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Our expert writers are usually hosted for free to gain the first-hand experience necessary for their review.
In 1966, the Cotswolds were designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – the 16th district in England and Wales (there are now 46 AONBs). And it’s not without reason that this extremely popular region of Britain is still hugely praised for its natural splendor. Many of the Cotswolds’ top hotels combine this utopian setting with world-class spas, offering a winning mix of relaxation, revitalization and fantastic scenery. Below we have selected a range of top quality accommodation with state-of-the-art spas that are worthy of being considered a destination in their own right. Here’s our pick of the best spa hotels in the Cotswolds.
How we assess
Each hotel on this curated list has been visited by one of our expert reviewers, usually hosted free of charge. They stay at least one night, test at least one meal and try other experiences the hotel may have to offer.
The best spa hotels in the Cotswolds at a glance
Dormy House is a complete treat of a hotel with very stylish and deeply relaxing decor, amazing food and impeccable service. The state-of-the-art spa has won numerous awards, which isn’t surprising considering its lavender sauna, salt infusion steam room, infinity pool and more. The treatments are from the advanced brand Natura Bisse, whose facial treatments are said to have a better effect than Botox. Best for romantics, Rose Cottage has its own hot tub, while the Courtyard suites mainly emphasize Scandinavian design, and the bathrooms are stocked with Temple Spa goodies. The Garden Room offers a fantastic afternoon tea.
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This beautiful country house hotel opposite Cheltenham Racecourse has a rich history (check out the Civil War musket holes at the front door), great surroundings and plenty of style. The 61 bedrooms are in keeping with the relaxed country-chic style of the place – some have striped wallpaper, others have chintz and curtained wardrobes. A highlight is the dreamy outdoor pool and a large, well-designed spa with hot tub, sauna, steam room and juice bar. The extensive treatment range is based on the skin care products of Ila and Monu from the Cotswolds and on the seaweed lotions of Ishga from the Hebrides.
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This much-loved 17th century Cotswolds house is about to be taken over by THE PIG hotel group, so expect changes to take place in 2024. However, the bare bones and spirit of the place will undoubtedly remain the same. This is an ultra-chic and immensely relaxing retreat with beautiful gardens and an excellent wellness centre. The glorious spa is set in a cow parsley-lined valley in the garden and is infused with the scent of drying herbs. It offers an attractive range of facilities, from a relaxing outdoor hydrotherapy pool to a steam room and sauna. There are four hectares of greenery, including a knot garden and a potager to explore after a treatment.
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Talk of the spa here has flown somewhat under the radar. This isn’t surprising as the reopening of Cowley Manor, the Italian beauty near Cheltenham, was all anyone in the Cotswolds could talk about last summer. But it’s surprising considering the amazing wellness space that the C-Side Spa is and always has been. The bones – that beautiful, low-slung modernist building with glass sides, the pool with sunshade, excellent therapists – needed just a bit of spruce, a light touch from the brilliant designer Dorothée Meilichzon. A few beautiful sofas, locally made and natural Monu Skin products along the shelves and cheerful parasols on the terrace have given it a playful new life.
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This beautifully designed haven near Tetbury offers excellent facilities, all set in 220 acres of beautiful grounds. Calcot combines soothing, contemporary looks with the appeal of a classic country house hotel – think dreamy cream furnishings, plush sofas and crackling fireplaces. The staff apparently love the hotel and their enthusiasm is charming. Top marks go to the spa team for creating a soothing atmosphere while managing a flow of many guests. They come for Elemis and Aromatherapy Associates treatments, the indoor pool, hot tub, sauna and more.
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Set in 100 acres of Oxfordshire countryside, Soho Farmhouse offers a rural setting (no pesky stuff like mud and farm smells here), spacious Nantucket-style accommodation and the facilities of a Center Parcs centre. [sic] on steroids and delicious food and drinks. The result? The ultimate ‘country-lite’ retreat. The facilities are second to none – from the Cowshed spa with sauna, hammam, hot tubs and a wide range of treatments, to the luxury cinema, cooking school and spacious gym and spinning studio. The large bathrooms are a highlight with a range of full-size Cowshed toiletries and roll top baths. To book you must be a member of Soho House or a ‘Friend’ of Soho House (£100 per year).
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Thyme is a cluster of honeystone properties in postcard-pretty Southrop, about eight miles from Burford. It’s a “village within a village,” says owner Caryn Hibbert, who designed it as a dreamy, otherworldly oasis. There’s a great sense of industriousness here, partly because this is very much a family business, with Caryn’s son Charlie being the brains behind the kitchen (he’s ex-Quo Vadis in London’s Soho). The facilities are first class, from the Meadow Spa with eight treatment rooms to the heated spring water pool, tennis court, topiary-filled garden and spacious grounds beyond. The cooking school offers a year-round program of day classes, such as bread baking and seasonal dinner party dishes.
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Located in picturesque Broadway, this large and historic inn has been soothingly restored and exudes a cozy-chic feel, with 86 stylish bedrooms, chic restaurants and a fabulous spa. The latter features an elegant indoor pool with retractable roof and hot tub, a steam room, a sauna and a fitness center; a choice of treatments includes hot stone massages, body scrubs, pedicures and facials, using products such as Oskia. It offers perfect relaxation for walkers who would like to take advantage of the hotel’s rural surroundings. The rooms are decorated in warm colors with tartan headboards and the beds are extremely comfortable thanks to the handmade organic Naturalmat mattresses.
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This beautiful honeystone hotel is located in the center of heartbreakingly picturesque Chipping Campden. It is a gloriously sprawling establishment, partly housed in a Grade II listed building. The garden is exceptional, a beautifully planted series of semi-secret spaces separated by box and yew hedges. There is a quiet terrace where you can have tea or something to drink on sunny evenings. At the far end is a former coaching inn, which is home to the spa, which offers aromatic Decléor treatments, a steam room and a hydrotherapy pool. The 28 bedrooms come in all shapes and sizes; two have a hot tub in their own little garden.
Contributions by Harriet O’Brien, Charles Starmer-Smith and Issy von Simson