Handpicked flowers from an organic cutting garden. Surfaces made from reclaimed wood. Locally-sourced seasonal dishes cooked up in an award-winning, waste-free kitchen.
The magic of a stay at The Wild Rabbit is almost everything comes from the famous Cotswolds estate it sits on: Daylesford, one of the most sustainable organic farms in the UK.
The 18th-century inn comprises of 13 elegant pub rooms and several clusters of wisteria-covered self-catering cottages across the road and a a short walk away, each featuring renewable, low-energy lighting and electric agas - an eco paradise. Inside, expect warm Cotswold stone, soft modern British furnishings and Daylesford luxuries from fresh sourdough in the kitchen to Bamford spa products in the rooms.
From gong baths in the award-winning spa to your own private party bubble, here’s what to expect.
Where is it?
Right in the heart of the Cotswolds, in the centre of the charming village of Kingham. Chipping Norton - of Clarkson’s Farm fame - is just a 10-minute drive away.
Style
A modern British country pub with a Daylesford twist. The 18th-century inn retains many of its period features, from the traditional Cotswold stone and original stone-mullioned windows to the chestnut panels surrounding the length of the bar.
But don’t expect cold drafts or cobwebbed corners: inside, there’s a warm, light-filled elegance. The dining room itself has a relaxed, contemporary design with plenty of natural light and the bedrooms and cottages feature exposed stone and re-used, aged oak beams and are furnished with linens, wools, one-off pieces of furniture and sand blasted limed oak fixtures.
You’ll spot Daylesford’s signature rabbit everywhere, from the dinner plates to your room key.
Which room?
Choose from 13 pub rooms or three sets of cottages: those in Kingham village itself, those at Daylesford Farm down the road and those in Daylesford village. Expect beautiful exposed beams and a neutral, pared-back style with fresh linens, cosy wools and window seats, and elegant, locally-inspired eco features, from dry-stone walling around the baths and showers and walls plastered with natural lime to mattresses handmade using horsehair. Bamford does all the products in the bathrooms.
Each pub room is named after an animal found within a three-mile walk (think The Rabbit, The Boar, the Deer, The Fox...) - keep an eye out for the wild boar rumoured to roam in the Odddington Ashes nearby. Most sleep two, though there’s also a family room, The Hedgehog, for two adults and two small children under the age of 12.
Choose one of the Kingham self-catering cottages across the road if you fancy more space but still want to roll into bed from dinner. Each one is packed with period features and has its own character, from the two-person Bantam Cottage to Fowler’s House, which sleeps eight adults and four children - perfect for a weekend getaway with friends and the little ones. Each features en-suite bathrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, eating area and sitting rooms with open fires or log burning stoves. Some even come with their own garden.
If you fancy staying out of town, the hotel’s Daylesford Farm Cottages are just a five-minute drive away, with guest numbers ranging from two to six, and there are also two- to six-person cottages down the road in the hamlet of Daylesford itself. Each was rebuilt in 1868 alongside the church and the schoolhouse and is constructed in local stone with views over the estate’s rolling hills.
Pet-owners, grab a booking while you can. Dogs are welcome in 14 of The Wild Rabbit’s cottages (Fowler’s House, Old House, Robin Cottage, Lark Cottage, Dove Cottage, Hatchling Cottage, Nestling Cottage, Bantam Cottage, Orpington Cottage and in all all of its Daylesford Farm Cottages) and five of its pub rooms (Mole, Hare, Otter, Owl, Beehive). It’s £15 per dog per night and dog beds and water bowls are provided.
Food & drink
Roast loin of Wootton-estate venison. Slow-cooked veal cheek with creamed polenta. Raviolo of confit rabbit with mustard cream and carrots.
Many of the ingredients at The Wild Rabbit are picked from Daylesford’s market garden each morning so there’s a local, seasonal feel. Don’t expect your bog standard pub grub: expect award-winning fine dining with nods to traditional pub food, served in an unpretentious, cosy setting thanks to executive chef Sam Bowser, who joined the team in December (there’s an open kitchen so you can watch the theatre of him and his team at work).
There’s an a la carte menu for lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Sunday and a dinnertime tasting menu from Wednesday to Sunday, too. There are roasts on Sundays, and The Trough down the road at Daylesford serves autumn salads and warm organic lunches every day of the week.
In the bar, happy hour is from 5-7pm every weekday and there’s live music from 7pm every Tuesday.
For special occasions, there’s also an 18-person private-dining area, The Chicken Shed. Sonya, the chef, creates a bespoke menu using seasonal ingredients picked fresh each morning from Daylesford’s market garden and organic, grass-fed beef, lamb, venison, game and free-range chicken from the Wootton Estate, and The Wild Rabbit’s in-house sommeliers are available for wine pairing advice.
Upcoming events include supper clubs, wine tastings, quiz nights and seasonal fine dining events so check the roster before you book.
Facilities
The Wild Rabbit comes with more than 2,000 acres of organic farmland to explore right from the doorstep, so guests are encouraged to explore the rich hedgerows and wild flower meadows on foot or on two wheels (there are walking maps and bikes available at reception).
Staff recommend wandering across the fields to Daylesford for a quick 25-minute leg-stretch, or walking to sister pub The Fox, located in the heart of Lower Oddington village (there are board games in the snug back at The Wild Rabbit for your return). For a longer ramble, you can wander across the River Evenlode to Bledington Village and across the Oddington Ashes, and the hotel’s sustainability expert also runs a weekly Guided Nature Trail for guests keen to learn about the history of The Wild Rabbit and the local area.
But the Wild Rabbit’s real USP is its access to Daylesford and its organic farm shop, deli and award-winning Bamford wellness spa - not your average country inn experience. The farm runs weekly market garden tours for Wild Rabbit guests and the spa is located in a large airy barn in the middle of the farm, so you don’t get that gloomy, subterranean feel you get in many spas.
Book in for a yoga, pilates, meditation or gong therapy class in Bamford’s bright studio space; take a plunge in the wellness pool, herbal steam room and crystal sauna; or unwind with a full-body massage and unwind with a soothing tea in the light-filled Orchard Bar afterwards. It’s a natural light-lover’s dream.
What to Instagram
The arrival at your cottage, from the wisteria-covered door to the freshly-picked wild flowers and Daylesford marmalade laid out in the kitchen for your arrival. Dogs don’t look too bad in front of the fire, either. Book for Christmas-time for true winter cosiness.
Best for?
Spa-lovers and couples with dogs. The Wild Rabbit’s pet-friendly cottages and pub rooms come with dog beds and bowls and well-behaved dogs are welcome on The Wild Rabbit’s front and back terrace and bar area.
How to get there
Jump in the car from London and you’ll be there in just over two hours. Trains are under two hours from Paddington to Kingham, then it’s a 20-minute walk at the other end. There are electric charging points in the car park if you’re driving.
When should I go?
All year round, depending on availability, but it’s an autumn-lover’s dream: cosy corners, roaring fires and dozens of quaint Cotswold wanders directly on the doorstep.
There’s a festive three-day celebration if you fancy booking a room for Christmas - expect a Christmas morning treasure hunt in Kingham village, a festive pub quiz, live music, carols and a good old-fashioned Boxing Day walk. You know you want to.
