In Southwest England, the stunning Cotswolds region undulates gracefully across six counties and almost 800 sq. miles. It is a delightful tangle of honey-colored mansions, evocative churches, thatched cottages, and golden villages. In fact, due to the picturesque villages and towns, it was designated an “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty” in 1966. It’s no wonder that when we went looking for the best B&B in the Cotswolds, we had an endless number of choices.
The region might have once been the setting for violent skirmishes and bloody battles of the English Civil War, but it’s now transformed into one of England’s most popular tourist destinations. There’s a long tradition of beds and breakfasts here, dating back to when Cotswolds was known for sheep farming and the Industrial Revolution. While small inns and B&Bs were a way of life then, they were the perfect way for us to discover the region’s unique charm, relax, and enjoy the personal touch of great hospitality. And, of course, there’s the region’s intrinsically relaxing vibe.
To that end, here’s a detailed guide to staying at cutesy inns in the Cotswolds.
Our Favorite Bed & Breakfast in the Cotswolds
- Abbots Grange, Broadway
- The Lamb Inn, Buford
- The Stump, Cirencester
- St. Anne’s B&B, Painswick
- The Feathered Nest Inn, Westcote
- Forthay Bed And Breakfast, Dursley
- The Wheatsheaf Inn, Northleach
- The George Inn, Barford
- The Three Horseshoes, Asthall
- The Wild Rabbit, Kingham
- Woodchester Valley Vineyard Barns, Stroud
Romantic B&Bs
We’re not at all surprised that the Cotswolds are home to romantic stays. After all, what could be more romantic than intimate inns at the end of a small, winding lane in the rolling English countryside?
Abbots Grange Broadway
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Abbots Grange is no ordinary B&B. Yes, there’s breakfast, and yes, there are beds. However, there’s so much more to this spectacular 1320-built monastic structure. Even its approach is romantic; it’s a one-minute walk off the main street of the bustling village of Broadway, and that too through landscaped gardens. What makes it romantic and secluded, though, is the fact that the rambling stone country house is surrounded by tall yew hedges, making for a lovely hidden retreat.
Meet The Hosts
For the last 25 years, Abbots Grange has been owned by the Taee family and is now the home of Topsy and Richard Taee, who’re also the hosts here. They run the B&B with excellent full-time staff members who take care of our every need, whim, and fancy. They even gave us a tour of their home, explaining the house’s long and illustrious history. In fact, even the staff are very proud of the home and were always delighted to share tidbits and trivia about the place and its history.
Food And Drink
We’d have to pre-order breakfast the evening prior, but we’d have it ready and waiting 8-9:30 am in the wood-paneled dining room, with it being later on Sundays. It felt like Downton Abbey came to life, with touches like high-quality porcelain and Bishop’s Mitre serviettes. What’s more, the excellent buffet spread included freshly prepared fruit salad, jams, muesli, homemade granola, yogurt, cereals, and freshly squeezed juice. To top that, we also had a selection of cooked breakfast dishes, including porridge, smoked salmon, kippers, mushrooms/eggs on toast, and a full English.
But that’s not all. When we checked in, we were offered a complimentary glass of fizz, along with cake and tea. The best bit? There were even after-dinner drinks on offer in the Great Hall.
The Rooms
Now, we get to it. The rooms and suites here were perfect, spread across the main building and the coach house. While some were ground-floor ones with countryside views, others had four-poster beds and fireplaces. Since we were on a romantic sojourn, we chose the most romantic room in the house, the vaulted Abbots Chamber. Set in the oldest part of the main building, it had a fireplace next to a deep-soaking bathtub – right in the room! For those looking for something more private, the coach house has two rooms, the Carriage Room and the Coach House Suite. Both boast modern décor with balcony doors overlooking the garden.
Nevertheless, all rooms boasted high-quality hospitality trays with Huffkins craft bakery biscuits, a selection of coffees, and five types of tea. Molton Brown bath products, soft beds, flatscreen TVs, snuggly bathrobes, and slippers were also standard.
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Forthay Bed and Breakfast, Dursley
We were looking for the quintessential English village B&B experience, and we found that at the idyllic Forthay Bed and Breakfast. This lovely inn sits in a 17th-century, Grade 2 listed farmhouse and felt like a cozy home away from home. We absolutely loved the glorious gardens surrounding the B&B, and we’d spend all our time there drinking tea, reading books from the small library, and enjoying some romantic moments.
- Meet the hosts: When we arrived, we were greeted by Debs and Charles, who happily served us afternoon tea, scones, and jam before we’d even made it inside! As our room was readied, we enjoyed the soaking-in views of the gardens while enjoying tea. Even supper was an amazing affair, with Debs and Charles telling us amazing tales of the city over a delicious home-cooked meal, with Humphrey the Cat listening from his post on the staircase.
- Food and drink: Everyone needs a good breakfast to walk Cotswold Way, which was fortunate because Debs and Charles served up a fantastic breakfast with everything from made-to-order eggs, quiches, and pancakes to OJ and coffee. Plus, they make their own granola too!
- Room type(s): We had the choice of three rooms/suites, all of which came with their own ensuite private shower room/bathroom. We stayed in the lovely Tyndale room, which had a sleigh bed and beautiful views of the gardens.
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Historic B&Bs
With the Cotswolds having a long and illustrious history, it’s not surprising for the region to be home to many historic B&Bs and inns, right? Here are options for the most historic and illustrious bed and breakfast in Cotswolds, UK.
The Lamb Inn, Buford
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Tucked at the edge of Burford, one of England’s most picturesque towns, the Lamb Inn sits on the cusp of a honey-stoned village street and wooded countryside. This gloriously rambling place, with a stunning garden out back, has been a country inn for more than 300 years. While the layout is intriguingly random, the interiors are old-time; think snoozy armchairs, old stone fireplaces, and grandfather clocks. Did you know it’s one of the most romantic hotels in the Cotswolds? Yes!
- Meet the hosts: The Lamb Inn is part of the Cotswolds Inns and Hotels umbrella and is owned by Pamela and Michael Horton. In fact, owner Pamela Horton has sensitively and lovingly refurbished this inn over the years, with the 2-Rosette restaurant being the latest addition. The amazing staff love this creaky old inn, and their enthusiasm is evident, with their service being exemplary.
- Food and drink: The restaurant, or rather brasserie, is known for its fine dining, but the real ticket is the cozy bar. It served hearty classics like venison burgers and battered cod and chips. What’s more, we had many breakfast choices, ranging from scrambled eggs to homemade muesli and even delicious smoked trout from Bibury.
- Room type(s): All 17 rooms/suites come in all sizes and shapes and lie in four discrete parts of the property. While some are spacious and bright, others are snuggled under beams and boast striking wallpapers. While Rosie has a private garden, Shepherd has a four-poster bed. Moreover, while some have walk-in showers, others, like our Allium Room, have feature tubs. Nevertheless, they all had Molton Brown products.
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The George Inn, Barford
The George Inn beautifully blends history and luxury in the Cotswolds. This refurbished 17th-century inn, which is also dog-friendly, sits in a pleasantly sleepy setting of Barford village on the banks of the River Cherwell. So, we were treated to gorgeous views of the surrounding Oxfordshire countryside. Did we mention the pleasing terrace garden and splendid wine room?
- Meet the hosts: It all began in 2016 when Laura and Louis Holtzhausen bought this golden-thatched, 16th-century inn and set about restoring it. What’s more, the different teams who run it, helmed by manager Claire Lenkowiec, genuinely enjoy being here. They were very helpful and cheerful and took care of all our needs. In fact, Laura and Louis would even pop in from time to time, as they live right in the village.
- Food and drink: Eating here was an absolute joy. The restaurant has a terrific range of seasonal mains, sharing boards, and pub classics like cod with chips and venison burgers. Not only were the veggies from local suppliers or their own garden, but they also emphasized local brewers and local game meat. Moreover, breakfast was a hearty spread, which included pastries, pastries, berry compote, and sourdough toast, along with cooked options like poached eggs with feta and avocado. The best bit? We could have it in the restaurant, or they would even bring it to our room.
- Room type(s): We had the choice of nine luxurious bedrooms, six of which were contemporary and three of them were more old-school. Nevertheless, all rooms had private bathrooms with aromatic 100 Acres bath products, king beds, and Nespresso machines.
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The Wheatsheaf Inn, Northleach
Sitting a few minutes outside the busy Bourton-on-the-Water, the charming 17th-century Wheatsheaf Inn was a wonderfully serene abode for our English countryside vacation. Boasting a country-cool charm, the early 1800s-built Wheatsheaf has gone from being a creeper-clad coaching inn to a boutique, arty haven. In fact, the inn’s history is evident in the photographs adorning the snug and bar.
- Meet the hosts: This family-owned and operated inn is helmed by sisters Emily Skelton and Claire Boulton-Lear, both of whom have extensive hospitality industry experience. An experienced team of enthusiastic staff runs the inn with exceptional warmth and friendliness.
- Food and drink: Food at the pub is exceptional, and it’s one of the reasons the Northleach is on the map! We’d dig into melt-in-the-mouth dishes like lemon sole and twice-baked cheese spinach souffle. Plus, there are plant-based and daily game options too. Even breakfast offered a lavish number of choices; think field mushrooms, traditional full English with black pudding, porridge and honeycomb, poached eggs and avocado on sourdough, Greek yogurt, and granola.
- Room type(s): We had the choice of 14 terrific and elegant rooms, all with organic Bramley bath products and fluffy bathrobes. What’s more, they’re divided into Cozy, Boutique, and Bigger Boutique rooms, all of which are amazing. Our Bigger Boutique room came with a massive bathroom, complete with a deep-soaking copper bathtub. Sigh.
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Modern Stays
It’s hard to imagine anything modern in the middle of the English countryside of the Cotswolds, but these swanky and luxurious inns surprised and delighted us.
St. Anne’s B&B, Painswick
St. Anne’s B&B is, without a doubt, the best B&B in the Cotswolds—and for good reason. This terraced Painswick townhouse was perfect for exploring the very core of the Cotswolds. Since it proudly boasts a Green Tourism accreditation, this good-value B&B uses organic products, right from breakfast ingredients to linens.
“We were proud to have been staying in a “green” B&B, and that too without losing the authenticity of the Cotswolds!”
WOW Travel
- Meet the hosts: This charming townhouse is home to Iris and Greg McCormick and their two hospitable terriers. They both welcomed us very informally, like we were old friends, and even gave us maps and tons of local insight. In fact, they’ve even carefully curated comprehensive booklets of information for every bedroom! The best bit? They took care of our every little whim, including organizing luggage transfers and arranging for packed lunches, with a little bit of advance notice, of course.
- Food and drink: Iris would bake bread daily in the kitchen behind us, and the enticing aroma of freshly baked loaves would draw us down for breakfast. Plus, it would always be a great spread of made-to-order eggs, bread, fruit, mueslis, and yogurt. We’d even have freshly baked cakes at teatime!
- Room type(s): There were just three rather cozy bedrooms, but they were all very pretty and came with ensuites and showers. One had two twin beds, one had a double bed, and the third had a four-poster bed. Moreover, they were all stocked with eclectic books and Fairtrade coffee and tea.
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Woodchester Valley Vineyard Barns, Stroud
For us oenophiles, the Woodchester Valley Vineyard Barns outside Stroud was the perfect English countryside retreat. We loved every bit of this sleek, contemporary-style retreat, which was established in 2007 and offers tastings and tours.
- Meet the hosts: The Founding Director, Fiona Shiner, planted Woodchester Valley’s very first acre in 2007. It was followed by wine-making and viticulture courses. We’d find her tending to the vines many times while always ready to share great information about good wine. She was assisted by an amazing team who took care of us like we were the world’s most special guests.
- Food and drink: Most stays here had kitchens and breakfast bars, so we could whip up food anytime. However, we could also order continental breakfast baskets and breakfast hampers to start the day easily.
- Room type(s): We had choices of rooms in the vineyard barns, the retreat, and the Woodchester Valley house, all of which had glorious views over the surrounding vineyards. While some are two-storeyed digs perfect for couples and some are pet-friendly, others are perfect for large groups of friends and families.
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Pub-style Stays
Pubs with rooms are a staple in the Cotswolds, but they’re more than just old-fashioned bed-and-breakfasts now. They’re renowned for their exciting seasonal and local produce-based menus and generous hospitality. Here’s where you can find the best ones.
The Feathered Nest Inn, Westcote
Tucked away in the tiny village of Westcote, the Feathered Nest Inn sits in what is a 350-year-old former malt house. Today, it combines sumptuous rooms and one of the best restaurants in the region, making it one of the Cotswolds’ best pub-style stays.
- Meet the hosts: Amanda and Tony Timmer might be the founders of this amazing setup, but Adam Taylor has taken it forward since 2019. With a background in property investment and consultancy, his latest undertaking has been a triumph. But we had a ball with the slick team that manages the property, and it was an absolute joy to see them take delight in their work. Plus, they took care of us very well, right from our stay to our food.
- Food and drink: The food here was exquisite, right from the three-course set lunch menus to terrific tasting menus – it was a foodie adventure in the truest sense. Did you know they cured and aged their hams, made their own butter, and baked their own bread? Yes! Aside from an extensive wine list, we loved the breakfast that ranged from pastries and porridge to a full English and poached eggs with sourdough and smashed avocado.
- Room type(s): Four bedrooms above the bar/restaurant, including an attic one, are all styled as country inn accommodations. Think soft bird-themed furnishings, hessian floors, and all with ensuite bathrooms. Moreover, they all had Nespresso machines and plush beds.
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The Stump, Cirencester
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The Stump in Cirencester is one of the newer down-to-earth gastropubs in the Cotswolds, and we loved the refreshingly no-nonsense vibe. Imagine pizzas and beer, but in an environment that’s as upscale as much as its English countryside. Moreover, this rambling 17th-century coaching inn sits just outside Cirencester, radiating traditional market towns’ charm.
- Meet the hosts: The Stump is childhood friends Baz and Fred, a.k.a. Harry Henriques and Fred Hicks’ first countryside undertaking. They’ve been making pizzas together since 2012! In fact, the cheerful and friendly young staff in tee and jeans uniforms extend the owners’ delightful vibes to the rest of the inn. They’re enthusiastic and attentive, thus adding to the amazing atmosphere of the pub.
- Food and drink: The pub is the highlight in this food-obsessed town, and we’re the last ones complaining. Think a pool table, local craft beers, scrubbed wood tables, and three roaring log fires, along with delicious pasta dishes, wood-fired pizzas, and Italian antipasti options. They even served us a breakfast of OJ, coffee, tea, eggs (fried or scrambled), and grains (berries, yogurt, cereals, sourdough toast).
- Room type(s): The 10 rooms here were always well-presented, with fires lit all the time—how cozy is that? Eight are on the ground floor, and two are above the archway, but they all have king beds, minimalist decor, ensuite private bathrooms, and Nespresso machines. Did you know they all share an outdoor terrace? Yep.
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The Wild Rabbit, Kingham
Despite being a classic Cotswolds village, Kingham has somehow managed to always stay under the radar, but The Wild Rabbit might just amp up the excitement here. The 18th-century inn was earlier known as the Tollgate Inn and has been a pub with rooms since the 1980s. We loved that despite being a pub with rooms, the place also had a small reception where we could arrange massages at Daylesford’s Haybarn spa. Adding to that was the fact that we could borrow bikes and wellies as well.
- Meet the hosts: The Wild Rabbot was transformed by Lady Carole Bamford, who also owns the sister enterprise Daylesford, of the spa, deli, and organic farm shop fame. She’s assisted by a wonderful and enthusiastic staff, who not only gave us a tour of the property but also took the pains to tell us about cooking techniques.
- Food and drink: The original cozy pub got an airy dining room extension, and now it’s a beautifully posh pub with food to match. Much of the menu at this gourmand haven is seasonal, organic, and locally sourced. We could even choose to dine at the terraces or the bar. That said, the epicurean breakfasts here were our favorite, which included avocado on toast, pancakes with maple syrup, pastries, yogurt, berry compotes, and mueslis.
- Room type(s): All 15 rooms are named after woodland creatures and boast the quintessential Daylesford 50-shades-of-cream design. What’s more, all rooms are rustic-chic with soft Egyptian linen, four-poster beds, private bathrooms with aromatic Bamford products, and Nespresso machines.
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The Three Horseshoes, Asthall
Burford on the River Windrush is called the gateway to the Cotswolds, and for good reason. Just a little ways away, in neighboring Asthall, sits The Three Horseshoes, the epitome of rustic chic living in the region. Moreover, the pub is known for serving pub classics and wood-fired weekend pizzas, which people love eating in the verdant garden. Think tranquil views, live music, and quizzes; digital countryside detox couldn’t get any better.
- Meet the hosts: While it was owned by Dominic Good and called the Maytime earlier, it’s now a Daylesford property and returned to its roots with the name “The Three Horseshoes.” What’s more, the front-end team was exceptionally cheerful, friendly, and amazing at ensuring a relaxing stay for us. Whether it was helping with food and drink recommendations or helping with the luggage, the care and detail were everywhere.
- Food and drink: Everything on the pub’s menu, including the ice cream, bread, and even the biscuits, was made right on the property. Besides the long wine and drinks lists, we loved the breakfast that was served right to our table. It included a large selection of coffees and teas, porridge/choice of eggs (including Benedict), choice of juices, avocado/smoked salmon on sourdough toast, mushrooms, a breakfast bowl (yogurt, granola, and seasonal fruit), and a full English.
- Room type(s): With just six ensuite rooms, staying here was intimate and exclusive. While they had the quirks of a 17th-century structure, the modern comforts made them all the better. Moreover, all private luxurious bathrooms had underfloor heating, bathrobes, and Bamford bath products.
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Where to Stay in the Cotswolds?
Known for its winding streets and honey-hued stone cottages, the Cotswolds is dotted with centuries-old pubs, churches, and inns that go even further back. So, which are the prettiest towns and villages in the region where you could stay?
We begin with Broadway, which is home to one of the area’s smartest high streets. It has a smattering of interior shops, shops selling fresh produce, and art galleries. Secondly, there’s the alluring Burton-on-the-Water, where locals take to the stream running through the heart of the town for traditional river football. Plus, it has tons of traditional riverfront cottages that have all turned into pubs, B&Bs, cafés, and antique shops. The sleepy Lower and Upper Slaughter sit just 10-15 minutes away, with the walk between Lower and Upper following the River Eye. Both villages are truly rural English villages with caramel-colored stone houses, horses trotting by, and even a village water mill! It also has a pub or two that sells delicious food and hand-churned ice cream.
Painswick is all about the great outdoors, while the tiny town of Burford is known for its 12th-century church and thatched-roof cottages. In fact, Burford is one of the top things to do in Oxford. If you’re looking for England‘s oldest inn, the 947 AD-founded Porch House, you’ll find it in Stow-on-the-Wold, which is all about ivy-clad structures. Finally, Castle Combe, with its sleepy, winding streets, has been used for the filing period for many TV series and movies, including “The War Horse” and “Downton Abbey.” No matter where you go, you’ll always find an amazing B&B in the Cotswolds.
How long to spend in the Cotswolds?
With a rich heritage, charming villages, and enchanting landscapes, spending as many as two weeks here is easy. However, if you don’t have much time, you can get a lot done in even two days.
What area is best for staying in the Cotswolds?
The Cotswolds has some lovely counties and towns, but some absolute Cotswolds-charmers are Broadway, Stow-on-the-Wold, and Burford.
Why is the Cotswolds popular?
Cotswolds are popular for many reasons. This includes their rich history, stunning landscapes, and scenic villages, which give them a unique charm.
