12 excellent reasons to visit The Greenway Hotel and Spa in 2024

As one of the county's most historic buildings set in many acres of beautiful countryside, the newly renovated Greenway Hotel and Spa is one of Gloucestershire's most popular destinations. SoGlos rounds up some of the best reasons to visit this elegant country house hotel near Cheltenham.

By Sarah Kent  |  Published
The secret hideaway within the estate's exclusive grounds is just one of the special spots to explore at The Greenway Hotel and Spa near Cheltenham.
In partnership with The Greenway Hotel & Spa  |  thegreenwayhotelandspa.com
The Greenway Hotel & Spa

The Greenway Hotel and Spa is a Grade II listed Elizabethan manor house located in the pretty rural village of Shurdington near Cheltenham. Set in eight acres of peaceful countryside, it boasts 21 sumptuously decorated bedrooms, an award-winning spa and is praised for its afternoon tea and fine dining menus.

The beautiful Greenway Hotel and Spa is one of the county's favourite venues for weddings, a weekend stay, a spa day, afternoon tea or even a fine dining experience.

And after a recent multi-million-pound refurbishment, the hotel is looking better than ever. Here, we reveal some of the best reasons for a visit or stay at one of Gloucestershire's most luxurious venues...

The perfect getaway, without having to leave the county (or even the country)

Staycations offer the perfect weekend getaway, without needing to find your passport. You can enjoy packing light and jumping in the car (or even on public transport, if you want to keep your carbon emissions down) for an indulgent weekend at The Greenway.

Tucked away in the sleepy village of Shurdington, guests can fine dine in the award-winning Garden Room, soak up the relaxation in the incredible Elan Spa and have a lie-in on a comfy bed made with the most luxurious linens.

See what a luxury £1.4 million renovation looks like

The owners of The Greenway have invested a huge amount of money into the hotel and spa to bring it bang up to date with all the modern luxuries required of a five-star experience, but also to keep its important and historic period detailing highlighted and cherished for hundreds more years to come.

View its 21 newly refurbished bedrooms and its Elan Spa, Orchard Brasserie and communal areas, complete with sumptuous fabrics, papers and paints in calming, classic colours, and tranquil en-suite bathrooms that put the 'p' in pampering.

Easy access to the thriving town of Cheltenham

The Greenway is set in an idyllic rural location, with eight acres of countryside to view from every window — but it is very conveniently located just 10 minutes from the centre of Cheltenham.

Just a short taxi or bus ride into town gives you easy access to the town's excellent shops and thriving bar and restaurant scene, not to mention the famous Cheltenham Racecourse, for all the glamorous outfits and exciting jump-racing action.

An award-winning dining experience in the Garden Room restaurant

The Greenway Hotel’s modern British cuisine focuses on wholesome and refined cooking, with head chef Abhijit Dasalkar and his team passionate advocates for local and seasonal produce.

In the 3 AA Rosette restaurant, the hotel's fine dining really comes into its own — with exquisitely presented, flavoursome ingredients, expertly matched wines and an elegant, atmospheric dining room (with the option of private dining, too). But not just renowned for its a la carte dining, it also serves up Sundays roasts with all the trimmings and one of the best afternoon teas in Gloucestershire.

Escape to the opulent Elan Spa for the ultimate relaxation break

An afternoon or full day at the hotel's luxurious Elan Spa is one of the best treats you can book for yourself. Awarded the maximum five bubbles in the Good Spa Guide, the spa is also now home to a brand-new outdoor vitality pool and hot tub, as well as revamped treatment rooms, along with a new partnership with British skincare brand, Temple Spa.

Whether you book just one indulgent massage or a whole spa package, the experience promises to be the ultimate in total mind and body relaxation. 

Host your own private party in the secret garden hideaway

One of the hotel's best-kept secrets is its hidden gem of an outdoor event space in the grounds — The Hide.

Set within the most serene, landscaped grounds and rolling Cotswold countryside, the Hide provides a picture-perfect backdrop to celebrate baby showers, birthdays, anniversaries, christenings or even an intimate wedding bash.

Spend the night in one of the most elegant bedrooms in the county

The hotel's 21 en-suite bedrooms have recently had a complete makeover — each one now featuring their own sumptuous colour palettes and themes, using high-end fabrics, wallpapers, carpeting and furnishings.

En-suite bathrooms have also been completely refurbished, some with roomy rainforest showers and decadent roll-top baths with glorious views of the surrounding countryside.

Experience why the hotel won a place on The Sunday Times's best places to stay list

This year the Greenway has been named one of The Times's Best Places to Stay in 2024, scoring a solid place in its top 10 best hotels at number nine.

Its bedrooms, sympathetic period restorations, spa, views and meals all garnered a special mention by Times reviewers, firmly placing the Gloucestershire hotel on the map as must-visit venue. It was even named Hotel of the Year 2023 at the Gloucestershire Lifestyle Awards last year!

Explore its landscaped grounds and rolling Cotswold countryside with your four-legged friends

Set in eight acres of Shurdington countryside, just a stone's throw from Cheltenham, this beautiful rural setting offers the perfect retreat for nature lovers and dog owners, with the hotel offering an adorable selection of dog-friendly rooms.

Pups also receive a five-star welcome, with a doggy welcome letter, dog bed, bowl, toy and chew on check-in. Pooches are allowed in the Drawing Room and on the outside terrace while their owners dine, with the hotel also offering a handy guide to some of the best dog walks in the area.

Enjoy the 400-year-old estate's period details and fascinating history

The land where the Greenway now stands was originally known as the Little Shurdington Estate and first records show that it belonged to the Lawrence Family as early as 1521. The family date back to 1191 and are thought to have found their fortune in the wool trade, using Gloucester Docks as their transport hub.

The manor house was built in 1584 and stayed in the family for a further three hundred years until it was eventually sold in 1854, then going on to be sold a further three times, with the last owners purchasing the estate in 1946 when it finally reopened as a hotel. Much of the Elizabethan period detailing is still intact, with some historically important joinery, panelling and a limestone Tudor fireplace to enjoy.

Say 'I do' in a picture-perfect wedding location

The Elizabethan manor house offers an idyllic country wedding venue, with celebrations always exclusive to the bride and groom with its one wedding per day policy.

With a selection of the dreamiest of spots to say, 'I do', packages are built exclusively around the couple's dreams for their big day, including an elopement wedding for two; an intimate ceremony and wedding breakfast for up to 22 guests; or a big wedding for up to 130, with all the fine details taken care of by the Greenway events planners.

Hold a business event in a stunning meeting room with award-winning catering

The hotel isn't just for overnight guests and wedding parties — it's the ideal venue for business meetings, too. Just 10 minutes from Cheltenham and three minutes from the M5, The Greenway has four meeting and conference rooms, private dining and a host of ideas for team-building exercises.

Each room has wifi and includes a flipchart, stationary, conference pads and pencils and mineral water as standard, with extra details available to request, too.

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