Some hotels are known for their location, others for their restaurant, and then there are the (rare) few which boast an interwoven narrative and lore which is just as compelling as the setting.
Welcome to The Cottage in the Wood, Malvern; a hilltop retreat with links to rock legends and a Narnia-tinged tale rooted in the very landscape it overlooks.
Perched high above the spa town in eight acres of woodland, this four-star “hotel on the hill” is defined by a setting that does most of the talking, (featuring wide, cinematic views across the Malvern Hills) and also a standard of hospitality that’s been very intelligently engineered. At the hotel’s heart is 1919 Restaurant. This is Malvern’s only 3 AA Rosette restaurant and one that’s also listed in the Michelin Guide 2025. Yes, this hotel takes what it does very seriously and more importantly, it executes it with excellence.
What is more difficult to quantify (and even harder to manufacture), is the hotel’s effortless cool which is woven throughout. Maybe it’s the property’s musical credentials. It might be the quiet confidence that comes from having hosted a whole slew of political and cultural names over the decades. Or it could be due to owners Nick and Julia Davies, whose standards are exacting in the best possible way. Having spoken with the charismatic couple during my stay – including a hugely enjoyable chat with Nick over dinner – I’d like to think it’s a bit of both. What makes this hotel standout is how it has both landscape plus legacy, matched by hands-on ownership from people who appear to genuinely care.
Staying at The Cottage In The Wood
The setting here is an absolute showstopper. The Cottage in the Wood isn’t, in fact, a cottage in the wood at all. It’s a hotel on the hill, sitting high above Malvern, wrapped in woodland, with far-reaching views. Its 32 rooms are spread across three distinct buildings; The Main House, Beech Cottage and The Coach House, with each having its own distinct personality.
The Main House is the heart of the original hotel: it’s where you’ll find the classic social spaces and heritage, plus a little more occasion. Then there is Beech Cottage. This, by contrast, feels more tucked-away, cosier and deliberately more “country twee” in spirit, this is a softer, more traditional choice of room. Finally, there is The Coach House, where my husband James and I stayed. This is modern in style, with large rooms, many of which feature balconies or patios which make the view part of the room itself.
Our stay in The Coach House ‘Best Room’
James and I stayed in one of the hotel’s top-tier ‘Best Rooms’ in The Coach House. We loved this room, in fact if you’re torn between categories, I’d strongly suggest this type of room if you’re looking for a gorgeous room-with-a-view.
Each ‘Best’ room features front-facing doors onto a balcony/patio, so you can throw them open straight onto the view. There is a table and two deep-set chairs angled out towards the hills; an ideal sort of setup for a relaxing break. James and I could have sat there for hours with nothing but the Malvern Hills for company. Inside, there is a gorgeously comfortable Super King bed, a roll-top bath (always my personal favourite!), plus small luxuries like Bramley toiletries in the bathroom and fresh cookies on arrival.
There’s also a working vintage record player in each room, much to my delight! Nick divulged how the room’s vinyl choice is a little wink to the hotel’s cultural thread – either acts who have stayed here, or who have some kind of link with the hotel or staff. We had Massive Attack’s Blue Lines album, which happens to be one of my all-time favourite albums (apparently owner Nick has worked with Massive Attack – a pretty cool detail), and it became the atmospheric anthem to our stay.
Luxury with substance: the Coach House’s eco-credentials
If you like your luxury rooted in something more than aesthetics, The Cottage in the Wood has an impressive sustainability story, especially within The Coach House itself. The building’s 19 bedrooms are constructed from carbon-neutral wood and insulated with recycled newspaper; its specialist design means it’s so well-insulated it can cope with a heating system 50% smaller than you’d normally expect.
The eco-thinking isn’t just limited to the structure. During refurbishment, the hotel upgraded to LED lighting and energy-saving electrics, replaced boilers with more efficient models, and fitted the kitchen with energy-saving cookers and fans. They encourage less frequent towel changes, have removed single-use mini toiletry bottles in favour of refillable bottles, and replaced baths in many rooms with more efficient showers that use around 30% less water.
Dinner at 1919: Three Rosettes and Michelin-listed
The food is a huge part of the draw of this hotel, especially the renowned 1919 Restaurant. It’s an intimate and elegant space, offering a curated seven-course tasting menu crafted by Head Chef Mark Potts and his team. The menu is rooted in seasonality and local provenance, and it holds an impressive combination of 3 AA Rosettes and a Michelin Guide 2025 listing.
What I loved most was that the experience felt personal. Mark Potts came out to talk us through the menu and you could hear the passion in how he described each dish; he spoke about what was in season, why the flavours worked and what the kitchen wanted you to notice first.
The menu began with beautifully judged snacks and standouts included Smoked Eel & Granny Smith, and a clever, tongue-in-cheek “Beef Fruit” Tart.
From there, the pacing was spot on but never predictable: Salt-Baked Beetroot, earthy with smart acidity and texture, a fish course of Baked Cod paired with a scallop chowder element that was beautifully indulgent, then a main course built around a rich and balanced Honey-Glazed Duck Breast.
The dish I kept thinking about afterwards was the Smoked Eel & Granny Smith and James’ favourite was the Cod with the scallop chowder element. We finished with British and French Cheeses, followed by a Perfumed Rose Geranium & Lychee pre-dessert, and a final flourish of Chocolate Delice with bright citrus notes. There are no gimmicks, just beautiful dishes, expertly crafted.
History and famous names
This is a hotel which comes with its own lore (and oh how I do love a place with stories!).
Over the years, the hotel has gathered a guest list with real cultural pull, having links to Charlie Watts, Adam Ant, The Who and The Specials through staying, playing, or spending time in the area. Add in associations with names like Felicity Kendall and Joan Collins, and it starts to make sense why the place carries that unmanufactured “cool”. And then there’s the political footnote that always raises an eyebrow; the hotel also notes Baroness Margaret Thatcher as a regular guest in the 1980s.
There’s also the famous C.S. Lewis thread that runs through Malvern. The story goes that on a snowy evening, as he left The Unicorn pub, the sight of a Victorian gas lamp glowing through the snow sparked the image that later became so iconic in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: a lone lamp in a white, hushed wood. The hotel leans into that wider Malvern lore, too, noting there are 109 Victorian gas lamps dotted around Great Malvern to seek out, (even weaving the gas-lamp motif into its branding). Whether you take it as literary fact or local legend, it adds a certain magic to the stay.
Owners Nick and Julia: the standards behind the atmosphere
Nick and Julia Davies bought The Cottage in the Wood in 2015 and have overseen a multi-phase refurbishment that has shaped the property into what it is today. The result feels cohesive and confident. They are often present at the hotel and are engaging and warm. Talking with both during my stay, you get a sense of how much thought goes into every decision and that they are carefully holding onto the soul of the place while raising the standard.
What to do nearby
If you can pull yourself away from the balcony, you’re perfectly placed for some of the Malvern Hills’ best walking. Classic routes include climbs around Worcestershire Beacon. In town, Great Malvern Priory is a must if you love history and architecture, (a beautiful, atmospheric visit), and Malvern’s independent café culture makes it ideal for a slow afternoon.
Final thoughts
The views might be the star here, but what stays with you is how complete the experience feels. It’s rare to find a hotel this rooted in its landscape and also this effortlessly cool, with cultural gravity in the walls, rock-laced history, Narnia lore in the hills, matched by the exacting standards Nick and Julia insist on. It’s a must-visit.
‘Best rooms’ start from £177 per night for two adults sharing (March pricing varies by date and availability – check live rates).
Book: https://www.cottageinthewood.co.uk
Or call 01684 588 860 / email [email protected]
Review and some images by Victoria Reddington @vic_reddington
Most images are copyright of The Cottage in the Wood, Malvern
