Once a popular spa getaway for well-heeled Londoners, Cheltenham fell out of favor with the rise of its trendier neighbors Daylesford and Chipping Norton. But with the opening of No. 38 The Park (no38thepark.com; £120), the historic town in the northern Cotswolds town is back in the spotlight.
The brainchild of Sam and Georgie Pearman, the Regency building has 13 bedrooms, elegantly done with reclaimed-wood tables, freestanding Victorian bathtubs, and David Hockney prints. For dinner, make your way to sister property No. 131 (no131.com; £150), where locals gather in a buzzy, low-lit dining room for regionally sourced dishes.
Beyond, there’s plenty to explore, such as the housewares and antiques shops in Montpelier and Suffolk. Don’t miss Guild at 51 (guildcrafts.org.uk), full of handmade textiles and silverwork. Or tour the recently renovated Wilson (thewilson.org.uk), an art space showcasing British Arts and Crafts and emerging artists.
For lunch, Purslane (purslane-restaurant.co.uk; £40) serves a standout Cornish pollack with wood-roasted celeriac and chanterelles; come nighttime, it’s all about Daffodil (thedaffodil.com), an Art Deco–style restaurant and bar known for martinis and live jazz.
