The Hare & Hounds

While technically just outside the Cotswolds proper, Newbury's position makes it ideal for reaching the southern edge of the Cotswolds and the wider Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The hotel itself offers straightforward comfort and genuine hospitality, with the relaxed atmosphere you get from a proper established inn rather than a corporate operation. After a day exploring, it's the sort of place where you can settle in easily with a meal and a drink.

The location gives you real flexibility about how to spend your time. Newbury itself deserves a visit, home to the famous racecourse and various local attractions. Head south and you're well placed for a day trip to Highclere Castle. But if the classic Cotswold villages are what you're after, drive north for straightforward access to places like Burford and Bibury. The hotel works well precisely because it doesn't commit you to exploring in one direction. You can spend your days discovering Berkshire's character or venture into the Cotswolds themselves, all from a comfortable, unpretentious base where the staff genuinely know how to make guests feel welcome.