The Old Stocks Inn, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cotswolds

Right in the heart of Stow-on-the-Wold, the Cotswolds' highest town, The Old Stocks Inn is a Grade II-listed building on a charming square. There are little shops and art galleries within walking distance.

You're perfectly placed to visit some of the Cotswolds' prettiest villages, including The Slaughters (Upper and Lower Slaughter) and Bourton-on-the-Water.

By car: 2 hours 30 minutes from London and 1 hour 15 minutes from Bristol. Free on-site parking available.

By train: London Paddington to Kingham takes 1 hour 20 minutes, after which, a taxi takes 15 minutes. Book trains to Kingham.

Spread over two butterscotch Grade II-listed buildings and boasting plenty of character, original 17th-century features remain, including the oakwood ceiling beams. Now a stylish boutique bolthole, modern, chic and fun touches can also be found - geometric floor patterns, low-hanging light bulbs and velvet sofas in bold, decisive palettes like mustard yellow and teal.

Despite being a boutique hotel in a listed building, facilities include the café-bar, a library with board games, a garden patio and a popular cocktail bar. The friendly staff are eager to please and always happy to help. Ask for suggestions of things to do and see in the area - and try one of the four Foodie Trails around the Cotswolds.

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Garden
• Bike hire
• Free parking
• Free Wi-Fi

Rooms are cosy and follow the same décor theme as the rest of the hotel - combining quirky vintage touches with rustic accents. In the higher category bedrooms, you'll find free-standing baths.

Room types: Cosy Great Room, Amazing Great Room, Cosy House Room, House Room, Garden Room, Family Room

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with Noble Isle toiletries, complimentary mini bar, tea and coffee-making facilities, TV, free Wi-Fi

The restaurant serves Modern British dishes that make the most of local ingredients - and it attracts both hotel guests and those in the know. Free-range eggs are from a nearby farm, meat is from a trusted butcher in Stratford, salmon is smoked nearby, and cheeses are sourced from the Cotswold Cheese Company. There's a good selection of wines, too.

The restaurant: modern British cuisine, seasonal menus. Open daily for lunch and dinner.

The terrace: outdoor dining, open for lunch.

Cocktail Lounge: stylish, classic and signature cocktails, fine wines.