Wild Thyme & Honey
Modern rural: Cotswold stone, reclaimed timber, wool and linen. Polished but unfussy. The kind of place where staff remember your dog's name and your aperitif preference by night two.
Book a Hive dome well in advance — they sell out faster than the rooms on popular weekends
Why It Matters
Award-winning boutique inn in a genuinely pretty Cotswolds village. Named in the UK Top 50 Boutique Hotels (2022), featured in The Times Best Places to Stay 2023, Condé Nast Johansens winner 2024 and 2025, winner of Best Boutique Hotel in the Cotswolds 2024, and voted Best Dog Friendly Hotel in the UK by Condé Nast Johansens 2024. The glass Hive domes by the brook for al fresco dining in any season are a proper talking point.
A 16th-century coaching inn reborn as a 24-room boutique hotel in the tiny Gloucestershire village of Ampney Crucis, five minutes east of Cirencester. Old stone walls and exposed timber get paired with king beds, freestanding copper baths, and Nespresso machines — country without the pastiche. The attached Crown at Ampney Brook pub does double duty as a proper locals' boozer and a destination restaurant worth the drive, with glass dining domes beside the brook that book out fast on cooler weekends.
Where You'll Stay
5 room types available
Ampney Hills Rooms
The entry point to the hotel — characterful Cotswold-décor rooms with all the signature luxe touches: Sleep Easy mattress, rainfall shower, underfloor heating, Verden products. Dog-friendly and available as interconnecting pairs for families. A Deluxe variant offers dual-aspect views. Terrace-facing outlook.
King · 20.4 sqm
No. 3 London Road
The most indulgent room in the house. Super-king four-poster bed, a dedicated sitting room, walk-in dressing and make-up area, a freestanding copper bathtub in the bathroom, and a private terrace with a hot tub and barrel sauna looking out towards Ampney Brook. Comes with a full drinks cabinet, separate WC, and underfloor heating. This is the honeymoon/milestone room that tempts you to cancel dinner and order champagne to the deck instead.
Super-king four-posterRiverside Suites
Stylish Cotswold-décor suites with the headline feature of a freestanding bathtub placed in the bedroom itself. Views look over the brook. Interconnecting rooms are available, making them workable for families who want the romantic upgrade alongside a standard room. These are the rooms you've seen on Instagram, and they earn it.
King · 21.1 sqmSerenity
The hotel's partially assisted, ground-floor room. A low-level king bed and specialist adapted bathroom with rainfall shower and underfloor heating. Dog-friendly and with a courtyard view. All the Wild Thyme & Honey quality touches without any accessibility compromise. A thoughtful addition in a historic building.
King (low-level) · 17.2 sqmWaterside Suites
Spacious suites in the same category as the Riverside but facing the village cricket pitch rather than the brook — quieter corner of the hotel. Freestanding bathtub in the bedroom is the centrepiece. Ideal for a romantic break where you want some separation from the main social buzz of the pub.
King · 21.1 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
3 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Afternoon tea served in the hotel. Celebratory in feel without being stiff. Available as a standalone booking and included in The Cotswold Explorer package.
Exclusive distillery tour and gin tasting at Cotswolds Distillery, available as part of The Cotswold Explorer package. Includes a wildflower gin gift set on arrival at the hotel.
Complimentary e-bikes available for guests to explore the Cotswolds countryside. A practical and enjoyable way to reach surrounding villages without a car.
Walking paths along Ampney Brook directly from the hotel. Wellington boots available to borrow complimentarily.
Complimentary wellington boots for guests heading out on muddy countryside walks.
Private hot tub and barrel sauna on the terrace of the No. 3 London Road suite, overlooking Ampney Brook. Available exclusively to guests in this suite.
Booking a glass riverside Hive dome for an intimate private dinner or drinks along the brook. The Cotswold Celebration package includes a complimentary dome upgrade subject to availability.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Multiple event spaces including The Hide, The Secret Garden, and The Eaves for private dining and corporate events. Total meeting space approximately 1,076 sq ft.
In-room and property-wide WiFi. Some guests have noted occasional connectivity issues — worth bringing a backup if critical.
All rooms have 24-hour access to a pantry stocked with fresh milk, biscuits, and snacks. Fresh milk is also left at room doors each morning.
Room service available.
Underfloor heating in all bathrooms.
Nespresso machines in every room.
Fluffy bathrobes provided; slippers available on request.
Luxury Verden bath products, bath salts and sleep spray in all rooms.
Mobile loyalty app giving cashback on every spend across Grosvenor pubs, restaurants, and hotels. Members receive exclusive offers and a £10 food and drink credit on hotel stays.
Outdoor terrace and gardens, including riverfront areas along Ampney Brook.
Outdoor courtyard with a fireplace. In winter, sheepskin rugs are thrown over the chairs so guests can drink under the stars even in cold weather.
Designated dog-friendly rooms with Barbour dog beds, water bowls, and complimentary treats. £35 flat charge per visit. Ground-floor rooms recommended. Priority access to dog-friendly rooms when booking direct.
Generous free parking on site.
BUILD YOUR WILD THYME & HONEY PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
Start Planning