Mere minutes from the centre of Cheltenham, Cowley Manor is a magnificent Italianate house, recently given a sharp and slightly mischievous new life by the crowd behind some of Europe's best cocktail bars. The result? A country-house hotel that is definitely one-of-a-kind, and rooms that take you down a designer rabbit-hole of bold colours and very funky details. Inside, log fires and deep sofas keep it cosy; outside, acres of parkland roll away into lakes where swans drift among the lily pads and giant rabbits (sculptures!) hide in the grass. Spend your days swimming, wandering, or settling in at the bar, the Cotswolds outpost of the cool-as-a-cucumber Experimental Cocktail Club.
/-2.053059552174935,51.83087785176747,6/600x400?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoidGltYnVrdHV0cmF2ZWwiLCJhIjoiY2poMGw1eHpkMmRkbDJ6bW8xYWZ5OGpjYyJ9.PYvAO7lUJ40SOpGvwmQLqw&attribution=false&logo=false)
Each of the rooms is a variation on the same playful theme of classical bones, contemporary cheek. Think grand four-posters, limed maple and verdigris green, rattan, and flashes of glossy lacquer. Some look out over the parkland, others across the gardens, and the best have their own private terraces. Bathrooms are generous and characterful, all deep tubs and good light. But it's the extras that really sing: collagen eye masks and minibars stocked with pre-mixed Experimental cocktails. Yes please!
Just how private it is. With only a few dozen rooms across the whole estate, it never feels crowded.
Keep an eye out for flashes of Alice in Wonderland as you wander: a door that's smaller than it should be, a sudden glimpse of checkerboard, a White Rabbit turning up where you least expect him...
You're deep in the countryside here and a fair drive down narrow lanes from the nearest station. Bring a car: you'll want it for exploring the Cotswold's towns and villages.
Start with a recommended trip or create one from scratch
Cowley Manor Experimental can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made UK trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended UK trips featuring Cowley Manor Experimental or get advice and suggestions from one of our UK specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.
Stays at Cowley Manor Experimental start from around $170, or US$170, per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.
.jpg)
800 square miles of honey-gold villages, winding lanes and quintessential English-ness.
