Accommodation in the Cotswolds Dec-Jan
 

My daughter, her husband and 2 young boys (5 & 7) will be visiting the area January, 2010. They will be coming from Australia.

Can anyone recommend somewhere nice for them to stay in the Cotswolds?

approximate lodging budget, please...

st

Hi kaztez,
In August we stayed at Bramley House in Chipping Campden. It is approximately 1/2 mile from town. The hosts, Jane and David Povey are just wonderful. Delicious, huge breakfasts, spotless rooms. Just a wonderful place to stay. Here is the website: http://www.bramleyhouse.co.uk.

Good luck,
Michele

Are you talking about a hotel, a B&B, or self-catering accommodations?

In the winter I'd stay in a place in a town, a not too small town. Maybe someplace like Woodstock or Burford. Maybe research leisure centers in the Cotswolds. If the weather's bad, you want indoor activities for those little boys.

We need to know their budget and how many days . . .

Some B&Bs don't take small children. But many do so not to worry.

However - usually for a family, renting a cottage is usually a better idea. You get a lot more space, a full kitchen, washer/dryer, a separate living room, garden etc - for less than the typical B&B. And especially in Winter. Most B&Bs charge near the same rates year round (except for increases during some special events) but almost all cottages reduce their rates by as much as 50% in the off-off season.

I'd rent a cottage in a central cotswold village and use it as a base. -- unless they are only staying one or two nights --

"I'd rent a cottage in a central cotswold village"

I wouldn't. I'd rent a cottage in a central Cotswold <b>town</b>.

Add to all janisj's arguments the sheer awfulness (IMHO) of trying to get two smallish boys to behave in an English country hotel. But I think you need more resources on your doorstep than the typical Cotswold village. Putting young boys into a cottage in Bibury or Bourton on the Water is cruel asnd unusual punishment.

Here are the 14 Cotswold <b> towns </b> (market centres given a royal charter, including self-governing rights, normally in the 13th century). It's important, IMHO, you stay in the town itself and not in an outlying village that includes the name of the town in its postal address.

Burford
Charlbury
Chipping Norton (1)
Witney (1)
Woodstock (2)
Chipping Campden
Cirencester (1)
Fairford (1,2)
Lechlade (2)
Moreton in Marsh
Northleach
Stow on the Wold
Tetbury
Winchcombe

(1): Though handsome, and almost entirely schlock-free, possibly short on charm
(2): Technically, not inside the boundaries of the Cotswold Area of Natural Beauty. But why be technical?

OK - we're in the same old semantics kerfuffle :)

I meant "village" from the colonial point of view. Burford, Chipping Campden, Woodstock, Stow-on-the-Wold are indeed all towns and are the types of places I meant. But to most Aussies/Americans/Canadians they'd seem small villages.

So yes, definitely rent in a Cotswold <u>town</u>

"we're in the same old semantics kerfuffle"

We're not.

If your dialect doesn't differentiate:
- settlements with a few proper pubs, at least a couple of places to buy food from, one or two newsagents and churches from a choice of brands of Christianity from
- somewhere with a few photo-op cottages, a chi-chi country hotel or gastropub and an Anglican church with a service once a month,

Then your dialect is inadequate to help people decide where in the Cotswolds to stay.

I imagine, though, that we agree a village (as the term is used in English) is unlikely to be a good idea in midwinter for a family with two young boys. And, that in this case, the point matters.

Hi kaztez; Here is a little information to get your daughter started. On the wikipedia web site giving 'Cotswold' information, usually to get info on a specfic town, just substitute the town where 'cotswold' is now. Richard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cotswold also www.the-cotswolds.org/ and www.cotswolds.info/

Another vote for Bramley House...there are only two bedrooms, though, so not sure how that would work for you.

If you want a B & B - look no further for a very warm welcome - across the road from Sudeley Castle.

http://www.isbourne-manor.co.uk/

Thank you all for your responses and recommendations....I shall pass the information onto my daughter.

Hi; We stayed in a castle that would be convienent to the 'Cotswolds, Southern Wales and Bath. Richard www.thornbury.co/uk

P.S. www.thornburycastle.co.uk/

I can't see how Thornbury Castle would be practical/possible for a family. As far as I know, they don't have family rooms (though they do have some two room suites that would cost more than a small fortune)

Renting a cottage is really the best idea, especially with two small boys. I can't imagine trying to eat lunch and dinner out every night with youngsters in tow. A cottage will give you more room for less money as well as the opportunity to have some meals in without the hassel of taking young boys into places where they may or (more likely) may not be especially keen on. In addition there's no worries about them acting like small boys when you don't have to consider other guests.

For a start try www.nationaltrustcottages.co.uk

janisj also has a list of rental places if she comes back to post. If not just google cottages in the Cotswolds or in the towns that flanneruk listed.

I also wanted to add that while Thornbury Castle is lovely it is highly impracticable for a family with young children. As janisj said you would proably need two rooms or else one of the apartments or suites setting the price at well over 600 a night. A place to go withour young children.

I think two young boys would love to stay in a 'castle'. Plus the 'poster' did not suggest a 'budget', only a nice place to stay. Besides the castles in Sourthern Wales to visit, there is also Tintern Abbey. My thought was, the villages/towns in the Cotswolds are not going to keep their interest. Castles will. Just a simple opinion. Richard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tintern_Abbey www.southernwales.com/en/castles

iris -- they don't have family rooms . . . . .

Just because a place is nice doesn't mean it is appropriate for everyone in every case

I just don't understand the Americans on Fodor's. Half of you want to economise to ridiculous levels, while the other half recommend Thornbuy Castle as a good place for a family to stay. Have you seen the prices? Do you honestly think the dining room is the place for young boys?

Can you imagine asking for beans on toast or fish fingers in the restaurant. For the first two years of having our son we protested and tried to maintain our previous standards - you face two blatent facts of life - the kids don't to be there and the hotels do really want your kids.

I have only been top one michelin star restaurant that actively encourages kids - as the owner put it in 20 years time they will be paying my son's invoices. Good marketing, get them young.

If you have got kids go down market or go self catering.

Hi kaztez; Still thinking of what the 'boys' might enjoy. Just north of the Cotswolds is Warwick and there is a great castle to visit. Open 10am to 5pm. Richard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warwick_Castle

While I agree that Thornbury Castle would not be appropriate for young children ... I'm so grateful it was suggested because it looks PERFECT for this little boy and my young playmate: ages 53 & 57 ;-)

We'll probably stay a couple of nights and seek self-catering the remainder of the time. Apparently they offer "last minute" deals--which have made it possible for us to say off-season/midweek at some extraordinary places that would have otherwise been beyond our financial reach. We'll be there mid-week in early March ... so I have a feeling that last-minute accomodations will not be a problem.

I LOVE this forum!

I was so focused on the Thornbury Castle as a family hotel reccy :) - I forgot to post a couple of really good agencies w/ cottages in the Cotswolds

http://www.manorcottages.co.uk/
http://www.cottageinthecountry.co.uk/

Couldn't place Von Essen hotels - just rung a bell - looked at their website and they bought out our two best local privately owned hotels - The Samling and Sharrow Bay.

Their current line up looks a little like Real Madrid's team sheet - Galacticos all of them. Haven't heard any bad reports locally of our two which is saying something for their management control - private to chain ownership is never a smooth ride.

Thank you janisj for coming through with suggestions for cottage agencies as mine are limited.


markrosey,

Interesting and I agree with the difficulties in transitions, but perhaps these will work.

The list includes some of the highest value property in each of their resident counties - I presume at that level they must know what they are doing!

Thankyou, thankyou so much to you all........I am passing all this information onto my daughter.