Dormy House Hotel

Character and identity

A converted seventeenth-century farmhouse high on the Cotswold escarpment, Dormy House blends original beams and stone with sleek contemporary interiors across 38 rooms split between the old building and newer extensions. Expect a tasteful jumble of nooks in the farmhouse (the Attic suite makes the most of the eaves) and brighter, more generously proportioned quarters in the new-build wing (the Loft is the pick). Three distinct dining rooms run from generous breakfasts with house-made jams, through pub-style plates at the Potting Shed, to a 12-seat tasting menu at the MO. The spa is the headline act, and service is polished but unstuffy.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The spa is the reason to book, genuinely sensual and grown-up in a way most country-house wellness offerings are not, with the cooking a close second. Splash out on a Loft room if you want space and light, or the Attic suite for farmhouse character. Midweek autumn and winter stays are when the fireside, hot-tub combination really sings.