When you live the busy city life in Manchester while also commuting to London, gorgeous green spaces and some idyllic peace and quiet can feel pretty far removed. My solution? A tranquil trip to The Greenway Hotel and Spa, a 16th century Elizabethan manor house nestled in 8 acres of grounds between Cheltenham and Gloucester - with the rolling hills of the Cotswolds behind. From being featured in 2024's top 100 ‘Best Places to Stay’ list in The Times and Sunday Times to placing 9th in the same paper's ‘Best Countryside Hotels’ guide, the hotel already boasts some impressive accolades. So, my seal of approval might feel like a drop in the ocean for these big guns, but I went to check them out for a springtime stay anyway.

This place is undisputedly beautiful.

A grand entrance into a reception room complete with a roaring fireplace awaited at The Greenway Hotel And Spa in Cheltenham, setting the tone for the luxury stay that followed. Traditional limestone flooring and original wooden panelled walls were just some of the building's stunning features throughout; across a space that had been tastefully refurbished in recent years to reflect modern living while retaining character. And if the drop-dead gorgeous house wasn't enough, then the setting was the icing on the (already very picturesque) cake. Sitting pretty in a tranquil and expansive amount of green space, the hotel had both manicured, tiered gardens stretching up from the dining room and also vast lawns behind backing onto rolling hills. Austen, eat your heart out.

It's fair to say - even from our brief wander and the short walk up the grand staircase from reception to our manor four poster bedroom (from £375 a night) - my heart was already won. The room itself was equally dreamy; a grand yet airy affair drenched in light, with an advantageous corner location for views out the back towards the Cotswold hills and over a smaller lawn to the side. It was more like a suite in size (although you can nab an actual manor suite if that's more your thing), featuring luxurious, cream carpets that were fluffy underfoot, a coffee bar with minifridge, and a large bathroom - including his and hers sinks and the all-important bathtub. 

After a brief lounge on the open top four poster bed (super king size, of course) and making our way through the trio of truffles on the coffee table, it was time for my treatment at The Elan Spa. Donning my spa robe and slider slippers, I shuffled through corridors that nodded to the hotel's Cheltenham location using paintings of racehorses. Naturally, the spa was more modern than the main house, divided into a hydrotherapy pool with steam rooms, sanarium and sauna, an outdoor hot tub, a fitness suite, the Orchard Brasserie cafe serving afternoon tea, bento and signature cocktails, and treatment rooms. 

Dreamy stay alert; our Oak room would be well worth a special request.

My 55-minute Drift Away massage (from £89) went by so quickly I can't be sure if I actually fell asleep, or whether I was just so completely and utterly relaxed that I zoned out for the duration. Between the soothing sounds being played and deft hands working out all my knots, I was left feeling fully rejuvenated. Meanwhile, my partner was really hard at work in the lounge, sipping on a pint of draught Peroni (£6.60) from the adjacent bar. Afterwards, he joined me to use the immaculate general spa facilities (£25 per person, per day, or complimentary with any 55-minute treatment).

Next up? The Greenway Hotel And Spa restaurant, an award-winning experience where local, seasonal produce is made into fine dining dishes by head chef Abhijit Dasalkar - a man who hails cooking as a merging of both science and art. He's right on the money with his food, bringing that ethos to two (£47.50) and three-course (£62.50) menus combining the best of the British Isles with some international influences. Of course, we went for the latter and on arrival at dinner we were seated promptly with views of the ornate lily pond and sunken gardens, behind which the sky started to slowly darken over the hills at sunset. With the ultra romantic setting already getting a thumbs up, we grabbed a bottle of the 2021 Poco Mas Merlot Reserva (£32). This smooth Chilean wine, while being one of the list's least expensive, was full bodied yet smooth, with juicy berries, vanilla and chocolate; a great pairing for our beef main, but more on that later.

A tasty bite of crab and avocado amuse bouche in a pastry case arrived first, followed by sourdough with a lemon crust and plenty of marmite butter to slather on - a combo that both surprised and delighted me. Starters followed; the tomato burrata and red mullet. The former featured a rich tomato bread, crispy fried capers, fresh tomato and creamy cheese for a wonderful balance of flavours, topped off by a tomato 'essence' that the waitress poured over at the table for added theatre. Definitely a hit. The latter saw red mullet accompanied by the delicate flavours of aioli, warm bouillabaisse espuma (French fish soup foam, to me and you) and pickled kohlrabi. While the dish was perhaps a little too subtle for my partner, I could see what they were going for by really letting the fish itself shine. 

Dinner at the 3 AA Rosette Garden Room Restaurant topped off our exceptional experience.

Despite the fantastic start, mains were easily the stand-out of our meal. We both picked the duo of beef, featuring a dry-aged medium rare piece that cut like butter and a tender stout-braised short rib that fell apart at the poke of a fork. Accompanied by charred baby corn, glazed baby carrot, a mini leek, cheesy Lincolnshire Poacher mash and a rich jus, this was heaven on a beautifully constructed plate for us. They even provided a small jug of extra gravy for the table - a nice touch for guests to tweak the meal to their preference. 

With a little room left for pudding, we ordered the chocolate and passionfruit number - a gorgeous glazed chocolate dome filled with mousse, served alongside a passionfruit sorbet - and the yoghurt mousse cake, which sat soaking up a chilled butterfly pea and honey tea. This delightful dessert included a colour changing element, with the tea turning from purple to pink using drops of lemon juice, while lavender granola, strawberry preserve, honey jelly and tuille added a variety of texture to each bite. 

We whiled away the rest of our night in the lounge, where smooth jazz music accompanied another pint of Peroni for my other half and a popcorn sour (£15) for me. Satiated by an outstanding meal and the subtle caramel flavour of a delicious riff on a rum sour, I then headed up for a chamomile tea before the perfect night of deep sleep. Morning at the hotel was just as pleasant, thanks to a continental spread at breakfast and a hot dish each to really start the day off right. Our choices? A filling full English and an eggs royale, where my only criticism would be that the hollandaise was slightly split on the latter. However, nothing could dampen our spirits after this stay - and we checked out wishing we could repeat this countryside escape all over again.

The DesignMyNight Digest

All in all, I'd say that The Greenway Hotel and Spa easily lives up to its reputation. The house and room were nothing short of stunning, the gardens were gorgeous, and our view at dinner will probably remain one of my favourites for years to come. From The Elan Spa to our evening meal, all aspects hit the mark. At a surprisingly reasonable price too, the Garden Room Restaurant really is an absolute steal. You could easily come for dinner or the spa in their own right, but the full experience of an overnight stay is highly recommended.

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