best hotels of the world(Cotswolds88hotel The Cotswolds, England )

Country Hotel. There are plenty of mod manor hotels in the Cotswolds—a swath of countryside in southwestern England that has become Britain’s answer to the Hamptons. But the design of Cotswolds88hotel stands above them all. Eschewing the neutral minimalism that has become de rigueur among chic properties, owner Marchella De Angelis combines graphic and unusual upholsteries (vinyl snakeskin is a recurring theme), eclectic Midcentury and antique furniture, an impressive collection of Murano glass, and the odd bit of mock taxidermy (was that a pair of stuffed crows in the dining room?). It’s utterly delightful and unexpected. But we found that not everything was as seamless as the décor. De Angelis, who also cofounded a nightclub in Shoreditch, has taken a few unwelcome cues from her nightlife background by pumping too-loud music into the lobby and even peppering chastising notes throughout (“Walking boots and wind jackets are not permitted in the dining room”; “Rudeness to staff will not be tolerated”). We hope she’ll realize that hotel clientele deserve to be treated better than a rowdy bar crowd; thankfully her competent and friendly staff shows better manners.