Cowley Manor

As you would expect of a contemporary country house hotel, Cowley Manor has a memorable pool – a chic, angular outdoor puddle of water in this case. "Part of the hotel's C-side spa, if you book a treatment you can hang out there," says Juliet. The closest the Cotswolds gets to a Schrager hotel experience, from 5.30pm the poolside area becomes a chillout space, complete with bar and waiter service.

Cowley, Gloucestershire, GL53 9NL (01242 870900; cowleymanor.com)