A Stay at Burleigh Court: the Best Boutique Hotel in the Cotswolds for a Romantic Break

Travelista’s Editor, Jessica Ruth Gibson, took a drive from North East to South West England to discover Burleigh Court, the perfect boutique hotel in the Cotswolds offering guests a luxurious home-from-home experience with a healthy dose of rest and relaxation. 

The Cotswolds is a corner of the UK I have wanted to visit for years, and an overnight stay at Burleigh Court was a pretty good excuse to finally get there. After a 4 hour drive, I began to drive through a number of quaint Cotswold villages, each with their rows of iconic limestone houses and pointed roofs that are synonymous to the region. Picture perfect – just as I had imagined – I arrived in the quaint village of Burleigh and minutes later, I was pulling up in the car park of Burleigh Court. Shortly after, my boyfriend arrived from London and we were ready to enjoy a relaxing and much-needed night away as a couple. 

My stay at Burleigh Court was provided as a press stay, in exchange for media coverage. All words and thoughts are honest, and my own. 

Burleigh Court Review: the Best Boutique Hotel in the Cotswolds for Couples

Introducing Burleigh Court

Burleigh Court is a boutique 4 star manor house hotel situated in the heart of the Cotswolds, offering stunning views over the Golden Valley in Stroud. The grand entrance hall features a cosy bar to the left and an elegant drawing room to the back, where guests can relax and unwind as comfortably as if they were at home. The hotel’s AA Rosette Restaurant, The Burleigh, features simple ‘farm to fork’ and ‘garden to table’ dishes done well, using local and home-grown produce within a 35-mile radius of the hotel. The hotel prioritises sourcing locally and the kitchen gardener forages and harvests fresh ingredients daily from the on-site kitchen garden at Burleigh Court.

With 11 rooms in the main manor house and 7 rooms in the coach house, the hotel boasts a total of 18 rooms, all of which are individually styled and designed. One-of-a-kind furniture pieces, fun colour schemes and art work furnish each room, making the hotel feel truly unique and boutique. Some of the rooms in the main house offer dual-aspect windows with spectacular views of the Golden Valley. 

Because of its emphasis on rest, relaxation and wellbeing, I would say that Burleigh Court is best suited for couples and small groups of friends or family looking for a peaceful retreat. I wouldn’t recommend Burleigh Court for families (I didn’t see any children there), but there is one family room which is located in the coach house. 

First Impressions

I first noticed how quiet and peaceful the ambience was both inside and outside of Burleigh Court. The manicured gardens sprawled in front of the main house, towards beautiful valley views. Once inside the entrance hall, the setting was calm and serene. As someone guilty of spending her entire life in a rush for something, it felt like I had immediately ‘changed gear’ stepping inside Burleigh Court, and I liked it. A lady greeted us on the font desk with an air of calm – as if she had all the time in the world to check us in and talk us through the important details. Time to slow down a bit – I said to myself. 

Pink Botanical Bliss 

I absolutely loved the styling of our room in the main house. A spectacular rounded bay window with shutters looked out onto the grounds, while a magnificent wooden four poster bed was perfectly framed by a backdrop of pink botanical wall paper. The aesthetic was fun and elegant in equal measure, making it incredibly Instagram-worthy. 

I loved the elevated touches such as the Burleigh Court-branded toiletries and diffuser, as well as the retro radio and telephone. I made myself a cup of tea, opened a pack of biscuits and relaxed on the bed after my long drive from York. 

Browse all room types and categories here.

A Guided Tour

I was lucky enough to be given an arrival tour from Burleigh Court’s owner and Director Corinna, who showed me around some of the guest rooms as well as the grounds. Spending some time with Corinna helped me to get a better understanding of Burleigh Court’s ethos, which is laid back luxury with a focus on local cuisine, nature and wellbeing. Corinna and her husband bought Burleigh Court in 2019 and lovingly renovated it into the elegant boutique destination it is today. 

Many of the pieces of furniture in the rooms have been imported over from Italy, Germany and even further afield. They all tell unique stories and some have been in their own family for generations. 

Nature and Wellbeing at Burleigh Court 

Shortly after arriving, I was keen to get out an enjoy the ‘nature spa’ in the Burleigh Court grounds. This includes a large hot tub, a Swedish sauna with woodland views and an the outdoor pool. The historic Victorian pool is one of the very few listed pools remaining in the UK. However, it’s also unheated, so the idea is to alternate between a cold dip in the pool and the warm, steamy bubbles of the hot tub. The contrast offers an invigorating challenge for the hotel’s guests, although I will admit I didn’t manage to get all the way into the pool!

Massages are also available on-site in the adorable ‘Hobbit Hut’ which is located at the bottom of the garden, next to the expansive Swedish sauna. I was lucky enough to enjoy a full body massage in here on my second day which felt divine and I loved how the experience was tailored with a choice of 3 aromatherapy scents called relaxing, uplifting and warming. I went into the sauna for 15 minutes before my massage to relax my muscles, which I think always makes a big difference. 

TOP TIP: The massage therapists are external and come into Burleigh Court on set days of the week and set windows, so it’s well worth booking a massage in advance before arriving to avoid disappointment. 

AA Rosette Dining at The Burleigh 

A highlight of our stay was the dining experience at The Burleigh, the AA Rosette restaurant on site at Burleigh Court. Our evening started with a pre-dinner cocktail in the cosy bar and I opted for an expertly shaken Cosmopolitan, after seeing another guest sipping on one. I did notice that the cocktail ingredients were pre-mixed, but I realised this didn’t matter at all because the taste was incredible and the drink was freshly shaken over ice by a friendly bartender. 

As I browsed the drinks menu I noticed they served English wine from a local Cotswolds vineyard called Woodchester Valley. I went on to order some to enjoy with dinner and it was truly one of the nicest white wines I have tased – I couldn’t believe it was locally made in the UK. 

TOP TIP: If you have time, be sure to book a Woodchester Valley Vineyard Tour and Tasting experience. These last around 3 hours and include a wine tasting. If I had more time at Burleigh Court I would definitely have loved to do this. The hotel reception can also help you to book and arrange the tours as they are a close partner of the hotel.

Alongside my English white wine, I opted for scallops with pan friend pancetta on a bed of pea puree, followed by a Chateaubriand to share with my boyfriend. The Chateaubriand was a special that came recommended by the waiter and came with dauphins potatoes, bernaise sauce, mushrooms and vegetables. The dish was rich and indulgent, and tased incredibly fresh. The elegant and relaxed ambience of The Burleigh made it somewhere I felt happy to relax in all night, chatting amongst soft candle light and surrounded by the 18th century wood panelling. It’s clear to see why this restaurant has been awarded 2 Rosettes and would be a destination in itself for any visitors staying in the Burleigh area. 

If you are staying at the hotel, I definitely recommend booking a dinner, bed and breakfast rate so that you can enjoy a meal here inclusive of your stay. However, you don’t need to be a resident to book a table at The Burleigh.

Breakfast Benedict  

Breakfast is also enjoyed in The Burleigh and guests can choose from an a la carte menu of hot dishes cooked to order, as well as a curated pantry buffet of fresh pastries, toast, juices, fruit, cereals and yoghurt. Be sure to drizzle some of the local Burleigh honey, which is made on site by the resident bees at Burleigh Court. My eggs benedict was beautiful, and my boyfriend’s breakfast was also cooked to perfection. It was a dreamy start to the day. 

Exploring the wider area

After indulging in all the wellbeing and relaxation aspects of Burleigh Court, we decided to get out an explore the surrounding countryside and village on the morning after our stay. We picked up one of the self-guided walking tour maps from reception, which guided us through the villages of Minchinhamton, Box and Burleigh and the surrounding countryside footpaths. Taking the walking tour really helped us to get a better sense of place around the hotel, although a few of the map instructions needed updating and we got a little bit lost! 

Some of the must-see villages near Burleigh Court include; 

• Minchinhampton – I can definitely recommend the Sicilian cafe and restaurant called Cucina de Amalfi for a great lunch or dinner spot
• Nailsworth
• Painswick 
• Rococo Garden 
• Rogeborough Common 

Unlike the oversaturated villages such as Stowe on the Wold and Burton on the Water, the places listed feel quiet and authentic Cotswold villages, yet with an equal amount of charm. If you have time, I recommend visiting them all and deciding what vibe you like the best. 

To Conclude 

Any time I travel, I love to stay in accommodation that really embodies the destination, whether that’s a hotel, a self-catering lodge or an Air BnB. Burleigh Court epitomises everything there is to love about The Cotswolds, from the homegrown vegetables and honey to the local Cotswold wines and the spectacular views and surrounding countryside. Burleigh Court is the type of boutique hidden gem that everyone dreams of staying in whilst exploring the Cotswolds – but luckily, you’ve already found it. 

Book a stay direct with Burleigh Court for the best offers and be sure to make use of our exclusive discount code; TRAVELISTA15.

Read more hotel reviews from our hotel hotlist.

Are you looking for a boutique hotel in the Cotswolds? Let us know what you think of Burleigh Court and which other Cotswold hotels are on your wishlist.