Short Stay: Cotswold House Hotel & Spa, Chipping Campden, The Cotswolds, UK /

There is a golden glow of Cotswold stone on the facade of three Georgian houses that make up this 28-room luxury hotel.

The elegant hotel overlooks Chipping Campden’s sloping high street and is meters from the town’s covered market. It was the tradition of the market, or chipping as it was called in the Middle Ages, that gave the town its name.

In the mid-20th century, historian GM Trevelyan stated that Chipping Campden had the finest high street, preserving its past, that remained in Britain. Take away the cars and you could film Thomas Hardy scenes of milkmaids and shepherds.

The welcome

As a few minutes of free parking is allowed in front of the Cotswold House Hotel & Spa, the hotel recommends that you drop off your luggage first. Then a two minute drive to the car park at the rear of the hotel.

It’s a surprisingly long walk back to reception, through the hotel’s extensive gardens, which are divided into charming secret spaces by box and yew hedges.

Once back at reception we are checked in and led through winding corridors to our room. Getting lost is part of the Cotswold House experience. Fortunately, sooner or later you will come back to the spectacular cylindrical spiral staircase.

The room

Our junior suite on the ground floor has French doors that open onto a screened patio with table and chairs. Although we are only meters from Chipping Campden’s busy high street, the tucked away suite is blissfully quiet.

Free-flowing design leads the eye from the king size bed, with striking taupe headboard, to a lounge area dominated by an aubergine colored sofa and armchair. In addition to a large free-standing wardrobe, there are two suitcase stands and a desk. Two elongated pyramids, on the mantelpiece, provide a warm orange glow when lit.

Although there are only 28 rooms, there are eight different room types, so it’s worth discussing your requirements with the hotel before booking. Within the grounds there are six cottage rooms, while accommodation in the main house ranges from cozy rooms up in the eaves to the grand Montrose Suite.

The bathroom

Is the bathroom a showroom of Venetian glass with glassware on backlit shelves? Or is it a spa with bottles of The Natural Spa products displayed on the shelves? In fact, the bathroom is big enough to be both.

A deep oval bath dominates the room and there is also a walk-in shower.

The facilities

In the High Street, in the middle of the city, the bar attracts both locals and passers-by. A selection of 80 gins and an impressive cocktail menu, as well as the location, create a buzzing atmosphere.

Classically designed Georgian columns and intricate cornices characterize the gracious Fig Restaurant. While The Bistro on the Square has a more casual and contemporary feel, both restaurants serve the same menu.

Usually there is much more on the menu than shown online. While it’s hard to look beyond perfectly prepared classic entrees like cheese soufflé, homemade soup, and salmon gravadlax, there are more options among entrees.

There are also specials such as cote de boeuf, lamb, sea bream and shrimp linguine in addition to the regulars of duck, pheasant, cauliflower tandoori, duck, trout and steak.

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Rent

Court Barn Museum tells the story of how CR Ashbee brought the Guild of Crafts to Chipping Campden in 1902. Rather, his group of artisans, who created handcrafted pieces, was based on an arts and crafts movement that responded to industrial mass production. in East London. As one of the museum’s displays indicates, it was almost a case of Eastenders encounter The Archers.

Exhibits tell the stories of the many craftsmen who sometimes struggled to adapt to rural life and were not always welcomed by country people. Over time, they struggled to find markets for their work, and Ashbee had to close the co-op. and many of the artisans remained. Artistry thrives in The Gallery of The Old Silk Mill in Sheep Street.

Depending on how you look at it, Chipping Campden is the start or end point of the 102 miles of The Cotswold Way. There are also beautiful gardens at Hidcote to explore.

Other nice keys

The silver afternoon tea stands and cutlery, which blend into the Arts and Crafts setting, are all supplied by Robert Welch Silversmiths whose studio is also on Chipping Campden’s High Street.

In the bathroom, which emphasizes the hotel’s eco credentials, there’s an aesthetically effective curtain made from abandoned plastic straps.

There is a poster in reception with the 25 best things to do within 25 minutes of the Cotswold House Hotel.

cost

Bed and breakfast room rates start at £140 in winter and £190 in summer.

The best bit

Literally away from the hustle and bustle, at the end of the garden, former stables have been converted into a relaxing spa.

It consists of six treatment rooms, a hydrotherapy room with a heated hydrotherapy pool and an aromatic steam bath for use before and after treatment.

The final verdict

A lovely rambling house in the heart of picturesque Chipping Campden with elegant contemporary touches and a charming spa.

Step out the front door and enjoy Chipping Campden’s continuing arts and crafts heritage.

Disclosure: Our stay was sponsored by Cotswold House Hotel & Spa.