The Summerhouse

  The Detail...

In the picture postcard-worthy Cotswolds village of Shipton-under-Wychwood, The Summerhouse elegantly forms part of pretty Shipton Court. Serving as a fine base for excursions around the region, the house can accommodate up to four guests and does so in traditional style, looking out on its own beautiful gardens.

Filled with antiques – both art and furniture – The Summerhouse feels like the perfect place to return to after a day at Blenheim Palace or a trip to historic Oxford. You will certainly feel right at home in its comfortable drawing room, with its colourful rugs and irresistible soft furnishings. A chandelier-lit dining table enjoys the best view of the charming gardens, and there’s direct access from an ornate seating area.

Sink into a leather armchair and warm yourself by the wood-burning stove in the fireplace. There’s TV and DVDs to entertain you, and the antique vases, mirrors and eye-catching objet d’art are sure to become talking points.

Outside, a 60-foot pond (complete with ducks) may distract you from your delicious breakfast, prepared for you by owner Martin each morning. Previous guests have complimented the smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, Full English and smoked haddock, so you can be sure you’ll be well nourished for the day ahead.

On your return to The Summerhouse, three bedrooms await you – both doubles with immaculate furnishings and a private, modern bathroom. One is the French Room, full of continental allure, while the Narnia Room is grand and spacious, with its own fireplace and seating area. A special ‘Narnia’ door (a clever reincarnation of an old linen press, in fact) leads you from one to the other. Before you retire for the night, you can enjoy a drink by the fireside – there might just be some waiting for you. And the third gorgeous bedroom is called Plum.

At just seven miles from Chipping Norton, you can continue the antique appreciation in the town’s many curiosity shops, while Burford – only four miles away – puts the Cotswold Wildlife Park within easy reach. Being on the eastern side of the Cotswolds, Oxford is just a 50-minute drive away, and you can reach Blenheim Palace in 25 minutes. It’s equally easy to head deeper into the Cotswolds to its unofficial capital, Cirencester, or out the other side to Cheltenham – neither should take you much more than 40 minutes.