Cowley Manor Experimental
8.8
Excellent
Verified reviews from multiple platforms
Why we picked this hotel
Some country hotels are best used as a base. Cowley is at its best when you barely leave. Swim outside before breakfast, wander through the gardens, disappear into the spa and let cocktails roll naturally into dinner.
Hotel description
Across 55 acres of lakes, woodland and rolling lawns in the Cotswolds, Cowley Manor Experimental takes the classic English country-house stay in a much more playful direction. Dorothée Meilichzon has filled the historic manor with bold colour, lacquer, rattan and subtle Alice in Wonderland references, while outside, natural springs and Victorian cascades keep the estate feeling wonderfully wild. Come for days that move easily between the grounds, C-Side Spa and long lunches overlooking the lake. Swim outdoors even in winter, book Pilates or yoga, then head back into the manor for Jackson Boxer’s cooking and Experimental cocktails. It gives you everything people come to the Cotswolds for, but without the usual country-house stiffness.
Hotel location
This is great
Fifty-five acres to disappear into
Lakes, woodland, lawns and historic gardens make the estate somewhere you can happily spend most of the stay without leaving.
Two heated pools open year-round
C-Side Spa has a 17-metre indoor pool and 15-metre outdoor pool, both heated and available throughout the year.
Dorothée Meilichzon’s playful redesign
The Alice in Wonderland connection is best taken as a lovely local legend rather than hard history. Cowley leans into it just enough, with checkerboards and little hidden doors, without turning the manor into an Alice-themed hotel.
Local kitchen
The restaurant puts Gloucestershire produce at the centre, with subtle French influence and a particularly strong Sunday roast.
A genuinely substantial country spa
C-Side combines four treatment rooms, sauna, steam room, gym and relaxation spaces with its two swimming pools.
Cocktails are part of the Experimental DNA
The cocktail bar brings the group's drinks-first roots into the manor, alongside a library, lounge and games room.
Our take on the stay
Don’t treat the gardens as something to glance at after breakfast. Seven natural springs run through the estate and feed lakes, fountains and a listed 19th-century water staircase. Give yourself an hour and actually wander.”
Curated by
Eliza
What guests loved
The beautiful 55-acre grounds
The heated indoor and outdoor pools
The distinctive, playful interiors
The excellent breakfast and restaurant
The peaceful countryside atmosphere
Best for
55-acre estate • Couples • Spa breaks • Design • Cotswold countryside • Families • Nature
Good to know
36 rooms and suites
Check-in from 15:00
Check-out until 11:00
Room sizes from 30 m² to 67 m²
15 m outdoor and 17 m indoor heated pools
C-Side Spa with sauna, steam room and gym
Restaurant by Jackson Boxer and cocktail bar
Family-friendly; free cots available on request
Dogs welcome (charges apply)
Around 1 hour 5 minutes by car from Bristol Airport
Amenities
Yoga
Spa
Pet friendly
Sauna
Poolside bar
Breakfast included
Gym
Lakeside
Free cots available for children
Free parking
About the destination
Cheltenham, Cotswolds
Cheltenham sits on the edge of the Cotswolds, surrounded by rolling hills, honey-coloured villages, and some of England’s most beautiful countryside. Just beyond the spa town, country lanes lead through woodland, historic estates, and peaceful walking routes. Cowley Manor Experimental is tucked into this landscape within its own grounds, offering a playful country escape with the Cotswolds right on its doorstep.
