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ower Slaughter Manor is the ultimate in country living for the 21st century. Nicknamed ‘Queen of the Cotswolds’, this grand hotel sits in one of the finest 17th-century houses in the south of England.
 

Standing in its elegant gardens, next to a historic church and the petite River Eye in the heart of the village of Lower Slaughter, this is the kind of place that lives up to any romantic occasion, be it a marriage proposal or a spontaneous weekend away.
 

There’s no chintz insight, just cool and contemporary interiors. Book the decadent Valentine Strong Garden Suite in the Coach House and you’ll be snoozing on the biggest four-poster bed you’ve ever seen, wallowing in your own side-by-side baths and gazing through your own French doors that lead to a private garden with a hot tub made for two.
 

There are gentle country pursuits all around, and some must-visit attractions such as the magnificent Blenheim Palace where Winston Churchill was born and Longleat Safari Park. Nearby villages like Moreton-in-Marsh and Burford are also well worth a visit.