Tudor Farmhouse Hotel, Gloucestershire
I absolutely love the British countryside and properties like Tudor Farmhouse Hotel, Gloucestershire remind me why. We visited as a family on a very cold January and walked into the warmth of its beautiful reception. Hari, who is co-owner with her husband Colin, met us at the entrance with a smile. We had the most wonderful overnight stay and I couldn’t stop gushing about how wonderful the whole experience was.
About Tudor Farmhouse Hotel
Tudor Farmhouse Hotel is in Gloucestershire’s Forest of Dean and Wye valley. It is located quite close to the Welsh border; infact, depending on where you drive from, you may drive into Wales and back into England. The whole area takes you back to rural England and you almost forget about the fast paced city life once you drive in. Tudor Farmhouse Hotel dates back to the 13th century or 16th century depending on whom you ask. Walking through the hotel, you can find traces of century old beams and rooms. The hotel is a former working farm and has now been converted to a luxurious hotel in a very homely way. It is family friendly and pet friendly as well. A few of their rooms will allow your dog stay for a £10 a night supplement.
Tudor Farmhouse hotel is one of the most beautiful hotels in Gloucestershire. I would describe it as understated and unpretentious luxury. The kind of hotel that has everything that makes guests feel luxurious but still authentic to its British roots. The beauty of the hotel also lies in its surroundings. Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley are famous for fantastic walks; one of which I went on.
Tudor Farmhouse Hotel has 20 rooms, all stylishly designed differently. No two rooms look the same but the recurring theme you will notice from room to room is cosy luxury. The entire hotel is very aesthetically pleasing and is a dream to photograph. Activities organised by Tudor Farmhouse Hotel include wildlife safaris, foraging trips and stargazing safaris.
Hotel Review of Tudor Farmhouse Hotel, Gloucestershire
Room
We stayed in the Nest, which is a suite that has a bedroom, bathroom and a separate lounge area. It was perfect for families. Our room was in a separate building to the main one, just beside the car park and overlooked a field of sheep. One thing the countryside will give you is serenity. There is a peace and laid back spirit, the most wonderful calm to wake up to each morning. There was a cot in the room, which we moved to the lounge, for her to have her own space. She slept through the night and we were very grateful for the calm space.
Exposed beams and walls reminiscent of the old days are very prominent in the rooms. Yet, you find modern touches like a SMEG fancy fridge and Nespresso machines. A cute retro touch is the beautiful Marshall radio that sits atop the bedside table. The bed was very comfortable and we slept through the night like the very tired parents we are.
The Bathrooms
Most rooms have a roll top bath and the showers all have the most beautiful tiles. Our suite came with a roll top bath on one side and a huge walk in rainfall shower on the other side. I had the pleasure of viewing a few rooms and all of them were so beautiful. One that I was especially drawn to had a shower with deep green tiles; I took a photo for my home inspo.
Dining at Tudor Farmhouse Hotel
The restaurant is beautiful and very romantic. I can imagine lots of cute dates and catch-ups happen in the space, as it feels intimate. In the same breath, it is family friendly as well. Who says romantic cannot include kids? The restaurant is open to non-residents so anyone can enjoy the service by booking a table without having to stay over. The food prepared in the hotel is sourced from their own gardens and local producers in Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire and Herefordshire. One thing I noticed was how important it was to stay local which I thought was very special. Adanna had a high chair in the restaurant and there was a kids’ menu, which allowed her to eat with us.
Tatler Magazine has described the restaurant as a “culinary oasis” so I was very keen to try it. I must say, for someone who is quite picky with food, I enjoyed every dish. SO much that I forgot to get a photo of my main course at dinner until I had eaten half of it.
We also had breakfast, which comes complimentary with the stay. Fresh orange juice, vanilla lattés and full English breakfast to fill our bellies before we checked out. Afternoon tea is also available and the menu caters to special dietary restrictions as well.
Staff
This, to me, was the absolute best thing about the hotel, its people. They always say that you know a hotel will last if its staff is as passionate as the owners. I will say that this is where smaller and family owned hotels thrive or fail the most. In the case of Tudor Farmhouse hotel, their staff was exceptional. To me, how staff treat my baby is important because let’s be honest, kids can be quite naughty. They were so attentive and gentle with her, offered her a menu and were always friendly with her. The little extras I asked for like some more water, a bag to pack our dirty wellies, extra spoon etc were all brought to me with a smile.
We left our wash bag in the room and the next day, I received a message informing me that they could post it. I felt so bad that I was making them go out of their way to send my toiletries back to me but they assured me that it was fine. I just thought that was so special as this was done at no extra cost or fuss.
The property
There is a kitchen garden at the back, which will be lush in spring/summer. However, there is also a little garden in front of the reception that I found so romantic and charming. I could imagine having my coffee there in the morning as the sun danced above me. Can you see I am already dreaming of revisiting in the summer? There is a free car park for guests, which is very convenient. The entire property is walkable and the distance from room to restaurant is under a minute. We were lucky to have some sunshine and the property looked more spectacular as the sun shone on the stones.
Things I liked in Tudor Farmhouse Hotel, Gloucestershire
Aside from the obvious – gorgeous rooms, bathrooms etc., I absolutely loved a few different things in the hotel.
Chicken Coop
Hari walked us to the back of the hotel where the coop is located and we got to meet their chickens. Every time I see a flock of chickens casually wandering with sheep not too far away, I know I am in the rural countryside for real lol. It was just so sweet and we stood there calling them (while they either wondered why we were there or thought we were crazy).
Shepherds Hut Pamper Room
I have stayed in a few shepherd’s huts but never one that is used as a pamper room. You can get a massage in the hut as a little treat or after a day of exploring. It is a really pretty room and it sits just in front of the chicken coop; in the distance you can watch sheep grazing. The treatment menu also offers facials, manicures and pedicures so there is something for anyone looking for a pamper session.
Wine List
Tudor Farmhouse Hotel has an impressive list of non-alcoholic cocktails, wines, beer and cider. We tried a few from the NoLo menu like the French 75 and the BAX Chai Martini; one would be forgiven for thinking there was alcohol in both.
NoLo Cocktails was set up by co-owner of the hotel, Hari in 2022; and covers a variety of non-alcoholic drinks, which are sold at the hotel. It has since grown into a company that supplies non-alcoholic beverages in subscription form and mobile bar.
Walking Trails
The best thing I would say about this area is the amount of walking you can enjoy. It also makes this part of the country perfect for dog owners looking for a lovely holiday for their furry friends. Tudor Farmhouse has pamphlets in the reception for various walks, which contains maps. Some of the walks I caught a glimpse of were Stowe walk, Darkhill walk, Newland walk and the Bank walk. We did a “petit-walk” for about 30 mins after lunch, which was delightful. Our route led us into the forest and we had sheep for company. There were little patches where I imagined private picnics and hangouts in the summer. Tudor Farmhouse is popular for people who love a walking holiday as these trails are tried and tested.
How to get to Tudor Farmhouse Hotel, Gloucestershire
The hotel is located in Clearwell, Gloucestershire and the best way to get there is by car. It is 7 miles from Monmouth and 12 miles from Chepstow. It is advised that if travelling via satnav, use “Clearwell” instead of the postcode – this worked perfectly for us. The reason is to avoid a mishap of being misdirected to neighboring town, Coleford instead of Clearwell.
By Train – Trains run from Gloucester and Cardiff; the nearest train station to the hotel is Lydney and it is 5 miles from the hotel. A taxi would be required from Lydney station to the hotel.
What to do in Forest of Dean and Wye Valley
Since the hotel is located in this part of the country, you can plan what to do in the area. We did not have much time but still managed to see a few things and visit a few places. As a history buff, Forest of Dean and Wye Valley has so much to offer.
Film Locations
You can visit the locations were Sex Education is filmed. I don’t know about you but I am glued to every season of Sex Education once it premiers on Netflix. I recently found out that a lot of filming was done in Wales and Wye Valley. We also went by Browns Village Store which looks exactly as it does on TV.
Most notably, Otis’ mother’s incredible house is a Norwegian style property that actually exists in Herefordshire village of Symonds Yat. This is less than 20 mins drive from Tudor farmhouse hotel. Other locations include Tintern and Monmouthshire, all in the Forest of Dean area.
Tintern Abbey
The Abbey is a 15 mins drive from Tudor Farmhouse Hotel and we visited just as we left the hotel. Parking was £5, which can be redeemed at the café inside. We didn’t spend much time but got to see the ruins across and enjoy it from outside.
The Cistercian monks founded Tintern Abbey in 1131 and it sits on the Welsh side of the Wye valley. It is always referred to as a British architectural icon and a gothic masterpiece.
Clearwell Caves
This is one of the most fun family friendly things to do in Forest of Dean and Wye valley. It allows you to walk in the footsteps of the miners in a natural cave that has been mined for over 4500 years. How incredibly epic is that?! A few television shows have been filmed in these caves. From Dr Who to Britannia, it has seen some big budget productions.
If visiting Clearwell caves, remember to dress comfortably with footwear that have good grip. It is also recommended to have a light jumper even in summer, as it is cooler down there. You can book your tickets via the online portal.
FAQs
Is there parking at Tudor Farmhouse Hotel?
Yes there is on site parking in a car park within the property. It is quite straightforward and you should not have any problems with parking. There are points to charge your electric car as well. Also, parking is free.
Is Tudor Farmhouse child friendly?
Honestly, I am not sure I can go anywhere that is not child friendly now but don’t hold me to this lol. Maybe when it’s just Mr E & I, we would look for adults only hotels but for now, we are in our child friendly era. So, yes Tudor Farmhouse hotel is very child friendly. Some rooms have sofa beds that can be pulled out for 2 kids. If you are visiting with a baby and need a cot, email them ahead and a cot will be made available.
Is Tudor Farmhouse hotel dog friendly?
Yes. Infact when we were there, one of the rooms had a dog “Alfie” and Adanna would say hi every time she passed it. As that area is quite popular for forest walks, I can imagine the hotel would attract lots of dog owners who love a walking holiday with their dogs.
Hotel Review: Tudor Farmhouse Hotel, Gloucestershire
The entire area is so lovely and I’ll be going back for a longer weekend. I think it is the perfect weekend trip away from the city. Tudor Farmhouse hotel is somewhere you can relax and recharge on a solo stay, romantic time and as a family. The fact that every room is different gives the hotel whatever vibe you would like from it. Although it had that country rustic feel, the amenities were modern and fresh which we loved. It is very charming and I especially loved how wonderful the staff was.
Bisous, Bugo x
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