The Old Bell Hotel: whimsy and charm in historic Wiltshire

The Old Bell Hotel: whimsy and charm in historic Wiltshire

Sitting atop a hill on the southern edge of the Cotswolds, Malmesbury looks like a postcard. Pretty stone-built cottages and antiques shops line the cobbled streets, and the hauntingly beautiful 12th-century abbey still stands proudly at the centre of the quiet market town.Next door is the wisteria-clad Old Bell Hotel, dating back over 800 years. Its owners – Kim and Whit Hanks – claim it is the oldest inn in England. So it’s something of a surp…