Calcot Manor, a luxury spa hotel set on 220 acres of rewilded Cotswolds countryside, has been named England's Hotel of the Year at the AA Hospitality Awards 2026. The hotel, four miles from Tetbury, includes childcare in the stay and offers a baby-listening service in the evenings, allowing parents to enjoy dinner while staff monitor sleeping children.
First impressions and family-friendly luxury
The Generous Family Suites come equipped with a cot, steriliser, bottle warmer, changing mat and nappy bin, all neatly tucked away. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom suites feature round-edge furniture, baby shampoo, bath toys, and a door sign with the child's name in magnets. High chairs, baby cutlery, bibs and baby change facilities are available in communal areas, subtly blended into the decor.
Childcare and adult-only spaces
Guests receive up to four hours of childcare per day, with additional babysitting at £25 per hour. The Ofsted-registered crèche, The Playbarn, takes babies from newborn and has toys and crafts, while The Mez offers PlayStations, Wii consoles, Xboxes, computers and a 12-seater cinema for children aged 8 and over. The spa, adults-only for most of the day, includes a pool, sauna, steam room, treatment rooms and an outdoor hot tub. Two 45-minute family swim sessions are available each afternoon, and from May to mid-September there is a separate outdoor pool for children from 8am to 8pm. Treatments include a Back Massage and Facial at £125 for 55 minutes. The Grain Store, a refurbished fitness sanctuary, offers classes at £10 per class for hotel guests.
Dining and local attractions
The hotel has two restaurants: The Hive, a café lounge serving light bites from £10, and The Brasserie, a more formal dining room. Children's dinner is served from 5pm to 6pm, with staff accommodating early meals for little ones. The baby-listening service, which notifies reception if a child makes a sound, allowed parents to dine with reassurance. Breakfast is included in the stay, as are kids' dinners midweek. Nearby attractions include Highgrove Gardens, part of the private residence of King Charles and Queen Camilla, open from April to October, and Westonbirt National Arboretum, home to 2,500 species of tree, 10 minutes away. Tetbury offers restaurants, tea rooms and markets on Wednesday and Saturday.
Rachel Moss was a guest of Calcot Manor and Spa, where prices start from £344 per night, including full spa access.
