Cirencester is an elegant market town on the River Churn, and is often referred to as the “capital of the Cotswolds”. Its Cotswolds stone buildings, many of them dating from the Victorian era, are a very pretty bunch, spreading out from the Gothic porch of the Church of St. John the Baptist, and from the market place, where markets still happen on Mondays and Fridays. Visitors will find some of the best places to stay in Cirencester within the old Roman walls, but some are now outside, in Cirencester’s pretty surrounds. When hunting for the best accommodation options our Gurus found some very charming inns, pubs and restaurants-with-rooms, as well as a very centrally located spa hotel, and a wonderfully romantic country house escape.

Cirencester is perfectly located for exploring some of the Cotswolds' most charming towns and villages, and some of the prettiest accessible countryside in the region. Being closely linked to the M4 and M5, means the best places to stay in Cirencester make a great mini-break destination. The town has a pleasant collection of galleries, delis, tea rooms and boutiques lining the narrow streets, and its well known theatres attract impressive productions. We recommend a visit to the Brewery Arts Centre, where you can see glassmaking and other crafts being created in a series of studios; a stroll through the Abbey Grounds, once an Augustine monastery; and an exploration of Cirencester Great Park, which is one of the finest landscape gardens in England.

The Best Places to Stay in Cirencester

For a Country House Hotel

• Once home to the renowned horticulturalist Rosemary Verey, Barnsley House is quite rightly best known for its still-glorious gardens, but we also love its 18 low-key, contemporary rooms and suites, plus its cleverly mirrored dining room and secret spa at the bottom of the garden. Barnsley House also has its own private cinema, tennis courts, and a heated outdoor hydrotherapy pool. Bring your pets, but not your kids to this one.

For a boutique stay

• Wild Thyme & Honey is a stylishly cosy inn running alongside pretty Ampney Brook. There are 24 rooms, suites and an apartment (with four-poster bed, a copper bathtub, plus a private barrel sauna and a hot tub). The decor is the epitome of rustic-chic with plenty of exposed stone and beams and rooms come with either freestanding baths in the room, or beautiful wet rooms.

For Great Value

• The Stump is a 17th century coaching inn turned pizza-restaurant-with-rooms. The dining room spreads across the ground floor pub space, and out onto the terrace, where you can eat your excellent pizza, or pasta, in the Cotswolds sunshine, accompanied by beer from a local micro-brewery. The rooms are decorated with artfully mismatched furniture and dramatic teal walls.
• The King's Head, Cirencester is a stylish, 60 room hotel, right in the centre of Cirencester. Rooms and suites come in a range of shapes and sizes, some offering solid original oak beams as a feature, some elegant wood panelling and huge windows, and some with additional living space. The hotel has an impressive spa with a beautiful pool, a superb restaurant, and a friendly bar too.

Prefer a Private Apartment or Cottage?

• If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• Cirencester's the closest airport is Bristol Airport, which is an hour away by car. If you’re coming via London, the best route is via Paddington, which has an hourly service to Kemble (the nearest station), which tables about an hour and ten minutes. Catch a cab from there to your destination.
• If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
• The Cotswolds is one of those destinations where every season warrants a visit. In winter it’s quiet, perfect for bracing walks and sitting by a roaring fire in the local pub. In spring you’ll see the daffodils, in summer there’s sunshine and plenty of buzz, and in autumn the changing colours are spectacular. Summer is the most popular time for visitors. If you’re not tied to travelling during the school holidays our Gurus highly recommend May (outside of half-term) or June or September.

Still not sure?

• Expand your search to include all of the best places to stay in the Cotswolds
• Consider some of Cirencester’s neighbours: Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Campden, Cheltenham or Broadway
• Refine your search by the kind of holiday you’re planning and consider our Gurus’ recommendations for the best pubs-with-rooms in the Cotswolds, the best country house hotels in the Cotswolds or the most romantic hotels in the Cotswolds
• Alternatively, you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.