I stayed at Sudeley Castle Cottages with my family during the pleasant month of May. I planned our trip months in advance to ensure we were able to book during our trip to England. I have ancient familial connections to Sudeley, and wanted to ensure my rental wasn’t preempted by one of the numerous weddings hosted at this location.
The Sudeley Castle cottages are known as “self-catering.” While unfamiliar with the terminology, I have rented beach cottages in the United States that operate on the same premise. That is, unlike a hotel, the cottages do not receive daily maid service. During the course of your stay, you are responsible for making the beds, cleaning the dishes or any other light cleaning to keep things orderly. You are also responsible for emptying the trash when you leave and ensuring that recyclables are properly placed as well.
The cottages are arranged around a cobblestone courtyard, situated between Sudeley Castle and the town of Winchcombe. The buildings consist of many re-purposed buildings, like an ancient paper mill, as well as some newer structures. The stone theme remains consistent throughout. The interior of the cottages are spacious, with thick wooden beams hearkening back to the medieval roots of this community. Sprawling greenery dresses many of the stone structures, creating a quaint picturesque scene fit for photographing.
Parking is free and is located through an archway off the courtyard. A river runs behind the cottages, with parking available in the grassy area along the river. Parking was adequate for the number of guests staying at the cottages. I visited during an annual Walking Festival in and around Winchcombe. For this reason, it appeared that some walkers used the Sudeley Cottage parking area as a staging point for their quest. Even so, I had no trouble finding a place to park during our stay.
The cottages are fully equipped with linens, towels and a fully equipped kitchen. The Lady Jane Grey cottage is a three bedroom, which was perfect for my adult daughter, minor son as well as my wife and I. The bedrooms and bathroom are located on the second floor of the cottage. The first floor is a “split level” that consists of a small office area with a kitchen overlooking the river behind the cottages. A few steps down lead into a dining room and living room, complete with cable television.
The beds and furniture were comfortable. When staying at cottages, I do not have an expectation of luxury, so I was impressed with the comfort afforded by the mattresses. I have stayed at hotels in Europe with mattresses that left a lot to be desired. These were slightly firm, but pleasant. I slept well with the cool country air and the sound of bleating sheep and singing birds as my lullaby.
The efficiency kitchen included complimentary coffee and tea service. We were able to pick up groceries at Tesco nearby, allowing us to cook one of our meals at the cottage. Being unfamiliar with European building codes, I did experience some adjustment. The breakers in the cottage kitchen mostly remain off. This requires you to be aware of the position of the breakers when cooking. We accidentally turned off the stove while cooking. It also took a minute to figure out the toilet flush, which requires a bit of pumping as opposed to a single flush. Other than the differences in how things operate, we found the accommodations to be pleasant, comfortable and convenient.
We took advantage of our visit to explore some of the surrounding areas. This included our complimentary passes to Sudeley Castle, which we reached after a brief walk through a sheep pasture that separates the castle from the cottages. We also did some exploration of Winchcombe, which is merely a two minute walk up a narrow alleyway to the main street. Walking through Winchcombe is like transporting yourself back centuries in time (minus the cars). The narrow roads are barely passable by automobiles, as street parking severely restricts the thin vehicle traffic. We had no problem navigating by foot or by car.
Winchcombe is filled with a rich history that dates back thousands of years. The earliest evidence of human settlement is found in the form of a long barrow on a hill overlooking Winchombe. This memorial dates back to 3000 BC. A Saxon wall lines a back road in Winchcombe, which is primarily populated by stone structures that project a combination of medieval charm and modern amenity. The rich history of Winchcombe is memorialized in small signs that dot the buildings with information about town history. Ancient graveyards, old churches, restaurants, pubs, tea rooms, butchers and bakers…Winchcombe has a sampling of everything. If you require more, there are larger towns within five to ten minutes (driving).
The Sudeley Castle Cottages do not appear to be handicap accessible. I know for certain that the Lady Jane Grey is not. While there is a back entrance to the living room area, the front door is accessed by a short stone staircase. Accommodations are on the second floor, so that would be an issue for someone confined to a wheelchair. The cottages also do not accept pets. If either of those situations apply, you may want to check for other nearby housing. The cottages can be rented by the half week, week, or longer. The booking tool allows you to pick your check-in date, from a limited selection, as well as your check out date. The dates are somewhat controlled, which is typical for cottage rentals, even in the United States.
The Sudeley Castle Cottages include about a dozen units, some of which are connected, others free-standing. The cottages accommodate between three and five visitors per cottage. The Lady Jane Grey sleeps five, which was more room than I required with my family of four. However, I wanted three bedrooms so that my son and daughter both had privacy. The master faced the courtyard and included a queen bed. There were two bedrooms facing the river, one with two singles, the other with one single.
My family thoroughly enjoyed the country setting of the Sudeley Castle Cottages. The location was a great place to absorb the Cotswold countryside. It was also a great “home base” from which we visited Wales, Cadbury World in Birmingham and Stratford-upon-Avon. The cottages were well equipped, comfortable and cozy. The heavy stone and wood influence created a nice balance between medieval charm alongside the modern conveniences contained in the cottages. I would highly recommend this location if you are planning a trip to the Cotswolds.
All photos are my own. They may be used with prior permission.