Buckland Manor

Buckland Manor is an elegant, very historical boutique hotel in the Cotswolds. It lies on 10 acres of landscaped grounds in the village of Buckland and is in the heart of some of the Gloucestershire/Worcestershire Cotswolds’ loveliest countryside.

It is also within easy reach of many of its most charming villages: Broadway, Stanton and Snowshill for example are all just a few minutes drive away.

The manor house hotel has just 15 guest rooms and so is very much a boutique affair, with an intimate, though quite formal, Olde England atmosphere.

The service is top-class, as is the food at their highly-praised restaurant. Other facilities include tennis courts and a croquet lawn.

THE ACCOMMODATION:

It has just 15 individually designed and styled rooms in various sizes, with the oak-paneled superior four-poster room being our particular favorite.

They are all though extremely elegant, and comfortable, and offer plenty of luxury hotel niceties – Nespresso coffee machines, homemade biscuits, Vispring beds and expensive soft fabrics, etc., as well as L’Occitane skin care and bath lotions in their opulent, underfloor heated, bathrooms. Some bathrooms also come with a bath, and some rooms have electric fireplaces.

PRICES:

Check out all the details – prices, reviews and more photos – on the booking page here.

FACILITIES & THINGS TO DO:

One of the highlights of this lovely hotel is their award-winning restaurant serving modern British cuisine under head chef Will Guthrie.

Ingredients are fresh and local with some herbs and vegetables coming direct from the manor’s own kitchen garden. The historic dining room is a wonderful setting and the atmosphere is stylish, sophisticated, old-school formal.

Note: The dress code for dinner and Sunday lunch is smart casual and men must wear a jacket in the dining room.

As well as lunch, dinner and snacks you can enjoy classic, three-tiered afternoon teas, with a glass or two of champagne added if you wish, and their breakfasts are generous and full of variety.

The Manor, though not particularly large, has some lovely common spaces to relax in, all of which are beautifully decorated with antique furniture and old oil paintings.

The aforementioned 10-acre grounds are also lovely to wander around, and have tennis courts and a croquet lawn, and you can also go on some nice countryside walks in the surrounding area – the staff at Buckland will be happy to advise on this and all there is to see and do in the area.

THE LOCATION:

Buckland Manor is tucked away in the sleepy, classic Cotswolds village that bears its name on the Gloucestershire/Worcestershire borders.

The immediate surrounding countryside is truly gorgeous and as well as Buckland itself you are within easy reach of some other classically beautiful villages – Broadway, Stanton and Snowshill to name just a few.

The nearest train station is at Moreton-in-Marsh, a 20-minute drive/taxi ride to the east. Birmingham is less than an hour to the north with Stratford upon Avon being around half an hour. Gloucester is around 40 minutes away with Cheltenham being about 25.

A LITTLE HISTORY:

Buckland is one of the most historical properties in the Cotswolds, being first mentioned in 600 AD as under the ownership of Gloucester Abbey.

It also has an entry in the Doomsday Book and the village which bears its name – Buckland – has what is believed to be the oldest rectory in England. This is the impressive, now 15th-century era, timbered structure that sits beside the Manor today.

Records show that in 1518 the Buckland Estate was given by Gloucestershire Abbey to James Appery on a 31-year lease but was relinquished, in 1540, to King Henry VIII following the Dissolution of the Monasteries which followed his schism with the Church of Rome.

It was granted to the newly titled (Church of England) Bishop of Gloucester and then six years later the Church exchanged it with Sir Richard Gresham for some of his lands in Yorkshire.

Just three years later, in 1549, he died, with the manor along with his many other estates passing to his eldest son, Sir Thomas Gresham.

Sir Thomas was one of the most successful businessmen of his time and, among his many achievements, was the founder of the Royal Exchange and of Gresham College in London.

He died in 1579, childless (his only son having already died), and the manor of Buckland passed to his nephew, John, eldest son of his also by then deceased sister, Christian, wife of Sir John Thynne.

Sir John Thynne junior died in 1604 passing his estate to his son and the manor would remain with the Thynnes right up to their acquisition of the title of Marquesses of Bath and their building of Longleat House, during which time most of the present structure of Buckland Manor was also built.

REVIEWS:

“Exceptional: A beautiful building in a lovely setting. Comfortable sofas in front of roaring fires. Staff for whom nothing was too much trouble. Excellent food (traditional breakfast and adventurous tasting menu)…..”

“A beautiful old Cotswold manor house set in lovely grounds; felt like visiting Middle Earth! Excellent food, lovely traditional decor, welcoming and thoroughly professional staff…..”

>> CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS & TO BOOK YOUR STAY AT BUCKLAND MANOR

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Location Category:

UK

England

The Cotswolds