Review: Buckland Manor – a quiet stay in the Cotswolds
Buckland Manor is a true gem in the Cotswolds, hidden away from the crowds, says Matthew Partridge


The Cotswolds is one of the most bucolic areas of England. The flip side to that, of course, is that the region’s charms also attract a large number of tourists and day-trippers. But it is possible to get away from the crowds.
One way to do that is to visit one of the villages located off the tourist trail that are no less lovely than those more popular with visitors – such as Buckland, which is a “hidden gem”.
Buckland is located around a 20-minute drive from the market town of Moreton-in-the-Marsh and only a couple of miles from the village of Broadway. That makes it an ideal base from which to explore the Cotswold’s busier places, while being able to retire to somewhere calmer.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Buckland may be lower-key than either Moreton-in-the-Marsh or Broadway, but it still has all the culture and history one would associate with the Cotswolds.
Every village needs a church
Take Buckland’s Grade I-listed village church, St Michael’s, for example. It dates from the start of the 13th century. Although extremely small, the church contains a number of historic relics and artefacts, including a stained-glass window that originally came from Hailes Abbey in Cheltenham.
Designer William Morris was so taken with it that he paid to have it re-leaded. There are also some wall paintings on display that had been whitewashed during the Reformation, but have now been partially restored.
Right next door to St Michael’s you’ll find Buckland Manor, a luxurious country house hotel with a heritage that arguably extends even further back into the distant past. Records show a manor having existed on the site since at least 600AD, which you could say makes it older than England itself!
The estate was at one time owned by Gloucester Abbey, before it was taken over by various families, including the Greshams, who provided two lord mayors of London and built the current house in 1750. Since 2011, it has been owned by the Andrew Brownsword chain of luxury hotels.
The grounds are lovingly tended
Sumptuous gardens, a croquet lawn and a tennis court
Buckland Manor has only 15 rooms and great thought has gone into making each as comfortable as possible. When I entered my room, “The Aviary”, I was struck by how bright and airy it was, as well as how plump and soft the bed and the pillows were.
Then my attention was drawn to the magnificent panoramic view through the window of the grounds. Encompassing ten acres, the Manor’s grounds are sumptuous and lovingly tended.
A huge croquet lawn culminates in steps leading up through a sea of purple lavender to another garden. There are sculptures, mini ponds and a tennis court with its own hut should you feel compelled to shelter from the elements.
The Manor can also arrange activities for an additional fee, such as archery, or a drive in a supercar.
Buckland Manor has a luxurious, country-house feel
A hearty breakfast to set you up for a day of exploring the area
The hotel has also become popular with foodies and after having eaten dinner at Buckland Manor, it’s not hard to see why. I recommend the Salcombe Bay crab and the roasted halibut, which I followed with a wonderful selection of English cheeses. Every dish was as pleasing to the eye as it was to the taste buds.
As tantalising as the food was, come breakfast there were also practicalities to consider; namely, filling me up for a long day of sightseeing ahead. On this score, the hotel did not disappoint. Opt for the “Buckland Breakfast” – a hearty combination of local sausage, dry cured bacon, field mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and black pudding.
The food and the accommodation were excellent, and I found the staff both friendly and helpful. When I enquired about some walks in the area, for instance, the staff on the front desk were able to give me several suggestions, providing me with detailed directions and maps.
Overall, Buckland Manor – perhaps even more than the village of Buckland itself – deserves to be thought of as one of the Cotswold’s true “hidden gems”.
Matthew was a guest of Buckland Manor. Overnight stays start from £310 per night, two sharing including breakfast. A ‘Ready, Set, Spring’, valid until 30 June 2025, includes savings of 20% on three night or longer stays, and 15% on two-night stays, with a £50 culinary credit per room, for every night you stay.
This article was first published in MoneyWeek's magazine. Enjoy exclusive early access to news, opinion and analysis from our team of financial experts with a MoneyWeek subscription
Sign up for MoneyWeek's newsletters
Get the latest financial news, insights and expert analysis from our award-winning MoneyWeek team, to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.

Matthew graduated from the University of Durham in 2004; he then gained an MSc, followed by a PhD at the London School of Economics.
He has previously written for a wide range of publications, including the Guardian and the Economist, and also helped to run a newsletter on terrorism. He has spent time at Lehman Brothers, Citigroup and the consultancy Lombard Street Research.
Matthew is the author of Superinvestors: Lessons from the greatest investors in history, published by Harriman House, which has been translated into several languages. His second book, Investing Explained: The Accessible Guide to Building an Investment Portfolio, is published by Kogan Page.
As senior writer, he writes the shares and politics & economics pages, as well as weekly Blowing It and Great Frauds in History columns He also writes a fortnightly reviews page and trading tips, as well as regular cover stories and multi-page investment focus features.
Follow Matthew on Twitter: @DrMatthewPartri
-
Two ways to tap into monopoly profits from airports
Most investors can’t get their hands on airports. Here are two ways you can
-
Cryptoasset crackdown – Bitcoin, Ethereum and the rest finally face regulation
The government plans to introduce new cryptoasset rules to protect consumers and target scammers as 12% of UK adults now hold crypto
-
Review: Andronis Minois and Andronis Arcadia – two Greek island idylls
Travel Andronis Minois on Paros and Andronis Arcadia on Santorini are two beautiful, authentic hotels on two different islands in Greece
-
Review: Shangri-La Le Touessrok – connecting with magical Mauritius
Travel Sarah Lee soaks up the authenticity of Mauritius with the Shangri-La Le Touessrok and finds an unexpected connection with Mauritius.
-
Review: Shangri-La Paris – an ode to the world’s best food
Travel Natasha Langan enjoys fine French and Chinese cuisine at the Shangri-La Paris
-
Review: Constance Lemuria and Ephelia – two Indian Ocean idylls
Ruth Emery visits Constance Lemuria and Constance Ephelia in the Seychelles for sun, sea and some of the best sushi she has ever had
-
Review: Cali, Mykonos – salute the sun in Greece
Chris Carter engages in a sunset ritual of his own at Cali on the Greek island of Mykonos
-
Review: Trasierra – a yoga retreat in the Spanish hills
Flora Connell joins a yoga retreat at Trasierra, in the Sierra Morena mountains north of Seville
-
Barbados – escape to the Caribbean
MoneyWeek Travel Leave the chill behind and head to Barbados for year-round sunshine, says Merryn Somerset Webb
-
Review: Chais Monnet, Cognac – a luxury stay in cognac country
MoneyWeek Travel Hôtel Chais Monnet & Spa is an elegant former cognac house and a destination for top-notch dining, says Chris Carter