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Top 10: Cotswolds pubs with rooms

A cosy fire awaits at the Five Alls in Filkins.
A cosy fire awaits at the Five Alls in Filkins.

An insider's guide to the best pub hotels in the Cotswolds, featuring the top places to stay for good food, excellent walks, period charm, cosy fires and characterful rooms, in locations including Kingham, Tetbury, Stow-on-the-Wold and Bledington.

The Swan Inn, Oxfordshire
The Swan Inn, Oxfordshire

The Swan Inn

Oxfordshire, England

8Telegraph expert rating

The village of Swinbrook was home to the Mitford sisters and in a delicate balancing act, Mitford memorabilia is on display but not so much as to make a theme park of the place. Almost inevitably your attention is equally drawn to the feather-footed bantams wandering the garden and to the enticing blackboard menu. The six bedrooms were created in the old stable, removed from potential pub noise, the calm is emphasised by warm cream-coloured furnishings. Read expert review From £105per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

The best hotels in the Cotswolds

The Five Alls hotel, Cotswolds
The Five Alls hotel, Cotswolds

The Five Alls

Filkins, Cotswolds, England

9Telegraph expert rating

The old inn has a useful layout, with a large bar area, often crowded at weekends, and a spacious Alpine style sitting area, with sofas in front of a log fire and pine dressers where infused olive oil and homemade fudge are offered for sale. There are two dining rooms, one with an assortment of round wooden tables and slate floor, the other more sophisticated, with chandeliers and Persian rugs. The four bedrooms are attractively decorated. Read expert review From £110per night

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Ebrington Arms, Gloucestershire
Ebrington Arms, Gloucestershire

The Ebrington Arms

Ebrington, Cotswolds, England

8Telegraph expert rating

Creaking with atmosphere, this is a 1640 building with Victorian additions. You walk into a bar/dining room that exudes warmth, with an inglenook fireplace, exposed beams and flagstone and wooden floor. Beyond are two more dining areas – complete with wood burning stove, and settles crafted from old barrels. Yet it’s the local spirit that makes this pub particularly special: it’s a hub of the village and hosts live music. Rooms have a decanter of sherry, homemade biscuits and an eclectic mix of hardback books. Read expert review From £165half board Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

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The Bull Inn, Cotswolds
The Bull Inn, Cotswolds

The Bull Inn

Charlbury, Cotswolds, England

8Telegraph expert rating

A 16th-century coaching inn; The Bull oozes atmosphere with its inglenook fireplace, stone walls and beams. There’s a modern, arty vibe too, with flamboyant furnishings and striking paintings from the Crane Kelman gallery in London. There are four glamorously devised bedrooms above the bar. Each is individually furnished – one has walls hand-painted by artist Fifi McAlpine, another is soothingly deep green. They all have fine linen and fluffy robes. The establishment has its own butchery, and does adventurous starters in the restaurant (red gurnard with verbena harissa anyone?). Read expert review From £85per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

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The Kingham Plough, Oxfordshire
The Kingham Plough, Oxfordshire

The Kingham Plough

Kingham, Cotswolds, England

8Telegraph expert rating

A treat of a foodie destination in picture-pretty Kingham. Husband and wife team Emily Watkins and Miles Lampson wanted to keep a 'pubby' element while also celebrating great British cuisine and have devised a relaxing haven with pleasingly comfy décor. There’s a well-frequented bar with squishy armchairs, a woodburner at one end and a fireplace at the other. The six bedrooms are different shapes and sizes with flourishes of attractive fabrics. Award-winning food is inspired by local produce; the likes of Windrush Valley goat cheese and pork from Paddock Farm a few miles away. Read expert review From £145per night

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The Howard Arms Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon
The Howard Arms Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon

The Howard Arms

Stratford-upon-Avon, Cotswolds, England

8Telegraph expert rating

This appealingly stylish old pub is set in a quiet lane on the outskirts of Ilmington, a pink brick and golden stone Warwickshire village complete with a community-run shop. The pub dates back several centuries and has evolved from a collection of barns. There are snoozy leather armchairs in front of a big stone fireplace, and hunting pictures on the walls. Friday nights are particularly convivial, Sundays too, with a regular quiz in the evening. All of the eight rooms have a sitting area; one has a four-poster, another a canopy bed decked in tartan. Read expert review From £110per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

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The King's Head Inn, Bledington, Chipping Norton
The King's Head Inn, Bledington, Chipping Norton

Kings Head Inn

Bledington, Cotswolds, England

8Telegraph expert rating

So many old inns have the character ripped out of them when they are revamped, but not this one. The warren of rooms circling the central bar are all cosy, with home grown hyacinths scenting the air. Rooms are simple and unpretentious, yet artfully decorated with junk shop finds, painted furniture, the odd family heirloom, books and pictures, pretty fabrics, rugs, Lloyd loom chairs and comforting throws on excellent, white linen beds. Bathrooms are necessarily small, but attractive too. Read expert review From £80per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

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The Crown Inn, Cotswold, Gloucestershire
The Crown Inn, Cotswold, Gloucestershire

The Crown Inn

Frampton Mansell, Gloucestershire, Cotswolds, England

8Telegraph expert rating

With its wonky old beams, fireplaces and exposed stone, the main building dates from 1633 and was originally constructed as a cider house. It creaks with atmosphere and is very much the real deal: a proper pub and the haunt of locals. The 12 bedrooms offer generous space, each with a bath and shower. The rooms are spread over two floors of what is effectively a separate house and guests can come and go without walking through the pub. Read expert review From £57per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

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The Plough Inn, Gloucestershire
The Plough Inn, Gloucestershire

The Plough Inn

Cheltenham, Cotswolds, England

8Telegraph expert rating

This is a 17th-century Cotswold stone inn with generous terrace. The Averys have retained the character of the building, particularly the original bar area which is now the dining room. Behind it, a previously unused room has become a sleek new bar area complete with creative flourishes such as stools fashioned from cart wheels. Locals still come for a pint and a chat, and weekenders descend from London, Birmingham and further afield. The three simply decorated attic rooms offer cosy comfort. Read expert review From £80per night

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The Royal Oak, Cotswolds, Gloucestershire
The Royal Oak, Cotswolds, Gloucestershire

The Royal Oak

8Telegraph expert rating

Décor has been kept simple so as to show off the character of this old building. There’s a warm bar/saloon on the ground floor, complete with two fireplaces, a reconditioned jukebox and a bar fashioned from recycled church panelling. Across a cobbled terrace from the main building, the former skittles alley has been converted into a six-bedroom annexe. All the rooms are kitted out with evocative Bisque Tetro radiators and are decorated in soothing browns, greens and creams. Read expert review From £75per night