The Rectory

Rooms

The Rectory has 15 light and airy bedrooms spread across its three floors, plus a cosy self-catering 3-bedroom cottage on the grounds. Expect muted and calming shades of Farrow & Ball, Scandi-inspired sheepskins draped over leather armchairs, views over the garden and ensuites stocked with Bramley products. In some of the rooms, stone fireplaces and exposed wooden beams lend even more character.

The smallest room, affectionately called The Little One, has a kingsize bed, exposed beams and a surprisingly spacious ensuite. From here, the rooms go up in size but differ in style, from the Small Rooms to the Medium Rooms. The Big Rooms have large windows, clawfoot bathtubs and luxurious kingsize beds. On our most recent visit, we stayed in Big Room 11, with a clawfoot bathtub in the room, neutral tones with blue accents, and lovely views out to the gardens framed by velvet curtains, like works of art. The Biggest Room has a gorgeous teal ensuite with a clawfoot bathtub and a modern four-poster bed. All rooms come with a kettle and tea; you'll find milk in the first-floor honesty fridge on the landing, which moonlights as a late-night honesty bar after the bar closes.

Just next to the pool, set back away from the hotel, the 3-bedroom cottage is perfect for families, with 2 double rooms and 1 twin. There's plenty of space to lounge and gather, with a big corner sofa, a dining table and a wood-burner. And the kitchen is stocked with cereal, fruit, milk, bread and homemade butter.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• WiFi

Eating

Served in the light and airy Glasshouse, breakfast starts with a help-yourself array of cereals, homemade granola, yoghurt, cheese, ham, juices, bread and pastries. Then there's their breakfast menu, with dishes like an omelette Arnold Bennet - with smoked haddock and gruyere - and buttermilk waffles with whipped mascarpone and blueberries. We tried the eggs royale, which was delicious. If you're in full holiday mode, you can help yourself to some bubbly (with or without orange juice) or make your own Bloody Mary. Lunch is served daily in the same sunlit space, with a tasty selection of small and large plates. And if you can't make it out of bed, room service is available.

Dinner is taken in the elegant, candlelit dining room, kept toasty by log fires in the cooler months, or in the Glasshouse. The menu features fresh, local ingredients and delicate yet decadent flavours, such as Cornish octopus with brown crab, rabbit leg braised with verjus and marsala, and ricotta agnolotti with pistachio pesto and fine beans. We tried the native lobster & scallop raviolo with bisque to start, the wild monkfish with langoustine sauce as a main, a selection of local cheeses for dessert, and it was all scrumptious. The menus change depending on what's fresh and in season, and staff are happy to advise on wine options from their varied list.

If you want a more casual dinner, book a table at The Potting Shed pub across the road, serving up classic gastro-pub fare from pan-fried scotch eggs and fish & chips to dry-aged ribeye and twice-baked double Gloucester souffle.

For local restaurants, just ask for the staff's recommendations. We like swanky Whatley Manor, on the other side of Malmesbury. There's also The Bull Charlbury or pizza at The Stump in Cirencester.

Features include:

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service

Activities

• Kick off your shoes, curl up in a window seat and lose yourself in a good book. Alternatively, hole up in your room and choose a film from your TV's library
  
• In good weather, relax in the garden with a G&T or splash around in the outdoor heated pool (open May to October, weather dependent)
  
• Pull on some Hunters and go for a walk in the country - Westonbirt's arboretum is one of the finest in the world (a 15-minute drive)
  
• You are on the edge of the Cotswolds. Visit nearby Tetbury and find some of England's finest antique shops or browse the quirky boutiques and delis of Cirencester (10 minutes' drive), a charming market town
  
• Spend the day in Bath and treat yourself to a day at Thermae Bath Spa (40-minute drive)
  
• Harry Potter fans might want to visit the National Trust's Lacock Abbey which has featured in 2 of the hit films

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Hiking
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming

Kids

The hotel can accommodate children but it is more of a grown up vibe and not ideal for little ones.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

Some rooms can interconnect via a corridor. The cottage might work best for families, it has 3 bedrooms (including 1 twin room).

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Rectory is located in the village of Crudwell, in Wiltshire. It sits between Malmesbury and Cirencester.

By Train
The nearest train station is Kemble (6km / 3 miles). It's 70 minutes from London Paddington sation. See Seat 61 for more details.

By Air and/or Car
Heathrow is about 1 hour away and Bristol is 45 minutes. See our car rental recommendations. You'll need to bring your own electric car charger to plug in to a socket, for an additional cost.

Detailed directions will be provided when you book through i-escape.

More on getting to the UK and getting around.