We arrived at The Painswick after winding through quiet Gloucestershire lanes. The hotel is located in the center of Painswick, one of the most charming towns in the Cotswolds, but without the heavy crowds you find in more heavily-Instagrammed tourist spots. The 18th-century house was once a vicarage and became part of the Calcot Collection of hotels in 2015. Designers Nicky Farquhar and Cathy Birtles restored it with a balance of historic character—wood paneling, chapel-wing windows, open fireplaces—paired with modern comfort and color.
Our afternoon started with a hike. From the hotel you can descend the steep road out of town, cross the valley, and continue up to Slad. The Woolpack, one of England’s great pubs, waits there with a pint or some of the best pub food you’ll find before you wander back. Returning to The Painswick, we lingered over afternoon tea in the sitting room. The space is warm and inviting, with plenty of comfortable chairs for curling up by the fire. Tea here is classic: scones, breads, sandwiches, and local preserves, all served in a way that feels relaxed rather than fussy.
Upstairs there’s a game room, and outside a wide lawn stretches into the valley. On a sunny afternoon it’s a perfect place to take a glass of wine or a cocktail, especially before dinner. The restaurant, Sauce, led by chef Jamie McCallum, focuses on seasonal Cotswold ingredients. Menus are designed for sharing, with dishes like barbecued monkfish, charred greens with romesco, and feasting boards of local meat and cheeses. The open dining room shows off racks of wine and even a vintage meat slicer, underscoring the emphasis on good ingredients.
Dinner flows naturally into cocktails or coffee by the fire. For an overnight stay, the rooms are restful and thoughtfully done, many with views across the valley and the village. Don’t miss St Mary’s church with its 99 Yew trees in the churchyard around the corner, where carefully sculpted topiary surrounds centuries-old gravestones, offering one more quiet moment before you leave.
Note: The Painswick provided support for the reporting of this story.