The Lygon Arms - Cotswolds
- Nick, Editor
- Sep 9
- 8 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
where English history plays host to a modern escape
Article summary>>
In this article, you will get our unbiased, independent review and thoughts on The Lygon Arms in the Cotswolds.
Rooms & suites
Food & Drink
Amenities
Service
Vibe
Location
Thoughts
Booking
Broadway’s High Street is one of those postcard-perfect English promenades that's designed for lingering. Honey-coloured cottages; chestnut trees frame a parade of antiques shops, delicatessens and galleries; and at its heart sits The Lygon Arms, a storied coaching inn turned four-star country hotel whose front door has opened to everyone from kings to scandal-splashed film stars.
On arrival, the sense of theatre began immediately: oak panelling, deep lounges with crackling fires, and a pleasant whiff of beeswax and old books. Perfectly positioned as a base for your North Cotswolds stay, it’s hard to improve upon; the quintessential British Countryside Inn at its best.
A quick primer on the legend: The Lygon Arms Cotswolds
Few hotels wear their backstory as confidently as The Lygon Arms. The property’s written record goes back to 1377, and the current building, Grade II* listed, largely dates from the 17th century. During the English Civil War, both sides found reasons to muster here: Oliver Cromwell stayed the night before the Battle of Worcester in 1651 (his portrait still watches over the fireplace in the Cromwell Room), while King Charles I met supporters in what’s now the Charles I Suite, its stone fireplace still bears the defaced royal arms, a scar left, it’s said, by Parliamentarians. That twin history is not marketing myth; it’s hotel folklore etched into the rooms themselves.
If the bones are medieval, the flesh is comfortably 21st-century. A multimillion-pound renovation led by designer Anita Rosato lifted the room count to 86, refreshed the Great Hall (now the hotel’s signature dining space) and added a spa with an indoor pool beneath a retractable roof, quietly merging romance with modernity.
Setting & first impressions:
The Lygon’s address is Broadway’s High Street, meaning the front step is your springboard to the prettiest mile of pavement in Worcestershire. Park up (valet and a large private car park sit to the rear) and note, if you’re driving electric, there are EV chargers on site; reception will log your number plate and, if you’re plugging in, It’s a very 2025 update to a 600-year-old hostelry, and one you appreciate when you come back from a day on your Cotswold adventures with a few miles left in the battery.
Inside, the tone is a buzz-relaxed feel rather than hushed-grand. There are several lounges to “adopt," ideal if you travel with a book and a soft spot for a corner wingback, and staff are the sort to remember both your name and how you take your tea by the second afternoon. The hotel is part of the Iconic Luxury Hotels collection (sister to Cliveden and Chewton Glen), and service reflects that; in 2024, it earned the AA’s coveted Four Red Stars and a place on Condé Nast Traveller readers’ lists, reassuring proof that good service with a smile coexists here. For more information and to book a stay, click here.
Rooms & suites: history, but make it cosy
Eighty-six rooms and suites are scattered through the main house, historic wings, courtyard and cottages, and that variety is precisely the point. You might have slanting floors and leaded windows in one of the oldest, a king-size bed swaddled in rich tweeds in a recently refurbished room, or your own front door in a cottage a short walk from reception, all layered with textiles, characterful artworks and occasional Gordon Russell pieces that nod to Broadway’s Arts & Crafts heritage. The effect is less “showroom perfection” and more “beautifully collected over centuries,” which it has been. If you’re a history fan, request the Charles I Suite (for obvious reasons) or ask about the Cromwell Room’s availability for a private dinner. Families should look to the courtyard rooms; couples, to a four-poster in the main house.
Practicalities? You’ve got the modern comforts you’d hope for (good Wi-Fi, plush robes, proper blackout) without losing the patina. Dog owners, rejoice: this is a happily dog-friendly house, four-legged guests are welcomed (with a small nightly supplement) and kept comfortable, though you’ll need to observe the usual lead-in-public-spaces etiquette.
Eat & drink: James Martin’s stamp on a Cotswold classic
The food story at The Lygon Arms matters because it’s central to why many book in. The Great Hall’s barrel-vaulted space now houses Grill by James Martin, the hotel’s flagship restaurant. The tone is relaxed rather than reverential: robust British cooking shaped by seasonal and local produce, a Sunday lunch worth planning around, and a wine list that ranges widely without intimidating. The partnership is visible across the property, an afternoon tea designed by James Martin in the Russell Room is as indulgent as you’d hope, and there’s also Tavern by James Martin for those Great British pub classics. If you’ve followed Martin’s television career, you’ll recognise the flavour profile: big, comforting, unfussy dishes done with technique.
In editorial terms: I’d book breakfast and one dinner in Grill, leaving the second evening for a walk to the local, but if you’re the “park car, never leave” type, you can eat happily on-site for a long weekend or longer, especially if you fold in afternoon tea (for a civilised pause after the walk up to Broadway Tower).
The Lygon Spa:
Tucked behind the main buildings, the spa is a gentle surprise. Think a light-filled gym, a new fitness studio, treatment rooms, and a generous indoor pool with a retractable roof. In summer, it transforms the space into something closer to a courtyard lido; in winter, it’s all steam and serenity. There’s a hot tub, sauna and steam room, plus loungers for the post-massage nap.
Scene & service:
On my recent visit, there was the cross-section you’d expect from a Cotswold heavyweight: weekending London couples in Barbour and LV trainers; grandparents treating grandchildren to a steam-train ride and hot chocolate; hiking parties checking Maps at breakfast; and a few well-behaved Labradors who seemed to know exactly where the warmest hearths are. Staff oscillate smoothly between unfussy and attentive, always on hand and happy to help.
Where you are and how to get around:
Broadway is nicknamed the jewel of the Cotswolds for good reason: it sits at the foot of the Cotswold escarpment, perfectly placed for walking, gallery-hopping and garden-touring. By train from London Paddington, your best bets are Evesham or Moreton-in-Marsh - both with direct services and onward taxis (the hotel quotes around 15 minutes from Evesham). If you’re making a weekend of it, consider arriving via the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway to Broadway’s restored heritage station; it’s only a 15-minute stroll into the village.
On foot from the hotel:
Broadway Tower - a 4.5-mile circular walk straight from the High Street via the Cotswold Way; climb the folly for views that, on a clear day, take in a sweep of counties. The hotel even has a PDF route for a Broadway-Tower loop (2.5–3 hours).
Gordon Russell Design Museum - a small, excellent museum celebrating the Arts & Crafts designer who had deep ties to the hotel and the village.
Short drives (or pre-booked taxis):
Snowshill Manor & Garden (National Trust) - 2 miles; eccentric, irresistibly photogenic; combine with the lavender fields in season.
Hidcote Manor Garden - one of England’s great Arts & Crafts gardens; about 8 miles from Broadway.
Batsford Arboretum - 10 miles; particularly good in spring blossom and autumn colour.
Sudeley Castle & Gardens -15 minutes by car; layer more royal history onto a royal-tinged stay.
If you prefer a car-free Cotswolds, Stagecoach and local operators link the nearby railheads and villages, but frequencies vary; taxis should be reserved ahead on weekends. The concierge desk is candid about what’s realistic and helpful with bookings. For more on tours and activities in the Cotswolds, click here
Little things that matter:
EV charging & parking: Four EV points sit in the main car park; charges are transparent and activated at reception. Parking is complimentary for guests (register your plate).
Awards & pedigree: The Lygon is part of Iconic Luxury Hotels (which itself picked up the AA’s “Small Hotel Group of the Year” 2022–23); the property carries the AA’s Four Red Stars and appears in recent readers’ polls. It does track with the experience.
Dog-friendly: Dogs are genuinely welcomed, which changes the calculus for many families.
Afternoon tea: Served in the atmospheric Russell Room, now designed by James Martin, a proper treat, day or rainy-afternoon plan B.
Value: Usually around £265 per night, including breakfast, seasonal offers to be had, check current offers/price here.
My take: for romantics, walkers and history-hungry weekender types
I’ve always believed great country hotels should be soft-landing places, somewhere that makes a two-night escape feel like a week off. The Lygon Arms does that in a particularly English way: generous firesides; good wine by the glass; a feel-good spa; and rooms that tempt you into an early bath and bed. Add the James Martin partnership and location to the mix, and you have the perfect base of operations.
Is it ultramodern minimalism? Absolutely not, nor should it be. Corridors creak a little, floors slope in places, and a rainy Saturday will turn lounges into pleasantly busy gatherings. But if you come for the layers, the Tudor doorways, the Civil War echoes, the way late sun gilds the honeyed stone of the High Street, you’ll almost certainly be plotting a return in the near future.
Pros & Cons:
Pros:
Benchmark Cotswolds address on Broadway High Street; you can walk to everything (and onto the Cotswold Way).
Rich, well-told history you can literally sleep inside (Cromwell Room; Charles I Suite).
Spa with indoor pool and retractable roof; easy to use between walks and dinners.
James Martin partnership across Grill, Tavern and afternoon tea, a cohesive, crowd-pleasing food and beverage programme.
Dog-friendly and family-accommodating, with seasonal value-adds for kids.
Practical extras: on-site parking and four EV chargers.
Cons:
Heritage layout means some rooms differ in size and outlook; if you want big windows and straight lines, request accordingly.
The most atmospheric rooms and peak-weekend tables at Grill book out early; plan ahead (especially in summer).
Lounges can get lively on wet Saturdays, a wonderful buzz, but less so if you’re seeking a quiet hideaway.
Key facts & fast takes:
Location - On High Street, Broadway, Worcestershire (WR12 7DU); 2 hours by car from London. Trains to Evesham or Moreton-in-Marsh, then 15–30 minutes by taxi. The Heritage steam railway to Broadway station is a 15-minute walk.
Hotel rating - Four Red Stars (AA); regularly recognised in readers’ awards.
Hotel vibe - Historic coaching-inn glamour meets relaxed country-house comfort; fires, tweed, dogs, and hiking boots welcome.
Food & drink - Grill by James Martin (breakfast, dinner, Sunday lunch); Tavern by James Martin for casual dishes; Afternoon Tea by James Martin in the Russell Room; bars and lounges for cocktails and nightcaps.
Hotel amenities - Lygon Spa with indoor pool (retractable roof), sauna, steam room, hot tub, treatment rooms; light-filled gym and new fitness studio; multiple lounges; on-site parking and four EV chargers; dog-friendly rooms and packages.
How many rooms - 86 rooms and suites, spread across the main house, historic wings, courtyard and cottages.
Pricing - Packages often from £265 per night, including breakfast; seasonal offers vary.
Location recommendations & attractions:
Broadway Tower (4–4.5-mile circular walk from the hotel; panoramic views).
Snowshill Manor (2 miles).
Hidcote Manor Garden (8 miles).
Batsford Arboretum (10 miles).
Sudeley Castle & Gardens (15 minutes’ drive).
Gordon Russell Design Museum (in-village).
Bottom line:
The Lygon Arms puts you smack in the middle of it all and offers the perfect base for your wider adventures in the Cotswolds, a nice place to come back to at the end of a long day of countryside sightseeing, great food, great drink, spa and rooms that rejuvenate, summer or winter, you can't go wrong here. It's a thumbs up from us.
Lygon Arms Hotel Cotswolds, Review 2025
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