My Cotswold Way Accommodation: Honest Reviews of Every Hotel, Inn, and B&B

One of the questions I spent the most time researching before walking the Cotswold Way had nothing to do with hiking.
It was where to sleep.
Unlike a traditional vacation where you can stay in one hotel for several nights, walking the Cotswold Way means moving almost every day, depending on how you want to structure your trip. Finding accommodations that fit both your mileage and your budget can be surprisingly challenging, especially in the smaller villages.
I booked my accommodations about two months before my trip and quickly discovered that some villages had far fewer options than I expected. A few of my walking days ended up being longer—or shorter—simply because of where I could find available rooms.
After walking more than 102 miles in May 2026, here are my honest thoughts on every place I stayed, what I paid, and whether I would stay there again.
Related: How I Planned My Cotswold Way Walk
A Few Notes Before We Begin
- I walked north to south, beginning in Chipping Campden and finishing in Bath.
- Prices are approximate and will vary depending on season.
- I often prioritized comfort (and good reviews) over finding the absolute cheapest option.
- Every property listed here is somewhere I personally stayed.
- I booked almost all hotels through Booking.com, though I do wonder if I could have gotten better deals booking direct.
At a Glance: My Cotswold Way Accommodation
| Village | Accommodation | Cost (per night) | Would Stay Again? |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | Ridgemount Hotel | €150 | No |
| Chipping Campden | Eight Bells Inn | €180 | Definitely |
| Broadway | The Lodge at Broadway | €150 | Probably |
| Winchcombe | White Hart Inn | €145 | Yes |
| Cheltenham | Charlton Boutique Hotel | €100 | Probably Not |
| Birdlip | Royal George Hotel | €130 | Yes |
| Painswick | AirBnB | $160 | Definitely |
| Wotton-under-Edge | Swan Hotel | $250 | Probably |
| Stroud | Stonehouse Court Hotel | €130 | Yes |
| Chipping Sodbury | Beaufort Hunt | €99 | Yes |
| Wick | Toghill House Farm | €110 | No |
| Bath | Avon Guesthouse | €160 | Yes |
| London | Leonardo Hotel London Heathrow Airport | Points | Yes |
Related: My Cotswold Way Itinerary Day-by-Day: What I Planned and What I’d Change.
Ridgemount Hotel, London
Approximate Cost: €150 per night
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Would I Stay Again? No
Since I arrived in England a couple of days before beginning the walk, I spent my first nights in London, a city I know quite well (and love!).
The Ridgemount Hotel was perfectly adequate. It was clean, comfortable, and conveniently located for exploring London and visiting the nearby bookstores around the British Library.
That said, London has no shortage of accommodations, and next time I’d probably choose somewhere different. I was on the fifth floor, so had a lot of stairs to climb (which made me actually glad my bag didn’t make it) and the room was very small and barren. The breakfast was quite good, though had odd hours and was pretty crowded.
Eight Bells Inn, Chipping Campden
Approximate Cost: €180
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Would I Stay Again? Absolutely.
Eight Bells Inn was one of my favorite accommodations of the entire trip and the perfect place to begin the Cotswold Way.
The inn had everything I was hoping for: character, comfortable rooms, friendly service, and a wonderful location in the heart of Chipping Campden.
Knowing I was about to begin walking more than 100 miles, it felt like the right place to start the adventure.
If I walked the Cotswold Way again, I’d happily book this one again.
The Lodge at Broadway
Approximate Cost: €150
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Would I Stay Again? Yes, although I’d probably compare a few other options first.
Broadway ended up being my favorite village on the entire trail, and The Lodge at Broadway made a great base for exploring it.
The room was comfortable (and earns extra points for having a bathtub and small refrigerator), the location was convenient, and after the excitement of completing my first day of walking, it was a lovely place to relax. Each room has a theme and I was in the “Horse and Hound.”
This was one of a few “contactless” properties along the trail that calls itself a hotel, but doesn’t actually have a reception desk of any sort or even a lobby. I do wonder how they would have handled my luggage courier service…
The hotel also didn’t offer breakfast, but there was a nearby coffee shop that offered a discount to people staying in the hotel, but it didn’t open until 0830 and I was ready to go, so I can’t give a rating.
Broadway has several appealing accommodations, though, so next time I might be tempted to try somewhere different.
White Hart Inn, Winchcombe
Approximate Cost: €145
Rating: ★★★★☆
Would I Stay Again? Yes.
Winchcombe was another enjoyable little town with quite a few shops and inns, and the White Hart Inn fit the atmosphere perfectly.
After another full day of walking, I appreciated having a comfortable room and a traditional English inn experience.
This was my most muddy day and I still didn’t have my luggage, so as soon as I could, I peeled off my muddy socks, jeans, and underwear to wash them in the shower and dry on the towel warmer.
I should also add that the chicken and leek pie with a cold cider was also a lovely way to warm up after a day of walking in the rain.
Charlton Boutique Hotel, Cheltenham
Approximate Cost: €100
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Would I Stay Again? Probably not.
Charlton Boutique Hotel was perfectly acceptable, but compared with some of the charming inns I experienced elsewhere on the trail, it didn’t leave much of an impression.
It was another “contactless” option, wasn’t near anything else, and the atmosphere was just lacking.
Sometimes a hotel is simply a place to shower, sleep, and prepare for the next day’s walk. This was one of those places.
Royal George Hotel, Birdlip
Approximate Cost: €130
Rating: ★★★★☆
Would I Stay Again? Yes.
After several demanding days on the trail, I appreciated the comfortable room and welcoming atmosphere here.
The staff was friendly, the food and drinks were good, and it was clearly a hotel that catered to Cotswold Way walkers (a few fellow hikers actually stayed there two nights and took cabs to the walk different routes each day).
It isn’t necessarily the accommodation I’ll remember most from the trip, but it did exactly what I needed it to do. (And it’s also the hotel where I was finally reunited with my luggage, so I have especially fond memories of that moment.)
Airbnb, Painswick
Approximate Cost: $160
Rating: ★★★★★
Would I Stay Again? Definitely.
Painswick became one of my favorite stops on the Cotswold Way, and this Airbnb was a big reason why.
It was a beautiful little cottage on the edge of town with a darling bedroom and a very memorable bathtub (with a separate shower).
I had planned a rest day here, and it ended up being exactly what I needed: the extra space, quiet surroundings, and chance to truly relax helped me recover before continuing south.
If you’re considering building a rest day into your itinerary, I highly recommend it (and even if you’re only staying for one night).
Swan Hotel, Wotton-under-Edge
Approximate Cost: $250
Rating: ★★★★☆
Would I Stay Again? Yes, but I’d compare other options first.
This was one of the more expensive accommodations on my trip.
Swan Hotel was lovely, but because Wotton-under-Edge has fewer accommodation choices, prices tend to be higher.
Would I stay again? Yes.
Would I also see what else was available? Probably.
I enjoyed my time in Wotton-Under-Edge, though, and actually visited a few other pubs/inns in town.
Stonehouse Court Hotel, Stroud
Approximate Cost: €130
Rating: ★★★★☆
Would I Stay Again? Yes.
This was another comfortable stay that provided exactly what I wanted after a long day of walking, especially since it was such a beautiful place. (Look at all that stone!)
Stonehouse Court Hotel is quite a bit off the trail, though, and you had to pay extra to check in early (so I just sat in the lobby and had a drink) and the food was just “fine.”
But, it was a good room with a comfortable bed and hot shower.
Beaufort Hunt, Chipping Sodbury
Approximate Cost: €99
Rating: ★★★★☆
Would I Stay Again? Yes, although I’d probably compare nearby options.
This was one of the hardest stops to find accommodations and the Beaufort Hunt is so far off the trail I ended up taking a cab to/from the trail.
I would say it was one of the better values of the trip, though: comfortable, well located (a great town with lots of food options), and exactly what I needed before my final walking day.
I really do enjoy staying in/near pubs.
Toghill House Farm, Wick
Approximate Cost: €110
Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Would I Stay Again? No.
This was probably my least favorite accommodation of the trip.
The accommodation part was actually pretty great–a nice room on a beautiful property that is actually a working farm.
But it was another contactless entry, it was hard to get to (and hard to get back to the trail) and there was NOTHING else around it.
This was the only evening on the trip when I genuinely wished I had stayed somewhere else. After a long, hot day of walking, all I wanted was a cold drink and a decent meal. Instead, I spent the evening refreshing Uber trying to find a ride to take me somewhere and eventually ordering snacks to be delivered from a convenience store.
The room itself was lovely. The location just wasn’t the right fit for me.
Avon Guesthouse, Bath
Approximate Cost: €160
Rating: ★★★★☆
Would I Stay Again? Yes, although I’d compare other options.
After walking more than 100 miles, arriving in Bath felt incredibly rewarding and Avon Guesthouse was a welcome end to a long walk.
It was comfortable, well located for exploring the city, and the hostess was lovely.
Bath has so many accommodation choices, though, that I’d be tempted to try somewhere different next time, but I certainly wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this one.
Leonardo Hotel London Heathrow Airport
Approximate Cost: Points
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Would I Stay Again? Yes.
This was simply a practical overnight stay before flying home.
Comfortable, convenient, and exactly what I needed after an unforgettable trip and before a very early flight.
My Favorite Places to Stay
If you’re looking for the short version, these were my favorites:
🥇 Eight Bells Inn, Chipping Campden — The perfect start to the journey.
🥈 My Airbnb in Painswick — Quiet, comfortable, and ideal for a rest day.
🥉 The Lodge at Broadway — Mostly because I completely fell in love with Broadway.
What I Learned About Booking Accommodation
If I were planning the Cotswold Way again, I’d do three things differently.
Book Earlier
Two months felt early, but it wasn’t.
Some villages have surprisingly few accommodation options, and the best places book quickly.
Build My Itinerary Around Accommodation
Originally, I built my itinerary around mileage, because I knew I didn’t want to walk more than 12 miles a day.
In hindsight, I’d probably work through a better balance of finding the accommodations and planning the mileage.
Consider a Rest Day
My friends and I took a rest day while walking the Camino in 2023 and it was an important part of a trip, so I knew I wanted to take a rest day on this trip, too.
Not only did my legs appreciate it, but it also gave me a chance to slow down and actually enjoy one of my favorite villages instead of simply walking through it.
Things I Didn’t Think about When Booking Accommodation
I’ll be honest, when I was booking my accommodation, I mostly focused on how the place looked/the vibe, the location and the cost. But, in retrospect, there are a few more things I might pay attention to:
- proximity to the trail
- nearby dinner options
- breakfast offerings and times
- check-in times
- Packed lunch offerings (I noticed a few places, like Royal George Hotel, offered this for walkers and although I never tried them, I could see that being really convenient)
Final Thoughts
Looking back, I’m very happy with the accommodations I chose.
Some were more memorable than others. Some offered better value. Some had better food.
But each one became part of the overall experience of walking the Cotswold Way.
Every afternoon, somewhere around the last mile, I found myself thinking the same thing: “I can’t wait for a cold drink and a hot shower.”
Every single one of these places gave me that…and some came with lovely people, too.
And after more than 100 miles on foot, that felt like one of life’s greatest luxuries.
More Cotswold Way Resources
If you’re planning your own Cotswold Way walk, these guides dive deeper into the topics I only touched on here:
Planning & Preparation
- What is the Real Cotswold Way Difficulty? My Honest Experience After 102 Miles
- How I Trained for the Cotswold Way (And What I Would Do Differently)
- What I Packed for the Cotswold Way
- What the Cotswold Way Cost Me
- The Best Cotswold Way Apps, Maps, and Navigation Tools
Itinerary & Logistics
- My Cotswold Way Itinerary: Day-by-Day Breakdown
- Where I Stayed on the Cotswold Way
- Walking the Cotswold Way Solo
Food, Inspiration & Lessons Learned
- 16 Cotswold Way Tips I Wish I Knew Before Walking
- Food and Drink on the Cotswold Way
- Books and Movies to Read Before Walking the Cotswold Way
No matter where you are in the planning process, I hope these guides help make your own Cotswold Way adventure a little easier—and maybe convince you that those “rolling hills” deserve a healthy amount of respect! (And if I haven’t answered your question in one of the above posts, feel free to drop me a line with your specific question; I’m happy to share my experience!)












