Property
The Southwold is a modest 8-room guest house (for you Americans, that’s a B&B) in the Cotswolds. It is run by a quintessential B&B-owning couple, Alyson and Trevor whose sole interest is to make you comfortable.

Location
The Southwold is at the end of the High Street in the village of Broadway but is an easy walk to restaurants and shops in the town. While not built around a square like so many other Cotswold villages, Broadway’s design and architecture is certainly one of the most charming of the area. Several restaurants are a 10-minute walk, as is a small but thoroughly-stocked grocery store. During both nights of our stay, we walked to the nearby pub, The Swan, where you can either eat in the bar or in the more upscale restaurant. And from Broadway, you have all of the Cotswolds to explore.

Sleeps
1-4. Book in advance for their one family room which comfortably sleeps 4 in a double bed plus sofa bed (a suite with french doors for privacy).

Highlights
The owners! Alyson greets weary travelers with tea and conversation for the adults and juice and hugs for the children. A former school teacher, she made our children very comfortable. Her recommendations were dead-on. She directed us to the lambs at the Cotswold Farm Park (“you will see them springing in the field!”) and away from the Broadway Tower (“it’s a folly; your time might be better spent elsewhere”). Finally, she kindly spent time each morning researching our destinations and printing out Google maps highlighting both the most scenic and most direct routes. She and Trevor have traveled extensively themselves so know what travelers need.

Good to know
Alyson will do any and all of your laundry (and iron it!) for a small fee. The Southwold House also has a pleasant garden (underutilized during our chilly March visit) where kids can run off steam.

Contact
www.cotswolds-broadway-southwold.co.uk

Written by Carolyn Westgaard

Property
If you like your hotels idiosyncratic, you’re going to love the Evesham Hotel in Worcestershire. The atmosphere is a bit hard to pin down, but it’s funny. The building dates back to 1540, but has a Georgian flavor due to a “modernization” in 1810. The hotel has 40-rooms, is set on 2 ½ acres, and is a five-minute walk from town. Informality rules from the room keys (all have teddy bears attached) to the room amenities (rubber duckies, Scrabble, hot cocoa and biscuits), and the hotel regularly wins the distinctly British “Loo of the Year” award. Management is extremely child-friendly, and provides cribs, highchairs, booster seats, games, and toys. All rooms are themed; if possible check out the Alice in Wonderland suite (two bedrooms, a hallway and a secret play alcove for children).

Location
The Evesham Hotel is located in a delightful market town of Evesham 2 hours from London, and just minutes from Stratford-on-Avon and some of the most charming towns in the Cotswolds (Broadway, Stow-on-the-Wold, Lower Slaughter, Upper Slaughter, and Chipping Camden). These places are so cute you’ll want to eat them up.

Sleeps
2-6.

Highlights
Indoor heated swimming pool (lifeguard is an inflatable gorilla, so swim at your own risk). High tea for kids (just an early dinner for the short set, though they are welcome at the later seating as well). A wine list 600 varieties long. Toys and books all over the place, and a dedicated playroom (with comfy adult seating) besides.

Good to know
The Evesham Hotel is photogenic but very camera-shy. Owner John Jenkinson uses irreverent cartoon illustrations in their brochure and on their website, so reserving here is a bit of a leap of faith.

Contact
www.eveshamhotel.com

Written by Jamie Pearson