How to spend 24 hours in the Cotswolds
At some point during the pandemic, I won a competition (I know, right?!) for a two-night stay in the Cotswolds with Country Creatures to stay at two of their cosy hotels. This was my first time visiting so until a few weeks ago, I had only really seen its charm through photos. Having now visited, I would genuinely recommend it to anyone - it’s such a beautiful part of England and at every corner we turned, it felt like we’d stepped back in time. I was only there for a long (ish) weekend but I thought I’d split this post over two.
Part 1 is all about my stay at The Swan hotel and a mini guide to how to spend 24 hours in the Cotswolds. Keep reading to find out more about Part 2!
the swan hotel - things you should know
Price - rooms (including continental breakfast) start from around £135 per night.
In your room - the rooms are charming and come with all the usual hotel amenities. The details that made it special were the 100 Acres toiletries and cosy dressing gowns. However, we stayed in the attic double room (which I maybe wouldn’t recommend compared to their other rooms). The space felt a little tight due to the restricted headroom and there was no separate shower (i.e. just a freestanding bathtub in the bedroom) which is not ideal if you’re staying with anyone but your partner.
Other hotel facilities - the restaurant/pub has a real countryside feel and is full of charm and style. And there’s a large outdoor space too for dining or drinks. The continental breakfast included in the stay had some great options so you probably won't need to pay for a cooked breakfast.
Getting there - this is surprisingly easy via public transport as the hotel is really close to Ascott-under-Wychwood train station. However, there’s really not much nearby so you’ll need a car to explore.
How to spend 24 hours in the Cotswolds
As we were short on time, we limited our trip to exploring the areas closest to The Swan so my recommended itinerary for a short stay would be:
Head to Stow on the Wold for lunch first. I’d recommend The Porch House - particularly for a Sunday roast. There are lots of parking spots in Stow too (we parked at Maugersbury Road). Other options for food are Sheep on Sheep Street, The Stag or The Bell.
Take a leisurely stroll after your big lunch and wander around the small town. There are lots of antique and charity shops, cafes and local shops to keep you occupied for at least a couple of hours. Make sure to stop by Talbot Court.
Take a minute to visit the famous church door that apparently inspired Lord of the Rings.
Make a quick pit stop at one of the cafes or sweet shops in town for a sugar fix.
Check in to The Swan and take a breather. The surroundings are quiet so you can truly switch off. For dinner, you could eat at their restaurant, their sister restaurant The Chequers, or head to nearby towns.
After dinner, head to nearby Bourton on the Water for a riverside walk - if you’re visiting during summer, I’d v much recommend it in the evenings as it’s a VERY busy spot but the rush eventually quietens and it turns into a peaceful oasis. Alternatively, head to Upper and Lower Slaughter for a quiet evening wander albeit parking can be tricky here.
After our short stay at The Swan, we checked into Double Red Duke hotel. This hotel is truly one of my favourites I’ve stayed at in the UK so I think it’s worthy of a whole separate post in a ‘Part 2’. Lots more photos to come so stay tuned!
Thanks for reading,
T.
