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8 Guests
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4 Bedrooms
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3 Bathrooms
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Pets Yes
Features
- Electric car charging
- Off road parking
- Ground floor accommodation
- Garden / Patio
- Highchair available
- Pub/shop < 1 mile
- Washing machine
- Dishwasher
- Broadband / WiFi
68 Customer Review(s)
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Richard “I would like to think this is an honest appraisal of my visit.”
Lower Farm Barn, is a good choice for a couple of families or four couples and anything in between. Also pet friendly which was one of the deciding factors in our choice it has to be said. You could not wish for more space, and the position is lovely and quiet and a pretty village. I have to be honest and say even before we arrived I thought it was somewhat over priced for the type of property. It lacked the X factor of big expensive weekend lets, so it needed to win me over. It has ...
Lower Farm Barn, is a good choice for a couple of families or four couples and anything in between. Also pet friendly which was one of the deciding factors in our choice it has to be said. You could not wish for more space, and the position is lovely and quiet and a pretty village. I have to be honest and say even before we arrived I thought it was somewhat over priced for the type of property. It lacked the X factor of big expensive weekend lets, so it needed to win me over. It has loads of space and was well appointed but there were few stand outs and now I am home I stand by my perspective its at least £500 more than it should be. I am also somewhat annoyed by 5pm in and 10am out and had I realised this on booking I would not have, it felt like squeezing every last ounce out of our time, perhaps this is normal. Still, at 9:55am on last day we could not have over run by a minute because there were three vans of cleaners on the drive waiting to kick us out which I think is pretty unprofessional. I know its in the country and I saw lots of things that needed cleaning whilst we were there, but forgave that because of location, but 5 - 6 people should be capable of doing a better job of cleaning it!.. There was a really nice welcome back on arrival which was unexpected although I would prefer to have known because I would not bought all that with us!. Nevertheless all the essentials and thanks for that! Having a Pool table would be one of those standouts, but to have three non usable cues properly annoyed me for the £40 it would cost to replace, and no usable chalk. We tried and tried to play but it just wound me right up the more I did ! Might sound petty but genuinely one of the reasons we picked it, so I was not amused. A table top football table that looked good in the pic but looked like it came from a car boot !. There were two big TVs and loads of lounge space but we were not there to use TV's, I could have just everyone down to my house instead and saved 2grand ! These may seem trivial but as I say, the key standouts on this house are space, fit and finish, and these other things, which were just not great at all!. I am also nearly always annoyed that you always have to use dodgy knackered frying pans in self catered holidays. Lower Farm Barn did not let us down on that front !. Whilst being picky, it was a very hot weekend, the kitchen had loads of things in it (its well appointed), but no ice cube trays in the vast and otherwise empty freezer and nor did it have a fan anywhere to be seen, which I would definitely expect for this end of the market and we really needed. The good news is for all these small failings that this was a family break to spend time together and play a load of games, which we mostly bought all with us. We were luckily well prepared and had a great weekend and for this the property was completely suited. Without doubt I am the most picky of the guests who stayed. I think everyone thought the house was roomy, comfy, well appointed, and essentially fitted our needs, and I would struggle to disagree with this. I don't normally do holiday lets I would much prefer to stay in a hotel, and for the same money we could have had a spa, gym, pool etc. for all of us, so I think its probably more about the value I don't think we got because of these little things, than it is about those things themselves. I would say I can certainly understand why this would be a perfect house for many people. Indeed for us. I can see many a happy week / weekend being spent here by many people and so I can still feel like I have given an honest appraisal and still give a 4 star review despite it sounding like I don't think it was any good, which would be untrue. I guess in order to give a better sounding review I need to comment about all the stand outs that off set the annoyances, the things that set this place apart, and here is the trouble, apart from being a big house in a nice location, I cannot really list any, so I unfortunately have to pick on the things I did not like, rather than the things I did.. I think overall, and as already said, had I been reviewing a £1200-1400 house and not £2000 I would probably be giving a much more upbeat review, but I do feel somewhat short changed. Personally this has put me off using this type of let again, although I think the rest of my part would not agree. This is a review mostly about value. I am happy to spend £500 and stay in a lodge or mobile home but equally I am happy to hire a house for double or triple this money, as long as you get what you pay for this is all that matters, and for what its worth I don't think you get value here. As a final point my wife thinks I am being unfair and comparing it to a hotel where you could not take the dog is rather pointless. She also thinks for example, Centerparcs is properly expensive. We could have booked the same weekend with the dog there in a exec house, and included all our paid activities and eaten out each night for the same price as this house!... This is what I would prefer to do next time!. As I say, for me its all about value.
Summary
- Four bedrooms: 1 x double with ensuite bath with hand held shower, hand basin and WC
- 1 x king-size bedroom
- 1 x twin bedroom
- 1 x king-size 'master' with fixed cot and ensuite with walk-in shower, hand basin and WC
- Bathroom with bath, walk-in shower, hand basin and WC
- 1 x ground floor cloackroom
- Kitchen with dining area
- Utility room
- 2 x Sitting rooms
- Central heating, falcon oven, electric oven and hob, microwave, kettle, toaster, dishwasher, integrated fridge freezer, Lavazza coffee machine (please bring own pods), washing machine, tumble dryer, clothes airer, ironing board, iron
- TV in both living rooms, wood burning stoves, starter pack for wood burning stove included, pool table, DVD Player, books, DVDs
- WiFi, towels and linen provided, fixed cot extra travel cots and highchairs are available on request, Off-road parking, one well-behaved pet welcome, sorry no smoking, 0.2 miles to the local pub and shop in Aston
- BBQ
- Note the smaller sitting room has a sofa bed that can be made up on request at an extra charge of £25
- Note: This property requires a refundable good housekeeping bond of £500
- Note: The garden is fenced but not fully enclosed
- There are sheep in the surrounding fields so dogs and children must be kept under close control
- Note: No hen or stag parties allowed and we ask all guests to be considerate to neighbours in the village with no loud noise
- Note: Charging of electric cars must be pre-arranged and is payable locally
The property
The magnificent Lower Farm Barn is situated in the civil parish in Thames Valley.
With room for eight, this house is ideal for a getaway to the Cotswolds.
You'll feel right at home the moment you turn into the private driveaway.
First on your left is the kitchen/diner, which is the ideal location for the chefs of the group to create only the greatest home-cooked meals while you set the table and enjoy a delectable supper after a day of activity.
Bedroom 2, a king-size room with a wonderful view of the land surrounding it, is located further to the left.
The second bathroom, which has a walk-in shower, bath, a hand basin, and a WC, is accessible from here.
Bedroom 3 is a twin room that, like bedroom 2, provides a lovely view of the property's exterior as you proceed down the hall.
At the end of the hall is Bedroom 4, which has a spacious king-size bed, a fixed cot, and an ensuite bathroom with a walk-in shower, a sink, and a toilet.
This bedroom's back door, which also opens to the outside, goes to the property's utility room.
The sitting room 1 located on the other side of Lower Farm Barn.
After a long day of exploration, you may unwind in this area while enjoying a crisp glass of wine over the wood stove and watching the youngsters play an exciting game of pool.
Go to sitting room 2 if you want a little peace and quiet somewhere out of the way.
This is a smaller room, but it's just what you need for a relaxing evening away from the kids while you're visiting.
The first floor, which is located above this room, has bedroom 1.
This contains a second king-size bed and an ensuite bathroom with a roll-top bath with a hand held shower, a hand basin, and a toilet.
On a warm summer day, the kids can run about and burn off some energy outside in the lovely green space while the adults of the group unwind on the bench in the middle.
(Note: The garden is partially enclosed but is fenced.
Dogs and kids must be kept in strict care because there are sheep in the nearby pastures.
If you feel like heading farther afield, consider travelling to Minster Lovell, where you can visit the ruins of Minster Lovell Hall, a picturesque house from the 15th-century that sits next to the River Windrush and is the ideal location for a summertime picnic.
After a little more walking, you will arrive in the beautiful city of Oxford.
There are plenty of things to do in this timeless location.
You can't go wrong on a day out here with high-end brand stores, museums like the Ashmolean, and university gardens to explore all within walking distance.
This house is a terrific option to stay for your Cotswolds getaway because of the gorgeous areas that are within a few miles from Lower Farm Barn.
Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £500.
About the location
BAMPTON
Witney 4 miles; Burford 8 miles and Oxford 19 miles.
The thriving village of Bampton lies in the Thames Valley in the southern Cotswolds, amidst beautiful Oxfordshire countryside. Bampton is one of the oldest villages in England boasting a village shop, Post Office, butcher, and traditional pubs serving good food and real ales, all set around a pretty market square. Ancient customs can still be experienced with the regular morris dancing festivities, which have been enjoyed for over 600 years. Just four miles away is the riverside town of Witney, which offers many attractions including a weekly market dating back to the Middle Ages, an 18th century town hall, and Wychwood Brewery. Burford is possibly one of the most famous of the Cotswolds' locations. With its medieval bridge, old stone houses and attractive Tudor and Georgian frontages, Burford is justifiably one of the most picturesque towns in England. Often referred to as the 'Gateway to the Cotswolds', the town was originally a fortified Anglo-Saxon ford to be an important regional crossroads and wealthy wool town. With little changing over the centuries. Burford is now very popular with visitors, both for its beauty and history but also for it's shopping and antiques, and for the wide variety of places to eat, with restaurants, pubs and teashops. Oxford, the oldest university city in England, boasts interesting Botanical Gardens, museums and libraries, and plays host to many festivals and markets throughout the year. Enjoy a punt on the River Thames or take a boat trip on the River Cherwell. The ancestral home of Winston Churchill and the World Heritage Site of Blenheim Palace is just a short drive away, where many lovely walks can be enjoyed around the landscaped parkland. With so much nearby, Bampton provides a wonderful holiday destination.
£25 Pet Charge per week
Note: The garden is fenced but not fully enclosed. There is sheep in the surrounding fields so dogs and children must be kept under close control.
Note: This property requires a refundable good housekeeping bond of £500
Note: No hen or stag parties allowed and we ask all guest to be considerate to neighbours in the village with no loud noise.
All beds as per the website, no zip and links.
Note the smaller sitting room has a sofa bed that can be made up on request at an extra charge of £25
Note: Charging of electric cars must be pre-arranged and is payable locally.
This property offers the following short breaks:
- Winter
- Off-season
- Last minute
- Christmas