Description
Summary
Bridge Hill Cottage is a beautiful late 18th century Cotswold stone house that sleeps six guests in three bedrooms, with further sleeping space for two guests on a double sofa-bed in the "Minstrels' Gallery”. There are two well-presented bathrooms, a downstairs cloakroom/utility room, as well as two separate living rooms. The house is elegantly furnished with antiques, and boasts a wealth of character features, including 200-year-old oak beams, an inglenook fireplace with fitted seat, a “Minstrels’ Gallery” and a functioning bar-billiards table. Complementing these period features, the house has modern facilities, including fast Wifi in all rooms, smart TV with Freeview and Alexa Voice Remote, DVD player, and Bose bluetooth speaker.
Location
Located in the quaint village of Hook Norton, Bridge Hill Cottage is situated near the church of St. Peters, with its Norman chancel, early Gothic nave, and its famous font, bells, and wall-paintings. This peaceful and picturesque little village retains period features and charm, and benefits from having three pubs, a labyrinthine local grocery store, a trendy butcher’s, and the local, visit-able Hook Norton Brewery, famous for brewing traditional real ale.
Hook Norton is on the fringe of the Cotswolds, and therefore avoids heavy tourist traffic, allowing visitors to get a real sense of rural life, such as enjoying the glorious countryside, open vistas and lovely woodlands which fall within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Hook Norton is close to the popular Cotswold market towns of Chipping Norton, Moreton-in-Marsh and Stow-on-the-Wold, is less than five miles from Great Tew and Soho Farmhouse, and has many stunning countryside walks right on the doorstep.
Description
Bridge Hill Cottage is the perfect retreat for a gathering of friends or family, who are seeking a relaxing countryside break. The cottage is laid out as follows:
| Room | Amenities |
|---|
| Kitchen/dining room |
The large open-plan kitchen and dining room contains:
- electric oven with hob
- fridge, separate wine fridge and counter-top ice-maker (freezer capacity available on request)
- dishwasher, microwave, kettle and toaster
- dining table which comfortably seats eight guests
|
| Living room |
The heart of the house, with beautiful character features including exposed oak beams and a Cotswold stone wall. This spacious room contains:
- large inglenook fireplace with wood burning stove
- three-seater sofa, plus a 'love-seat' armchair
- window seat
- 2 wickerwork chairs
|
| Cloakroom/utility room |
Contains:
- toilet and wash basin
- washing machine and tumble dryer
|
| Second living room/Minstrels' gallery/bedroom 4 |
A splendid room for the whole family to enjoy, with a beautiful exposed Cotswold stone wall that enhances the room's charm. The room contains:
- fabulous old bar-billiards table
- large fireplace
- Smart TV
- corner sofa, plus armchairs
- piano (please be aware that this may not be properly tuned)
A flight of stairs leads up to the Minstrels' gallery, which overlooks the main area of the room, which contains:
|
| Bedroom 1 |
A bright and spacious, dual aspect room, which contains:
- double bed
- built-in wardrobes for storage
- dresser
- armchair
|
| Family bathroom |
Contains:
- bath with shower attachment, toilet and wash basin
|
| Bedroom 2 |
Another well presented, dual aspect room, with access to bathroom 2, enabling it to be used as an ensuite if desired. This bedroom contains:
- double bed
- built-in wardrobes for storage
|
| Bathroom 2 |
This "Jack & Jill" bathroom can be accessed from the landing or from bedroom 2, allowing it to be either a shared bathroom or bedroom 2's ensuite bathroom:
- walk-in shower, toilet and wash basin, plus a heated towel rail
|
| Bedroom 3 |
A lovely bedroom, perfect for children:
- bunk beds with two large storage drawers beneath
- bedside table with drawers for storage
- chair
|
The delightful garden is accessed either from the entrance hall, or via double French doors from the main living room. The garden comprises an enclosed paved patio area, with a table and seating for four, plus a further table with seating for two. Steps lead up to the raised lawn section, which has lovely views towards the church tower. There is a very low wall on the side of the garden, therefore pets and children should be supervised at all times. An impressive Cotswold stone barbecue, for which the kitchen/dining room window acts as a serving hatch, can be used in all seasons.
Key Features
Booking and payment
Character Cottages is a marketing agency and we do not own or manage any of the cottages listed on our website. Bookings made via us form a legal agreement directly between you and the property owner.
For bookings commencing more than 10 weeks in advance, a 30% non-refundable deposit is required to confirm the booking. The balance payment is then due 10 weeks prior to arrival.
All payments are made subject to the cancellation policy set out in the standard Booking Conditions.
Security deposits
Security deposits are not required at Bridge Hill Cottage.
Occupancy
The maximum occupancy of the property, including its garden, is 6+2 guests, at any point during your stay. Unauthorised over occupancy is a breach of our terms and conditions and may result in the cancellation of your booking and additional charges. Please consult us prior to booking if you wish to discuss the possibility of having more than 8 guests at the property.
Infants who sleep in a cot do not count towards the occupancy figure, however, due to space restrictions, the occupancy figure may only be exceeded by up to 2 additional infants.
Pets
Bridge Hill Cottage accepts up to two small dogs, at a cost of £20 per booking, per dog.
Bed linen and towels
Bed linen and a bath towel per guest are provided, with hand towels in all bathrooms.
Arrival and departure times
Arrival time at Bridge Hill Cottage is after 3pm and departure time is by 10am. If your arrival will be delayed beyond 8pm on the start date of your rental period, you must contact the person whose details are given in the location details. If you fail to do so, you may not be able to get into the property.
Bed sizes and configurations
- Bedroom 1: Double bed
- Bedroom 2: En-suite room, with double bed
- Bedroom 3: Bunk beds
- Minstrels' gallery/bedroom 4: Double sofa bed
Please note that bedroom 4 is an open mezzanine floor above the second living room and the bed is a fold out sofa bed. We do not recommend this bedroom for young children, due to the absence of spindles between the hand rail and the stairs up to this room.
Bathrooms
- Family bathroom: Bath with shower attachment, toilet and wash basin
- Bedroom 2 ensuite: Walk-in shower, toilet and wash basin
Fuel and logs
Electricity and oil are included in the rental price. There are two real fires: a wood burning stove in the main living room and an open grate in the second living room. An initial basket of logs is provided.
Services provided
Bridge Hill Cottage has free wireless internet access, a Smart TV with Freeview and Alexa Voice Remote, a DVD player, plus a Bose bluetooth speaker. A telephone is available for incoming calls only.
Parking
Bridge Hill Cottage is located on a quiet lane and free parking is usually available directly outside the house. Additional free parking is available a short walk from from the property.
Housekeeping
Where a letting exceeds nine nights, a mid-stay clean, bed linen and towel change may be included in the price. Please check with us to confirm. Additional housekeeping services are available on request.
Child friendly facilities
A travel cot (without linen) and high chair are available on request. A stair gate which fits at the top of the stairs is also provided.
Initial consumables
A small quantity of initial consumables is provided for your convenience (eg. washing up liquid, hand soap, toilet rolls); however, you should not expect the quantity of these provisions to be sufficient for the duration of your stay.
Accessibility, health and safety
Bridge Hill Cottage is an old property, located on a hill, which has many character features, including low beams and two sets of stairs, which could pose difficulty to guests with limited mobility, or carrying babies, both in terms of their general movement and their ability to exit the house quickly in the event of an emergency.
The smoke detectors operate on a sound only basis and, therefore, those who have serious impairment of hearing may not be able to hear the alarm systems and could be at risk.
Smoking
No smoking is permitted throughout Bridge Hill Cottage.
Work related and commercial bookings
Unfortunately, this property does not accept work related or commercial bookings.
Photographs
In order to provide you with as much detail of our properties as possible, we sometimes use wide angle photography, which can make certain rooms, or spaces, appear larger than they actually are. Wherever possible, we try to include a floorplan, with detailed dimensions of rooms and areas. If you have any queries regarding the size of any rooms or spaces, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Reviews
Bridge Hill Cottage was launched as a Holiday Let with Character Cottages in November 2011 and is in the process of building up customer feedback. With its outstanding presentation and ideal location, we have little doubt that Bridge Hill Cottage will be a favourite with guests.
Other Customer Feedback:
-"Lovely cottage especially now it has new kitchen. Very well equipped including log fire with logs for first evening and others to purchase. Nicola is very friendly and helpful. We will definitely come again.",Susan, November 2018
-"This cottage is full of character and history with both antique and modern touches. Very roomy and immaculately clean. Would definitely recommend.", Elizabeth, November 2017
-"The house was full of character and so well positioned in the village that we didn't use the car the whole time we were there. The house was very quirky and we loved playing bar billiards while my daughter taught herself piano! The house itself was very clean and we appreciated the little touches provided. We'll be back for sure!", Julie, October 2017
-"The housekeeper was helpful, checking in on us, offered suggestion of attending a local fete that was coming up...we did and it was great. House was nice.", Randall, September 2017
-“A wonderful place to stay and the is cottage well maintained.", Tahir, July 2017
-"The bar billiards table is amazing. Do not get rid of it!", Patrick, March 2017
-“Great cottage, deceptively roomy. Loads of character and well equipped. Lovely private garden.”, Jamie, February 2017
-“Nicola was very accommodating in us arriving an hour earlier than planned. The cottage is full of character. Thank you for such a memorable visit:) Highly recommended.”, Mark, January 2017
-"Great cottage in a lovely village! Very comfortable and well equipped.", Rob Norcup, September 2016
-"Lovely place, very cosy. Fell in love with it the moment I saw it. Would love to come back.”, Megan McTaggart, May 2016
-“The only bad thing about the cottage is that I cannot come and move in! And with so many of us staying (8) I was surprised that it didn’t feel crowded.", Robin Moore and party, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, April 2016
-“Wonderful stay. Delightful house. Hope to be back soon!", Sosse Botha and family, Cape Town, March 2016
-“We very much enjoyed our stay and we will all return home much better bar-billiards players thanks to several evenings of hard-fought competitions. A very nice village and the perfect base for our trips to the Cheltenham Festival. We’ll be back.", Paddy, Anna, Matt & Helen. Manchester, March 2016
-“Such a welcoming house. We just loved it.", Prettyman family, Norfolk, March 2016
-“We had a wonderful stay in this cosy cottage. The village is super, our days out in Oxford and Stratford were a treat and Nicola looked after us wonderfully well.”, McInnis family, Fremantle, Western Australia, December 2015
-"Bridge Hill cottage was a perfect venue for our family reunion and the proximity of The Sun Inn provided family with a perfect location to stay. (we booked a totally of thirteen nights accommodation there). Having to cook Christmas lunch and family meals for as many as thirteen I found the kitchen very well equipped. The three rooms provided ample space for family of all ages to chill and enjoy the Bar Billiards. The decor was authentic and yet quirky which enabled us to relax and enjoy the festive spirit. Bathrooms are very clean and functional. Only comment: it was only when I left that I discovered the recycle bins, maybe a note in the information pack. Please pass on my thanks to the owners for a memorable fantastic stay in their eclectic home x x.", Bev, December 2012
-"Dear Andrew, We loved staying at the cottage! It has a lot of character and is a great size for a small family get-together - big enough to accommodate and small enough to feel 'cottagey'. The room with the minstrels' gallery is most unusual and there are several other touches, like the brass-rubbings, which make the house different and interesting. It's very well appointed and had everything we needed for our stay and Hook Norton is a great centre for exploring and walking. The only drawback is the smell of the oil tank that permeates the back patio area - since we had very little sitting-out weather this didn't bother us very much but it detracts from the nice garden. In all, we really enjoyed our stay in the cottage and would love to stay there again another year.", Jessica, June 2012
-"We loved it! Very nice spot.", Arthur, May 2012
-"Hi Andrew, We had a great time thanks, we used it for a family get together for my mums 70th. The cottage was really nice and suited our needs well. We were a party of 7, 3 couples and a 1 year old. There was plenty of room and we enjoyed chilling out in the games room in the evening. Also the location was good. We and went to the children's farm and water fowl sanctuary and then up to Stratford. Unfortunately we didn't he to the brewery as it wouldn't have suited my daughter. I hope this is useful for you. Cheers.", Guy, April 2012
-"Excellent cottage for a family reunion on my birthday. The games room was a big hit. What a super village! My granddaughter wants you to know that her bunkbed was very comfortable. A great time was had by all.", Families from London, Suffolk & South Wales
-"It was lovely to stay in a Cotswold village without tourist coaches. Great food at the Feathered Nest between Stow-on-the-Wold and Burford.", Family from Kingston-upon-Thames.
-"A lovely setting, with great pubs and walks. And I recommend a tour of the Hook Norton Brewery.", Families from London and Bridport.
-"A lovely area to spend a holiday. Lovely walks. We had a very comfortable stay in this lovely home. Thank you.", Family from Iowa, USA
-"Charming cottage, peaceful location, excellent pubs. Delightful.", Family from Connecticut, USA.
-"An excellent place for a family celebration. Not far from the pubs and with lots of nice walks throughout Hooky and the surrounding area. Lovely cottage with nice family touches: furniture, pictures, antiques, etc. It's been great. Thank you.", Two families from Northamptonshire.
-"A beautiful cottage. We had a fantastic weekend.", Group of friends from Portsmouth.
-"A fantastic weekend in a beautiful setting. We particularly enjoyed the bar billiards table. Many thanks.", Families from Newcastle and London.
- Good place for the six of us to get together. We loved the cottage, the village, the pubs and the billiards. Family from New Zealand.
- Fantastic and homely. We'll be back. Many thanks. Couple from Greenwich, London.
- Wonderful house, especially the billiards and the piano. Good pubs and friendly folk! Family from London.
- Lovely cottage, very comfortable. We liked the books! We'll definitely come again and the sooner the better. Family from Bedford.
- Had a fantastic time. We hope to return. Very relaxing and pleasant and cosy. The fireplace is great and we loved the games room. Many thanks. Family from Eastbourne.
- A happy place for a family reunion. We enjoyed sitting round the fireplace while it rained and rained outside! Family from Toronto, Canada
- We had a fantastic time and there was plenty to do. Great pub and great food almost next door. Feeling refreshed and relaxed. Thanks. Family from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
- We've had a wonderful time here. The pub was very handy round the corner with great food. The country walks were fantastic. Its a very peaceful cottage. Thank you. Family from London.
- Lovely comfortable cottage. We enjoyed the village and the local beer. I hope we didn't leave any baby toys behind! Family from Brighton.
- Very enjoyable cottage AGAIN! We enjoyed the fireplace, local scenery and pubs. Family from Eastbourne.
- Lovely cottage. We had a great weekend. The Sun Inn pub does great food. An enjoyable weekend was head by all. Five girls from Hampshire and Norfolk.
Inventory
Our aim is for you to enjoy Bridge Hill Cottage as if it was your own home and this information is provided to ensure that you are aware of, and are able to use, all the facilities that are available.
| Main appliances, furniture and facilities |
|---|
| Electric oven and a hob |
Counter-top ice maker |
Fridge |
| Kettle |
Microwave |
Washing machine |
| Toaster |
Tumble dryer |
Barbecue (without coal) |
| Outdoor table and seating |
Bar-billiards table |
Bed linen, bath sheets and hand towels |
| DVD player |
Stair gate |
Travel cot (without linen) |
| Smart TV with Freeview and Alexa voice remote |
Wireless internet |
High chair |
| Wine fridge |
Bose bluetooth speaker |
|
| General provisions |
|---|
| Bin bags |
Hand soap |
J cloths & scourers |
| Toilet roll |
Washing up liquid |
|
| Other equipment and facilities |
|---|
| Dustpan and brush |
Mop and bucket |
Vacuum cleaner |
| CO detector |
Fire blanket |
Fire extinguishers |
| Fire guard |
Smoke alarms |
Torches |
| Iron |
Ironing board |
Tourist information |
| Visitor's book |
|
|
Travel
Bridge Hill Cottage is located on a quiet lane in the centre of the village of Hook Norton, approximately 100 yards from the village shop, three pubs and the church.
Travelling by car
Hook Norton is easily accessed by car, being approximately 10 miles away from junction 11 (Banbury) of the M40 and approximately 4 miles away from Chipping Norton, which is located on the A44 running from Oxford to Evesham.
Travelling by train
The nearest railway station to Hook Norton is Banbury (approximately 9 miles away), which has regular, direct services to London Marylebone, with a typical journey time of less than 60 minutes.
Travelling by plane
Hook Norton is within easy reach of the following international airports:
- Birmingham International Airport: 50 miles, approximately 60 minute drive;
- Heathrow International Airport: 67 miles, approximately 90 minute drive.
