Description
Summary
July Cottage is a beautiful honey-coloured Cotswold stone cottage which sleeps five guests, in three stylish bedrooms, with a family bathroom. This quintessential Cotswold cottage boasts many character features including oak beams, exposed Cotswold stone walls and a fireplace with a cosy wood burning stove.
These period features have been complemented with contemporary décor, modern facilities such as wireless internet access and a Freeview TV with basic BT package, Netflix and Amazon Prime access, and personal touches, including original mid-20th century artwork. At the front of the property there is a stunning garden with views of the village church, and free on-street parking is readily available.
Location
July Cottage is peacefully located in the small yet charming village of Ilmington in the north-east corner of the Cotswolds. Situated in the oldest part of the village, the cottage overlooks the ancient apple tree orchard and the Norman church of St Mary, where the bells still ring out over the orchard. At the heart of the village there are two well-regarded pubs, a village shop, village hall, children’s playground and playing fields where the annual summer fair is held.
This picturesque village falls within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and sits at the foot of the Ilmington Downs, the highest point in Warwickshire. The Downs offer lovely views across the Vale of Evesham and there are many walks and cycle routes to explore in the local area, including routes over to Hidcote, home to one of the best Arts and Crafts Gardens in Britain, now owned by the National Trust. Ilmington is well placed for exploring the many nearby villages and towns of the region, including Ebrington, Mickleton, Chipping Campden and Shipston-on-Stour, with the latter offering a wide range of shops, restaurants and cafes to enjoy. The world-famous tourist destinations of Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare and home of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, are within easy reach for days out, with the latter just seven miles away.
Description
July Cottage is the perfect retreat for a family or a gathering of friends who are seeking a relaxing getaway surrounded by the glorious Cotswold countryside. The property is laid out as follows:
| Room | Amenities |
|---|
| Living room |
A spacious and beautifully presented room with exposed wooden beams and an exposed Cotswold stone feature wall. This room contains:
- stylish fireplace with wood burning stove
- three-seater sofa and two armchairs
- Freeview TV with basic BT package, Netflix access and Amazon Prime access for account holders only
|
| Kitchen |
The tastefully decorated galley style kitchen is ideal for home cooking and contains:
- electric oven with four-ring electric hob
- fridge with small freezer compartment
- dishwasher, microwave, kettle, toaster and Nespresso coffee machine
|
| Dining room |
This wonderfully light dual aspect room has two sets of French doors leading out into the attractive garden and contains:
- dining table which comfortably seats five guests
|
| Master bedroom |
A bright and well presented bedroom with lovely views over the garden towards the village church. This bedroom contains:
- double bed
- wardrobe
- dressing table and bedroom chair
- mirror
|
| Bedroom 2 |
This elegant bedroom contains:
- double bed
- chest of drawers and open hanging space
- dressing table and bedroom chair
- mirror
|
| Bedroom 3 |
Overlooking the garden and village church, this bedroom contains:
- single bed
- wardrobe and chest of drawers
- dressing table with drawers and bedroom chair
- mirror
|
| Family bathroom |
Contains:
- bath, walk-in shower, toilet, wash basin and heated towel rail
|
The wonderful well-established garden is located at the front and side of the cottage, accessed via the front door or the French doors in the dining room. There is a lawn area on one side of the garden path and the rest of the garden comprises seating areas surrounded by beautiful flowers and mature shrubs. There is an outdoor table with seating for four in the centre, great for al fresco dining in the warmer months as a charcoal barbecue is provided. A bistro table with seating for two is tucked away next to the hornbeam hedge which encloses the garden and provides privacy, and a cosy metal bench for two sits directly outside the cottage, catching the sun. The layout of this suntrap garden has been carefully thought through, with a further bistro table nestled in the side garden adjacent to the dining room, perfect for enjoying a morning coffee. There is an outhouse which contains a washing machine/tumble dryer.
There is free on-street parking readily available in the village.
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
A security deposit of £150 is payable, which is returned after the letting period, subject to an inspection of the property. For the avoidance of doubt, guests are requested to leave the property in a reasonable condition, consistent with the property's appearance upon arrival. In the event that the owners, or their appointed housekeepers, have to spend additional time tidying up after your departure, then the cost of this extra time may be deducted from your security deposit. The security deposit is payable prior to arrival at the property, via a bank transfer or a valid debit or credit card.
Occupancy
The maximum occupancy of the property is five 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 five 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
One small well-behaved dog is welcome to stay at July Cottage, at a cost of £20 per booking.
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. A wooden gate is provided to prevent dogs from going upstairs.
Bed linen and towels
Bed linen and towels are provided for guests.
Arrival and departure times
Arrival time is after 5pm and departure time is by 9am. Access is via a key safe, therefore it does not matter if you are arriving late at night.
Bed sizes and configurations
- Master bedroom: Double bed
- Bedroom 2: Double bed
- Bedroom 3: Single bed
Bathroom
- Family bathroom: Bath, walk-in shower, toilet and wash basin
Heating, fuel and logs
The property has an oil fired central heating system.
Electricity and oil are included in the rental price. An initial basket of logs is provided for the wood burning stove and further log supplies can be purchased locally.
Services provided
The property has free wireless internet access and a Freeview TV with basic BT package and access to Netflix and Amazon Prime.
There is no telephone at the property.
Mobile phone reception is variable, typically being better outside the property than inside.
Parking
Free on-street parking is readily available outside or close to the cottage.
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), high chair and baby bath are provided.
Initial consumables
A small quantity of initial consumables is provided for your convenience (eg. tea, coffee, handful of Nespresso capsules, sugar, dishwasher tablets, washing up liquid, soap, washing powder, 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 property with character features including slightly uneven flooring on the first floor 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 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.
Corporate and commercial bookings
Unfortunately, this property does not accept corporate, work related or commercial bookings of any kind.
Other
The garden is maintained by a professional gardening service every Thursday. This work will be completed as quickly as possible and with as little disturbance as possible to guests.
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
July Cottage was launched as a Holiday Let with Character Cottages in October 2015. Customer reviews and feedback for this lovely property are provided below:
Other Guest Feedback:
-"July cottage is cosy, warm & clean, it’s basically like coming home, but better.", Allison, August 2020
-“July Cottage is a great place, in a lovely village. Ilmington is full of character and located within a few minutes drive of great sights like Broadway Tower, Hidcote Gardens, and Stratford-Upon-Avon. The cottage itself is done to a high standard with plenty of space for a small family. We had a great time with our pug and will look to come back soon.”, Bruna, August 2020
-"July Cottage is a beautifully presented and sparking clean property in a stunning (but friendly) Cotswolds village with great amenities (local shop and two pubs). We loved our stay and will definitely be back.” , Rhian, July 2020
-"Wonderful cottage - only negative was the beds. Maybe we are being picky as we have great beds at home however they are not the best abd dont match the quality througout the rest of the cottage. Everything else was superb.", Maximilian, January 2020
-“Cottage and garden is beautiful and the village is so pretty. Everything you may need is provided. And every room is spotless clean. Highly recommended”, Paula, November 2019
-"Great cottage in an ideal location to explore the Cotswolds set in a picturesque English village with two great pubs within walking distance to eat and relax in the evenings. Great space, cosy and clean.”, Mark, October 2019
-“Had a wonderfully stay. Every detail well thought out! Very comfortable and lovely decor!”, Susan, August 2019
-"Beautiful cottage in a picturesque Cotswolds village - we loved our stay and would happily recommend to others”, Adrian, August 2019
-“Fantastic beautifully decorated cottage in lovely village. We all had the best time. Garden is brill, sat out until it went dark every night.”, Chris, July 2019
-“Cosy, beautiful cottage which is well equipped. Excellent location to explore the Cotswolds from. Generous hosts who added some homely touches.”, Jonathan, June 2019
-“Really lovely place would recommend.”, Clare, April 2019
-"A lovely little find in the Cotswolds, clean, modern yet traditional. Good location to explore the area and all there is on offer. We will be back!", Claire, March 2019
-"Gorgeous cottage in stunning village with 2 excellent pubs within walking distance. Cottage had everything we needed for a fantastic Christmas including tasteful decorations in keeping with the cottage. The owner was very helpful and flexible with arrival and departure. Would definitely recommend to friends and family.", Alison, January 2019
-"It was just fantastic in every way. Everything was impeccably clean. The location is perfect. We would stay here again in a heartbeat. Thank you very much.", Carme, September 2018
-"This is our 2nd visit to July cottage and we know we will return again. The cottage is gorgeous with everything you need for a comfortable stay set in a lovely village with amenities to hand.", Lynn, June 2018
-"The cottage is so quaint with peaceful neighbourhood. WiFi available for easy communication. The house is so tastefully done with very modern and a well equipped kitchen. Host Sarah is contactable and relies promptly.”, Norrida, May 2018
-"A beautifully presented cottage that provided a comfortable weekend stay as a base for our son's wedding day. Ideally situated for the newly opened wedding and reception venue at Blackwell Grange nearby, July Cottage is a perfectly located retreat for the perfect escape!", Andy, December 2017
-"July cottage was absolutely perfect. The house is even better in person and the host has thought of every detail to make for the most comfortable stay, we will definitely be back!", Kate, November 2017
-"This is a truly beautiful property absolutely bursting with character.. so comfortable and stylish it was a fantastic base from which to explore the rest of the Cotswolds. I'd highly recommend this place.", Shona, October 2017
-“It is a wonderful house, as well as the village and the landscape. The owners are lovely. We felt at home.”, Joaquin, August 2017
-“The cottage is wonderful located, lovely furnished and has everything one need during a holiday stay.”, Corinna, August 2017
-“We had a lovely, wonderful time staying at July Cottage. We found it very cosy and well equipped and just bathed in a good feeling of peace and quiet. Lovely places to walk nearby (foxcote hill road), very easy access to Stratford-upon-Avon. Would definitely want to visit again. “, Philp, June 2017
-"Great little cottage, great little village. Cottage had nearly everything we wanted and with 2 little ones that's great.", Robert, May 2017
Floorplan
Inventory
Our aim is for you to enjoy July 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 |
|---|
| Charcoal barbecue and utensils (without coals) |
Bed linen, bath sheets and hand towels |
Dog bed and water bowl |
| Four-ring electric hob |
Fridge with small freezer compartment |
Baby bath |
| Kettle |
Microwave |
Outdoor tables and seating |
| Electric oven |
Toaster |
Dishwasher |
| Washing machine/tumble dryer |
Wireless internet |
Travel cot (without linen) |
| Freeview TV with basic BT package, Netflix access and Amazon Prime access for account holders only |
Nespresso coffee machine with aeroccino (without capsules) |
High chair |
| 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 |
|
|
| Other equipment and facilities |
|---|
| Clothes drying rack |
Smoke alarms |
3 x hair dryers |
| Fire blanket |
Fire extinguishers |
First aid kit |
| Ironing board |
Iron |
|
Travel
July Cottage is located in the peaceful village of Ilmington on the north-east edge of the Cotswolds, five miles away from Chipping Campden.
Travelling by car
July Cottage is easily accessed by car, being located approximately two miles away from the A429 (Fosse Way), one of the main roads through the North Cotswolds.
Travelling by train
The nearest railway stations to Ilmington are Honeybourne (approximately eight miles away), or Moreton-in-Marsh (approximately nine miles) which have regular, direct services to London Paddington, with a typical journey time of approximately 90-120 minutes. Stratford-upon-Avon railway station is also only nine miles away, with regular direct services to Birmingham stations and London Marylebone.
Travelling by plane
July Cottage is within easy reach of a number of international airports:
- Heathrow International Airport: 85 miles, approximately 90 minute drive;
- Birmingham International Airport: 35 miles, approximately 45 minute drive.
