Cross Hands Hotel by Greene King Inns

Just minutes from junction 18 of the M4, Cross Hands Hotel is a charming 14th-century posting house with a pub and restaurant, in the heart of the Gloucester countryside.

The Queen sheltered at the hotel during a blizzard in 1981. Now, its guests can make use of free Wi-Fi in the hotel's bedrooms and public areas of the building.

The charming, oak-beamed Beaufort Bar has traditional ales, tasty bar food and an open fireplace. The Cross Hands restaurant is relaxed, spacious and warm, and its food has an excellent reputation.

For those who like spooky history, the cellars were once used to house convicted criminals sentenced to death by 'Bloody' Judge Jeffreys.