How To Spend A Weekend In The Cotswolds
We ticked off a few of the Cotswolds hotspots that are Estelle Manor and The Bull in Charbury earlier this year. So we are here to give you a rundown of our favourite things to do in the Cotswold over a weekend. If you are a sucker for a true British aesthetic then look no further than The Cotswolds.
Here’s how we spend a weekend in the Cotswolds…
Estelle Manor, The Cotswolds
WHERE TO STAY
Estelle Manor - Eynsham, OX29 6PN
A countryside companion to Maison Estelle in London, we knew it had to be good. Whilst we haven’t stayed in many hotels in the cotswolds, we can confidently say that we LOVED Estelle Manor. The perfect place to escape the the everyday hustle of London and it sure did exceed all of our expectations. Estelle Manor is a members club but you can visit if you have an overnight stay booked, however days visits for non members are not permitted. Don’t let the idea of a members club put you off! This hotel is just all about providing great service and amenities to all guests!
Another great option for accommodation in the Cotswolds is to hire a cottage, whether you’re going with a group of friends or as a couple there are plenty of different options for your stay. Look for a cottage in walking distance to a few pubs as we believe taxis are hard to come by, there definitely is no uber!
Estelle Manor, Manor House Room
Eynsham Baths - Estelle Manor
Unfortunately during our visit the spa was still under renovations so we did not get a glimpse of this, however this is the perfect excuse to return! The Eynsham Baths are a roman-inspired spa featuring five thermal pool, a lounge, and ten treatment rooms, as well as a no-photo-policy for guests, truly a slice of heaven!
As well as a spa Estelle Manor is home to The Clubhouse, a fitness space including strength and cardio equipment, as well as yoga, pilates and core classes weekly. These will come at an extra cost to guests however the gym is free to use.
image credit: @mark_anthony_fox
Estelle Manor offers a range of outdoor activities, including axe throwing, archery, clay pigeon shooting, paddle, and bike rentals for use during your stay. We took an archery lesson, which also included s'more making afterwards—a delightful way to spend the afternoon!
The Billiard’s Room - Estelle Manor
With four restaurants on site it sure is tricky to decide where to dine. The ideal would be to book a couple of nights to be able to sample all restaurants, or use it as an excuse to plan a return visit! We dined in The Billiard’s Room for dinner and The Brasserie for breakfast. The Billiard’s Room is the Chinese restaurant where we enjoyed dim sum, black sand tiger prawns and black garlic fillet of beef, all simply delicious, in fact we ordered a few rounds of the signature dim sum it was that good!
The Brasserie - Estelle Manor
The brasserie is the perfect setting for breakfast with a view of the outdoor pool and surrounding grounds. From an incredible selection of pastries and muffins to an extension a la carte breakfast menu, they do breakfast so well!
By night the brasserie serves a classic beef Wellington and the ultimate tarte tatin to name a few dishes. Be sure to pop to the living room for a pre dinner cocktail and soak up the cosy ambience.
The Bull - Charlbury, OX7 3RR
Now we promise this whole post isn’t just about Estelle Manor! The Bull is a great pub lunch or dinner recommendation, serving seasonal dishes which are done so well. We tucked into the pie, which at the time was chicken and tarragon, this is not to go a miss if you visit! We also had the pork chop with apple sauce, a side of hispi cabbage and we ended on the treacle tart.
Owned by the duo who own The Pelican in Notting Hill and the most recent opening The Hero in Maida Vale, we knew this place was going to to special! A good pub with seriously good food.
image credit: @thebullcharlbury
Daylesford Organic - GL56 0YG
No trip to the Cotswolds is complete without a trip to Daylesford Organic and it is a haven for those who appreciate sustainable living and quality produce. Daylesford boasts a farm shop including homeware, cafe and restaurants, cookery and gardening workshops as well as a wellness retreat, you really could spend the whole day here! The farm shop is a treasure of fresh, seasonal produce, homemade cheeses, freshly baked goods, all sourced from Daylesford’s own fields and gardens.
Daylesford Organic, The Cotswolds
The Trough - Daylesford Organic
We opted to eat at the Trough at Daylesford. We started with the bone broth, then moved onto whipped feta, harissa and hot honey served with grilled flatbread - devine. We then shared the special of the day which was a sweet potato and spinach curry with pan fried seabass, simply delicious. Of course we had to end on something sweet so picked up a few baked goods from the farmshop.
As well as lunch service the trough offers a breakfast and dinner menu.
The Fox - Lower Oddington, GL56 0UR
A few pub spots we enjoy are The Fox and The Wild Rabbit, both owned by the owners of Daylesford. The fox offers a more relaxed atmosphere and menu to its sister restaurant The Wild Rabbit which offers a fine dining experience. Enjoy a bottle of Le Leoube (a estate owned by the Daylesford owners in Provence) wine whilst you soak up the British summer in The Fox’s garden.
The Fox, Lower Oddington
The Wild Rabbit - Kingham, OX7 6YA
The wild rabbit combines the charm of a traditional English pub with contemporary comforts. The Wild rabbit is known for its farm-to-table dining experience with a menu which highlights the best of British produce. We dined on a Sunday and of course had to try the Sunday roast - delicious!
The Wild Rabbit, Kingham
Bicester Village - Bicester, OX26 6WD
You can’t visit the Cotswolds without a trip to Bicester, a designer outlet with so many good boutiques and a great choice of restaurants! From Acne Studios, to Ganni to Lululemon to Loewe, the outlet has the lot and some really great deals too! Food choices include Cecconis, Ottolenghi and great on the go spots like Ralphs, Pret and Laduree.
Bicester Village
Restoration Hardware - Anyhoe Park, OX17 3BQ
Restoration hardware made its way over from the US to the UK last year and is the perfect space for inspiration and window shopping, unless you are brave enough to dig into your wallet! After a mooch around, why not stop for lunch outside at the Loggia, an outdoor restaurant serving wood fired pizzas, charcuterie boards and Italian small plates or be wow’d by the beautiful decor in The Orangery restaurant.
Stow-on-the-Wold
A small but picturesque little town, worth a coffee and sweet treat stop - Otis & Belle have a couple of bakeries around the Cotswolds but we stopped in Stow-on-the-Wold branch for an espresso and a croissant for dipping.
Stow-on-the-wold, The Cotswolds
