The Fox at Oddington Hotel Review | Hotels Above Par

"Housed in a 19th-century coaching inn and transformed by Carole Bamford of Daylesford Organic into an intimate six-room retreat, this countryside bolthole marries design-led, eco-conscious hospitality with classic Cotswolds charm. The honey-stone façade gives way to interiors that blend rustic character and modern simplicity—reclaimed wood floors, antler curtain hooks, vegetable-dyed leather seats, soft lighting and tree-stump bedside tables—while sustainability is visible everywhere, from sheep’s-wool insulation and a wildflower living roof to whole-property renewable power (solar, hydro, wind and biomass). Downstairs, a maze of cosy pub rooms features roaring fireplaces, velvet armchairs, rosettes and forest-green panelling, with bi-fold doors opening onto a leafy terrace for alfresco meals. The six rooms favor a serene palette of biscuit, cream and soft blues with tactile layers; the Master’s Suite is especially cocooning with a handmade curtained bed beneath exposed beams, and the Den stands out for its private patio, working fireplace and freestanding tub. Textiles come via Bamford’s Nila initiative and toiletries are Bamford-branded, though some rooms can feel a touch showroom-perfect. Food is led by head chef Alan Gleeson and leans on top-tier local ingredients from Daylesford Organic and the Wootton Estate: pub snacks like ’nduja scotch eggs sit alongside refined Saddle Room dishes such as violet artichokes with burrata and dry-aged Hereford beef chateaubriand, while breakfast highlights include flaky pastries, deep-orange-yolk eggs and French toast with apricots and crème fraîche. Drinks range from local ales to craft cocktails (try the Bees Knees with gin, honey and lavender) plus thoughtful non-alcoholic choices. Guests also get 10% off treatments at the nearby Daylesford Wellness Spa (a 20-minute walk or short cycle along a scenic bridle path), can borrow electric Daylesford bikes for countryside exploration, and are a short ride from Stow-on-the-Wold—making the place feel like a design-savvy, sustainability-first escape in the heart of the Cotswolds."