, but at The Lygon Arms you can.
The rooms are full of character, with wooden beams, roaring fires, and big comfy beds you’ll never want to get out of. Whether you choose a suite steeped in history or a modern, luxurious room in the newer wing, you’re guaranteed a warm, homely atmosphere.
With a huge dining hall that looks straight out of Game of Thrones and gourmet food to match, The Lygon Arms is cosy, charming, and elegant too. Honestly, I really can’t rave about this place enough. I’ll definitely be staying here again in the future.
These days the food is overseen by James Martin. Head to the Grill for a proper sit-down dinner, or the Tavern for a local ale and something from the blackboard. There’s a spa too, with an indoor pool, hot tub and steam room, which is exactly where you want to be on a wet Cotswolds afternoon.
Just a heads-up: new garden cottages are being built behind the hotel, so expect some building work around the car park for now.
If you’re staying in Broadway, my ultimate weekend in the Cotswolds itinerary includes Broadway Tower and a few great places to eat nearby.
The Pig in the Cotswolds, Barnsley
- Where: Barnsley, four miles from Cirencester
- Stay: 24 bedrooms across the house and gardens
- Price: Snug rooms from £295 (breakfast is extra)
- Dogs: Field Luxe rooms only, by arrangement
- Don’t miss: the Fieldhouse Spa’s hydro-pool, and The Village Pub across the road
If you’ve stayed at a Pig hotel before, you’ll know exactly what to expect: gorgeous country house vibes, incredible food, and interiors that look like they’ve been styled for a glossy magazine. The Pig in the Cotswolds is no different, except it has that extra magic that comes from being in the heart of one of England’s prettiest regions.
The food here is hyper-local. Much of it comes from the hotel’s own kitchen gardens, with everything else sourced within 25 miles. It’s one of those menus where you’ll want to order absolutely everything (trust me, the pork belly is a no-brainer).
Rooms range from cosy hideaways to seriously luxurious suites with roll-top baths. And because The Pig is all about comfort, you’ll find little touches everywhere: squishy armchairs, roaring fires, and those marshmallow-soft beds that make it really hard to get up in the morning.
The Bull, Charlbury
- Where: Sheep Street, an eight-minute walk from Charlbury station
- Stay: 10 rooms plus Loaf Cottage
- Price: from around £180
- Kids: the rooms aren’t suitable for children, so Loaf Cottage is the family option
- Food: holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand
The Bull is the kind of place that makes you want to move to the Cotswolds immediately. Set in the charming village of Charlbury, this boutique hotel has mastered the art of feeling both stylish and homey at the same time. Think exposed beams, open fires, and modern touches that give it a cool edge.
Downstairs, the pub is the heart of the building. It’s the sort of spot where you can settle in for a long lunch and lose all track of time, especially if you order their legendary Sunday roast. The menu changes with the seasons, but it’s always full of hearty, comforting dishes made from local ingredients.
Upstairs, each room has its own personality, but all are finished to a seriously high standard. After a day exploring the surrounding countryside, there’s nothing better than coming back here, grabbing a drink, and watching village life go by from your window.
Kamala Harris ate here in the summer of 2025, at a pre-wedding dinner ahead of Eve Jobs’ wedding in the Cotswolds. As I said, Americans love it in the Cotswolds, even politicians.
Wild Thyme & Honey, Ampney Crucis
- Where: Ampney Crucis, just outside Cirencester
- Stay: 24 rooms and suites, plus an apartment with a hot tub and barrel sauna
- Dogs: selected rooms, £35 per stay
- Don’t miss: dinner in the domes by the brook
Wild Thyme & Honey is pure countryside romance in hotel form. Tucked away in the village of Ampney Crucis, this is a small but perfectly formed boutique stay with 24 rooms, all decorated in a chic, rustic style. It’s the kind of place where you instantly feel at home, if your home was straight out of a Pinterest board.
Each room is flooded with natural light, with soft linens, muted colours, and thoughtful touches everywhere you look. Downstairs you’ll find the hotel’s restaurant, The Crown at Ampney Brook, which serves up elevated pub classics and some very good cocktails.
What I love most here is the attention to detail, from fresh flowers in the rooms to blankets for cosy nights outside. It’s small enough to feel intimate, but still has all the luxuries you’d expect from a top Cotswolds hotel.
The Close, Tetbury
- Where: Long Street, in the centre of Tetbury
- Stay: a 16th-century townhouse
- Parking: a small car park at the back
- Don’t miss: a wander down the Chipping Steps
Set in the heart of Tetbury, The Close Hotel is a charming boutique stay that blends historic character with modern comfort. Housed in a beautiful 16th-century townhouse, it’s full of period features (think open fireplaces, sash windows, and elegant drawing rooms), yet the rooms themselves have a stylish, contemporary twist.
The hotel’s restaurant champions fresh, locally sourced produce, with menus that change with the seasons, while the cosy bar is perfect for a nightcap after exploring the Cotswolds. We sat in the main dining room and worked our way through the menu.
Lamb is always a popular choice on the menu in the Cotswolds, so we had a rack of lamb with hasselback potatoes and pickled artichoke. It was such a nice meal in a beautiful setting. I always love hotels like The Close Hotel for their regal charm. It really does make your holiday that little bit more special.
Whether you’re in town for the antique shops, nearby Westonbirt Arboretum, or long country walks, The Close makes for a refined but welcoming base in one of the Cotswolds’ prettiest market towns.
For more ideas once you’re here, these are my favourite things to do in Tetbury.
Whatley Manor & Spa, Malmesbury
- Where: Easton Grey, near Malmesbury
- Stay: 23 rooms and suites
- Dogs: selected rooms
- Spa: Aquarias Spa, open daily from 8am to 8pm
- Book ahead: The Dining Room (one Michelin star) serves dinner only, and not every night
If you’re looking to go all out, Whatley Manor is the place. This is one of the most luxurious hotels in the Cotswolds and it does everything with style. Set in a beautiful Georgian manor house, it’s surrounded by 12 acres of gardens that are perfect for a romantic afternoon stroll.
Inside, the spa is a big draw: there’s an indoor/outdoor hydrotherapy pool, salt scrub showers, and enough treatments to make you forget the rest of the world exists. Foodies will be in heaven too, with two restaurants on site, including the Michelin-starred The Dining Room.
The rooms are elegant and spacious, with huge beds, marble bathrooms, and countryside views. This is the kind of hotel where you check in and immediately wonder how soon you can come back.
Whatley also makes a good base for a day trip to Bath.
Log House Holidays
- Where: Poole Keynes, about four miles south of Cirencester
- Stay: eight self-catering cabins, sleeping 4 to 11
- Dogs: all cabins
- Don’t miss: taking the rowing boat out to look for the resident otters
Scandinavia or the Cotswolds? Honestly, it’s hard to tell the difference at this place! If you’re dreaming of escaping the everyday and disappearing into nature with a slice of luxury, Log House Holidays is your kind of place. Tucked away in the Cotswold Water Park near Cirencester, this family-run nature reserve offers eight stunning lakeside log cabins, each eco-friendly, sustainably built, and equipped with a private hot tub, fire pit, indoor log burner, and even your own rowing boat.
This one is self-catering rather than a hotel, so you’ll be cooking for yourselves. In return, you get a whole cabin and your own stretch of lake.
We spent mornings paddleboarding across the mirror-still lake, spotting kingfishers and otters, before sinking into the hot tub as the sun dipped below the trees. It’s the perfect mood-setter for a romantic getaway or quiet digital detox. The cabins are beautifully styled with plush furnishings, antique touches and modern comforts. Think well-equipped kitchens, log fires, and soft linens that make it feel like home, albeit a seriously elevated one.
Whether you’re looking to recharge, celebrate, or just slow down, Log House Holidays offers that rare feeling of being utterly tucked away, yet still within easy reach of the Cotswolds’ charm.
If you’d rather have a whole cottage to yourselves, I’ve also rounded up the best holiday cottages in the Cotswolds.
Planning your trip to the Cotswolds
Which part of the Cotswolds to stay in
The Cotswolds covers a much bigger area than most people expect, so where you stay really shapes your trip. The Fish and The Lygon Arms put you in the north Cotswolds, close to Chipping Campden, Broadway Tower and Stratford-upon-Avon. The Bull is on the Oxfordshire side, which makes it the easiest of the lot to reach by train.
Cirencester, Tetbury and Malmesbury are in the south. It’s quieter down here, and you’re closer to Bath and the M4 if you’re driving from London.
My tip is to pick one base and do day trips from there. Trying to see the whole of the Cotswolds from one hotel in a weekend means you’ll spend most of it in the car.
Getting there by train
You don’t need a car for every hotel on this list. The Bull is an eight-minute walk from Charlbury station, which has trains from London Paddington.
For the south Cotswolds, Kemble is the nearest station to Cirencester and Tetbury, and it’s also on the line from Paddington. It’s around seven miles from Cirencester, so you’ll need a taxi for The Pig, Wild Thyme & Honey or Log House Holidays.
For Broadway, the nearest mainline stations are Moreton-in-Marsh and Evesham, then it’s a short taxi ride. You can check train times and book tickets on Omio.
When to book
Two dates to plan around in 2027 are the Cheltenham Festival (16 to 19 March) and Badminton Horse Trials (5 to 9 May). If your trip overlaps with either, book your hotel early.
If you can, go midweek. The villages are quieter, and several of these hotels run midweek offers, including The Pig.
Autumn and winter are a good shout too. Most of the hotels on this list have open fires or log burners, and there’s nothing better than coming back to one after a muddy walk.
