Manor Farm House

We chose the property for space and the fact it has a ground floor bedroom.

Unfortunately we overlooked the phrase in the current listing that this bedroom is accessed by steps, making it well nigh inaccessible for the 97 year old in our party with very limited mobility. We also note that in a review posted in March 2026 other people made the same mistake. It would be more accurately described as a basement or below ground bedroom, accompanied by wording such as ‘ this property is not suitable for those of limited mobility’. This is a definite Health & Safety issue. The property is well equipped and spacious with many unusual and quirky features. The hot tub was a huge hit. The outdoor kitchen was a huge disappointment because the gas bottle was empty and we had planned our menus with the bbq and pizza oven in mind. We reported this as soon as we discovered it and were told that the local representative would be informed but we heard nothing more. It is careless/ negligent not to check the amount of gas as part of the maintenance schedule between occupancies, as there is a clear gauge on the equipment. We worked out how to use the ovens, hob, cinema and dishwasher through trial and error, discovering the drawer with masses of instruction leaflets when we were about to leave. It would have been helpful to have their location clearly pointed out in the welcome booklet. I am sad to leave such a negative review as it would not take much to make this a superb place to stay. However, our overriding emotion upon leaving was relief that we had managed to manhandle great grandma up and down the steps (which have no handrails) to her bedroom each morning and evening without having a serious accident.

We recently enjoyed a weekend at Manor House Farm with three generations of our family as part of an 80th birthday celebration.

While the property appeared ideal for our needs, we encountered several practical issues on arrival. The ground-floor annex we had planned for our older relatives was accessed via a short flight of stairs, and the second bedroom within the annex required climbing another set. Anyone with mobility challenges may find this difficult. Additionally, both the stairs to the annex and those leading to the first floor of the main house lacked handrails, which made them challenging even for the more agile members of our group. The house itself is boldly decorated and filled with high-end gadgets and appliances. However, aesthetics often seemed to take priority over practicality, and instructions for using many of the features were minimal. The instant hot-water kitchen tap was initially not working, though we did manage to fix it. We were not as successful with the FireCube; it was unplugged when we got there meaning that we were unable to get the cinema system operational. When we plugged it in, the FireCube was not working. Therefore, we would have struggled to use the cinema room had one of our party not brought a laptop to plug in. The induction hob worked well, but several pans provided were unsuitable for it, causing confusion and error messages on the hob. Although the crockery and cutlery were stylish, they were awkward to load into the dishwasher, resulting in extra washing up after each meal. It also appeared that the house had not been used recently, as there was a noticeable layer of dust throughout. The ovens needed cleaning before we felt comfortable cooking in them. The hot tub and cold plunge pool had clearly not been serviced for some time and were unusable, which disappointed the younger members of the group—though they did enjoy the gym and sauna. A broken roman blind in the master bedroom meant we couldn’t raise it to enjoy the lovely view. We were also disappointed to find that the EV charging point wasn’t available for guest use. Fortunately, the nearby park-and-ride offers charging facilities, allowing you to leave your car, take the bus into Oxford, and avoid high parking fees, congestion charges, and zero-emission zone costs. During our visit, we particularly enjoyed the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and the Pitt Rivers Museum. On a positive note, the house offered plenty of space, with multiple rooms and areas allowing smaller groups to relax or do their own thing. We spent most of our time together around the large dining table and in the cinema room. Overall, while we had a memorable weekend as a family, the property felt as though it over-promised and slightly under-delivered.

We had a wonderful stay here over Christmas - the house is spacious and warm, with several sitting areas and a large well-equipped open-plan kitchen, complete with bi-fold glass doors along one wall, offering a fantastic field-view.

The property’s modern / unconventional design certainly delivers wow-factor and impact (imaginative / quirky decor, lighting and various designer finishings), but is also highly practical and comfortable. High-end appliances included 2 ovens, plate warmer, air fryer etc and generous fridge/freezer space - even two dishwashers! Beds were extremely comfortable, as were the sofa and luxurious reclining seats in the main lounge/cinema room, equipped with various consoles and remotes, inbuilt speakers and projection screen - all of which which proved a real hit with our teens especially. Several ensuites/bathrooms and 2 downstairs loos, and multiple bedrooms made life very easy and ideal for several separate families sharing. It was particularly helpful to have use of the adjoined self-contained annex (2 double bedrooms each with bathrooms, its own kitchen and sitting area) that can be closed off for privacy - much enjoyed by our American contingent, needing a bit of quiet and separation whilst recovering from jet-lag. Hot tub and sauna, gym and garden also all hugely appreciated - didn't get to try out the outdoor kitchen due to cold weather, but the owner had provided pizza-making ingredients & instructions... we were certainly tempted! As a party of 10 with the youngest aged 12 we didn't use any of the toys etc but its clear provision has been made for those with younger children. Piano was fun too, though perhaps not intended for the serious pianist due to some 'off' notes. We especially loved the fur-lined / mirrored walls in the under-stairs space - presumably for pets! The property is well located (nearest small shop a mile or so away) in a peacefully quiet cul-de-sac, and we enjoyed several country walks from the doorstep, plus trips to Oxford, Blenheim and Bicester Village. Our thanks to the owner too, who was very responsive and quick to help us out with a couple of minor queries. Overall a really fun place to stay, ideal for family gatherings and celebrations. Highly recommend.