Thyme, The Cotswolds

More a village than a traditional hotel, when it comes to a luxury vacation in the Cotswolds, we love Thyme. The ultimate place to indulge in traditional countryside living, choose between stays in charming cottages or elegant country manors in a place that feels like a home from home. First a cooking school, better your culinary skills alongside expert chefs before unwinding at the Meadow Spa and indulging in a gourmet meal at the Ox Barn. Thyme even boasts its own pub, The Swan, perfect for a cool pint after a bracing walk in the country air. It’s no wonder we can’t stay away.

LOCATION

Situated in the heart of the Cotswolds countryside, Thyme is just over an hour and forty-five-minute drive from central London. Set within the quintessentially British village of Southrop, discover the bucolic pastures and traditional stone villages that have given the Cotswolds their charm before curling up in the Baa Bar with one of the best G&T’s we’ve ever had the pleasure of sipping on.

YOUR ROOM

A stay at Thyme is no ordinary hotel stay with the accommodations dotted throughout the village, family-friendly Old Walls will even have you ready to take up permanent residence. Furnished with antiques and artwork and renovated in traditional Cotswolds style, each room has its own sense of charm. For those traveling en masse, The Farmhouse makes the perfect choice with eight bedrooms and a private kitchen to call all your own. Subdued in pastels and florals and dusted off with freestanding baths, these are spaces you’ll never want to leave; though with the gardens right on your doorstep, you needn’t go far if you do.

WHY WE LIKE IT

From the décor to the cookery school, Thyme offers an all-encompassing country experience—we love the refined, simple ambience here. If you choose to take a cooking lesson, you might wander through the kitchen garden to really get to know your ingredients before learning the ins and outs of breads, pickles, preserves and more. We recommend the Instinctive Cook class for a broad overview, or the Tarts and Pies class for a budding baker. This is an opportunity to unwind, enjoy the traditional life, and maybe even pick up some new cooking skills along the way.