Gladstone Cottage - Sleeps 8 Guests In 4 Bedrooms, South Newington

Oxfordshire. Sleeps up to 8

Gladstone Cottage is a cottage of two parts, with the original rooms dating back to the 1750s and a modern extension added in 2015, providing the perfect combination of history - exposed beams, flagstone flooring, and an inglenook fireplace - and every modern facility and convenience a family or group of friends would need for a Cotswold holiday, including four bathrooms - two with a bath and shower, a bar and two reception rooms, both with TVs. The cottage is conveniently located on the A361, mid-way between Banbury and the popular Cotswold town of Chipping Norton, both 7 miles away.

A pretty English country garden wraps around the cottage from the roadside, providing a tranquil setting for guests to relax and entertain in. The River Swere forms the end boundary of the garden, where guests will find a wooden bench, making it an idyllic spot to sit and watch the water flow and the birds and bugs dart about. There is a beautifully maintained patio, with a round table and seating for 8, positioned under a majestic magnolia tree adorned with fairy lights, making it a magical spot on a summer's evening. Two outdoor sofas and a coffee table are also provided on the patio, the perfect spot for planning a walk or enjoying the evening sunshine. Conveniently positioned as you step out of the dining area is an abundance of fresh herbs, including mint, sage and thyme, which guests are welcome to use for cooking! A path leads from the upper garden to a garden gate; head through here to walk to the Duck on the Pond pub next door.

To the side of the cottage is a large private parking area with space for five cars.
Ground Floor

Entrance:
The first point of entry for guests staying at Gladstone Cottage is the Dining Area (though there is an Entrance Hall and porch at the front of the house, which can also be used - see below):

Dining Area:
Stepping into the Dining Area from the patio and the hugely impressive magnolia tree, guests will be immediately struck by the warmth and cosiness of the cottage combined with its chic contemporary touches of colour and lighting.

The dining area features an antique wooden table and chairs to comfortably seat eight guests. A small dresser holds a library of cookery books, available for guests to use.

Utility Room:
Just off the Dining Area is a large storage cupboard and the Utility Room with a washer, dryer, iron, ironing board, highchair, cleaning items, a handy hanging rail for drying clothes and plenty of coat hooks and room for muddy walking boots.

Downstairs Family Bathroom:
This bright and light bathroom has richly coloured deep magenta walls and features a full-size bath with an overhead shower, a stunning golden lacquered sink set in an antique dressing table, a toilet and a heated towel rail. (This Bathroom serves as the En-suite to Bedroom 4).

Hallway and Front Porch:
The Hallway is where guests will find a photographic diary of the restoration work carried out by the owners. At the end of the hall is a doorway to the front porch, where there is a handy bench to sit and put your boots on, and front door. Keys for the front door can be found hanging in the hallway to the left of the porch door. The front door leads to a path to the main road and a footpath to the pub next door.

Snug:
This cosy second living room features the cottage's original stone flagstones, an inglenook fireplace, with a Woodburner tucked inside it, and exposed timbers and beams. The room is furnished with two double, sink-in leather sofas, a footstool and a pretty antique desk. The Snug has a 48" TV connected to Freeview and iPlayer. There is a DVD player and a wide choice of DVDs in a large cupboard which also houses a huge choice of family games. Stairs lead up from the Snug to Bedroom 3 and 4 (see description below), behind the stairs is a bookcase with a wide choice of novels. (Note: the locked door in the Snug leads to a private room used by the owners).

Kitchen:
This beautifully decorated, spacious cooking and socialising area features a central island with four barstools and a Rangemaster cooker set into the original inglenook fireplace. The deep plum-coloured walls and white Shaker-style units perfectly complement the rich purple tiling with its Moorish mosaic detail and the antique Welsh dresser - all offset by the delightful purple fairy lights around the unit tops. Every convenience has been thought of from the underfloor heating to the splendid double fridge, full range of crockery and bakeware and a Bluetooth speaker. The kitchen connects to the Living Room through double doors.

Living Room:
This room is a showstopper with its fantastic view across the patio and down the garden to the River Swere. Bi-fold doors open out on to the patio and the outdoor eating and sitting area, which at night-time are lit by fairy lights draped through the beautiful magnolia tree. The room is furnished with two four-seater, burgundy leather sofas, and a central coffee table, and features a bar with three stools and a wine/beer fridge. There is a 48" flat screen TV with iPlayer. This TV does not connect to Freeview, but does have apps for ITV Hub and 4oD, and if you have Netflix, Wuaki or Amazon subscriptions, you can use these apps with your own login details. The TV automatically connects to the Sound Bar via Bluetooth.
First Floor

Gladstone Cottage has two staircases, one leading from the Living Room to Bedroom 1 (master with en suite bathroom with roll top bath, walk-in shower, basin and WC) and Bedroom 2 (king-size en suite shower room with shower, basin and WC), and the second staircase leading from the Snug to Bedroom 3 (en suite shower room with shower, basin and WC) and Bedroom 4.

Bedroom One:
This spacious, triple aspect room, with its opulent crystal chandelier and cream and lilac colourway, has superb views down the garden and over the magnolia tree at the centre of the patio. The room features a king-size, 4-poster, mahogany bed, bedside tables with reading lights, an antique chest of drawers, a triple-mirror dressing table, plus a full-length mirror and deep-pile carpet. At the entrance to the room is a large, walk-in wardrobe with a trouser press. The crowning glory of the master bedroom is the en-suite bathroom, with its enticing roll-top bath set against a relaxing heather background, and the walk-in shower with unusual iridescent purple tiles (the shower has a fixed rain shower head and detachable hand shower). The bathroom has underfloor heating, a sink with a mirror, WC and heated towel rail.

Bedroom Two:
The vaulted ceiling of this king-size en-suite bedroom with its wooden beam has been built with the history, of the original cottage, built in the 1750s. in mind. The taupe colour scheme, with accents of arctic blue, perfectly off-set the mahogany king-size sleigh bed. The bedroom has a large double wardrobe with plenty of covered hangers, bedside tables and reading lamps, a dressing table and a large mirror. The en-suite shower room features underfloor heating, a walk-in shower with a detachable hand shower, basin and WC. (An extra single bed with a trundle bed below is provided in this room, making it ideal for guests with young children who may prefer to be closer to their parents rather than at the other end of the house in Bedroom 3 or 4).

Please note: Bedroom 2 has a mezzanine area that can be accessed by a removable ladder. Access to this area is the sole responsibility of guests and the owners will accept no liability whatsoever from any accidents that may occur due to the use of the ladder or mezzanine area.

Up the staircase from the Snug (take care the stairs are quite narrow and do not have a handrail) to Bedroom 3 and 4

Bedroom Three:
This double en-suite room, tucked away from the main part of the cottage and sitting above the Snug, has a country cottage feel, with highlights of a soothing heather colour. The bedroom features a double, brass bedstead, two large, pine wardrobes to either side of the bed, an antique pine chest of drawers and a bedside chest of drawers with reading lamps and polished wooden floorboards. A large cupboard acts as a storage space or airing cupboard, as it has its own radiator. The en-suite shower room has a corner shower, WC and basin with a mirror and shaver's point.

Bedroom 3 and 4 do not have underfloor heating, instead, they are heated via radiators with thermostat controls.

Bedroom Four:
Mind your head as you take a small step down into the smallest, but sweetest, bedroom in the cottage, featuring a four-poster mahogany double bed. Though small, this bedroom has a double wardrobe, bedside tables and a large mirror. Bedroom four uses the Family Bathroom, just down the stairs, as its en-suite.
Outside

As you turn off the main road onto Gladstone Cottage's driveway, you'll be greeted with a lovely view across the immaculate parking area to the lawn, flower beds and the little River Swere, which forms the bottom boundary of the garden. A wooden bench has been thoughtfully placed by the river making it an idyllic spot to sit and watch the water flow and the birds and bugs dart about. To the left of the parking area (suitable for up to 5 cars) is a wide and beautifully maintained patio, with a round table and seating for 8 - all positioned under a majestic magnolia tree adorned with fairy lights, making it a magical spot on a summer's evening. Also arranged on the patio are two outdoor sofas and a coffee table, the perfect spot for planning a walk or enjoying the evening sunshine. Conveniently positioned as you step out of the dining area is an abundance of fresh herbs, including mint, sage and thyme, which guests are welcome to use in their cooking! A path leads from the upper garden to a garden gate; head through here to walk to the Duck on the Pond pub next door. Outdoor, motion-sensitive lighting is located along the paths, guiding guests to the patio and front entrance.

This vacation home is located in Banbury. Blenheim Palace and Upton House are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Cotswolds and Spiceball Country Park. Traveling with kids? Consider The National Herb Centre and Steane Park Garden.