Description
Summary
Built from classic honey coloured Cotswold Stone and dating back to the 17th Century, Hainault House is a double fronted, Grade II listed property, standing proudly on the raised pavements of the historic village of Blockley. Despite being well away from major roads and tourist buses, the village is fortunate to have two pubs, a restaurant and an award winning community owned shop and café. Blockley is close to the popular Cotswold market towns of Moreton-in-Marsh, Chipping Camden and Stow-on-the-Wold, and many stunning countryside walks are right on the doorstep.
Hainault House boasts many character features, including mullion windows, flagstone floors, exposed Cotswold stone walls and a large inglenook fireplace. The character of the house is complemented by the contemporary décor and modern facilities, including wireless broadband, Freesat TV with DVD player, and an Aga in the kitchen.
The house sleeps a maximum of eight people, in four bedrooms, with a family bathroom and a further en-suite bathroom, as well as two separate living rooms. There is a terraced rear garden, with stunning views over the Blockley valley from the top level, and quiet on street parking is freely available. Hainault House is the perfect setting for a family holiday or for a group of friends wishing to explore the beautiful Cotswolds region.
Description
The front door of Hainault House sits on the raised pavement of the quiet High Street and opens into the ground floor living room. The following rooms are on the ground floor:
- Living room: Full of the character of the oldest part of the house, the living room contains a large inglenook fireplace with a real fire, flagstone floor, exposed Cotswold stone walls and a mullion window with wooden shutters and window seat. There is comfy seating for at least five adults, with additional seating available on the window seat, on large beanbags and by moving chairs from the adjacent dining room;
- Dining room: Contains a large oak dining table and seating for eight;
- Kitchen: Contains an Aga, a separate cooker and four ring gas hob, fridge freezer, dishwasher, microwave, kettle, and a table with four wooden stools;
- Utility room: Contains a washing machine and a tumble dryer.
Stairs lead up from the living room to the first floor. Halfway up the stairs is the family bathroom:
- Family bathroom: Contains a bath with overhead shower, toilet and wash basin.
The first floor has a small landing and the following rooms:
- Second living room: A further reception room, with an abundance of character, including an oak floor, exposed Cotswold stone wall and a mullion window, with a window seat and fabulous countryside views. Contains a flat screen TV and DVD player, plus comfy seating for approximately five adults;
- Bedroom 1: With lovely countryside views and a nice window seat, this room contains either a super king size bed or two single beds;
- Bedroom 2: Contains either a super king size bed or two single beds. There is an en-suite bathroom, with a walk-in shower, toilet and wash basin.
Further stairs lead up from the first floor landing to the second floor landing, off which are two further bedrooms in the eaves of the house:
- Bedroom 3: Contains a double bed;
- Bedroom 4: Contains a double bed.
Hainault's back door leads out from the kitchen to the garden. Steps lead up straight from the back door to the first garden level and further steps then lead up to the second garden level, from which there are fabulous views across the Blockley valley. In total there are 51 steps up to the top of the back garden. There is an outdoor table and seating in the garden, plus a charcoal barbecue. Parking is primarily available at the front of the property, on the quiet road past Hainault House.
Key Features
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 Hainault House.
Occupancy
The maximum occupancy of the property, including its grounds, is eight 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 eight 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 two additional infants.
Pets
One medium sized dog, or two smaller dogs, are welcome to stay at Hainault House, at a cost of £20 per booking per dog.
For the comfort of future guests, we ask that dogs remain downstairs, stay off the furniture and that no trace of a dog remains after your departure.
Bed linen and towels
Bed linen, bath sheets and hand towels are provided for guests.
Arrival and departure times
Arrival time at Hainault House is after 3pm 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
- Bedroom 1: Either 2 single beds OR a super king size bed
- Bedroom 2: En-suite room, with either 2 single beds OR a super king size bed
- Bedroom 3: Double bed
- Bedroom 4: Double bed
Fuel and logs
Electricity and gas are included in the letting price. There is a large inglenook fireplace in the ground floor living room and logs are provided under a fair usage policy (there is an honesty box for contributions towards the cost of logs used).
There is a fireplace in the upper living room, but this is ornamental only.
Services provided
Hainault House has free wireless internet access and a Freeview TV with DVD player. A cordless telephone is also provided, with an honesty box for the cost of calls made.
Blockley is in a valley and guests should be aware that mobile phone reception can be very poor.
Parking
Hainault House is located on a quiet road and free on street parking is usually available directly outside the house. An additional parking space is available at the top of the garden, however, parking in front of the house is typically more convenient for guests.
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), high chair and safety gate are provided. The safety gate encloses the upper living room, creating a safe environment for young children.
Hainault House’s split level garden is enclosed, however, please note that it is accessed via steps from the back door and the main areas of the garden are not visible from the house.
Initial consumables
A small quantity of initial consumables is provided for your convenience (eg. tea, coffee, sugar, dishwasher tablets, washing up liquid, soap, washing powder, etc), however, you should not expect the quantity of these provisions to be sufficient for the duration of your stay.
Accessibility, health and safety
Hainault House is an old, Grade II listed property and has many character features, including narrow and steep stairs, low beams, multiple floors and 51 steps from the back door to the top of the garden, 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 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.
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
Hainault House is one of the most highly ranked holiday homes in the Cotswolds. Recent Trip Advisor and other guest posts include the following:
Other Guest Feedback:
- “Interesting property on three floors. The grandchildren in particular loved all its different rooms (they could take their Monopoly up to the first floor living room!). Ideally an additional bathroom or ensuite would have been good with the full accommodation being utilised, but understandably old houses can't easily be adapted to offer this. If we'd been there longer and not spent most of our time going out and about, we'd have loved to make use of the two tiered lawns off the steep steps at the back of the house. Blockley is a beautiful village with a lot of historical interest, if not one of the really well known picture book ones. Lots of places to go not far away in this corner of the Cotswolds. Great Western Arms provided a lovely meal with friendly efficient service.”, John, June 2017
- "Lovely well kitted out property in a delightful setting. Loved it!" Matthew, April 2017
- "Wonderful cottage, very well equipped in a perfect quiet location. We will stay again in the future. Thank-you." Ian Gray, April 2017
- “The cottage was delightful, we all really enjoyed it, so peaceful & quiet, we all slept well including the baby!!. The fire made it really cosy. The food in the Great Western was delicious. It's a beautiful area and I'm sure we will return at some time.”, Mary, March 2017
- “An exceptional property in a lovely unspoiled village. House was very well equipped, comfortable furnishings - the open fire was a real highlight. Lots of walks nearby, and the Great Western Arms very highly recommended. Add to the mix a well stocked village shop and you have the ingredients for a perfect weekend.”, Mike, February 2017
- “Really nice cottage in a great location. Everything was ready for us when we arrived and the kitchen is well equipped. Would stay there again.”, David, November 2016
- “A lovely cottage very well equipped, really enjoyed our stay and would like to return.”, Kathy, November 2016
- “What an amazing little gem. Hainault House was absolutely lovely and in an amazing location. Easy enough to get to from London but quaint enough to make you feel like you've gone back in time. Great facilities and everything you'd need for the perfect family stay. Will definitely be heading back very soon!!!!”, Richard, November 2016
- "We had a great time! Lovely house & village, lovely walks and countryside. We don't want to go! Loved the open fire. Visited Sudeley Castle & Cirencester. Recommended!", The Alderins, June 2016
- "Lovely stay. Beautiful cottage. Loved living in a village for a few days. Thank you!", Dr Souza, May 2016
- "Lovely stay with the family for Easter. Lots of laughs shared in this cosy cottage. It's a shame to be leaving. We enjoyed your lovely village! Thank you.", The Greenings, March 2016
- "Lovely home and perfect open fire. Blockley is charming and the Crown Inn oes a good Sunday lunch for £7.95. There are some good walks from the village that weren't too muddy. We would recommend a walk to Broadway Tower. Thanks", The Blotts, February 2016
- "Lovely stay - comfortable house. Lots of walks from the village. Would recommend the Horse & Groom pub in Bourton on the Hill - great food!", Henderson Family, February 2016
- "Lovely stay to celebrate us all turning 40! Beautiful cottage, loved the fire. Nice meals at The Crown + Great Weston. Enjoyed exploring Stow on the Wold, Chipping Norton and the village", Julia, Emma, Emma, Veena, Catherine & Maggie, January 2016
There are approximately 80 further reviews, dating back to Summer 2008.
Floor plan
Inventory
Inventory
Our aim is for you to enjoy Hainault 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 |
|---|
| Cooker and hob |
Fridge freezer |
Kettle |
| Microwave |
Tumble dryer |
Dishwasher |
| Toaster |
Aga |
Barbecue and utensils |
| Outdoor table and seating |
Bed linen, bath sheets and hand towels |
High chair |
| Safety gate |
Stereo with iPod dock |
Travel cot (without linen) |
| TV |
Wireless internet |
|
| General provisions |
|---|
| Bin bags |
Dishwasher tablets |
Hand soap |
| J cloths & scourers |
Salt and pepper |
Small quantity of instant coffee |
| Small quantity of sugar |
Small quantity of tea bags |
Toilet roll |
| Washing up liquid |
Bathroom spray |
Cling film |
| Duster |
Flash All Purpose |
Kitchen roll |
| Multi-surface polish |
Tin foil |
Tissues |
| Selection of herbs and spices |
|
|
| Other equipment and facilities |
|---|
| Tea towels |
Small wine rack |
Dustpan and brush |
| Mop and bucket |
Tall brush |
Vacuum cleaner |
| Portable electric heaters |
Clothes dryer |
CO detectors |
| Fire blanket |
Fire extinguishers |
Fire guard |
| First aid kit |
Smoke alarms |
Torches |
| Window locks |
Emergency lights |
Appliance instruction folder |
| Iron |
Ironing board |
Tourist information folder |
| Games |
|
|
Travel
Hainault House is located on a quiet road, in the peaceful, picturesque village of Blockley.
Travelling by car
Blockley is easily accessed by car, being located approximately 1 mile away from the A44 and approximately 3 miles away from the A429 (Fosse Way), which are two of the main roads through the North Cotswolds.
Travelling by train
The nearest railway station to Blockley is Moreton-in-Marsh (approximately 3 miles away), which has regular, direct services to London Paddington, with a typical journey time of approximately 90 minutes.
Travelling by plane
Blockley is within easy reach of a number of international airports:
- Birmingham International Airport: 42 miles, approximately 60 minute drive;
- Heathrow International Airport: 76 miles, approximately 90 minute drive;
- Bristol International Airport: 75 miles, approximately 90 minute drive.
