Cotswold House

THE CHOCOLATE BOX VILLAGE of Chipping Campden (rated England‘s prettiest by those in the know) is home to Cotswold House, whose mellow stone facade gives way to smart and supremely comfortable contemporary interiors.

Uncluttered rooms at this top Cotswolds boutique hotel are done up in chic shades of slate, plum and purple, with huge beds and sloping ceilings. Planning to spend your entire stay under cover? Then you‘ll want to study the bespoke bedding menu, which lets you choose from a range of pillows, cashmere blankets and Frette linen sheets. Should you surface, the Bellinis at the bar downstairs are reckoned by some to be the best outside Venice.

Bedrooms at Cotswold House are designed to satisfy every techno-whim. There are Bang & Olufsen entertainment systems, wi-fi, and even tile TVs in some of the bathrooms, so you can soak blissfully (perhaps in rose-petalled water) while watching your favourite soap.

Hot tub heaven

Try one of the ultra-chic Cottage suites; two of these (Hidcote and Longborough) each have a garden with a private outdoor hot tub. Hidcote has everything on the garden level, while the split-level Longborough suite comes with a fire, lounge area and a bedroom with king-size bed in the eaves.

Dine at the Cotswold Grill for a taste of dishes such as Orkney scallops served with truffled cabbage, mussel cream and lemon confit, or informal eats ranging from tempura to burgers. If browsing in Chipping Campden‘s gift shops sounds too tame you can always walk off your excesses on one of the area's many country footpaths.

© Room for Romance