In our Suite Staycation column, Gina Jackson – hotel expert and author of British Boutique Hotels – tours some of the best hotel suites in the UK. In our first of 2025, Gina stays at Thyme in the Cotswolds.
Best for: a chic Cotswolds stay
This honey-coloured hamlet buried deep within 150 acres of Gloucestershire wildland tells a story of considered, careful restoration.
Give us the lowdown
A family-run business helmed by owner Caryn Hibbert, Thyme originally opened as a cookery school in 2007 – but with daughter Camilla managing the hotel, and son Charlie heading up the kitchen, Thyme has slowly and carefully evolved into one of the countryside’s most luxe and well-loved getaways, adding an award-winning spa, retail boutique, and destination restaurant to its all-star offering. Within the quaint Cotswold village of Southrop, the hotel encompasses a clutch of 17th-century cottages, barns and farmhouses, cocooned by perfectly pruned gardens and sweeping swathes of greenery.
What’s in the suite?
Rooms are scattered between various cottages and farmhouses across the estate, ranging from standout suites that sit in the Lodge, overlooking a colossal cedar tree, to bedrooms framed by trim rose gardens – all are individually designed by owner Caryn. I checked into Comfrey, one of the six secluded Garden Suites, each of which is wrapped by foliage and boasts a tranquil, private courtyard. These rooms have more of a modern feel (think polished concrete floors and glossy floor-to-ceiling windows), yet still ooze plenty of warmth.
My room was awash in golden hues, and featured a spacious seating area and circular tub presiding over the open-plan ensuite. Across the hotel’s pastel-toned bedrooms, expect botanically inspired furnishings (think floral, touchy-feely fabrics, all hand-painted by Caryn), and jewel-coloured bathtubs. There are plenty of little touches to help you feel at home: nibble on homemade cookies and cheese straws, pour yourself a drink from the in-room honesty bar, and expect a hot water bottle tucked under the sheets at turndown.
How’s the crowd?
This is an adults-only escape: expect couples, mother-daughter duos, and friends retreating here for relaxed getaways and spa weekends. The hotel cultivates a meaningful relationship with the local community by hosting regular events and art exhibitions, and tends to attract a well-heeled Cotswolds gaggle.
Where can we eat and drink?
Ox Barn is the hotel’s crowning jewel: Thyme’s centrepiece restaurant housed within a spectacular converted barn. Curl up on velvety banquettes underneath the soaring, vaulted beams and feast on seasonally led dishes, all of which champion produce grown across the estate. Hearty, signature dishes include lemon sole swimming in buttery caper sauce and roast pork with salsa verde, followed by a generous slice of hazelnut tart.
Sip on cocktails while sinking into the squashy sofas, and watch the chefs plate up at the pass – or sink a tipple at the adjoining Baa bar beforehand. Meanwhile, for slap-up Sunday roasts after a long romp across the fields, head over to The Swan, Thyme’s village pub located an easy waddle away from the hotel. For breakfast, return to Ox Barn for courgette fritters and creamy, scrambled eggs with fresh veg.
What’s on the to-do list?
It’s worth testing your culinary chops while you’re here. Learn how to perfect crumbly scones and whip up a Mediterranean-inspired feast after plucking produce directly from the estate farm. Green-fingered guests will enjoy pootling down to the kitchen gardens, where you can spy colourful flora, along with the seasonal veggies that feature across Ox Barn’s menu.
To unwind, make sure to carve out some time at the hotel’s award-winning Meadow Spa: follow lavender-scented pathways to reach a tranquil, toffee-coloured cottage, where you can sink into restorative therapies, ranging from breathwork sessions to knot-kneading massages. There’s a serene outdoor pool to strew yourself by (which transforms into quite the suntrap come summer) along with a residents-only deli serving nourishing salads and hand-churned sorbets. For the ultimate wind-down, book a 90-minute ritual at the spa’s Botanical Bothy, which includes a mix of lymphatic body brushing, deep tissue massages, and herb-infused bath soaks.
Are there any stand-out touches worth mentioning?
All of the soaps, lotions, and bath salts kitting out each room are Thyme’s own brand, Bertioli. The same goes for the hand-painted linens, napkins, and furnishings you’ll find adorning each space. Make sure to visit the hotel’s boutique, which is well-stocked with Bertioli goods, so you can take a slice of Thyme home with you.
What should we know before we go?
There’s a calendar of curated ‘Happenings’ throughout the year, from book signings and art exhibitions to themed cooking and wellness classes. Time your visit in line with one of these events to make the most of your stay. For roaming further afield, you’ll want to visit by car; from here, you’ll be in prime position for exploring the picture-postcard villages of Bibury, Burford, and Bourton-on-the-Water – all on Thyme’s doorstep.
What should we pack?
Cashmere two-pieces and Hunter wellies complete the cosy, Cotswolds look. Bring a floral dress to blend into the bucolic, botanically inspired backdrop come dinnertime. Remember to pack a swimsuit for the pool.
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Any Questions or Tips to add?