One of the splashiest openings in the past few years. Think maximalist country pile meets members’ club, with velvet-draped corridors, Corinthian columns, candlelit drawing rooms, a Roman bathhouse-style spa, and one of the prettiest outdoor pools in the county. Access is mostly for guests or members—so book a room or make friends fast.

The blueprint for English country house style in hotel form. Set in Southrop, this is village life with proper polish: soil-to-plate dining, a wellness-first ethos, and interiors that channel a serious knowledge of pattern and palette. The Hibbert family runs it all, from cooking in the Ox Barn to designing their own homeware line and curating talks that draw a plugged-in crowd.

Phil Winser, behind The Pelican, The Hero, Canteen and The Fat Badger in London, opened a quintessential Cotswolds pub with rooms in 2023, and it’s been packed ever since. Open fires, pints of craft beer, a veg-heavy menu (ingredients are grown on an allotment nearby) and seriously good cuts of meat. It’s easy to get to for a Sunday Roast as the train from London goes right to Charlbury, but you might as well stay overnight in one of the characterful rooms, which have just a touch of eccentric E

The Lamb does everything village pubs should—great cooking, a warm welcome, and fantastic beer. They have great pizza and classic English country food, and we recommend sitting in the bar, where you’ll feel like you’ve gone back in time. It’s close to Wychwood Wild gardens, which is great for a short walk around a set of ponds before or after your meal.

There’s no better start to the weekend than finding a sunny spot in the garden to enjoy one of Sam’s incredible seasonal cocktails at this classic Cotswolds pub with none of the clichés. Now under the wing of the Daylesford group, The Fox has become an exquisitely sourced, impeccably styled spot for supper or a lazy Sunday roast. Their menu leans heavily on organic produce and native breed meats from their own farms, and interiors are that signature Daylesford minimalism-meets-countryside-cool—w

Part organic farm, part-farm-to-fork restaurant, this is one of the Cotswolds’ most beloved kitchens. The greenhouse is filled with rambling vines and wildflower vases and a blackboard of seasonal hits (whole Dover sole, fennel sausages, very good pavlova), and you can also sit and eat amongst the flowers. Either way, make sure you walk around and visit the fields of dahlias, the home-reared pigs, and the farm shop where you’ll want to buy everything in sight.

The platonic ideal of a perfect village pub is best mid‑week when locals rule the room. Go for suet-crust pie, a perfect Somerset cider, and simple, ingredient-led cooking with vegetables from owner Dan Chadwick’s garden. This was the poet and novelist Laurie Lee’s local; inside the pub a mini bookshop is always thoughtfully stocked with his books and a selection of other interesting titles.

The daughter of a family who owned a ceramics workshop opened her own unassuming cafe in a farm outbuilding, and word of mouth about the wonderfully hearty, healthy food (especially Saturday brunch) spread quickly to the locals. There’s something for everyone–each dish has a meaty, veggie, and vegan option, which is a welcome break from pub food when you’ve had your fill.

The mecca of Cotswolds retail. Part farm, part temple to elevated rural living—everything here is grown or crafted with a deep commitment to sustainability and beauty. Whether you’re after the best locally-grown vegetables, organic meat, a climbing rose, cashmere sweatpants, hand-painted ceramic dinner plates or the perfect hostess gift, this is your one-stop destination. And you can re-fuel afterwards with a wood-fired, salami picante pizza and a glass of their own provencal rosé in the cafe.

In America, we would call it an antiques “mall” as it is a warehouse filled with different vendors, but consider this the well-curated, more stylish version of one of those. There is a great variety of taste, style and price points here—you’ll find everything from French enamelware to Georgian furniture, oil paintings at a steal, and the odd copper pot or pan. The stock changes every week, so you’ll never leave without some piece of treasure. And you may even run into David Beckham at the till.

These wonderful local artisans have been making brushes for over 75 years. Paint brushes, shoe brushes, pot brushes—you didn’t know you needed so many of them. They’re as beautiful as they are functional, and the shop is set right on the high street in Burford, so it’s worth a walk about the market town after.

A one-stop-shop for all your gardening needs, and then some, that leans more Farrow & Ball than fertilizer. It’s a great place for traditional English country clothes like wellies, raincoats and wool sweaters, but also David Austen roses in spring, or magnolia garlands and holly bunches at Christmas. They also have an excellent cafe and play area for the kids.

William Kent’s Arcadian masterpiece is not to be missed. What’s most amazing about this house is that it has stayed in the same family since the 17th century, so it remains pretty much in untouched condition, shredded curtains and all. The gardens are an absolute must—both the landscape vistas and the walled kitchen garden. Bring a picnic and snooze by the river, or book a tour of the interiors in advance.

One of the most complete Jacobean manor houses in England, with an impressive collection of antique textiles, glass, and family portraits, largely unchanged since 1612. A real treasure trove with a poetic atmosphere and fantastic gardens, with enviable geraniums, beautiful tapestries in the bedrooms, and the long gallery on the top floor with the largest vaulted ceiling in England. Visit any time of the year, but especially around Christmas, when it’s dressed up for the holidays.

Highgrove needs no introduction as the retreat and home of Their Majesties, but savvy travellers (if booking early) can snap up spots on tours throughout the summer months. The garden is an encapsulation of the King’s deep love of horticulture and nature—with winding paths, trees that entwine follies, a serene azalea walk and intimate walled garden, it is difficult not to appreciate the many layers of thought that have created these spaces.

The gardens of Iford Manor were designed by the Edwardian architect Harold Peto and combine Mediterranean warmth, Byzantine influences and Oriental touches featuring pergolas, colonnades, sculptures and water features set in a dramatic terraced landscape. A rich mixture of classical and innovation, lovingly maintained by the Cartwright-Hignett family since 1965. This is the perfect spot for a celebration of the English vernacular away from the madding crowd.