Cowley Manor Experimental Cotswolds Hotel review

A luxury hotel in a quiet corner of the Cotswolds, with heated indoor and outdoor pools, spacious rooms and stylish interiors. – Plus an award winning restaurant –Combine for a peaceful country escape

place

Adjacent to the River Chern, Cowley Manor is surrounded by 55 acres of parkland (careful for llama grazing) in the Cotswolds. Forests, meadows, natural springs and lakes create a magical environment. In fact, Lewis Carroll was inspired by the hotel grounds while writing Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

The regional spa town of Cheltenham is a 15-minute drive to the north, while the predominantly English villages of Burton-on-Water, Upper Slater and Bibury, as well as the bustling market town of Stow-on-the-World. are Just 20 minutes away Cowley Manor offers a base from which to explore the popular honey stone villages, while escaping the crowds as you sleep at night. Drive 50 minutes east and you’ll land on Cotswolds hotspots Soho Farmhouse, Chipping Norton, Daylesford Empire and Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat farm shop (be prepared for a two-hour queue).

Cowley Manor dining hall inspired by literature (Cowley Maneuver)

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the mood

Built in the 17th century, Cowley Manor once belonged to the Kings of England. It was a wartime bunker and was converted into a hotel two decades ago, before the French experimental group took over in 2022 and restored the interior. There are heads on the nose Alice in Wonderland – Think printed dining chairs, miniature doors and checkered rugs and Queen of Hearts wallpaper. Maximalists will love the rattan textures, glossy varnish and lava stone set against the main features.

This hotel has a quiet but unique atmosphere that is reflected in the stylish and sophisticated interior. Bold details are balanced with comfort – the carpets are soft underfoot while the bar and lounge have easy chairs and plush sofas to sink into in the evening. There’s even a games room with a pool table, chess sets, and draft tables to create a communal atmosphere.

Services

Check-in is easy (your bags are in the room before you are) and check-out is just as hassle-free. Polite but not intrusive, the staff is always on hand to assist guests, whether it’s serving drinks to guests on lawn chairs or assisting with spa treatments. While breakfast service is attentive, dinner wasn’t straightforward (the dishes came out before the long-forgotten bottle of wine) and room service was a little long.

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bed and bathroom

36 hotel rooms in the main house and converted stable block. Entry-level rooms are spacious (some have outdoor terraces), while families are well catered for with space-saving sofa beds. Tree rooms are spread over three floors and one mezzanine, making them ideal for longer stays. All rooms have a stocked minibar, La Bruket toiletries and a Nespresso coffee maker. Bathrooms are as inviting as the king-size four-poster beds, with large soaking tubs, rain forest showers and colorful glossy surfaces.

Patterned headboards and checkered patterns are repeated in the rooms, with houseplants and natural pieces of rattan creating a cozy feel. Suites are spacious and have romantic views over the Manor Gardens, with terrace balconies, sun loungers and bathrooms larger than your average London living room.

Exclusive Cowley Manor suite, with a four-poster bed, wrap-around terrace and large bathtub (Cowley Maneuver)

food and drink

Brunswick House chef Jackson Boxer leads the kitchen of the award-winning restaurant, where the interior of the dining hall is as appealing as the food. The original dark wood paneling has been recreated with glossy 70s-style round tables, geometric cushions and soft lighting thanks to low-hanging tassel lamps. Regionally inspired caviar and chips with a nod to French cuisine, served with vintage dot croquettes and termite honey brioches. Main courses include classics such as lobster and chilli taglion, fresh trout from nearby Bibury and delicious Hereford steak.

Breakfast at the Manor Terrace is a combination of great food with views across the lake. Granola bowls and local jams sit alongside smoked fish, meats and charcuterie on a continental buffet – or, in a full English breakfast, a Boxer Long Spin select

Experimental is known for its cocktails, so Cowley Manor Bar has a lot to live up to. The bright space is moody, with a large light blue bar of glazed lava stone, low tables and patterned armchairs and stools. There’s a DJ on Friday and Saturday nights, but the hotel still doesn’t match the lively atmosphere of the band’s European outposts. Cocktails try to bring the spirit of the party.

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Facilities

Cowley Manor’s outdoor pool is heated all day and all year round (meaning swimming is possible even in January). The 15m pool, set behind concrete walls that protect against the wind, is surrounded by attractive white scallop umbrellas, sunbeds and a bar. There’s also a 17-meter indoor pool with floor-to-ceiling glass that makes you feel like you’re swimming in the middle of a forest. There are working hours in the pool for both adults and children.

Aram Spa has four treatment rooms with facials, body wraps, massages, hydrolifts and more, as well as a gym, relaxation area, steam room, rain shower and sauna.

The hotel makes the most of its grounds – in the summer you can swim in the lake or catch outdoor cinema screenings on the lawn, while audio tours are available year-round to enjoy in the gardens.

The 15-meter outdoor pool is heated all year round (Cowley Maneuver)

Accessibility for the disabled

There are accessible ground floor rooms and wheelchair access to most public areas on the ground floor. Unfortunately, the spa and pools are not wheelchair accessible.