With its prime location in the ‘capital of the Cotswolds’, The Kings Head has been welcoming guests to Cirencester for centuries. This boutique town centre hotel cleverly mixes the past and the present, with Georgian, Tudor and medieval features combined with 21st-century style and facilities.
With a luxurious but unpretentious feel, a bar, restaurant and event spaces, The Kings Head ticks all the boxes for a romantic getaway or a girls’ weekend. But it’s also a great base for exploring the Cotswolds – with dogs and kids welcome. Find out more about the hotel’s location, rooms, food and drink and facilities with this Cotswold hotel review of The Kings Head Cirencester.
AD: My stay was hosted by The Kings Head but all opinions are my own.
First impressions
The Kings Head is in the heart of Cirencester, overlooking the Church of St John the Baptist and marketplace. It dates back to at least the 14th century when it was a coaching inn, and surrounding buildings have been incorporated over the years, creating a mix of architectural styles.
After a recent takeover by Oxfordshire-based hospitality group Brakspear, the public spaces at the Kings Head have been given a smart revamp. On entering you come into an open-plan space with a bar and lounge with inglenook fireplace. There’s a relaxed feel and plenty of comfy seating areas, with a mix of tourists and locals meeting for coffee or talking business over their laptops.
There are nods to the building and Cirencester’s wider history dotted around, from Cotswold stone walls and William Morris wallpaper to a wall of colourful woollen reels. But the most impressive is a genuine Roman mosaic, protected under glass near the hotel’s reception desk.
Rooms at The Kings Head
The Kings Head has 64 bedrooms – which are all different shapes and sizes. Rooms are split into five categories. Classic rooms are the smallest, but are ideal if you’re out exploring in the daytime. Superior rooms are a similar style, decorated in calming muted colours, with a bit more space.
Then there are the Feature rooms, which are worth splashing out on. Each highlights the hotel’s history by incorporating original features. So your room might have a medieval pitched ceiling and exposed brickwork, Tudor wooden beams and fireplaces, or Georgian wood panelling.
Indulgent rooms are the largest, located in the Georgian part of the hotel. They have high ceilings, sash windows and lounges. Many have views over the marketplace, and one has an copper bathtub. There’s also a timber-beamed Suite with two en-suite bedrooms, which would be good for families.
My third-floor Feature room sat at the front of the hotel, with original brick walls and wooden beams. Yellow furnishings added a splash of colour to the room, with a seating area with two armchairs as well as French doors onto a narrow balcony looking out over the marketplace and Church of St John the Baptist – with the gentle chime of the church bells as a backdrop.
Like all the hotel’s rooms it came with a Nespresso machine with local Rave coffee and daily cookies. And the light and bright en-suite bathroom was stocked with Bramley toiletries.
Food and drink at The Kings Head
The Kings Head has two dining areas – the Brasserie (which long-time visitors to Cirencester might remember as once being home to Made by Bob) and bar. Both serve the same menu for brunch and lunch, with dishes like Eggs Benedict, Shakshuka, avocado toast and omelettes.
The bar is a cosy space, with Chesterfield sofas and log fires burning in winter. You can have a pint of Brakspear’s Gravity or local Corinium Gold ale, and 16 wine are available by the class. The dinner menu features classic pub dishes like fish and chips, beef and ale pie, steaks and burgers.
The menu in the Brasserie includes many of the same dishes, with a few modern British extras like pan-roasted monkfish with ‘Nduja. As much local, seasonal produce as possible is used, and there are daily fish deliveries from Devon. We opted for a creamy mushroom fricassee packed with flavour, a goat’s cheese tart and a duck salad with watermelon and the spicy heat of chilli.
There’s a decent range of vegetarian and vegan dishes, and a few gluten-free options – my mushroom fricassee used GF bread and there was a GF dessert (the customary chocolate brownie!). There’s also a range of wines and cocktails to go with it, including no and low-alcohol options.
Facilities at The Kings Head
Unusually for such a centrally located hotel, the Kings Head comes with plenty of space, with the features of the original buildings being cleverly repurposed. It’s a popular venue for weddings and events, with a variety of different spaces for hire. This includes the grand Georgian Lavender Hall with its high ceilings, original wood panelling, chandeliers and private roof terrace.
The vaulted former cellar and wine cellar have also been repurposed into event spaces with exposed brickwork, which are used for live music in the Cellar Sessions. Next on the agenda is a revamp of the subterranean spa area, which it’s hoped will open with a new look in early 2026.
What to do nearby
The Kings Head’s location right in the centre of Cirencester means you’ve got everything on your doorstep. If you’re visiting on a Monday or Friday, don’t miss the Charter Markets which are held in front of the church and sell food, drink, crafts and plants. You can also take a look a round the Church of St John the Baptist, as well as climbing up the church tower on certain dates.
There’s also the Corinium Museum where you can find out about Cirencester’s Roman history, the remains of the town’s Roman amphitheatre, the New Brewery Arts Centre, Cirencester Lido and lots of green space in the Abbey Grounds and the 3000-acre Cirencester Park.
Also within easy reach of Cirencester are the Cotswold Lakes (5 miles) for watersports, cycling and beach days, the pretty village of Bibury (7 miles), Cerney House Gardens (4.5 miles) and National Trust sites Rodmarton Manor (7 miles) and Chedworth Roman Villa (10 miles).
The details
Parking and transport: The nearest train station is in Kemble, a 12-minute taxi ride away or you can catch the Pulhams 882 bus. The hotel has a loading bay out front, and there are pay and display car parks nearby, including Waterloo Car Park which is free between 6pm and 8am.
Dogs: The Kings Head hotel has several dog-friendly rooms if you want to take your pooch with you. There’s a charge of £20 per dog per night (maximum of two dogs) and canine guests get a dog bed, water bowl and doggie treat. Dogs are also welcome in the bar and lounge.
Kids: Cots are available free of charge, and single beds for children aged 12 and under cost £30, which includes breakfast. A children’s menu is available in the brasserie too.
Prices: Classic rooms at The Kings Head Cirencester start from £120 a night. Breakfast is included if you book your room directly with the hotel.
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