Staycation at The Rectory Hotel, Cotswolds
From the opulence of Berkshire, it was off to the Cotswolds for a totally different vibe. We booked a 3-day staycation at the Rectory Hotel in the Cotswolds for a total wind down and chill. This break was going to be about doing nothing. We had booked another Cotswolds vacation in the next few weeks. This made it easier for us not to worry about “wasting” our time staying indoors the whole time.
With this trip, we wanted a pretty hotel since it was going to be home. I know a lot of travel lovers will say they don’t care about the hotel room but I do. A hotel room has to be comfortable as it is a home away from home for the duration of time. I have a few other things I look for in my hotel rooms but that is not why we are here today lol. We settled for a nice sized and cute room since we were going to spend much of our time indoors. What we did not anticipate was the level of cuteness we were about to witness.
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The Rectory Hotel and the Cotswolds – A Brief History
In 1966, the Cotswolds was designated an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and it is not difficult to see why. It covers 6 counties including Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and parts of Somerset, Worcestershire, Wiltshire and Warwickshire. The Rectory hotel is located in Crudwell, which is a village in Wiltshire. It is a grade II listed building and one of the two hotels in Crudwell.
The Rectory hotel in the Cotswolds has a total of 15 rooms so it is a relatively small hotel. It also has a beautiful cottage on its property with 3 rooms, which sleeps 6 people.
The Reception
This was not the typical reception in modern hotels. The reception at the Rectory hotel in the Cotswolds was minimal, classic and very welcoming. It could easily be my dream living room. Light came directly through the long windows; there was a fireplace and just an all round welcoming vibe. Check in was also very quick!
We got there at 3.15pm and in about 5 minutes we were ushered to our room.
The Room
Our room at the Rectory hotel was very cute. It was the biggest room in the hotel and was almost suite-like. It had its own living area and of course the most beautiful bed in shades of pastel green, grey, cream and a blush blanket. The bed was very comfortable and it smelt so fresh. In fact the entire room smelt beautiful – this was one thing I noticed as soon as we stepped in. Throughout our stay there, the smell lingered – it was a fresh, minty and luxurious smell.
THE Bathroom
Gasp! Ok this is the reason I found myself in Crudwell! I had seen a picture of the bathroom on Instagram and gasped. That stand-alone Victorian roll up bath, the massive shower with rainfall head and of course, the double sink completely pulled me in. Not being sure if the bathroom was the same in every room, I contacted the hotel to enquire. Once they confirmed that it was only the biggest room that had it as a separate bathroom, I booked it!
And I can tell you that it did not disappoint. Mr E and I concluded that this was for sure THE best bathroom we have ever used.
To Eat and Drink on-site
Our booking included breakfast, which was served in the beautiful conservatory. Rectory Hotel had a dining room as well which was more formal and of course, a bar! The ground floor of the hotel was like a maze; come out of one room and find yourself in another. It was all so cool.
The Potting Shed Pub
This was the pub across from the hotel and was the sister restaurant to the Rectory Hotel. Having a staycation at the Rectory Hotel in the Cotswolds is incomplete without a visit to the Potting Shed pub. Infact, it is one of the pubs you are advised to visit if you are ever in the Cotswolds. We were lucky to reserve a table on a Wednesday during the Eat Out to Help Out scheme. So we got £10 each off our meal!
Mr E and I ended up returning the night after but we had no reservation and it was fully booked. So we ordered take out and went back to the hotel to enjoy our dinner!
The Garden
Now this was my favourite part of the entire hotel. Or wait, was it the bathroom? Anyway let’s discuss the garden. It was what you call quintessentially British. I’m not one who understands gardening and quite frankly, I couldn’t tell one flower or plant from the other. However, I appreciate a pretty garden. We spent a lot of our evenings in the garden with my glass of wine and his pint of beer. Just reminiscing about how far we’ve come and grateful to be there.
There is also a swimming pool, which is towards the cottage, at the end of the garden. It is a perfect size and has a chill area; sort of a little beer garden next to it as well.
The Staff
From the staff at the Rectory Hotel to the ones at the Potting Shed pub, the kindness was palpable. All staff we encountered were very professional, happy and just so lovely! I will admit that Mr E and I are always quite lucky to meet so many nice people on our travels. However, we are almost always shocked every time lol.
Conclusion – Staycation at the rectory hotel, Cotswolds.
If you are looking for a luxury UK staycation in the Cotswolds, I recommend the Rectory hotel. 2 days are enough to enjoy the entire property. This trip was a relaxed one as I have mentioned so we really did not explore. I have no idea what is around the area and tbh it did not seem like there was a lot. My ultimate recommendation is to book the biggest room as well so you get all the perks. Room number is no 6! That is the room you want to stay in and from my pictures, you can imagine why!
Until my next staycation or international travel or London pottering – whichever comes first!
Bisous, ‘Bugo x
