The Old Chapel
Escape to the extraordinary at The Old Chapel where a new detail captures your eye at every turn. Beautifully renovated, the unique original features of church windows and exposed beams are allowed to shine, creating an elegant and welcoming space. Families will adore staying here as the children can take over the snug while the adults share a bottle in front of the fire, coming together for board games and meals in the fabulous kitchen/diner. The magic continues outside where you can dine al fresco as entrancing views over the Slad valley urge you to pull on your walking boots and head out. Nearby, picturesque Painswick and its Rococo Gardens, creative Stroud and foody Nailsworth await discovery while you stay in the heart of the Cotswolds.
Overview
Seeing The Old Chapel for the first time is an awe-inspiring moment. Sitting above the rolling green valley famously immortalised by Laurie Lee in Cider with Rosie, the chapel is framed in wisteria with rose windows, small turrets and a collection of headstones which lie to the front. It is unlike anywhere you will have stayed before.
Feeling at home as soon as you arrive, the spacious and light rooms are highlighted with finely curated decor. The living room offers a choice of seating where you can either watch a film or chat amongst friends over a competitive game of chess. Open the doors on sunny days for a gentle breeze, or light the fire to keep any evening chills at bay. Original arch windows frame the dining area in the kitchen/diner and the clever conversion makes the kitchen spacious and a delight to cook in. A snug with beanbag seating and its own TV and a handy utility round out the ground floor with more than enough room for family living. The charm of this old chapel continues upstairs where you can peek out circular windows and duck under exposed beams in the bedrooms. With double rooms, a single and a flexible family bedroom all groups are accommodated for, and nobody will feel hard done by as each room is equally inviting.
Step out onto the terrace where a BBQ and garden games are a must. The lawn stretches before you with a trampoline for the little ones and a picnic bench perfectly set to make the most of the surrounding landscape. To the front of The Old Chapel the quaint headstones sit on the bank of a steep incline, hidden from view when inside. Spending time listening to the birdsong in the gardens is as appealing as relaxing indoors and you’ll leave with a camera roll full of new memories.
Ground Floor
Living Room
Your first impression of The Old Chapel is the magnificent living room. With oodles of space there are two seating areas and an entrance hall where you can leave your coats and bags. To one side is a corner sofa, perfect for lounging beside the fire while you watch TV and relax, or you can use the clever chess table for an evening game after dinner. Beautiful double church doors open to the terrace and arched windows look across the views to the front.
Kitchen/Diner
Bright and airy, the kitchen is fully-equipped with an oven and hob, fridge/freezer, dishwasher and lots of surface space. You will love preparing meals here where you can prepare and serve meals with ease. The dining area seats nine easily and sits alongside an arched window with views out over the picturesque valley.
Snug
This is where the children will hideaway with their own TV and beanbags. Watching cartoons, playing board games and telling each other stories they will love having this space to themselves.
Utility/Shower Room
The utility is a very useful space at The Old Chapel, with a washing machine and dryer and a pull-down drying rack so you can stay on top of the necessities while you stay here. There is also a shower, WC and basin here.
First Floor
Bedroom One
The master bedroom has an eye-catching rose window, framing the garden beyond. A king-size bed sits beneath exposed beams and a quiet dressing area is tucked around the corner. Waking up in the morning you will be drawn outdoors when you open the curtains to your lush surroundings.
En-suite
Through a folding door is a shower, WC and basin. Decorated with quirky scientific wallpaper you’ll spend longer here than you’d expect taking in all the details.
Bedroom Two
A king-size bed is tucked beneath the angled roof where you will get an uninterrupted nights sleep. There is a chest of drawers and beside tables.
Bathroom
The stylish bathroom has both a rainfall shower and a bathtub for washing off after a country walk. Colourful blue and grey tiling makes this room an elegant retreat for a spa experience.
Cloakroom
Sitting alongside the main bathroom is a cloakroom with a WC and basin so nobody is left waiting in the mornings.
Bedroom Three
Families and groups with children will love bedroom three. A super king-size bed can be split into twin beds on request and there is a bunk bed for younger guests. With a rose window and dark beams this room is full of character.
Bedroom Four
Looking out across the valley, bedroom four has a single bed with a small chest of drawers alongside the bed.
Outside
The gardens at The Old Chapel are a step away from the everyday. To the front a scattering of headstones reminds you of the history of this building and a lawn stretches to one side with a trampoline at the end. Serve meals on the terrace with a beautiful backdrop and at the end of the day, head up to the picnic bench perfectly placed for watching the views change as the sun goes down.
Facilities
Indoor
Bedroom One - King-size
Bedroom Two - King-size
Bedroom Three - Super King-size (can Be Twin On Request), Bunk
Bedroom Four - Single
3 Bathrooms - 1 X En-suite Shower Room, Bathroom, Ground Floor Shower Room
Hairdryer
Fire - Logs Provided For An Initial Fire 01 Oct To 31 March
Oven
Hob
Microwave
Toaster
Kettle
Fridge
Freezer
Coffee Machine - Nespresso
Dishwasher
Dining Table - Seats 9
Washing Machine
Tumble Dryer
Iron
WiFi *Please Note That Speeds Are For Guidance Only And Are Not Guaranteed - 200+ Mbps
TV - Smart
Board Games
Travel Cot (cot Linen Not Provided)
Highchair
Outdoor
Garden
Outdoor Dining Area
BBQ - Please Provide Your Own Charcoal
Parking - Off-road Parking For 3 Cars
On your Doorstep
The closest supermarkets are in Stroud (3 miles) including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Aldi, Lidl and a Waitrose. Most major supermarkets will deliver. There is an award-winning farmers’ market in Stroud every Saturday 9am-2pm. The Old Chapel is in a beautifully rural location and the picturesque towns and villages nearby offer independent shops and delis. Stroud (2.5 miles) is a cultural hub with many galleries, boutique shops and delis. The village of Painswick (3 miles) is a lovely small village to browse the tea rooms, shops and famous St Mary’s Churchyard.
Eating Out:
- Woolpack Inn, Slad – atmospheric pub that was Laurie Lee’s favourite haunt (1 mile)
- The Painswick Restaurant, Painswick – decadent meals and afternoon tea (2 miles)
- Juliet, Stroud - bistro-style restaurant with a fabulous wine list and ever-changing seasonal menu (2.5 miles)
- The Fostons Ash, Stroud - whether you want a pint and bar snacks or an exceptional roast dinner, this is the place to be (4 miles)
Walks:
Walk in the footsteps of Laurie Lee and follow the five-mile circular Laurie Lee Wildlife Way. Covering the Slad Valley it passes through the village and can be joined from The Old Chape. The trail takes you to Snows Farm, Swift’s Hill, Laurie Lee Wood and Frith Wood. The whole of the Painswick Valley offers wonderful walking and both the Wysis Way and Cotswold Way are within easy reach. The Painswick Beacon is just a short drive away, where you can join a 2-mile circular walk, which takes in part of the Cotswold Way.
Places to Visit:
- Stroud Farmers Market - award-winning market every Saturday 9am-2pm (2.5 miles)
- Painswick and the Rococo Gardens - visit the beautiful village and the only Rococo Gardens in the UK (4 miles)
- Miserden Estate and Garden – walled garden overlooking a deer park (5.5 miles)
- Painswick Golf Club – an 18-hole course high above the Cotswolds atop the Painswick Beacon (4 miles)
Travel:
Train – Stroud railway station (2.5 miles) has a frequent and direct service to London Paddington.
Taxis - A&A Taxis, Wonky's Wheels
There is so much to discover in the Cotswolds, why not have a look at some of our favourite Bolthole Retreats Experiences.
Points of Note
This property has a check-in time of 16:00 and a check-out time of 10:00
- Book with us to get exclusive discounts to top attractions and experiences.
- Unfortunately, this property does not permit hen and stag parties, party groups, or all adult groups under the age of 25. This property is ideal for family groups.
- Please note, if you would like bedroom 3 to be arranged with twin beds and the bunk, please clarify this on the booking form.
- The Old Chapel sleeps a maximum of 9 guests with a total of 7 adults.
- Please note that additional guests above the maximum capacity are not permitted.
- Access from the parking area to the property is up a short but steep incline. There are steps and sloped access.
- Children should be supervised in the garden as there are some high drops and steep sections.
- The Old Chapel is one of our pet-free properties and therefore dogs and other pets are not permitted.
- CCTV records the entrances to the property at all times.
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Handpicked by us
Why we love this
- Beautifully restored, this former chapel is brimming with original features.
- The garden looks out across sweeping valley views.
- Enjoy a short stroll to The Woolpack, the village’s welcoming pub.
Discover more
The Location
The village of Slad holds an important part of Cotswold history. It is here that the author Laurie Lee grew up, went to school, based his novel Cider with Rosie, and ended his days being buried in the local church. The spectacular valley scenery can be explored on foot, or enjoy a drink or meal at The Woolpack where Lee spent many an hour. There are a number of nature reserves to explore here, and circular routes, including the Laurie Lee Wildlife Way, are fantastic ways to immerse yourself in nature. From Slad you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Rural countryside is on your doorstep and you can discover the picturesque towns and villages of Painswick, Stroud and Nailsworth in under 30 minutes. Cheltenham, Gloucester and Cirencester can all be reached in around 30-minutes and make lovely day trips.
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Read our reviews
We had a lovely stay and would absolutely recommend this place to others who are looking for a relaxing and peaceful visit to the Cotswolds.
Josh
We had an awesome stay at the old chapel. The house is so comfortable and relaxing to be at. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for this type of stay.
Matt
Fab stay.
Excellent stay thank you, we had a great weekend.
Some constructive feedback for your attention:
- Drainage problems with WCs essential to look into.
- Vacuum cleaner (battery?) needs replacing, after charging it lasts no more than 20 seconds at best.
- Cafetière would be good in the kitchen for fresh coffee
- one of the frying pans doesnt work on an induction hob
- oven/microwave isnt easy to use, could be worth adding some guidance in the welcome guide
- Sonos speaker in living room not connected to WiFi
- Handheld shower head holder in main bathroom cannot be height adjusted, always falls to the lowest point
- some of the bathroom/toilet locks are not aligned.
Thomas
Thank you for taking the time to write a review of your recent stay at The Old Chapel. We're pleased to hear you had a great weekend and appreciate you sharing these points with us. The owner visited the property following your comments and we can confirm that the drainage has been looked into, and no issues have been found. We also found that the vacuum works well on the standard setting; the "max" setting it was found on, tends to drain the battery very quickly. Regarding your other points, we can confirm there is a cafetière at the property for guest use, and instructions for the oven and microwave are available in the welcome guide. The Sonos speaker is also fully connected. Finally, the owners are looking into the bathroom locks and shower head, so thank you for bringing these to their attention. We hope to welcome you back again to The Cotswolds!
- Bolthole Retreats, 21st April 2026
What can I say about The Old Chapel…? A picturesque place imbued with magic and tranquillity. The light that floods this place from all sides, at any time of day, makes it an enchanting space that makes you want to stay here for the rest of your life. Thank you for this timeless interlude, which allows us to step away from our daily routines and experience moments of complete serenity!
Cassandre
The Old Chapel was a great fit for our stay. It was comfortable to rest. Super clean and spacious. The kitchen made us envious. The beds & linens were so comfortable. The location central to so many things but just staying at the Chapel was the best retreat. We will definitely return!
Juli
An amazing place in wonderful surroundings
A quirky, well appointed accomodation in splendid surroundings. A wonderful fireplace and a special room for the children, filled with large soft cushions. We were lucky with the weather and had great walks in the Slad valley, but in case of rain the place is big enough for eight people to be comfortable. The Woolpack pub is only a few minutes down the road. It is advisable to bring torches for the walk in the dark, as the road is narrow and busy, although traffic is slow due to the parking arrangements. We had a wonderful stay. We forgot a bottle of whiskey, the caretaker and the person at the office were helpful and we arranged for a handover in the near future!
Micha
Fantastic quirky and well appointed place, big enough for six adults, a three year old and a baby. Beautiful surroundings with an iconic pub nearby. We were lucky with the weather, but if it’s raining you’re cosy inside with a great fireplace and plenty of room for everyone.
Micha
Wonderful cottage in the heart of the Slad Valley
The Old Chapel is a wonderful cottage, filled with beautiful furnitures and a cosy atmosphere. The kitchen is fully equipped and everything is made to ensure a perfect stay as a family or group. Beautiful trails around and the famous Woolpack pub at walking distance. We had a wonderful stay!
Patrick
Magical home with great service from the housekeeper and quick response to every query.
Ryan
The house was beautifully presented and peaceful. The house was well equipped, and it was lovely to be able to light the fire in the property.
Stephanie
Amazing place! Very clean and comfy. Definitely the best property I have ever stayed in. 100/10 recommend!
Madison
Thank you for the fun and relaxing stay at your beautiful home. It was the perfect base for us to explore the Slad Valley and its surrounding areas.
Jasper
Spotlessly clean and great response throughout. From start to finish the experience of booking with Bolthole Retreats was a great experience. We were using The Old Chapel as a location for work, it was spotlessly clean, and exactly met our expectations. We would happily return to Bolthole Retreats for future work, and recommend to others.
Millie
It was a perfect get away.
Geri
Create Memories
Experiences designed to make your stay unforgettable
We have curated not only a portfolio of properties, but also a portfolio of experiences we recommend everyone try the next time they visit the Cotswolds and surrounding counties. This selection of ours is constantly growing as we discover more hidden gems and local stars. Many of the experiences are incredibly popular, and we encourage booking in advance because these little extras can turn your everyday holiday into a fantastic, fond memory, one you aren’t soon to forget.
