Description
Summary
Elephant Cottage is a stunning Grade II listed townhouse which sleeps 4+2 guests, in two bedrooms (with the +2 option being a 4ft double sofa bed in the snug), with a stylish family bathroom. Dating back to the 1700s, this lovely property boasts a number of character features including exposed beams, painted stone walls and an exposed Cotswold stone fireplace with an open fire. These features have been beautifully complemented by contemporary décor and modern facilities such as wireless internet access, a TV with Amazon Fire TV Stick, and a well-equipped kitchen. There is an attractive roof terrace and free on-street parking can usually be found close to the property.
Location
Elephant Cottage is located in Tetbury, a bustling market town which is steeped in history and lies at the southern gateway of the Cotswolds. The town’s wealth came from the local wool industry and much of the architecture found today dates back to that era, such as the impressive Market House which is Grade I listed and hosts many events throughout the year. In addition to notable buildings, Tetbury is also home to many wonderful antique shops, tearooms, restaurants and pubs, as well as the Chipping Steps and the Highgrove shop. The shop sells organic food and luxury homeware inspired by the nearby Royal Gardens at Highgrove, home to the Prince of Wales.
Tetbury falls within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is surrounded by glorious countryside, with many walks and cycle routes to explore. Nearby Woodchester Park is owned by the National Trust and includes a play trail, walking trails and café, and Westonbirt Arboretum, just four miles away, covers 600 acres and features 2,500 species of tree from all over the world. There are many other tourist attractions in the area including Chavenage House, a stately home which features in many period dramas, the Cotswold Country Park and Beach, and Malmesbury Abbey. Tetbury is also well-placed for visiting the many other historical towns of the South Cotswolds including Stroud, Cirencester, Painswick, Minchinhampton and Nailsworth, and further afield destinations such as Bath, Cheltenham and Oxford are within easy reach for day trips.
Description
Elephant Cottage is the ideal retreat for a gathering of friends or family who are looking to explore the breathtaking Cotswold countryside whilst being just a stone’s throw from the centre of the vibrant market town of Tetbury. The house is laid out as follows:
Room | Amenities |
Living room |
Bathed in natural light from the original windows, the stylish living room boasts beautiful parquet flooring, exposed beams and an oriental silk rug. Finished to a high standard, this room contains:
- Cotswold stone fireplace with open fire
- two-seater sofa, three-seater Chesterfield sofa and two armchairs
- TV with Amazon Fire TV Stick
|
Kitchen/dining room |
This wonderful open plan area features smart marble work surfaces, contemporary design and an exposed painted stone wall. Bright and spacious, this well-equipped kitchen contains:
- electric oven with four-ring induction hob
- fridge/freezer
- dishwasher, toaster, kettle, Nespresso coffee machine and blender
- island with four stools
- wooden table with seating for six
- microwave
|
Utility room |
Double doors from the dining area lead through into this useful space which contains:
- sink
- washing machine/tumble dryer
|
Cloakroom |
Contains:
|
Snug |
Giving access to the roof terrace, this delightful room has original wood flooring, an eye-catching feature chimney breast and an ornate internal window which looks into the landing. This room contains:
- 4ft double sofa bed, available upon request
- ornamental Victorian fireplace
- freestanding clothes rail with zip storage
|
Bedroom 2 |
Overlooking the street below, this tastefully decorated bedroom features an internal window looking into the landing and contains:
- king size bed
- ornamental fireplace
- freestanding wardrobe
- full length mirror
|
Family bathroom |
With exposed painted stone walls, this well presented bathroom contains:
- sunken bath with overhead rain shower and separate handheld shower attachment, toilet, wash basin and heated towel rail
|
Master bedroom |
This lovely dual aspect bedroom in the eaves has an exposed stone feature wall, painted beams and painted wooden floors. Finished in neutral tones with a boho-chic feel, this inviting room contains:
- king size bed
- storage trunk and built-in cupboard with hanging rail
|
Accessed via low French doors in the snug, the sheltered roof terrace is a peaceful spot for enjoying the summer sunshine. The tall walls are lined with seating and at the centre of the terrace there is a glass top table which looks down into the dining room below. Hurricane lamps and electric candles create atmospheric lighting at dusk, and there is a decorative chiminea which has been planted with colourful flowers. The terrace sweeps round to the left to reveal a secluded seating area with a rocking chair, perfect for moments of solitude.
Free on-street parking is available nearby, and if required, there are Pay & Display car parks in the town.
Key Features
Key Features
Booking and payment
Character Cottages is a marketing agency and we do not own any of the cottages listed on our website. We manage a proportion of cottages within our portfolio and the remaining properties are managed by a third party property manager or the property owner – your pre-arrival email will contain confirmation and contact details for your property manager. 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 (please note that guests are still liable for any damage or additional cleaning required as a result of their actions).
Occupancy
The maximum occupancy of the property is 4+2 guests (with the +2 option being a 4ft double sofa bed in the snug), 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 six 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 one additional infant.
Pets
Regrettably, pets are not accepted.
Bed linen and towels
Bed linen and towels are provided for guests.
Arrival and departure times
Arrival time is after 4pm and departure time is by 10am. Access is via a key safe, therefore it does not matter if you are arriving late at night.
Bed sizes and configurations
- Master bedroom (second floor): King size bed
- Bedroom 2 (first floor): King size bed
- Snug (first floor): 4ft double sofa bed
Bathroom
- Family bathroom (first floor): Sunken bath with overhead rain shower and separate handheld shower attachment, toilet and wash basin
Heating, fuel and logs
The property has a gas central heating system.
Electricity and gas are included in the rental price. An initial basket of logs is provided for the open fire between October and March, and further log supplies can be purchased locally.
Services provided
The property has free wireless internet access and a TV with Amazon Fire TV Stick.
There is no telephone at the property.
Mobile phone reception is variable.
Parking
Free on-street parking can usually be found close to the cottage and there is a car park (Pay & Display), a short walk away 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 may be available on request.
Child friendly facilities
A travel cot (without linen) and high chair are provided.
Initial consumables
A small quantity of initial consumables is provided for your convenience (e.g. tea, handful of Nespresso capsules, sugar, dishwasher tablets, washing up liquid, soap, washing powder, fabric conditioner, toilet rolls, etc), however, you should not expect the quantity of these provisions to be sufficient for the duration of your stay.
Accessibility, health and safety
This is an old, Grade II listed property with many character features including narrow and steep stairs, low beams and multiple floors, all of which could pose difficulty to guests with limited mobility, or carrying babies, both in terms of their general movement and their ability to quickly exit the house in the event of an emergency.
The front door of Elephant Cottage has steps down onto the street and so guests with young children should take particular care to ensure that children are supervised when the door is open.
The roof terrace is enclosed, however children should be supervised outside at all times as there is a low wall at the end.
The smoke and CO 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 or vaping is permitted throughout the property.
Other
Please note that barbecues are not permitted on the roof terrace as they pose a fire risk.
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
Elephant Cottage was launched as a Holiday Let with Character Cottages in August 2020. Customer reviews and feedback for this lovely property are provided below:
Other Guest Feedback:
-"A lovely cottage full of character. Great location very close to the centre of Tetbury. Kitchen is well equipped but Tetbury is full of lovely places to eat out too.", Debbie, December 2020
-"Had a fab week’s staycation in Tetbury in the lovely Elephant Cottage. Great location for all the amenities and some beautiful local walks. The cottage was perfect for a week’s relaxation, and we really enjoyed the luxury of sitting out on the terrace in the sunshine.", Charlotte and Stefan, August 2020
- "We really did enjoy our stay and were very sad to leave yesterday. The cottage was the perfect size for my 3 friends and I and we loved the layout of the property - the kitchen-diner made for very sociable cooking/meal times; the snug upstairs gave us comfortable space to play card games and the decor and interiors were perfectly stylish. Brilliant location; we explored Tetbury and all the little shops, did a big food shop on Friday at the local Tesco and used one of the leaflets provided to do a 10km walk on the Sunday, finished off with a lovely roast at the Royal Oak pub. We were also very pleased to be greeted with a lovely little chocolate cake!", Louise, August 2020
Floorplan

Inventory
Our aim is for you to enjoy Elephant 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 |
TV with Amazon Fire TV Stick |
Bed linen, bath sheets and hand towels |
Nespresso coffee machine (without capsules) |
Four-ring induction hob |
Fridge/freezer |
Wireless internet |
Kettle |
Microwave |
Outdoor table and seating |
Electric oven |
Toaster |
Blender |
Washing machine/tumble dryer |
Dishwasher |
Portable fan |
Travel cot (without linen) |
High chair |
|
General provisions |
Bin bags |
Dishwasher tablets |
Hand soap |
J cloths & scourers |
Salt and pepper |
Washing up liquid |
Small quantity of sugar |
Small quantity of tea bags |
Toilet roll |
Other equipment and facilities |
CO detectors |
Fire blanket |
Smoke alarms |
Clothes drying rack |
Fire extinguisher |
2 x ironing boards |
Hair dryer |
2 x irons |
|
Travel
Elephant Cottage is located in the vibrant market town of Tetbury, ten miles from Cirencester.
Travelling by car
Tetbury is easily accessed by car, being located approximately 14 miles away from both the M5 and M4.
Travelling by train
The nearest railway station to Tetbury is Kemble (approximately seven miles away), which has regular services to London Paddington, with a typical journey time of around 90 minutes.
Travelling by plane
Tetbury is within easy reach of a number of international airports:
- Heathrow International Airport: 90 miles, approximately 100 minute drive;
- Birmingham International Airport: 80 miles, approximately 90 minute drive.