Leonard Stanley House, Nr Stroud - Sleeps 18 Guests In 9 Bedrooms, Stonehouse

Gloucestershire. Sleeps up to 18

Set on a private lane, Leonard Stanley House is a glorious Georgian country retreat just a hop, skip and a jump from the delightful charms of the Slad Valley, foodie Nailsworth and Stroud, which is home to arguably the best farmer's market in the Cotswolds.

Elegant wooden panelling, graceful ceilings and delicate details create an abode filled with charm and personality. The ground floor flows from the entrance hall through a formal living room, an impressive dining room with a bespoke, handmade dining table to seat 18, and a stylish kitchen with a wood-burning stove. The more relaxed feel of the snug and adjacent games area, complete with table football and space invaders, is perfect for rainy days and keeping children; young and old entertained. The upstairs floors are no less impressive with nine elegant bedrooms named after influential local individuals, set across two floors and including two splendid master suites and a pair of twin rooms in the attic. These are separated by a TV viewing space making it an ideal area for teenagers to relax in. The first-floor library is where you can disappear into the pages of a good book and retreat from the world, just for a little while at least.

Step beyond the house and you'll find a delightful garden with rose beds and a collection of impressive and rare trees. The huge wooden table is large enough for everyone to dine together and it's a perfect spot for long sunny lunches and evening cocktails as the sun sets. Step through the garden gate and the huge field beyond is yours to enjoy too, bordered on one side by the meandering waters of the River Frome, giving 70 wonderful acres to roam.

Ground Floor

Entrance Hall:
Creating a wonderful sense of arrival, the spacious entrance hall reveals the beautiful Georgian staircase and wooden panelling, setting the scene perfectly for your stay.

Formal Living Room:
You can almost sense the passing of time in this peaceful room. Deep leather chesterfield sofas, paired with timber floorboards, an original fireplace, floor-to-ceiling sash windows, flanked by wooden shutters and the Georgian display cabinet give an almost gentleman's club feel to the space. Gather here for pre-dinner drinks before moving into the dining room to continue the evening's festivities. Should you need it there is also a smart TV.

Dining Room:
Taking centre stage is the magnificent, bespoke dining table, which seats 18 guests with ease. The deep navy blue walls, decorative marble fireplace and crisp white ceiling are the perfect foil for the dark timber. As night falls, close the wooden shutters and let the elegant chandelier cast its gentle glow over the hum of conversation and the clink of glasses.

Kitchen:
A tale of two halves, this stylish kitchen has everything needed to create wonderful meals. A casual dining area, perfect for feeding little ones, forms one half of the space with a rustic wooden table, bench, and chairs. Open shelves house an array of cookery books should inspiration be needed, and a pretty display of crockery. The business end of the kitchen is on the opposite side of the chimney breast. Eye-level double ovens and a microwave ensure plenty of options for meal prep, and behind the sage green cabinets lies all manner of pots and pans, plus a dishwasher and fridge. The beautiful AGA is not currently in use but it's a wonderful feature.

Boot Room:
Beyond the kitchen is a useful boot room, with a door to the back garden. With a fully tiled floor and long wooden bench seating, this is the ideal place to dry off wet doggies after muddy walks, dog towels are stored in the drawers. This is also where you'll find a full-height larder fridge and freezer.

Utility/Shower Room:
Almost directly opposite is a utility/shower room featuring a corner shower cubicle, WC and hand basin, as well as a second dishwasher and washing machine.

Snug:
Set in the Regency half of the house, the snug overlooks the garden and is a relaxing space with two large comfy sofas, beanbags, and a wall-mounted smart TV. A selection of games can be found in the large chimney breast cupboards.

Games Room:
Leading on from the snug is a games area with lots of storage along with table football and a Space Invaders machine. This leads to a tiled hallway with doors to the garden, a ground-floor WC, and the garden room.

Garden Room:
Tucked at the end of the house, this is a peaceful spot with a cool tiled floor and two upholstered armchairs, looking out through double doors to the garden.

First Floor

There are two staircases to the first floor. The wooden staircase from the entrance hall and a carpeted staircase from the rear hall.

Library:
At the top of the wooden staircase is a beautiful library space. A large sash window looks over the front drive, and on either side floor to ceiling shelves hold a diverse and interesting array of books. So, pour a drink, pick a book, and take a seat for a while.

Edward Jenner Suite (Bedroom One):
Named after Edward Jenner, pioneer of the world's first vaccine, this fabulous room boasts two huge sash windows with wooden shutters, an upholstered super-king bed and a romantic chandelier hangs overhead. With a console-style dressing table and a walk-in wardrobe, there is enough storage space for those who do not like to pack lightly. There's also a wall-mounted smart TV. Should you wish, you can visit Edward Jenner's former home, now a museum dedicated to his work in nearby Berkeley.

Ensuite:
The beautifully appointed ensuite features a step-in shower with a monsoon shower and a hand-held showerhead. The built-in vanity unit has a hand basin and plenty of space for toiletries. There's also a WC and a window for natural light.

William Tyndale Suite (Bedroom Two)
Opposite the master suite, across the library lies the second suite. William Tyndale was one of the first people to translate the bible into English, and you can see the Tyndale monument to him in North Nibley. This romantic room features grey wall panelling, a brass chandelier and a velvet upholstered super-king size bed. There is a smart TV, two large windows overlooking the front drive and storage comes in the form of a large built-in wardrobe.

Ensuite:
The well-appointed ensuite makes clever use of the space available with a step-in shower, built-in vanity with a handbasin and a WC.

Reached via four steps from the library or from the rear carpeted staircase are two further bedrooms and a bathroom. This is the Regency side of the building.

Nell Gifford Room (Bedroom Three)
Lying at one end of the hall this elegant king-size room is finished in shades of blue and gold. Dedicated to Nell Gifford, founder of Giffords Circus, the original home of Giffords is just a short drive away and a fabulous experience for the whole family. The original (decorative) fireplace is still in situ, there is an antique dressing table and mirror, wall-mounted smart TV, and at the far end is a large dressing room area, which is also the perfect space for a cot. The room is flooded with natural light from a large sash window overlooking the garden, and a pair of French doors, which lead out to a former roof terrace. Please note that this is a listed building and therefore the roof terrace will not be accessible due to the low-height wall.

Beatrix Potter Room (Bedroom Four)
To the opposite end of the hall is bedroom four. The original (decorative) fireplace creates a focal point, opposite the dark grey velvet king-size bed. A large sash window overlooking the rear garden, and clever use of an old corner cupboard has created hanging space for clothes. There's also a smart TV, an antique chest of drawers, and a delightful dressing table repurposed from an old Singer sewing machine table. Beatrix Potter was inspired by her visit to a tailor shop in nearby Gloucester to write the Tailor of Gloucester, this same shop is now a museum dedicated to the story.

Bathroom:
Shared between these two bedrooms is this spacious bathroom with dark blue panelling and a standalone clawfoot bath. Fill it with bubbles and lie back for a soak as you gaze out at the view beyond. There's also a separate shower with a rainfall shower head, handbasin and a WC, which is on a slightly raised plinth.

Second Floor

Continue up the stairs to the rooms on the top floor of the house.

J.K Rowling Room (Bedroom Five)
Finished in black and gold, the fifth bedroom is a spacious room with views to the side and over the garden. The Harry Potter author spent her childhood years in Gloucestershire, and the magnificent Gloucester Cathedral appeared in three of the films. Harry Potter tours are available for fans of the films however the cathedral is worthy of a visit in its own right. There is a double bed, chest of drawers, smart TV, and a hanging rail and shelf built into one side of the chimney breast.

Katherine Parr Room (Bedroom Six)
This elegant room is decorated in a restful shade of pale pink with an upholstered king-size bed, bedside tables topped with pretty glass lamps, an antique chest of drawers, smart TV and a hanging rail and shelf for storage. Katherine Parr was Henry VIII's sixth wife and resided for a time at Sudeley Castle, where she was laid to rest. Notably, she was also the first woman to publish a book in her own name.

Laurie Lee Room (Bedroom Seven)
Named for local author Laurie Lee, best known for his work including Cider with Rosie, depicting his life in the beautiful Slad Valley. You can walk in his footsteps along the Laurie Lee Wildlife Way before stopping at his local, the Woolpack Inn. This delightful double room is finished in grey and teal. The grey velvet bedframe has a winged headboard and there is plenty of room to unpack with built-in wardrobes and storage shelves on either side of the bed.

Ensuite:
The spacious ensuite features a step-in shower cubicle with an electric shower, hand basin and WC. There is also additional hanging and shelving space. The sash window lets in lots of natural light.

Bathroom:
The family bathroom on this floor is a light and spacious room with a bath and a separate shower, hand basin and WC. There is a frosted glazed window to the side.

Top Floor

Reached from a staircase which lies between the library and bedroom two.

Edwin Budding Room (Bedroom Eight)
Set in the eaves this is a spacious twin room with metal frame single beds, twin bedside tables and wall hooks for hanging clothes and a chest of drawers. Edwin Budding invented the lawn mower and the adjustable spanner, and at the Stroud Brewery, one of their tastiest real ales is named after him.

Between bedrooms eight and nine on the large landing, is a three-seater sofa, a pair of beanbags and a large smart TV.

Thomas Twining Room (Bedroom Nine)
The second of the twin rooms is also beneath the eaves, taller guests may need to mind their heads! The wooden single beds have drawer storage beneath them and there are wall hooks too. Local lad Thomas Twining, of the Twinings tea dynasty, was born in Painswick. Take a walk up to the Painswick Beacon and explore the Rococo Gardens.

Ensuite:
Shared between the two bedrooms this bathroom boasts a spa bath with a handheld shower attachment, hand basin and WC.

Outside

With a large driveway accommodating 8 cars, an expansive, enclosed garden and a large paddock, guests at Leonard Stanley House are spoilt for outside space. A large patio runs the length of the house and features a wooden dining table and chairs to accommodate all visitors. The garden is filled with a number of rare trees, mature planting, and flower beds. There is another table and chairs set in the shade beneath the trees and a garden swing. Head through the five-bar gate and the paddock beyond is also yours to enjoy. It's perfect for epic games of cricket or rounders but do be aware of the River Frome which runs along the right-hand border of the field.

Located in Stonehouse, this vacation home is in a rural area. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Cotswolds and Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre, while Museum in the Park and City Museum are cultural highlights. Traveling with kids? Consider Stroud Bowl, or check out an event or a game at The New Lawn.