The Wheatsheaf Inn

Rooms

The 14 rooms balance style, comfort and eccentricity. We especially loved the quirky touches - mirrors made from vintage cogs, Harrods crates for bedside tables - and the striking contemporary artwork.

No room is huge, but all have comfy Hypnos beds, Dyson hairdryers and Bang & Olufsen TVs, plus homemade brownies to welcome you. Bathrooms (many open-plan) are even more luxurious, with walk-in rain showers and/or indulgently deep tubs. Lovely touches include gorgeous Bramley bath salts, Acqua di Parma toiletries and fluffy robes.

Excellent Room 1 is popular with honeymooners, its double doors leading to a vast bathroom with a sparkling zinc slipper bath. Other stand-outs include Excellent Room 9, whose lofty bathroom has exposed stone walls, and Very Good Room 14 (where we stayed), which has 2 enormous windows and a fabulous deep bath. Pale-and-pretty Very Good Room 10 and Excellent Room 11, have their own entrances off the garden terrace and are dog friendly.

There are no tea- or coffee-making facilities, but you can ring reception and they'll bring up a tray.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Central heating
• Cots Available
• Extra beds
• Hairdryer
• Iron
• Satellite TV
• Toiletries
• WiFi

Eating

It’s not every day you dine in the company of Kate Moss, whose portrait gazes down from the walls of The Wheatsheaf's dining room. It’s a hint of rock'n’roll in an otherwise traditional setting, where chunky wooden tables, lovingly weathered armchairs and padded banquettes sit atop flagstone floors.

The menu is seasonal, with local ingredients featuring strongly. We started with a melt-in-the-mouth cheddar and mustard soufflé, and a gin-soaked trout with cucumber and salmon caviar; both were sublime. Unfortunately, our mains were a letdown in comparison - a chicken with tarragon jus was rather oversalted and we couldn't taste the tarragon, and a fillet cod with smoked tomatoes and bacon crisps sounded exciting but was distinctly average, its broccoli very undercooked. Luckily, dessert saved the day: a show-stopper of a peanut and chocolate souffle, with salted caramel ice cream.

Just as impressive was the wine list, which ran to 20 pages (we counted), and the roster of regional beers and international lagers in the bar.

Breakfast was truly one of the best we've ever had. Creamy yoghurt with incredible homemade granola; flaky pastries and strong flat whites. Better still were the cooked options - a whole menu of temptation. We loved the warm sourdough topped with avocado, zingy lime and perfectly poached eggs, and the smoked haddock with poached eggs was divine. Next time we'll try the French toast with blueberries. For those suffering from a sore head, pour-yourself Bloody Marys are on offer, as is Prosecco.

The restaurant is also open for cream tea from 4-6pm, and bar snacks and drinks are available throughout the day. You’ll need to book for lunch and dinner. In the summer, there's a pizza oven in the garden for light meals, along with jugs of fresh Pimms.

Features include:

• Bar
• Children's meals
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service
• Vegetarian menu

Activities

• Mooch around Northleach, once an important wool trading town on the road to London, now a sleepy village with honey-coloured houses, a pretty church and a handful of antique shops
  
  
• Other Cotswolds towns and villages worth visiting include Bibury, Stow-on-the-Wold, Burford and Cirencester, all within a 30-minute drive. Bike hire can be arranged if you’d prefer to explore on 2 wheels rather than 4
  
  
• Lace up your walking boots, ask staff to pack up a picnic, and amble through rolling hills and wooded valleys. Maps showing suggested routes are available from the bar
  
  
• History buffs will enjoy the mosaicked remains of Chedworth Roman Villa, 5 miles down the road, the restored gardens at Kiftsgate Court and Hidcote Manor, and the palatial piles of Blenheim, Sudeley and Rousham
  
  
• Soak up the Regency splendour of nearby Cheltenham, and splash the cash in its many boutiques. Or don your glad rags and head to Cheltenham racecourse
  
  
• Staff can arrange fishing and shooting (enquire when booking); there’s even a gun safe in the cellar in you have your own equipment. If you don’t fancy aiming at live birds, clay pigeon shooting is on offer nearby
  
  
• Staff can also organise horse riding, and point you in the direction of the nearby Indoor Climbing Centre
  
  
• Sailing, wind-surfing, kayaking and water-skiing are available at the Cotswold Water Park, a collection of inland lakes a 20-minute drive away
  
  
• Back at the inn, unwind by the fire or have a massage in the small treatment room (book in advance)

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Climbing
• Cycling
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Horse riding
• Kayaking
• Sailing
• Shooting
• Shopping / markets
• Water-skiing
• Well being
• Windsurfing

Kids

The Wheatsheaf is super-stylish and feels best suited to adults, but families are welcome and parents will appreciate the laid-back ambiance. Children will find board games and toys in the snug and there's a long thin grassy garden to run around in warmer months.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

A baby cot or extra fold-out bed can be added to all Very Good Rooms, and Excellent Rooms can accommodate 2 additional beds or cots. Most rooms have bathtubs as well as showers, but be aware that some bathrooms are open-plan, with a separate loo.

Distances:

• Airport: 1 hour 15 minutes (Bristol or Birmingham)
• Hospital: 25 minutes (Cheltenham)

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Wheatsheaf Inn is located in the Cotswolds village of Northleach, just off the A40 between Cheltenham and Burford. It's a 2-hour drive from London, and around an hour from Bristol or Birmingham.

By Air:
Bristol (99km / 1 hour away) is the closest airport and has many domestic and international services. You can also fly to Birmingham International (101km / 1 hour away) or London Heathrow (150km / 2 hours away), both served by numerous flights.

By Car:
The inn is an easy drive from the M5, and you’ll need a car if you want to explore the Cotswolds. The Wheatsheaf has a free car park for guests. For car hire see our car rental recommendations.

By Train:
The nearest rail stations are Kingham, which is served by trains from Oxford and Worcester, and Kemble, which has trains from London, Swindon and Cheltenham. Both are around 20 minutes from The Wheatsheaf, and staff can arrange a taxi to meet you.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

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