Five Cotswolds hotels named in UK’s best places to stay for 2026

The list has been compiled by The Sunday Times and features the top 50 spots in the country to take a trip to.

Oxfordshire’s sole entry is Estelle Manor, which can be found in North Leigh, near Eynsham, at the edge of the Cotswolds.

“The atmosphere is one of moneyed playfulness; its approach is classy, not flashy,” reads the publication. Think haute country wear by day and off-duty stealth wealth by night.”

READ MORE: Award‑winning Cotswolds private school named among best in UK

Elsewhere in the Cotswolds, Broadway’s House of George W Davies also makes the cut.

The Sunday Times writes: “The exterior is quintessentially Cotswolds honey-yellow limestone, while inside there are contemporary nods such as multicoloured glass light fixtures and abstract convex mirrors, though the overall vibe across all ten guestrooms is classic.

Also signalled for praise is Thyme in Southrop, just over the Oxfordshire border into Gloucestershire.

“The emphasis here is on relaxation, whether you’re doing that in the 150 acres of perfect green that surround the centuries-old estate or in the peaceful Meadow Spa,” remarks the national newspaper.

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Charingworth’s stunning Hyll also makes the top 50, having only opened last summer in Gloucestershire.

“The warm, golden Cotswold stone exterior may make you think you’re in for a traditional country house experience, but the sexy Scandi aesthetic inside sets it apart: wood flooring, a neutral colour palette and bespoke modern furniture.”

The final Cotswolds spot mentioned is Wild Duck, the 16th-century coaching inn in Ewen, near Cirencester.

“After a seven-year hiatus and a year-long renovation by Country Creatures, the grade II listed pub’s characterful gothic-style bar is once again a regular haunt for well-heeled locals,” says The Sunday Times.