Caryn Hibbert and her family have reimagined this corner of the Cotswolds as a hotel and village that works with nature rather than against it. From the recycled paper bin bags and sustainably sourced loo roll to Crocs replacing disposable slippers, every detail is considered.
Plastic has been designed out wherever possible, replaced with reusable or biodegradable alternatives. Even the hurricane lamps are rechargeable LED instead of batteries.
The English Garden Room in the Lodge is a good example of how sustainability here doesn’t compromise indulgence. It’s vast yet soothing, decorated in Edward Bulmer soft pinks and greens with its own fireplace. The bathroom combines luxury with care: a marble walk-in shower, a painted roll-top bath facing the garden, big fluffy towels, flannels, and jars of Bertioli bath salts. In addition to the coffee machine, upstairs, a pantry is stocked with homemade flapjacks, orchard apples, milk, water and ice – and you can even order a breakfast hamper to your room. For those wanting to keep balance during their stay, yoga mats are available in your room on request.
The estate itself feels authentic rather than staged. The kitchen and cutting gardens brim with seasonal produce and flowers that fill the rooms and inspire menus led by Caryn’s son, culinary director Charlie Hibbert. Breakfast brings orchard apple juice, eggs from local farms, and sausages made in-house with natural skins. Beyond the gardens, the estate’s church is still active, with regular services where you’ll often see chickens wandering freely between the gravestones – a small reminder that this is a living, working village.
At the Meadow Spa, the family’s green ethos takes centre stage. The pool is filled with water drawn from a spring 50 metres below, naturally filtered through Cotswold limestone. A pioneering bio-filtration system keeps the water clean and warm without chemicals. The result is a rare luxury: an entirely natural swimming experience, restorative for body and mind, in water pure enough to drink. After a swim and a massage, you can curl up by the fire in the spa’s relaxation area with a warm cup of tea.
In the boutique, Caryn’s other passion comes into focus. Before creating Thyme, she trained and worked as an obstetrician, and it was during that time she began developing natural remedies for women. The very first Bertioli product– a Breath Balm designed to support expectant mothers – became the foundation for a line that now includes floral fabrics, bath salts, and body care inspired by nature. The 3-in-1 Body Bar is particularly clever: a single solid bar that works as shampoo, conditioner, and cleanser, eliminating the need for plastic bottles.
What makes Thyme remarkable is that none of these decisions feels like a compromise. They are woven into the experience, proving that true luxury can be rooted in sustainability – thoughtful choices, timeless comfort, and an attention to detail that leaves nothing behind but a lighter footprint.
