Blenheim Cottage

Rooms

Step through the welly-lined porch into a fun and fanciful sitting room, with peacock-patterned Cole & Son wallpaper, floor-length silk curtains, a deep Chesterfield sofa, Andrew Martin fabrics and a quirky chandelier-in-a-birdcage. The effect is sumptuous and sexy - dark perhaps, but we loved it, especially the wonderful lighting, and the sleek black-framed eco-fire in its burnished silver surround, and the carefully chosen books and games.

Next door, the cosy dining room continues the silvery-gold theme, with studded banquettes for lazy breakfasts, and a deer's head above the gold framed fireplace.

Climb from the kitchen to the first-floor bedrooms - both double-bedded - and the bathroom, with its glorious rolltop bath, separate walk-in shower, and underfloor heating. Both bedrooms are compact but extremely comfy. The master has a queensize bed (superb mattress, warm down duvet) and a gleaming rosewood campaign dresser (whose pull-out chair conceals a hairdryer) and huge matching wardrobe. The second bedroom is simpler, with leafy views from the window seat.

The garden has a lovely timber summer house, filled with light from 4 French windows and a skylight, wrapped around by a sun deck.

Features include:

• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Safe box
• Tumble dryer
• Washing machine
• WiFi

Eating

The kitchen - like the rest of the cottage - is small but perfectly equipped with a Siemens dishwasher, Dualit toaster and Nespresso machine; a pro knife block set; masses of crockery and silver cutlery; Welsh slate surfaces with 3 bar stools to perch at. In summer, sit outside on the dining terrace - complete with adjacent barbecue, and a powerful radiant heater to extend the al fresco feeling into the night.

The honesty larder is stocked with lovely goodies at reasonable prices such as pure Chegworth Valley apple juice, 'scrumshus' granola, and Real Basmati Rice Company rice, as well as well-chosen wines. You'll find complimentary fizz (for booking through i-escape) chilling in the fridge, as well as some breakfast staples (tea, coffee, eggs, butter, milk, bacon). You can book their private chef for seasonal gourmet meals, or pre-order from the In-Cottage Dining Menu (we went for chicken pie, berry crumble, pea soup, salads – all top-notch).

For eating out, their info pack contains meticulously researched suggestions in Woodstock (5 mins' drive), Oxford (15 mins) and beyond - from gastropubs to organic cafés to restaurants.

Features include:

• Barbecue
• Chef on request
• Coffee maker
• Dishwasher
• Food blender
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• Meal delivery service
• Microwave
• Oven
• Shopping service
• Toaster
• Honesty larder

Activities

• The cottage itself is a beautiful spot for whiling away a long weekend, with lovely gardens, books, games, convivial meals and perhaps sunbathing, pampering or fishing
  
• The detailed info pack groans with suggestions for exploring the area from walks to stately homes. Blenheim Palace is a must: gilded state halls, impressive artworks, and the room where Winston Churchill was born, and 2,000 acres of 'Capability' Brown landscaped parkland, including a huge lake and formal gardens
  
• Stroll through handsome Woodstock for honey-stoned houses, art galleries, an unexpectedly interesting free museum (child-friendly) - and a fantastic deli
  
• The world-famous city of Oxford is also on your doorstep (20 mins): stunning colleges, riverside meadows, ivory-towered backstreets and truly astounding museums
  
• Charlbury or Burford are 2 quintessentially Cotswold towns packed with old-world charm (20 mins), a little farther are the tiny idyllic 'Slaughter' hamlets
  
• The atmospherically crumbling ruins of Minster Lovell Hall (15 mins) are perfect for picnics and rambles with the dog, and wild swimming if it's sunny
  
• Browse cut-price designer outlets at Bicester Village (30 mins)
  
• An appetising range of DVDs to enjoy of an evening (you can also stream them to the second bedroom upstairs)

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Cycling
• Fishing
• Golf
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Horse riding
• Hot air ballooning
• Museums / galleries
• Plantlife / flora
• Private guided tours
• Shopping / markets

Kids

This is a great place to come with a younger children: we think 5-10 is the ideal age range, so they can enjoy the riverside garden and the surrounding woods, as well as the children's activities at Blenheim Palace (which were a great hit during our revisit) and further afield. Parents of toddlers should be aware that the garden slopes down to a small river - though there is a safe enclosed garden opposite the dining terrace, so you can keep an eye while relaxing with a drink or meal. There's a bath as well as a separate shower in the bathroom with its cosseting under-floor heating. Teenagers might find the location a bit too quiet. There's a really useful information directory detailing everything you could possibly need, places to visit, shopping and groceries.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

The smaller second bedroom (double only, not a twin) has perfectly chosen books and toys on the shelves (how did they know our son loved Roald Dahl?). He, by the way, slept like a log until 9am, thanks to the total silence and the blackout of the drapes

Cots Available

Distances:

• Hospital: 20 minutes
• Shops: 5 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Blenheim Cottage is set at the end of a private forest track, overlooking a small river on the edge of Blenheim Palace Estate (home to the Duke of Marlborough). It is 500m from the village of Long Hanborough (which has a few shops), 4km from Woodstock (which has a wider range of shops and restaurants), and 15km from the city of Oxford.

By Air
London Heathrow (85km) is your best bet if arriving from overseas. There is also a small airfield outside Oxford (just 6km away) which receives a few domestic/shorthaul flights - or private flights if you're feeling flush. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

By Car
It's certainly easiest to arrive by car, as the cottage is at the end of a forest track, not really within walking distance of shops and restaurants (apart from one hotel about 500m / 10 mins' walk away). The cottage has a covered garage, and the track is passable for all but the lowest-slung sports cars. Approximate driving time from London is 1.5 hours, likewise Birmingham or Bristol. See our car rental recommendations.

By Train
The nearest train station is Hanborough (less than 1km away), which is connected to London Paddington by hourly direct trains (journey time approx 1h15). It is easy to stay overnight and be in London in time for work the following day (as we found on our revisit). Taxis can be arranged from the station if you really want to visit without a car.

Excellent detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to the UK and getting around