Thyme

We truly enjoyed our 2-day stay at Thyme. We took advantage of many activities and loved them all - 2 private cooking classes with Chef Alex, who was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and engaging. We loved making garden pickles and strawberry preserves to take home on day 1, and assorted canapes on day 2, which we ate in the herb garden while sipping white wine. We enjoyed our Bothy spa treatment, which was unusual (in the best way) and super relaxing. We also liked the Eastleach walk. There was some climbing over fences and navigating uneven terrain, so if that if that poses any difficulty, I would stick with the garden walk, which is also lovely. We were also happy to stroll around the magnificent, beautifully manicured grounds, filled with flowers, lavender, fruit trees and fountains. For meals, we ate mostly in the Ox Barn, which was beautifully furnished and had outstanding food. I especially loved the pancakes at breakfast and the fish at dinner. Other reviewers have commented that the staff was not particularly friendly or overly helpful. We did not find this to be the case. We received a warm welcome at reception and found the other staff to be great as well. Shout out to Chef Alex, Lucy in the Baa Bar who helped us take some pictures while sitting on the sheep chairs, and Raquel in the spa. My husband liked his spa therapist as well, but I do not remember her name. I really loved this place, but cannot give it 5 stars (wish I could give 4.5 stars) due to some issues with the room. We booked a Divine Double room and were given the Angelica Room on the first floor of the lodge. As soon as we entered, I noticed it was warm and stuffy. Prior to booking I did not know there was no air conditioning. We had 2 fans going and all the windows open (it was a lovely temperature outside) but could not get the room to feel comfortable. In addition, in keeping the windows open, people were walking by, which led to a lack of privacy. Other room issues were - no safe, nowhere to hang anything, very little counter space in the bathroom, no makeup mirror, and nowhere in front of a mirror to dry my hair. One final comment is that if you are celebrating a special occasion, do not expect any extra ‘TLC’. We were celebrating our 33rd anniversary and were given a card and a pack of flower seeds. That said, I loved my time at Thyme and would eagerly return!

Pretty much everything on the Surface level of this hotel is amazing. The rooms are well designed and charming. The Gardens are beautiful and the food is excellent. The staff was kind and were clearly doing the best they could. Sadly this hotel is suffering from mismanagement and has serious operational issues. There is a a lack of focus on the hotel guest. The priority seems to be on the other parts of the business. A lot of time has been put in to the ascetics of everything, but little thought has been put in to the experience of being a guest. This is first and foremost a restaurant and home decor store, the resort seems to be an afterthought. When we checked in the bed was very uneven on one side so we did not get much sleep. We were given a free upgrade to another room for the next two nights. It came with a private garden containing a fire pit. The fire pit wasn’t operational, unsure if it was broken or they don’t have it running in the summer. As it was an upgrade we did not ask about it, however if we were paying for the room it would have been an annoyance. Basic things like the minimal snacks provided and bath salts were never refilled during turn down or cleaning. The bathroom items provided are very limited compared to other hotels at similar price points. The hotel does not have air conditioning. They seem to realize this is an issue and provide Dyson cooling fans. At this price point a mini split system is the bare minimum that should be expected. 5 Star hotels in Scotland have AC despite being a 6+ hours drive North of this hotel. The rooms are not equipped with minibars, if you want milk in your tea you will have to call the reception. This would be strange for a 3 star hotel. It would be less of an issue if they actually brought it when requested. We requested it delivered twice. The first time we had to call twice, the second time we requested it we were challenged that we should just get the milk out of the common area, there is no common area in the garden rooms. Once they agreed to send the milk, it never arrived. We decided against calling again. It should not take two calls, to have something that any other hotel would already have in the room, delivered. The pool is nice, but is outdoors. This is an odd scenario where it is somehow too cold for air conditioning, but warm enough to only have an outdoor pool. In June or July you may get some usage out of it. The spa is nice and the staff is great, but too close to walking paths which means you may deal with noise during your treatments. There are other numerous small things like having to ask for checks multiple times, that would be fine as a one off mistake, but at a certain point it becomes a feature of the hotel. I would highly recommend a visit to the store or a day walking the grounds, but I cannot recommend staying at the hotel. The price point needs to be lowered significantly. I would highly recommend management to bring in outside experts to provide gui

Disappointing - over priced for level of service. There’s something missing at this price point - such a shame Customer service lacking: no one to welcome when we arrived - had to drag luggage to reception. Bar = excruciating Attention to detail lacking: shabby bathrobes, no slippers, no shampoo or conditioner! Lumpy pillows ….. Seems to focus on restaurant/interiors not guests

The spacious complex with its many buildings is simply marvellous. The houses are in immaculate condition and you immediately feel like you're in another world. We initially had a small room, it was angled, but this is due to the existing architecture. We were then able to look at a few others and they were all very clean and cosy. Breakfast and the food in general is always freshly prepared and mostly comes from the hotel's own garden. The service and the food at ‘the Swan at Southrop’ also left us completely satisfied. Compliments also to the management. They do a great and very professional job. We will definitely be back.

The most beautiful hotel and gardens, we spent a wonderful weekend here. The Oxbarn restaurant has the most delicious seasonal menu with lots of fresh produce from the amazing kitchen gardens which we were kindly shown around. The breakfast was absolutely wonderful, great Bircher muesli and fresh berries and a delicious pressed apple juice with carrot and ginger. Really special place to visit, stunning location, great pub across the road and good for country walks. There is a very stylish pool and spa too! We loved looking around the old Saxon church on the estate with beautiful stonework from different centuries as it has been modified over the years. Really interesting place.

We expected a five star stay at this property but it only rates two despite the price and hype. The grounds are beautiful and manicured, the staff is friendly, but there it stops. The room rate is expensive, but the running of the guest facility amateur and slipshod in nature. Our garden room was pretty but shabby, with scarred floors, worn rug and uncomfortable, stained armchairs. We were really surprised at the lack of a room safe, which we have not encountered for at least 30 years in high-end hospitality. We were told at Reception that a safe had "not yet" been provided, whatever that means. No thought had obviously been given to a basic provision as guests now need to deposit valuables in the hotel safe when they go out for the day and retrieve them when they return. There is a basic lack of any housekeeping supervision. No-one has taught the chambermaids how to make a bed, so we remade ours. The shower head was 50% blocked; the internet was spotty; cables were hanging down behind the TV; there was no shampoo, just some kind of a cleansing bar on the bed with a long explanation (who is going to read it?); the doorbell did not work. Guests should not have to point out any of this. We were expecting a gourmet breakfast. The scrambled eggs on the first day were beyond disgusting, lumpy in some places and woefully undercooked in others, so one of us tried fried eggs on the second day. A huge mistake, with runny egg whites, so no more eggs for us. We asked to see the owner/manager to discuss all the above rather than write a disparaging review, but the manager was "on a photo shoot". The person from reception who came to our room took no notes and promised to speak to the manager. Many business days have elapsed, without a word from management. She obviously does not care to service guests who take the trouble and time to point matters out. This review has resulted. We will not return to this property.

We stayed here in June for two nights on our way back up to the north from a break in a Kent. First of all we were given an upgrade to the Hollyhocks room which was lovely, and were escorted there by a young lady. The sun was shining and we were totally blown away by the gardens, it was just lovely. We ate in the Swan the first night, quite a small menu but enjoyed the meal. Breakfast the next day in the Ox Barn was a treat and the blonde foreign waitress I forget her name was absolutely lovely. The whole place is lovely, didn’t see many people dotted around the lovely lounges as there had been a heatwave, so we did manage to get some use out of the pool area. We took advantage of the bikes and had a ride around the surrounding area which was lovely. All in all a very enjoyable break. A lovely place to stay with beautiful gardens, we certainly saw it at its best. Wish we had visited the kitchen garden, not sure why we didn’t .

Thyme is one of the best properties I’ve ever stayed at. I went with my extended family of 10, and we stayed across 6 rooms for 4 nights. Our experience was unmatched. From months prior, the staff was extremely helpful and hospitable in helping us plan our holiday — booking cars, dinners, private events, suggesting day trips, and being very flexible and accommodating with all of our many requests, preferences, and dietary restrictions. Thyme has something for everyone — I could imagine coming back with a smaller group or a bigger group, and having a fantastic time either way. Enjoying a quiet holiday mostly on the property, or rambling around the nearby towns. You can really make it your own, and the staff is mindful of all your needs and preferences in helping your execute on your dream holiday! The property is gorgeous and immaculately maintained. The gardens are some of the most beautiful I’ve seen in the world. The food is delicious, and everything is grown on the estate - I think I ate more than I’ve eaten before, and never felt too full or sick because everything was fresh, clean, and so well prepared. The rooms are spacious and beautiful, very well maintained, and all with splendid views of various parts of the grounds. We played tennis everyday, enjoyed a n large breakfast of fruits, pancakes and eggs at Ox Barn (which I will sorely miss), had Bertioli massages at the spa (the most relaxing spa experience I’ve had!), had a private dinner with 15 people at The Swan, played scrabble at Baa Bar, and bought some homegrown souvenirs at The Boutique. Whether it’s your first or your 20th time to the English countryside, I cannot recommend Thyme enough. We will all definitely be coming back, and I hope to stay for even longer next time!