Fodor's Expert Review Cowley Manor

This Georgian mansion on 55 acres brings country-house style into the 21st century with a mellow atmosphere and modern fabrics and furnishings. Witty sculptures and lighting complement the public rooms, beds are huge and comfortable, and bathrooms are trendy, with glass walls and expansive showers. Choose between rooms in the house itself (some with lovely balconies) or for more privacy, the converted stable block. There's a two-night minimum stay on weekends. The spa, set into the ground, looks like a work of art. Cowley Manor is 5 miles south of Cheltenham.