With its unique honey-coloured stone buildings and tranquil air, there aren't many UK regions that can beat the Cotswolds when it comes to chocolate-box villages. Covering almost 800 square miles and spanning five counties – Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire – it derives its name from the Old English words 'cot' (sheep) and 'wold' (hills), and its picturesque rolling landscapes certainly live up to its name. Unsurprisingly designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, romance goes hand-in-hand with the Cotswolds, as you lose yourself in this special setting of gently winding rivers, peaceful pastures and idyllic sunsets; there's certainly a little extra magic in the air here.
What's more, the area is easily accessed via the M4, M5 and M40, making it the perfect location for a quick weekend getaway whichever part of the country you live in. With a multitude of Michelin-recommended hotels boasting lovely spas, wonderful vistas and a great choice of restaurants, it's time to kick back and enjoy this wonderful location.
© Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa, Malmesbury
Friday Evening
Heading home from the office on a Friday afternoon already feels good, but what could be better than knowing that a relaxing, romantic getaway also awaits? So grab your weekend bag, jump in the car and enjoy the stunning scenery as you head straight for the Two-Michelin-Key Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa in Malmesbury. A tree-lined drive leads up to this picture-perfect country house – a Grade II listed former farm building dating from 1802 – which comes with 12 acres of ornamental gardens that are divided up into 26 different areas to explore. With just 23 bedrooms and suites this is a fairly intimate affair; just the thing to make your weekend away feel even more exclusive.After unpacking, head for the spa, adding in time in the floatation pod or receiving a treatment to really help set your weekend off on the right tone, then make your way over to One-Michelin-Starred The Dining Room, which comes with a fittingly serene, romantic feel. The concise menu descriptions give little away before you dine, but you'll find that these artfully presented dishes are packed full of creativity and intriguing flavour and texture contrasts. Alternatively, for a more casual first meal, there's Grey's. Ask for a booth for a more intimate experience or, if the weather's right, sit in the garden to enjoy modern British dishes and small plates.
One-Michelin-Starred The Dining Room, Malmesbury (© Cristian Barnett/The Dining Room)
Saturday Morning
Start your day with a visit to the charming market town of Malmesbury. Built on the site of a 2,800-year-old Iron Age hill fort, it's England's oldest borough, and possibly even the first capital of England following a declaration as such by King Athelstan the Glorious, the first king of England; you'll find him entombed in the imposing 12th-century Gothic abbey, which is still in use today. Malmesbury Abbey is the third abbey to have stood on this site and features an illuminated 15th-century bible and the gravestone of a local killed by a tiger in 1703! A minute's walk away you'll come across the town's Grade I listed Market Cross, which dates from around 1490 and is known locally as 'The Birdcage' thanks to its multi-arched design. From here, you can either wander the charming streets filled with independent retailers or take a stroll beside the river, which winds its way around the town.
Malmesbury Abbey, Malmesbury (© iStock/ChrisAt)
Saturday Lunch
It's time to head over to Bath, just under an hour's drive away. Your first port of call is Michelin Green Star restaurant Oak, a pleasingly unpretentious bistro where a sustainable ethos leads the way. They follow a principle that puts the soil first, with ingredients coming from their market garden just outside of the city, as well as from farmers who cultivate their land without chemical intervention. The well-priced, plant-based small plates are designed for sharing and evolve depending on the latest organic, biodynamic and low-intervention ingredients available to them.
Michelin Green Star Oak, Bath (©thevenetianpantry/Instagram)
Saturday Afternoon
Bath is a city steeped in history. It's the only UK city to have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's also one of just 11 towns which make up UNESCO's Great Spa Towns of Europe. With that in mind, it's time to head to the Roman Baths. With high concentrations of sodium, calcium, chloride and sulphate ions, these healing waters drew the Roman people from far and wide, who came to worship at the temple of the Goddess Sulis Minerva and bathe in the waters of the natural thermal springs. Although you can no longer bathe here, you can still explore the complex, walking on the original Roman pavements of Aquae Sulis and viewing the ruins of the temple along with other Roman artefacts.After this, hotfoot it over to the adults-only Thermae Bath Spa, just one minute's walk away, which is the only day spa where you can indulge in Bath's mineral-rich waters which originate from the King's Spring, the Hetling Spring and the Cross Spring. You can choose from a range of revitalising treatments or simply take in the 360° view from the rooftop pool. Alternatively, book yourself in to The Gainsborough Bath Spa. This luxurious hotel with stone columns and elegant Georgian and Victorian features is built on the site of a 19th-century hospital, itself built on top of an old Roman bath. Its most unique feature though is that it's the only hotel in Bath with its own geothermal spring, which it uses to create an age-old bathing experience comprising several pools of varying temperatures.
The Roman Baths, Bath (© iStock/eugenesergeev)
Saturday Evening
Feeling thoroughly relaxed and rejuvenated, head to The Queensberry Hotel, which sits inside four Georgian townhouses designed by John Wood the Younger, who also created The Royal Crescent (more on that later). Pleasingly, the hotel is owned by a husband and wife rather than a big group, so it comes packed with character and individuality. Both the layout and its original architectural features have been preserved, which, combined with 21st-century comforts, creates a quirky floor plan and an atmospheric home-from-home feel.Start your night in the Old Q Bar, a cosy, compact spot run by a friendly team, that offers a 'quintessentially British' feel but plenty of global choices. From ciders, wine and spirits to 'Prohibition' and 'Modern' cocktails, there's something here for everyone. Next, head downstairs to the Olive Tree, the hotel's surprisingly bright and airy modern restaurant, where Chef Chris Cleghorn's approach to his cooking perfectly matches the innovative, personalised ethos of the owners. Menus range from two to seven courses, providing plenty of flexibility, with vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian and dairy-free options also available.
Finish your night at The Hideout, just a 10-minute walk away. Secreted away in the historic Tudor lanes, legend has it this aptly named stone and wood bar was once a meeting place for thieves, highwaymen, scoundrels and opportunists. Today, it's a whisky drinker's paradise, with over 300 regularly rotating whiskies served by a clued-up team, as well as a list of quirkly-named, music-themed cocktails for the uninitiated.
One-Michelin-Starred the Olive Tree, Bath (© Mark Cleghorn/Olive Tree)
Sunday Morning
For lovers of architecture, a visit to The Royal Crescent is a must when in Bath. A sweeping 500-foot-long crescent comprising 30 Grade I listed terraced houses which first overlooks a manicured lawn and then across the Royal Victoria Park, it is amongst the greatest examples of Georgian architecture to be found within the UK. House No.1 is now a museum, with authentic room set-ups depicting Georgian life. With a history dating back as far as 675 AD, and also Grade I listed, Bath Abbey is a key stop-off too. It boasts 1,500 memorials on the walls and floor (in the ledger stones), a beautiful fan-vaulted ceiling that was built in the 1500s and wonderful stained-glass windows depicting, among others, Jesus' story and the crowning of King Edgar.If nature's more your thing, jump in the car and make the 10-minute journey over to the recently restored Prior Park Landscape Garden. Originally belonging to a local businessman, Ralph Allen, and partially designed by poet Alexander Pope, this 18th-century garden boasts one of only four Palladian bridges to be found in the world and makes for some great photographs. Nearby you'll also find Dundas Aqueduct – a Scheduled Ancient Monument which carries the Kennet & Avon Canal over the River Avon; Combe Down Tunnel – a former railway tunnel and now the longest cycling and walking tunnel in Britain, which also features interactive light and sound installations; and the Bath Skyline – a six-mile circular route taking in woodlands and meadows, an Iron Age hill fort, Roman settlements and 18th-century follies.
Bath Abbey, Bath (© iStock/Alla Tsyganova)
Sunday Lunch
Heading 20 minutes southwest of Bath, you'll find yourself in Bradford-on-Avon. Seek out the Bunch of Grapes, one of the oldest pubs in this historic town and thus the perfect place to settle in for one of Britain's greatest traditions, the Sunday roast. Choose from pork, chicken, beef or a sharing platter of lamb for two, and if meat's not your thing, then there's also fish and triple-cooked chips or a mushroom, spinach and pine nut pithivier on offer. Huge Yorkshires accompany and they run a bottomless gravy policy, which will be music to many people's ears. Downstairs has more of a pubby feel, while upstairs there's more of a restaurant vibe, and their 'Bunch of Bakes' deli is also open on the weekend, offering pastries, biscuits and bakes to take home; just be sure to grab something before you dine, as it closes at 1pm.
A Sunday Roast at the Bunch of Grapes, Bradford-on-Avon (©thegrapesboa)
Sunday Afternoon
Bradford-on-Avon takes its name from the Saxon period, when the townspeople would drive their carts across the 'broad ford' that the town came to grow up around. One of its most striking features is the nine-arch stone bridge which spans this crossing, which boasts two arches dating back to its former packhorse life in the 13th century. At its centre sits a small chapel, which, somewhat ironically, was later converted into a lock-up – if you're here in September, be sure to book one of their open viewing days. On your way over, look out for the old mill buildings which dominate the town's architecture; these sit beside banks of weavers' cottages and the grand former residences of the wealthy mill owners, giving Bradford-on-Avon a unique and historic feel.If you don't mind the climb, follow the network of hidden footpaths and secret steps that weave their way up between the hillside houses and you'll be rewarded with some spectacular views. Back down in town and set on the site of the old medieval market stalls, The Shambles is a great place to wander around; here, independent shops are housed in buildings that date from as far back as the 1400s. Nature abounds in Bradford-upon-Avon too. The 36-acre Barton Farm Country Park, nestled between the River Avon and the Kennet and Avon Canal, boasts lovely waterside walks and a range of historic buildings; the Tithe Barn was constructed in the 14th century and is one of the largest and finest examples of a medieval barn in England.
Before leaving, head to The Bridge Tea Rooms for a slice of cake or a traditional afternoon tea. Set in an old blacksmith’s cottage dating back to 1502, it also spent time as a tailor's workshop, a sweet shop and an antiques shop, before it was converted into a tea shop in 1989. With its cosy beamed dining room decorated as it would have been in Victorian times and staff in traditional uniforms, it oozes charm and character.
The Bridge Tea Rooms, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire (© iStock/Tornadoflight)
Sunday Evening
For a final treat, make your way to the Three-Michelin-Key Lucknam Park hotel in Colerne to end your weekend in pure luxury, booking one of the seven cottages if you fancy that extra level of privacy. This former family home only opened as a hotel in 1987, but with its stunningly restored Palladian mansion dating back to 1720, it captures all the elegance and opulence of a bygone era.Arrive early for a wander around the 500 acres of listed parkland before making a beeline for the £15m spa. Next, it's on to the Drawing Room, with its glittering chandeliers, pleated drapes and sumptuous sofas that ooze style and comfort – the perfect spot for your tipple du jour. Following that, it's time for dinner at One-Michelin-Starred Restaurant Hywel Jones by Lucknam Park. This is country house dining at its finest – opulent, formal and sophisticated – with the lavish surroundings matched only by the attention given to the cuisine, where expertly rendered cooking showcases luxurious ingredients in dishes with a pleasingly light, modern touch.
© Lucknam Park, Colerne
Monday Morning
For the final stop on your tour, head to Castle Combe. Named after the 12th-century Norman castle which once stood on the hillside above it, it's a truly charming place and is said to be one of the prettiest villages in England. The 14th to the 17th centuries saw it famed for its red and white cloth, the production of which gave the village much of the character it still holds today. Its 14th-century Market Cross and its golden-stone weavers' cottages remain its most prominent features and the river which once powered the mills provides the perfect backdrop. Architecturally, little has changed here since the 15th century, with no new houses built since around the 1600s and no modern fixtures allowed on display on the walls, giving it a somewhat timeless feel.
Castle Combe Market Cross, Wiltshire (© iStock/Roger Mechan)
Monday Lunch
Having worked up an appetite exploring, it's thankfully not too far to lunch. The Castle Inn sits at the centre of the village in the old market square and comes complete with many of its original 12th-century features. The menu is just what you hope to see in a place like this: a list of punchy, full-flavoured dishes accompanied by a blackboard of daily specials, with game a highlight in season and desserts a hit all year round.With a full stomach and a full heart, it's time to wend your way back through the countryside – via a farm shop or two for some souvenir goodies of course – fully relaxed and with a smile on your face. Until the next time.
© Castle Inn, Castle Combe
Address Book
Bath
Bath Abbey: Bath, BA1 1LT
Bath Skyline Circular Walk – National Trust: Bathwick, Bath, BA2 6EW
Combe Down Tunnel – Northern Portal: Cotswold, Perrymead, Bath, BA2 5AX
Combe Down Tunnel – Southern Portal: Two Tunnels, Combe Down, Bath, BA2 5JR
Dundas Aqueduct: Brassknocker Basin, Monkton Combe, BA2 7JD
Prior Park Landscape Garden – National Trust: Ralph Allen Dr, Bath, BA2 5AH
Thermae Bath Spa: The Hetling Pump Room, Hot Bath St, Bath, BA1 1SJ
The Hideout: 1 Lilliput Court, Bath, BA1 1ND
The Roman Baths: Abbey Churchyard, Bath, BA1 1LZ
The Royal Crescent: Bath, BA1 2LR
Bradford-on-Avon
Barton Farm Country Park: Pound Ln, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 1LF
The Bridge Team Rooms: 24a Bridge St, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 1BY
The Shambles: Bradford-on-Avon
Tithe Barn: Pound Lane, Pound Ln, Bradford-on-Avon, BA15 1LF
Castle Combe
The Market Cross: 1 Market Pl, Castle Combe, Chippenham, SN14 7HT
Malmesbury
Malmesbury Abbey: Gloucester St, Malmesbury, SN16 0AA
Hero Image: Castle Combe, Wiltshire (© iStock/Alexey_Fedoren)
