Hatherley Manor Now a hotel but once, Hatherley House, built in the 17th century supposedly for an illegitimate son of Oliver Cromwell (although there is no evidence to support this rumour), and one time home of Anthony Gilbert Jones, former mayor of Gloucester. Containing splendid 17th century and Regency fittings.

HotelStay

Hatherley Manor Hotel

📷 Photo by Pauline Eccles · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

This 17th-century manor in the village of Longford works well as a country house retreat where you can genuinely switch off from the everyday.

Down Hatherley Lane, GL2 9QA

Now a hotel, it sprawls across 37 acres of grounds that give you real room to relax and explore on foot.

Accommodation splits between rooms in the historic manor itself and more contemporary garden rooms, depending on what appeals to you. There's a restaurant for straightforward meals, and if you want to properly unwind, the spa includes a swimming pool and treatments. The gardens and parkland are worth spending time in, the sort of place that encourages you to slow down for an afternoon rather than rush through.

Practically speaking, it works as a solid base for getting beyond the immediate area. Gloucester sits nearby with its cathedral and historic docks worth seeing. Cheltenham, known for its elegant Regency buildings and decent shopping, is only a short drive away. From here you're well positioned to explore both cities and venture into the wider Cotswold region to discover the various towns and villages scattered throughout. You get that balance between a genuine escape and staying connected to places that are actually worth visiting.