Great places for groups to lay their heads in the Cotswolds.
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Oak Room In the sunshine at Mitcheldean
With rolling hills and classic thatched cottages, the sleepy villages of the Cotswolds are a firm favourite for groups.
It’s is popular for activities such as walking and biking, and is dotted with attractions – from falcon centres to grand cathedrals. There’s plenty of places for large groups to stay, surrounded by natural beauty.
The Spa House, Petty France
The Spa House is a popular location for hen dos, due to the varied options of add on activities, but any type of group is welcome here. The period manor features a private spa and sleeps up to 30 guests among seven bedrooms with five bathrooms in the main house. Guests can also rent the additional Austen wing for larger groups.
The house (built in 1812 for British Prime Minister Jenkinson) and spa boasts an indoor heated pool and hot tub and is surrounded by gardens and countryside. The staff are on hand to organise plenty of activities for the stay too – options include professional group photos and activity weekends featuring driving experiences, paintballing and horse riding.
Other nearby activities include an open top sightseeing bus tour, clay pigeon shooting and Sunday lunch at a local country pub. Alternatively, groups can have dinner ordered in from a local caterer.
Cotswolds Barn Holidays, Upper Brize
Cotswolds Barn Holidays offers the choice of two modern bars to stay in – the albion barn and malt barn. Each sleeps up to 14 people, or 28 between the two. Both retain period features mixed with contemporary touches and each has a hot tub – the albion barn’s hot tub is hidden in a private garden beneath a covered area.
Groups can arrange in-house spa treatments including treatments including reflexology, aromatherapy massage, Swedish body massage, dermalogica facials, manicures, pedicures, eyebrow shaping and make up.
Visitors can also visit nearby attractions such as Blenheim Palace, Oxford and Cotswold classics such as Stow-on-the-Wold and Bouton on the Water.
www.cotswoldbarnholidays.co.uk
The General Stores, Mill End Mitcheldean, Forest of Dean
For groups of all ages, a stay at Mill End Mitcheldean ticks all the boxes. The General Stores, Mill End Mitcheldean is a Grade II listed building dating back to the 1400s, made up of five units sleeping up to 40 guests. The country retreat includes a stone barn/meeting room, a Havana club/party barn, a games room with a pool table, table football and 50 inch plasma TV, BBQ sites, a tennis court and a fishing lake nearby.
It’s also a good location for foodies – al-fresco tapas and deli buffets can be laid out for guests’ arrival on their first evening, and staff can even arrange a Come Dine With Me style visit for team building opportunities or challenging fun as a group. Other activities such as fishing, croquet, five a side and salsa lessons can also be arranged.
No38 The Park, Cheltenham
This boutique Georgian townhouse is available to hire as a whole or room by room and overall sleeps 26. The townhouse boasts the benefits of a boutique hotel and aims to offer a home-away-from home atmosphere.
The hotel can provide private chefs, nannies, in-room treatments, flowers, butlers and bar staff to help contribute to a relaxing weekend away, and is made up of 13 individual rooms, a sitting room, dining rooms, an open kitchen and a courtyard garden, which can be used as base.
The terrace is popular for dining in the summer, whereas during winter, a fire can be lit. Groups can sit in the breakfast room and socialise whilst watching the chef cook breakfast.
The Courtyard Barns, Cheltenham
The Notgrove Estate is a 1,500 acre family run working farm, situated just three miles from Bourton-on-Sea. This accommodation sleeps up to 34 people across three cottages – walnut, hazelnut and cobnut – and the chesnut barn. The cottages include a games room, fully equipped kitchens (and a large dining table if required) and ensuite bathrooms.
Pets are allowed, and the walnut cottage has solar thermal underfloor heating. Guests can book grocery deliveries in advance – so their supermarket shop is ready and waiting on arrival and bicycles can be rented, with cycle routes mapped out. Groups can also book onto an onsite tennis court.
The estate is a popular base for walking and cycling, and nearby attractions include The Cotswold Farm Park, Cotswold Wildlife Park and Birdland.
