The good life in Lily Allen's Gloucestershire

Village cricket, literary pubs, bijoux cathedrals and homemade lardy cake - there's no place quite like Gloucestershire, rhapsodises new resident Lily Allen

Cowley Manor, near Cheltenham
(01242 870 900; cowleymanor.com)
I haven't actually stayed the night at Cowley Manor, but it's on my to-do list. I've walked around the grounds and parkland - the lake is particularly pretty - and it's incredibly relaxed, even on a weekend it didn't feel busy. We ate in the dining room and the modern British food and service was fantastic. The spa is of a really high standard and offers a selection of massage treatments, facials, manicures and pedicures, using Cowshed products. There are also sun loungers outside by the pool.

Quayles, Tetbury
(01666 505 151; quayles.co.uk)
When I'm in Tetbury antique-hunting on a day off, I drop in here for the delicious sandwiches and a cup of coffee. Being a creature of habit, I always opt for a cheese, ham and chutney sandwich, but I'm sure they are all equally yum. They do hot food all day, fresh pasta with homemade sauces, and hot pies in the winter, accompanied by a specially chosen glass of wine to suit your dish. There's a well-stocked deli, too, with everything from wines and cheeses, to crab meat and smoked salmon. I particularly love their olives and quiches. I'm told an internet delivery service will be up and running soon.

The Woolpack, Slad
(01452 813 429; thewoolpackinn-slad.com)
Situated in the breathtakingly beautiful Slad Valley, this little pub has got it all. Whether it's a three-course meal made from fresh local ingredients you're looking for, or just a casual pint of local ale (I recommend the Uley), The Woolpack is the place for you. Made famous by the poet and Cider with Rosie author Laurie Lee, it's a real country pub with a great deck outside, where you can enjoy the view and summer sun. Cosy fires are set inside in the winter.

Calcot Manor, near Tetbury
(01666 890 391; calcotmanor.co.uk)
I got married earlier this summer and stayed at this hotel the night before my wedding with my mother and the bridesmaids. It's a classic country house hotel and dates back to the 14th century. The room I stayed in was light and airy with contemporary décor and a spacious bathroom, and the bed was very comfortable - but that didn't mean I got much sleep. We had room service, which was delicious, a classic menu with hearty meals as well as healthy alternatives - we had a selection of their Calcot sandwiches, which included spit-roasted lemon and thyme chicken, oak-smoked salmon with black pepper, and Cotswold ham and mustard.

Gloucester Cathedral
(01452 528 095; gloucestercathedral.org.uk)

I love visiting Gloucester Cathedral. I mostly go there after a walk along the river, and it's always amazingly quiet. You may recognise parts of it from scenes in the Harry Potter films, down the corridors and cloisters - the architecture is stunning. It feels like a mini Westminster Cathedral, with Romanesque and Gothic elements, and its earliest foundations date back to 1072. There are fantastic guides who offer daily tours throughout the summer.

Painswick Rococo Garden, near Stroud
(01452 813 204; rococogarden.org.uk)
The garden was created in the 1730s, but was then left untended and became overgrown. In the 1970s, interest in garden design from the 1730s increased, and with the help of a painting from 1748, this garden was restored to its original, flamboyant state. It is unusual, with different areas of planting and romantic buildings throughout. The Painswick Rococo Garden sums up all that is beautifully English and no matter what time of year you go, there is always something lovely to see there.

Hobbs House Bakery, Nailsworth
(01454 321 629; hobbshousebakery.co.uk)
There are four branches of Hobbs in Gloucestershire: at Chipping Sodbury, Cirencester, Tetbury and Nailsworth, though I've only visited the one in Nailsworth and I'm informed it's the only branch that has a café. It's known for its artisan and organic breads, which are all beautiful; my favourite is the Severn Seeds sliced loaf. But it's the pastries that really get me going: Chelsea buns, doughnuts, Eccles cakes, teacakes, scones, lardy cake, brownies, coffee and walnut cake, gingerbread men and women, flapjacks and delicious almond croissants... it's simply a must if you happen to be passing, which I so often seem to be.

Village cricket
My husband [Sam Cooper] and I love cricket. He plays for our village team at the weekends and I often go and watch him play. I love it. I can't vouch for all the grounds in Gloucestershire, but Cranham, Sheepscombe, Barnsley Beeches, Bibury, Dumbleton, Redmarley and Stowell Park are some of the most picturesque I've been to. Village cricket is very casual and relaxed, but does go on all day, so take a Thermos of tea and a picnic to keep you going.

Westonbirt Arboretum
(01666 880 220; forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt)
I've only been to Westonbirt Arboretum once, last autumn, but am trying to find the time to go again as it was simply stunning. We took a picnic and there was plenty of space to sit and relax. The vastness of it and the range of trees alone make the visit totally memorable, and the array of autumn colours is something I won't forget. It's somewhere you can go alone or with friends and you won't come across the same thing twice. It's an easy place to get around and the guides were helpful. I understand that their Enchanted Wood is lit up over Christmas, so perhaps that's when I'll make my next visit. ES