There’s something grisly sounding yet utterly charming about going to a place called “Lower Slaughter” in the English countryside that is the Cotswolds. I’d only seen pictures of the Cotswolds but never been, so I was very curious to see the various little villages and towns that make up this picturesque area.
Especially something with Slaughter in the name. I recall Borat on the Ali G show meeting someone with the last name Slaughter who framed it as “Laughter with an S”. I suppose he had been asked about it so many times that he had to make a joke out of it. Lower Slaughter was also called the “Most Beautiful village in England” although I’m sure that’s up for furious debate amongst the locals of Gloucestershire.
We drive up to Lower Slaughter Manor, a very English looking manor house, built in 1658 and granted to the Whitmore family who commissioned celebrated stonemason Valentine Strong (whose son later became the chief stonemason for the reconstruction of St Paul’s Cathedral). The Whitmores lived there for 400 years, (lucky things) and now it is a small hotel with 19 rooms or suites.
The gardens are spectacularly beautiful, like something out of a movie set. I expect someone to come out wearing period costume and flounce about at any second. Instead we seat ourselves under one of the outdoor umbrella tables and order Afternoon Tea. Service is friendly and warm but still very polite and courteous, a fine balance given that it could have been stuffy.
It takes a while for everything to arrive but once it does, we gratefully tuck in. The afternoon tea, with a pot of Mokalbarie tea, described as “an extravagant tea, aromatic, full bodied, spicy and malty” has 4 scones, 2 plain with sultanas and 2 cinnamon with sultanas as well as a pot of clotted cream and a pot of raspberry jam. My husband orders a pot of coffee (£3.50).
Afternoon tea: scones and pot of tea £9.50
The scones are warm and the cinnamon ones are particularly good. The tea is delicious and my husband, ever the budget conscious individual looks like he has scored the jackpot “I can get 6 or more cups of coffee from this pot!” he exclaims with delight. Just like his mum said when I had afternoon tea with her last year.
We also visit Boughton-on-the-water, Stow-on-the-Wold and Chipping Camden, three other lovely places. Boughton-on-the-water is particularly pretty with it’s footbridges and shops and filled with many tourists and senior citizens (I presume the residents).
Boughton-on-the-Water
OK I just think they have funny names for things here
Another cute name
Team work, you’re doing it right!
Thatched rooves, a rarity due to the upkeep necessary
And of course no trip is the same without some “The Office UK” references.
Stopping by for lunch earlier that day, we consulted the Tourist Information Centre and the lady there highly recommended Dover’s Hill saying that the view from there was “simply spectacular” so with the help of our Tom Tom we located it, along with hundreds of school kids who were out on a school excursion and also stopping for a picnic lunch. There were also lots of sheep who expansively marked their territory with sheep poo. Having a look at the view from Dover’s Hill left us completely underwhelmed (it’s definitely not worth a special trip) and we finally managed to find a patch of grass not littered with poo and sat down to eat.
Le Haul
The Waitrose pork pie was surprisingly good and I actually preferred the pastry to the jellied filling. It’s also best not to read the Nutritional information before consuming this, it’s not for those watching the fat content of their food.
Peyton & Byrne cupcakes
Apparently Gordon Ramsay’s gastropub “The Narrow” serves Tyrrell’s chips. We had to try them because of that and also for the packaging 
Lower Slaughter Manor Hotel
Lower Slaughter
Gloucestershire GL54 2HP
Vegetarian options: some choices
If you enjoyed this post, why not share it with your friends?
What is NQN up to now?
NQN on Facebook
RSS
18 Comments | Add your own
I think I can see you in the jug’s reflection…
It sounds like a lovely getaway!
Ha your husband makes me laugh!
So were the chips any good? Love that packaging too
And that pork pie looks massive!
I drove really well on the trip back to London didn’t I? no drowsiness at all 0.0
Oh my god. Blast from the past. I grew up in Coleford which isn’t too far fom Lower Slaughter! (Huzzah, little Asian girl growing up in rural England!)
Everything looks so much more picturesque than how I remember it. I guess five year olds don’t really appreciate nature! Lovely photos.
The picnic hamper looks really good, too!
It looks straight out of pride and prejudice! I love the little scones!
M was very lucky to grow up in rural England (from one asian girl to another!). I was bred in Leyton, a small, very urban and industrial part of London.
I’m very much a city girl but I still would’ve love growing up there amongst lush greenery and quaint villages!
Besides how cool is it to say “I’m from Slaughter”. Sigh this makes me want to go back home. I kind of miss the food!
Hi Christie-Haha yes but not really much!
Hi Barbara-It was indeed, I wish I could go back!
Hi Y-He is very cute and funny I have to say (not because he makes me say that).
The chips were excellent and the pork pie was actually fairly small but tall and packed with calories. I’ve never seen something that small and been shocked at the nutritional panel as much. But the pastry was so good.
Hi Mr NQN-I’m sure you did, although I was asleep for a lot of it!
Hi M-You are so lucky! How lovely to have grown up there
Everything from childhood looks so much bigger to me!
I love a good picnic so I’ll take any chance to put a good picnic spread together.
Hi Blond Duck-Yes I thought that Keira Knightley was going to appear in costume any second
Hi Karen-I agree indeed! Anywhere that picturesque would be lovely to grow up in.
Slaughter is one of those names that one never tires of for amusement or shock value!
thanks for reminding me of ‘buttys’ and that last picture of the scones?
oh lord!
i could INHALE those scones right now!!
OOhh the scenery looks very serene indeed
Good picnicness. I crave some good warm scones with cream and jam now.. haven’t had one in aggess mmm ^^!
The cream tea looks delectable, but cinnamon in the scones? Positively scandalous! (And I’m sure delicious, too, but I’m a traditionalist about cream teas
)
BTW, I am planning a cupcake tour of London in February and Peyton & Byrne is firmly on my list of places to try. They look amazing in your picture.
you eat the best food. even my finest meal pales in comparison to the things that go in your belly.
Hmm. Tried posting a comment twice here yesterday and it didn’t appear to have gone through. So I’ve come back today to see it indeed didn’t go through, so I’ll try a copy/paste and see if we have success this time?
I’ve always wanted to visit the Cotswalds too! They’ve featured in many a cooking show! Isn’t the Vicar of Dibley based around that area?
The scones (by appearance)don’t really remind me of great scones I’ve had here in Australia. Are English scones different? I didn’t have any the one time I went to England.
Lerrrved all your snack foods.. Mmm Mmm! Did anyone eat any of those apples?
And though for you it wouldn’t have been funny.. it was very amusing to read about the anti-climax of your picnic destination and searching for a poo-free spot to eat!
I like pork pies and found a recipe for the Melton Mowbray one’s? Seems to have the necessary boiling hot water ‘dough’ which the Melton Mowbray peeps use.
http://recipes.recipeland.com/recipes/recipe/show/Melton_Mowbray_Pork_Pie_17618
The recipe was for one large pie I think?
Over half the calories are from fat.. no wonder with pure lard + pork shoulder. Sigh. I love ‘jellified’ meats.. hence my ardour for terrines.
Hi the projectivist-I have very, very fond memories of those scones, they were very nice
Hi FFichiban-There’s nothing like good warm scones with jam and cream is there!
Hi Angela-Uh oh, a tradionalist huh?
I’m all for adulteration I have to say. Ahh cool, well the raspberry one was definitely my favourite 
Hi grace-Hehe I wish I ate this well every day!
Hi Maria-Sorry to hear that, I think it was the link :S But I’m glad this one got too and I added your link to the comment.
I’m not sure about Vicar of Dibley but from what little I’ve seen it probably is. It’s gorgeous there and very picturesque.
English scones are similar to Australian ones which in themselves vary but these were very nice and fresh.
I had one of those apples, they were gorgeously crisp and juicy!
LOL you should have seen our faces of disappointment. Perhaps we’re spoiled by views here in Australia but it wasn’t worth a special trip, especially when you consider the amount of poo around!
Thanks so much for that recipe! I don’t know if I could bring myself to make it given the ingredients but I might if I’m in the mood for some lard and jellied meat
This looks like so much fun, I could take tea everyday. Honestly, you find the best places to eat, I don’t know how you do it. Your photos always make the food look irresistable.
Hi Kim-I wish I could too! I could definitely get used to it
I hate wasting meals so I try and research places to eat as much as possible. Thankyou very much! 
Oh I LOVE the Cotswolds! So much character.
Hi Fuji Mama-It is very interesting indeed! I wish I could go back
Post a Comment