Cowley Manor Experimental

Style

Palace in Wonderland

Setting

Cotswolds country estate

Once you’ve taken in the astonishing grandeur of Cowley Manor Experimental, an Italianate stone house near Cheltenham, you may think that whatever’s within is as prim, proper and palatial. But you’ll be surprised – to call its look 'contemporary' doesn’t do justice to the funked-up, design-forward aesthetic the trendsetting Experimental group have dreamt up. Not that it detracts from the majesty of this one-time royal residence, where you’ll find acres of green-and-pleasant lands, a seasonal French restaurant, sultry cocktail bar and a spa fit for kings and queens.

Facilities

Rooms

36.

Checkout

11am. Earliest check-in, 4pm.

More Details

Rates usually include a Continental breakfast.

Also

Lewis Carroll was known to visit Cowley regularly. Some local historians even say it’s where he wrote Alice in Wonderland, with scenes inspired by the manor grounds.

Fitness Center

Free Internet Access

Pet Friendly

Pool

On-Site Restaurant

Room Service

Spa

At the Hotel

55 acres of land, including a lake and Grade-II-listed gardens; spa and gym; sauna; and free WiFi throughout. In rooms: TV with Chromecast, retro DAB radio, minibar with fridge, tea- and coffee-making kit, and LA Bruket bath products.

Our Favourite Rooms

If you're travelling à deux, the St Mary Suite has a private terrace (with lake views), and a super-king-size bed you may never want to leave. And, if it’s top-tier soaking you’re after, the Cowley Manor Suite has a plum, freestanding tub big enough for two overlooking the gardens, and a large wraparound balcony. For something equally spoiling, the Waterlily Rooms, in the main house have stunning views of the gardens and lake, spacious layouts, and large bathrooms with both a bathtub and separate rainfall shower.

Poolside

There are two pools, both located in the spa area. The first is a heated slate-lined indoor pool with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the forest. The second you’ll find outdoors, flanked by sunloungers with waiter service and its own bar (open in the summer season) should you get thirsty.

Spa

The C-Side spa uses all-natural organic products for their range of restorative treatments, including massages, facials and exfoliating wraps. Bathed in natural light, the design is inspired by the estate’s lush landscapes, using Cotswold stone throughout, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering woodland views. There’ll be four treatment rooms, a relaxation area, steam room, sauna and two pools; and if you’re feeling sprightly, try a fitness class, or up your heart rate at the fully-equipped gym.

Packing Tips

Bring your running kit for scenic cross-country jogs. In June and July, a Panama hat and a few linen shirts will keep you cool; but year-round, pack your waterproofs: the English weather is notoriously unpredictable.

Also

Please note that the Treehouses are adults-only and cannot accommodate children or babies.

Children

Children of all ages are welcome. The hotel can arrange babysitting services are available on request.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

Nab a seat next to one of the large, arched windows, especially in summer.

Dress Code

Dress to match the Experimental group's distinctive refit, punching up classic Brit-chic with bold colours and silhouettes.

Hotel Restaurant

You’ll find Gloucestershire's finest produce elevating French-inspired fare at Cowley Manor Experimental’s restaurant, where celebrated British chef Jackson Boxer will helm the kitchen. The dining space is an elegant affair, with grand, wood-panelled walls, low-hanging lights and contemporary red-and-white furnishings. After whetting your appetite with some Stinking Bishop gougères or Channel-fresh oysters, try the signature roasted cod with fennel butter and smoked tomatoes, or opt for the cote de boeuf to share.

Hotel Bar

Venture down the rabbit hole at Cowley Manor’s outpost of the Experimental Cocktail Club, a sultry space decked-out in sleek, royal-blue and burnt-orange furnishings and abstract artwork lining the walls. Here mixologists live up to the bar’s name, shaking and stirring imaginative ‘drink me' potions.

Last Orders

Breakfast runs from 7.30am to 10am (8am to 10.30am on weekends), lunch is served from noon to 2.30pm, afternoon tea from 2.30pm to 4pm, and you can catch dinner anytime between 6.30pm and 9pm.

Planes

London Heathrow is the closest major airport – it's around an hour and 40 minutes from the hotel, following the M4 west to Swindon, Cirencester and eventually Cheltenham.

Trains

The nearest train station is Cheltenham Spa, around 15 minutes from the hotel. Direct trains go here from London Paddington and London Euston in just over two hours. Kemble Station is about 25 minutes away, and is served by slightly faster London trains – about an hour and 15 minutes from Paddington.

Automobiles

The nearest big town is Cheltenham – the drive from here should take around 10 minutes, following the A40 towards Oxford before turning right onto the A435 to Cirencester. Driving time from Oxford is just under an hour, using the A436 towards Gloucester before picking up the A435 to Cirencester.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

On sunny English afternoons, keep the waddling ducks company and ask the hotel to organise a picnic overlooking the lake. Or – if that’s too much effort – seek out a hammock in the grounds to swing and snooze in. Nature-lovers are spoilt for choice here, with an abundance of trees, plant life and animals, like the rare purple dragonflies who have been known to make an appearance. You’ll find plenty of natural pursuits nearby too, with the Cotswolds Wildlife Park a half-hour drive away, home to over 260 species, – great and small – including lions, lemurs, penguins and pandas; while bird-watchers can find over 500 species of winged wonders to gaze on at Birdland Park and Gardens. Cotswold Farm Park is great for families, who can bottle-feed lambs, learn about animals and agriculture, and let off steam at the indoor and outdoor play areas, which have everything from sandpits and swings to pedal tractors and ziplines. While you’re in the area, take a stroll around Guiting Power or explore Sudeley Castle with 10 award-winning gardens in its grounds.

Cotswolds Sculpture Park has an ever-changing display of artworks to admire (and purchase, FYI). And while you’re testing out your credit limit, market town Cirencester and Cheltenham’s Montpellier are great spots for boutique shopping. Sporting Smiths can try potting clay-pigeon at the Ian Coley Shooting School, or gee up with Cotswolds Riding, while those after a flutter can try their luck at the Cheltenham races, a 30-minute drive away Of course, in this comely stretch of countryside, there's nothing to match wandering o'er hill and dale, so pull your wellies on and strike out across the fields. And if you've dogs in tow, the Lakes and Woodland Loop makes for a particularly pleasant amble.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .