Chaucer Cottage

Chaucer Cottage is one of twelve luxury holiday cottages set within the peaceful grounds of an historic country estate near Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds. The cottage was originally built for the stable groom of the manor house at the site and has since been lovingly converted into a family and dog-friendly property with a large, private garden. You’ll also have access to shared facilities in the grounds including stunning estate gardens, an indoor swimming pool, gym and spa, as well as a host of children’s play areas. The experience is best summed up as all the luxury of an English country house hotel with the privacy, freedom and space of a home.

Open the front door and step into the entrance hall which has a quarry-tiled floor, off which is the drawing-room/dining-room. The room is bathed in natural light and the modern English country-style decor incorporates pretty, soft furnishings, prints, books, lamps with silk shades and floral print plates for a homely atmosphere. There is also a comfy sofa and armchair seating, a Smart TV and an open fire, while views from the window are of the courtyard and the garden of the estate. To one end of the room is a dining table.

The kitchen is on the other side of the hall and has marble worktops with plenty of space for prepping. It’s well-equipped with an oven and hob, an American-style fridge/freezer, a microwave and a dishwasher, as well as a kitchen table that seats six. French doors lead out to the large, private garden complete with dining terrace, vine-covered pergola and barbecue.

All three of the bedrooms are upstairs. The master bedroom features an 18th-century, four-poster, queen-size bed and has an en-suite shower room with a double vanity. The second bedroom has two single beds, while the third bedroom has one single bed and benefits from a washstand with running water. There is also a bathroom with a bath and shower over, a basin, a WC and a heated towel rail.

You’ll also have access to the estate’s stunning gardens which feature a mix of formal and informal elements, the perfect place for a quiet stroll. There’s also access to shared facilities including an indoor swimming pool, spa and gym, as well as several children’s play areas and the teens’ games room.

You will have access to a host of on-site leisure facilities that are shared by guests of all cottages.

Glorious gardens

Visit England has awarded the estate gardens top marks and it’s not hard to see why. A real labour of love, with a mix of formal and informal elements, highlights of the gardens include topiary, box hedges, lawns, an old walled garden, gazebos, orchards, statues, a wisteria tunnel, vast borders, an arched column of yews and a stream… the list goes on. This is English country garden style at its very best.

Swimming pool, spa and gym

The indoor, heated swimming pool is great for a refreshing dip and is edged with poolside loungers so you can relax afterwards. Doors open onto an Italian-style garden and a sun terrace with more loungers, which is a blissful spot to enjoy a drink or lunch on a summer’s day. Children under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult, while floats and swim nappies are available for little ones. Why not make it a full day of indulgence and book a facial or a massage with an expert therapist? The spa treatment rooms here are calming spaces filled with soothing scents and relaxing music.

However, if you’re keen to keep up with your fitness routine, head to the gym which is equipped with a running machine, power plate, exercise balls, rowing machine, cross trainer, free weights and an exercise bike.

Children’s facilities

Children will love it here. There are three playgrounds, a two-storey Wendy house, bikes and a play cabin with dressing up clothes, art materials, toys and even child-sized croquet sets. Meanwhile, teenagers will like the games room which features a pool table, table tennis and table football, as well as a 75-inch TV with a PS4 and an Xbox 360. It’s the perfect place for a friendly competition with siblings, parents or new friends.

A member of staff from the cottage estate will greet you on arrival and show you to your cottage. The cottage has its own garden, but the estate grounds and gardens, the swimming pool, spa area, gym and play areas are shared facilities available to guests of all the cottages at the site.

Welcome hampers provided to guests include essentials and treats mostly sourced from neighbouring farms and local suppliers. Meanwhile, the all-natural toiletries supplied for you to use during your stay are from 100 Acres that donates a percentage of its profits to a rewilding Britain scheme. In addition, the estate gardens are a haven for wildlife. Shrubs and flowers have been planted to attract bees and butterflies, while flowers from the cutting garden are used in pretty arrangements in the cottages to welcome guests.

If you'd like to offset the carbon emissions from your trip, get in touch and we can arrange this for a small fee.

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A camp bed the size of a 3ft single bed or a cot can be provided free of charge to accommodate an additional guest.

Check-in: from 16:00
Check-out: by 10:00

Deposit: Bookings are subject to a non-refundable deposit of 30% of the booking value plus applicable booking fees with the balance payable 60 days before the date of travel.
Accidental Damage Deposit: To maintain the highest standards in our properties, guests will need to pay a refundable Accidental Damage Deposit of £200 prior to their stay. An advance payment as detailed in the booking summary can be made to waive this requirement.
Book with confidence: If your booking is affected by new Government travel restrictions which were not known at the time of booking, and you're legally unable to travel, we will arrange with the property owner to refund 100% of your holiday cost.

• No smoking
• No parties and events
• Please keep noise to a minimum
• One dog is permitted at an extra £15 per dog per night. Dogs must be kept on a lead within the shared communal gardens