Bowood Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort

The four-star hotel was purpose-built in 2009 in the style of a country house. The hotel has 43 guest rooms, which are all air-conditioned and they have comfortable beds, a work desk, a sitting area, a large flat-screen television, tea and coffee making facilities and en suite bathrooms. There are two wheelchair-accessible rooms available.

The rooms are styled with contemporary decor that was designed by the Marchioness of Lansdowne and many of the public areas of the hotel have a more cosy country house feel to them.

The food at the hotel’s Shelburne Restaurant is very nice but probably not as good as you would expect. It is a lovely spot for afternoon tea, however.

There is a more casual restaurant at the golf club next door or you could walk 15 minutes up the road to the Lansdowne Arms, which is a lovely country pub with a nice beer garden.

The adjoining golf course is a big drawcard for many guests. The resort has an 18-hole course plus a three-hole practice course and a driving range.

The hotel also has a fitness centre and an indoor swimming pool as well as spa facilities with treatment rooms, a sauna and a steam room.

Guests staying at the hotel get free entry to Bowood House and Gardens during its open season (April–October), which is 1.6km (1 mile) or a 15-minute walk from the hotel. The hotel is also around a 15-minute walk to the village of Derry Hill where you can find a pub and catch buses to Chippenham or Devizes.

There is plenty of free car parking but it is a 15-minute walk to the nearest bus stop, which makes this hotel best suited if you’re driving.