Just an hour drive north of Bath is a tiny little town called Painswick, also known as The Queen of the Cotswolds. During the Middle Ages, Painswick, like many other neighboring towns and villages, became prosperous thanks to the thriving wool trade. This eventually led to the abundance of beautiful architecture, most of which was constructed using locally quarried honey-hued Cotswold stone. It was the perfect place to kick off our Cotswold adventure and I couldn't think of a better place to stay than at The Painswick.

The 18th century, beautifully restored mansion sits on a steep, quiet lane behind Painswick's main street and quaint church and boasts breathtaking views of the Painswick Valley and the rolling, Gloucestershire hills. With only 16 rooms, this boutique hotel is the epitome of country cool - and definitely intensified my love affair with British interiors. Rustic modern interiors in greyish blue hues and wainscoting in pale grey and the soft sage are juxtoposed with the centuries-old stone walls, original mullion windows and late Palladian architecture. The friendly hotel staff provides guests with a little hand drawn map of the town, along with pair of wellies if you so wish to take advantage of the natural walks and hikes. Despite the excitement of exploring the town on foot, we were eager to return to hotel to relax in the beautifully appointed sitting room, the perfect place to enjoy cocktails fireside and to converse with other guests. Besides perfecting the art of rest, The Painswick prides itself on the second most standout quality of the hotel: food. The restaurant, led by acclaimed Chef Jamie McCallum, is outstanding. Our dinner there was one of the best meals we had on the trip.