“I Write About Travel For A Living & I Just Found The Ultimate Staycation Spot”
Last month I wrote an opinion piece arguing that staycations beat a trip abroad, and after a weekend at Calcot Spa and Manor, I’m more convinced than ever. This stay didn’t just prove my point, it hammered it home. So let me tell you exactly why you should cancel that flight and book this Cotswolds hotel for your next holiday instead.
The treehouses
One of Calcot’s biggest draws is its brand new treehouses, which completely immerse you in the Cotswolds countryside. Set within 220 acres of rewilding landscape, they strike the perfect balance between rural retreat and unadulterated luxury. I was blown away from the moment I set foot inside ours.
The interiors are cosy and chic in equal measure, the products are all top of the range, and the bed might just be the comfiest I’ve ever slept on. But beyond that, it was the attention to detail that really won me over: fresh sourdough waiting on arrival, a turndown service that includes a custom note prepping you for the next day (right down to a mini weather report). They really do leave no stone unturned.
The interiors are cosy and chic in equal measure, the products are all top of the range, and the bed might just be the comfiest I’ve ever slept on. But beyond that, it was the attention to detail that really won me over.
Amelia, Culture & Lifestyle Writer/Creator
Each treehouse has two bedrooms that can be set up for families, girls’ trips, or whoever you’re travelling with, plus a small kitchen for cosy nights in and a generous balcony with its own sauna and outdoor shower.
The location
The hotel site is set among acres of idyllic countryside, so it feels like a real retreat. In the evenings we strolled through the rolling fields, explored the nature trail, and sat on the balcony watching bunny rabbits hopping in the grass.
That said, you don’t need to stay within the grounds to have a good time. The nearby town of Tetbury has plenty to offer too, and it’s well worth carving out an afternoon to explore it. We kicked off our trip there, wandering through its antique shops, poking around quaint bookstores, and stopping for coffee at one of the many independent cafes dotted along the high street.
There’s a lovely, unhurried pace to the place, with plenty of pretty Cotswolds stone buildings, and it makes the perfect warm-up for a weekend of slowing down. Add it as a quick pitstop on route to the hotel, or rent bikes for the day and make your way over there before heading back to unwind in the spa, restaurant, or your treehouse balcony.
The food
Across the two-night stay, we were extremely well fed, from fish pie with fresh salad and potatoes delivered straight to our treehouse door, to a delicious dining experience at The Brasserie. Yes, dining in Calcot’s on-site restaurant is a wonderfully polished experience, with a menu spanning seasonal Cotswolds produce and views stretching across the countryside, but there is something very special and indulgent about your dinner being delivered in a Le Creuset-esque dish straight to your room.
Across the two-night stay, we were extremely well fed, from fish pie with fresh salad and potatoes delivered straight to our treehouse door, to a delicious dining experience at The Brasserie
We enjoyed our Scottish wild salmon, smoked haddock, and king prawn pie with dill and caviar sauce on our private decking in complete and utter bliss, and it was truly a highlight of the stay. It’s in that very same spot that we enjoyed breakfast, which you can organise the day before. We opted for copious amounts of pastries, oats, fresh sourdough and sausage sandwiches, before hopping into our private sauna, adjacent to the breakfast table (honestly, I challenge you to come up with a better way to kickstart your day).
The spa facilities
No stay at Calcot would be complete without making time for the spa, and it’s easy to lose an entire afternoon there. Guests get unlimited access to the pool, gym, and fireside outdoor tub, plus the newly added Recovery Garden, so you can happily drift between a swim, a sauna, and a treatment without ever checking the clock.
Whether you’re after a proper pampering session or just a quiet corner with a book by the outdoor hot tub, it’s the kind that you leave feeling well and truly rejuvenated.
Things to do nearby
Beyond the estate itself, there’s plenty to fill a weekend. The walking trails around Calcot are reason enough to pack your walking boots, winding through farmland and quiet Cotswolds villages that make you want to stretch the walk out longer than planned.
Tetbury is only a short drive or bike ride away if you fancy another wander round its antique shops and cafes, and it’s also home to Highgrove, King Charles’s private garden, which is well worth booking onto a tour of if you’re visiting between April and October.
The verdict
The verdict? If you needed convincing that the UK does luxury just as well as anywhere abroad, Calcot is your answer. Between the treehouses, the food, and a spa you’ll never want to leave, it’s the kind of place that makes cancelling that flight feel like the easiest decision you’ll make all year. So do yourself a favour, swap the airport queues for the Cotswolds countryside, and book yourself in.
The verdict? If you needed convincing that the UK does luxury just as well as anywhere abroad, Calcot is your answer. Between
How to book and getting there
Rooms at Calcot can be booked directly through the website. Treehouses tend to book up quickly given how popular they’ve become, so it’s worth planning a few months ahead if you have your eye on one. As for getting there, Calcot sits just outside Tetbury in Gloucestershire, around a two-hour drive from London, with the nearest train station at Kemble roughly 15 minutes away by taxi.
Treehouse bookings start from £1,180 B&B.
find out more here
