Ellenborough Park

On a fitness mission? A trip to Ellenborough Park will keep you feeling motivated. Situated on the ground floor of Woodland Court, the gym boasts treadmills, a cross trainer and bikes to help you reach your cardio goals, plus weights and exercise mats for whole-body workouts.

If the gym’s not your style, 90 acres of stunning grounds are there to be strolled, power-walked or jogged. Or, if you’re feeling more adventurous, the hotel can organise a number of country pursuits, from fly fishing and archery to husky driving. Extra charges apply, but it’s a great way to socialise and get active in the fresh air.

If you’re keen to get exploring the beautiful Cotswolds hills on the hotel’s doorstep, you don’t even need to pack your walking boots. Just head to the boot room, filled with row upon row of Dubarry boots and wax jackets to borrow - they’re really thought of everything!

If all that unwinding has worked up an appetite, at Ellenborough Park you won’t go hungry - or thirsty - for long. Some chic dining spaces await you, from the relaxed and casual to something rather more fancy. But however you choose to round off your pampering day, make time to enjoy a G&T before dinner. Not to be missed, they’re made with the hotel’s very own gin. 

Horse Box Brasserie

With all the warm and welcoming feel of a gastro pub in the country, this laid-back bar and restaurant has squishy seats to sink into and a menu filled with classic British flavours. Warning: if you come here for lunch, you might just find yourself whiling away the whole afternoon!

Restaurant

Arguably one of Cheltenham's best restaurants, the wood-panelled 15th-century Restaurant is your setting for sumptuous breakfast banquets and glittering dinners. Soak up the historic surroundings filled with period touches and enjoy impeccable service as you dine on a menu filled with seasonal produce and flavours. But while it may be grand, the Restaurant is not stuffy. Laid-back luxury is the order of the day here.

Al fresco carriages

Time for a sundowner? Head to the South Lawn for a cocktail under the atmospheric festoon lighting. The stars of the show here have to be the quirky dining carriages. Open throughout the warmer months, these charming wooden pods showcase beautiful panoramic views of Cheltenham Racecourse and Cleeve Hill. 

It does. The 15m pool may be outside, but it’s kept at a toasty 30℃ so it won’t take you ages to get your shoulders wet, even when it’s chilly outside. Perfect your front crawl with some invigorating laps, then lay back and sun yourself (weather permitting!) on one of the comfy loungers.

Situated on the edge of the Cotswolds and nestled in the picturesque countryside this part of the UK is famous for, Ellenborough Park is a stone’s throw from Cheltenham Racecourse, home of the famous racing festival. So close, in fact, that it overlooks the final furlongs and has its own private track to the course! The equine connection continues at the hotel, where four suites are named after winning racehorses.

You can leave your finest black tie and ball gown at home because smart/casual is the order of the day in the fine dining restaurant, while the Horse Box Brasserie is relaxed and casual.

In a word, fabulous! Spread over four locations in the grounds, all 61 bedrooms have a country house feel, with larger rooms boasting four-poster beds and roll-top baths. While all are bespoke in terms of design, they come complete with luxurious touches, such as Nespresso machines and en-suites crammed with swish toiletries.

Check-in is at 3pm and check-out is 11am.

Yes it is. Although the main house of Ellenborough Park is more than 500 years old and packed with period features, there are four accessible bedrooms suitable for wheelchair users, all situated in the more contemporary out buildings. These bedrooms have en-suite facilities and entry level showers with handrails fitted throughout. In the spa, treatment rooms can be accessed by the lift from the ground floor. 

Yes, very! Although you must be over 16 to enjoy the indoor spa facilities and treatments, there’s so much to do here they won’t get bored. 

Children can swim in the outdoor pool, take part in a year-round scavenger hunt, borrow board games, or take part in the extra activities laid on just for them throughout the school holidays. The hotel can make you up a picnic to eat on the lawns, or what about their own afternoon tea, complete with ham, cheese and jam sandwiches washed down with a milkshake?

When it’s time for their bedtime stories, cots are provided for free, there are extra beds suitable for children up to the age of 11, or interconnecting rooms to give teens their own space.

It’s more than just friendly, because dogs are treated like VIPs at Ellenborough Park. They even have their own pet spa for a wash, shampoo and brush-up after long walks in the countryside. 

There are 12 dog-friendly rooms, with four that have an enclosed garden. If you eat in the Horse Box there’s even a doggie menu, where pets can enjoy a Bark Burger, washed down with a Bark Brew with a Doggy Lollipop for dessert.

No, there’s no golf course at Ellenborough Park, but that doesn’t mean you should leave your clubs at home. Just a five-minute drive from the hotel you’ll find Cleeve Hill Golf Course, boasting fantastic Cotswolds views and challenges for golfers of all abilities. Perfect if you love to pamper and putt.