With 26 cosy rooms, a seasonal restaurant and sleek, Scandi interiors, this former manor house has been transformed into a luxurious countryside retreat: all there is to do is relax, read and reset
Location
Located in Charingworth, Hyll – a 17th century manor house turned luxury boutique hotel – is a 20-minute drive from Broadway in the North Cotswolds. Less than two hours by train from London into Moreton-in-Marsh, the quiet countryside location and 60 acres of grounds combine in a blissfully peaceful staycation. While the hotel encourages you to embrace the art of doing nothing, Hyll can be a base for exploring the Cotswolds’ popular honey-hued stone villages before bedding down away from the crowds at night.
The historic bustling market towns of Chipping Campden and Stow-on-the-World are less than a 20-minute drive, while the hotspots of Soho Farmhouse, the Daylesford empire, Chipping Norton and Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat farm shop are equally nearby. On foot, venture into the quintessentially English village of Ebrington – the Ebrington Arms is an idyllic pub dating back to the 1600s.
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The vibe
The building’s grade II listed structure has been preserved, with cosy low ceilings, a medieval main door and large windows. A curated art collection gives the hotel a contemporary feel. There are three lounges to hunker down in, with open fireplaces, soft lighting, blankets and board games. The earthy, muted colour palette reflects the countryside setting, but the interiors have a stylish Scandi-lean – timber top coffee tables with solid stone bases are scattered with books, while exposed plaster walls create texture, and angular armchairs create a clean look. The bar is sleek and moody with dark timber stools.
Hyll is the latest in a series of “slow hotels”, putting relaxation, quietness and slowness at the centre of every stay. In such an oversaturated space as the Cotswolds, this approach can either make the hotel stand out for offering something new, or be overshadowed by the buzzy atmospheres at Soho Farmhouse or Estelle Manor. Hyll’s quiet “home away from home” vibe – complete with three communal lounges – draws in older couples, families and solo guests.
Service
Founded by a husband and wife team, businessman Paul Baker and film producer Lisa Baker, this family ethos runs through the hotel. Service is warm, familiar and attentive, while not being too overbearing.
Bed and bath
There are 26 rooms at Hyll and each feels unique, cosy and inviting. Stretched between the manor house and courtyard outbuildings, the former combines original 17th-century features like beaming with stylish soft furnishings and accented furniture. The more contemporary courtyard rooms feature ambient lighting, dark oak furniture and sculptural furniture. All rooms include a Grind coffee machine, Dyson hair dryer, natural and temperature regulating mattresses, a mini fridge and gourmet mini bar. Bathrooms are huge and stylish, with the same rustic design principles seen throughout the hotel, and Verden toiletries.
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Food and drink
Hyll’s restaurant has already become a hotspot for locals. Its menu changes seasonally, focusing on the fresh ingredients from the surrounding countryside. The restaurant serves breakfast, afternoon tea, a light lunch menu, dinner and Sunday roasts. Room bookings include breakfast, but seasonal offers also throw in a three course dinner and cream tea in the afternoon. The cuisine fuses modern British with European influences for a farm to fork ethos; think Hereford ribeye, poussin, cod, scallops, sourdough and chowder, alongside baba ghanough, ajo blanco and salsa verde. Dinner fare is comforting and hearty with an elevated feel, reflecting the polished interiors.
Breakfast is a crowd-pleasing buffet of fresh yoghurts, charcuterie, cheese, pastries and granola, plus an a la carte menu of familiar classics. Try the English breakfast or the Scotch woodcock with anchovies and scrambled eggs – both are everything you’d want in a countryside breakfast. You can opt for it to be served in bed, too.
The bar sits in the restaurant, but you can order and enjoy the cocktail, wine and spirits list from anywhere in the hotel. The Hyll garden collins or pig mule get your evening off to a merry start, while the negroni or martini are perfect night caps in the lounge with the vinyl turning.
Facilities
Hyll’s entire ethos is doing nothing. There are no facilities – in fact, the new owner even removed the existing pool and tennis court. In lieu of spa and fitness areas, Hyll provides a different kind of relaxation offering. There’s a “do something” booklet in the rooms that suggest local activities, walks and sites, alongside a “do nothing” book that encourages in-room spa treatments, guided meditations, sound baths and breathwork sessions. Books can be borrowed from the library, and every room comes with a novel hand-picked by a local bookshop. Or, listen to vinyls and hunker down by the open fireplace in the lounge. Board games are peppered throughout the hotel to while away more hours. Monthly “happenings” include supper clubs, where local authors, artists and thinkers get spotlighted over a four-course meal and wine pairings.
The hotel can’t compete with the facilities offered by neighbouring Cotswolds hotels – but it doesn’t want to. Everything is geared toward a mindful break – it’s tailor-made for getting away from the daily grind and switching off.
Read more: Calcot Manor & Spa, Cotswolds, hotel review
Accessibility
Hyll is an old property with no lift and only stair access to rooms. Ground floor access features uneven paving and historic features that make wheelchair access tricky. The hotel recommends guests with accessibility requirements contact the hotel ahead of booking.
Family friendly?
Larger, family-size rooms are available with extra beds or cots at an extra cost. The hotel isn’t geared towards children – there aren’t any facilities or activities available to them – but it’s relaxed, homely atmosphere welcomes families. There’s a children’s menu in the restaurant while the surrounding Cotswolds countryside has plenty to entertain little ones.
Pet policy
Hyll allows dogs in designated courtyard garden rooms for a fee of £20 per pet, per night. Dogs are also welcome in the communal areas, including the restaurant and are provided with beds, bowls and treats.
At a glance
Best thing: Mindful relaxation on tap.
Perfect for: Those wanting to switch off, read and relax.
Not right for: Party people or spa enthusiasts.
Instagram from: The lounge and its roaring fire, coffee table books and cosy soft furnishings.
Address: Charingworth, Chipping Campden, GL55 6NS, United Kingdom
Phone: 01386 593555
Website: hyllhotel.com
Read more: The best Cotswolds hotels for luxury spa breaks and countryside cuisine
Daisy was a guest of Hyll.
