Flamingo Lodge – Mallard Lake

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know, I’ve driven past the Flamingo Lodge on Broadway Lane countless times over the years, but honestly never thought much about it until a friend convinced me to book a weekend there. What a mistake that was – not booking, but waiting so long to actually experience this place. It’s tucked away in South Cerney in this spot that feels sort of forgotten by time, which is exactly what makes it special.

The thing about Flamingo Lodge is that it doesn’t try to be anything other than what it is – a proper boutique experience that actually means something. The building itself has this weathered charm that you can’t fake, and when you pull up (parking’s easy, by the way, which is more than I can say for most places around here), you get the sense that someone actually cares about this place. The check-in process was refreshingly human – no corporate script, just genuine conversation about the area and what’s worth doing. They mentioned the walking paths around Mallard Lake before I even asked, which tells you they know their guests aren’t just passing through but actually want to explore the Cotswolds properly.

What really got me was the attention to details that matter. The rooms have this lived-in elegance – I mean, everything’s immaculate, but it feels like a home rather than a hotel room. The bed was honestly one of the most comfortable I’ve slept in, and the bathroom had those little touches that show someone’s thinking beyond just providing the basics. You can hear the lake in the early morning, which sounds cheesy but actually adds something peaceful to the whole experience. The staff seems to genuinely know the area – when I asked about getting to Cirencester without hitting the usual traffic snarls, they gave me a back route that probably saved me thirty minutes. It’s that kind of local knowledge that you just can’t Google.

I’ll be straight with you though – this isn’t the place if you want a massive spa or twenty different dining options. What it lacks in scale, it makes up for in character. The location puts you right in the heart of proper Cotswolds country without the tourist circus you get in some of the more famous villages. South Cerney itself is quiet but not dead, and you’re close enough to everything that matters – Cirencester’s just down the road, and you can reach some brilliant walking country in minutes. The whole experience feels intentional rather than accidental, if that makes sense. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to extend your stay, not because there’s endless entertainment, but because you actually want to slow down and enjoy being somewhere special.