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Family home-from-home cottage on working estate

Photo gallery for Family home-from-home cottage on working estate

A stone building with a tiled roof, a brick patio with a table and chairs, and a green umbrella.
A traditional brick building with a red-tiled roof, a small tower, and a well-maintained lawn.
A paved pathway flanked by neatly trimmed grass and trees, leading towards a building in the distance.
Room
A bedroom with a bed, a dresser, a chair, a mirror, a window with curtains, and a radiator.

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Fireplace
    A rare find - cosy up in front of a warm, inviting fireplace.
3 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 5

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Dogs and cats allowed
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Barbecue
  • Garden

Explore the area

View map
Chesterton, England
  • Place, Bicester Golf and Country Club
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Bicester Avenue
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Place, Bicester Village
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Airport, Oxford (OXF)
    ‪20 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

1 Single Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Family home-from-home cottage on working estate

The Cow Shed is a lovingly furnished home-from-home cottage on a working farm in Oxfordshire, just outside the village of Chesterton. Twenty minutes drive from the famous university town of Oxford, and only 5 minutes from the shopping mecca of Bicester Village. The nearby Cotswolds are famous for their idyllic English countryside. For foodies there are gastro pubs nearby. Free wifi, pet friendly, easy access from Heathrow, and a warm welcome. Longer term lets from Kensington Property Management. Apologies but no contractors please.

The Cow Shed (yes there really were once happy cows wintering in this cottage, though they are discouraged from returning home these days) is situated on a private estate and farm in Oxfordshire. The nearest village is Chesterton, about a mile away. But please note this is a working farm and there may be animals and other working vehicles moving about the property, especially at harvest time. And there are also farm offices in the adjacent courtyard.

Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds are famous for walks, cycle and horse rides and its idyllic English countryside and villages.

The Cow Shed has a spacious open-plan kitchen and dining area with a table suitable for up to six people. The kitchen has all the modern amenities of fridge/freezer, dishwasher, hob, oven and microwave, and washing machine and dryer.

Along the hallway, there is a large sitting room with big comfortable
sofas, a gorgeous wood burning stove, a widescreen TV, free wi-fi and plenty of books and maps and local information to get your teeth into.

The cottage has three bedrooms: one king size; one twin room with two singles; and a further single room. There is also a large family bathroom. There are private gardens at the front and rear of the property, with a lovely outside seating area at the rear for al fresco summer lunches.

We look forward to welcoming you to your home from home... check us out online at Kensington Property Management...and 'follow us' on the image sharing app....

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 28
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs and cats (limit 2 total)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
In the event of a problem over the weekend Dom the handyman or any of our service people will probably only be able to come on Monday morning!

Important information

You need to know

Property # 8660954
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Bicester

Located in Bicester, this cottage is in a rural area. Oxfordshire Museum and Oxford Bus Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include Blenheim Palace and Rousham House and Gardens. Steane Park Garden and Barton Leisure Centre are also worth visiting. Practise your golf swing on a nearby course, or enjoy other activities in the great outdoors, such as cycling and mountain biking in the area.
View more Cottages in BicesterOpens in a new window
Map
Chesterton, England

What's nearby

  • Bicester Golf and Country Club - 4 min drive - 1.7 km
  • Bicester Avenue - 9 min drive - 5.0 km
  • Pingle Brook Open Space - 9 min drive - 5.0 km
  • Bicester Shopping Park - 9 min drive - 6.4 km
  • Bicester Village - 10 min drive - 6.7 km

Getting around

  • Bicester Heyford Station - 10 min drive
  • Oxford (OXF) - 19 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Pret a Manger - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Shan Shui - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪La Tua Pasta - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪The Apartment - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪itsu - ‬11 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Family home-from-home cottage on working estate pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 2 total).

How much does it cost to stay at Family home-from-home cottage on working estate?

As of 10 July 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Family home-from-home cottage on working estate on 17 August 2026 start from NZ$480, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Family home-from-home cottage on working estate?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Family home-from-home cottage on working estate?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Family home-from-home cottage on working estate?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Family home-from-home cottage on working estate located?

Situated in a rural location, this cottage is 1.5 mi (2.5 km) from Bicester Golf and Country Club and 2.6 mi (4.2 km) from Bicester Village. Bicester Shopping Park and Bicester Avenue are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 14 out of 18 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 18 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 18 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 18 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 18 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.0/10

Location

9.2/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Susan S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Working Bicester shopping Centre

this was the ideal place for the short journey to work very clean and great hosts
Stayed 49 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 29 November 2024
Dear Susan ... thanks so much for such a lovely review, we really appreciate it! Your team are welcome again any time. Thanks so much and happy onward travels to you! All best Hugo
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Graham W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely appointed property well equipped

Perfect location for exploring Oxford and the Cotswolds
Stayed 40 nights in Mar 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 6 May 2023
Dear Graham... thanks so much for such a lovely review, we really appreciate it! You are welcome again any time. Thanks so much and happy onward travels to you! All best Hugo & Chrissie
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amy M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The Cow Shed

We loved this property. Quiet and peaceful with loads of helpful information from Hugo and Chrissie. It was a treat to spend a day in busy London or Oxford and then return to the tranquility of the Cow Shed in the evening. We loved our stay!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 5 July 2023
Dear Amy... thanks so much for such a lovely review, we really appreciate it! You are welcome again any time. Thanks so much and happy onward travels to you! All best Hugo
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Shauna C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beauty in Chesterton area

This vacation spot was spacious, clean and in an idyllic setting. We stayed for 4 nights, wish we had stayed longer. Hopefully we will be back again someday. Every little thing that you wanted was present, and more. Thank you so much to the Owners for being the very essence of hospitality.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 23 March 2020
Dear Shauna ... thanks so much much for such a lovely review, we really appreciate it! You are welcome again any time. Thanks so much and happy onward travels to you! all best Hugo
Verified

6/10 Okay

KAREN B.

Liked: Check-in, communication

Nice cottage but could do with more accurate description

Firstly we took 2 dogs with us and the garden was not secure for them and they kept getting out as well as a dog from a neighbouring property coming into the garden. There was nowhere within walking distance to take the dogs for a walk which was not very helpful. Also there was no tea, coffee, sugar or milk provided so we were unable to have a drink when we arrived and also no washing up liquid and only one toilet roll which when I queried this we were provided with 2 more.. The internet was very poor and we struggled to get on to it most of the time. Overall we had a lovely time but I think that the property needs a more accurate listing.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 3 August 2022
Dear Karen ... many thanks for the review, and apologies for the below re the amenities, you are quite right, the owners were away on holiday that week, and so was the regular housekeeper, and our replacement cleaners did not re-stock the kitchen with tea and coffee properly as you say, i'm so sorry about that, we would be happy to offer you a free couple of nights on another trip to make up for that? We did check out the WIFI and could not find anything wrong with it, maybe there was something temporarily down on the BT lines outside or something. And just fyi, we do not describe the garden as fully enclosed, it is, as you know, on a rural working farm and there is the surrounding protection of the farm acreage for dogs, but indeed the cottage may not be suitable for 'wandering' dogs. Anyway, hopefully we can make up the lack of kitchen amenities to you at some point! Kind regards Hugo
Verified

4/10 Poor

Titus v.

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Location, listing accuracy

Nice well equiped house, but not as quiet as suggested. Need some attention to furniture.

Lovely spacious house. Very well equipped (almost like home). Within travelling distance of most Cotswolds highlights. The few words "working farm" in the description do not mean a friendly mooing cow, but running machines and engines (squeaking in reverse) from 7:30 am, during most of the day. The nearby highway is very noisy 24x7. But what really ruined the stay was a construction site (not mentioned) just 50 metres away. Loud noises all day from engines, squeaking, power tools, grinding, radios, clanging metal. It was never quiet. Sometimes conversation was even impossible. The response was disappointing: the manager Hugo did not know there was a construction site at all. The local representative felt we had no right to complain because it said "very clearly" that it was a working farm and we were the first to complain.... The bungalow is next to a business park. Cars passing the speed bump are very loud in a certain bedroom and garden. So relaxing sitting in the garden was only possible on Sundays. The sofa really needs to be replaced: my children preferred to lie on their beds (which were all uncomfortably hard) than with us in the sitting room. The owner/local representative was there willing to help and solve some problems. But of course, they couldn't stop running the farm and construction site. That 'forced' us to leave most of the time, staying at home was not pleasant.
Stayed 21 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 26 September 2023
Thanks for the review Titus, and apologies that the nextdoor property was doing a renovation at the time of your arrival, by UK law they only have to give us a week's notice of commencing, which is not very helpful I know, but so we did not get much notice of their starting their renovation. Their building is more than 50 metres away which we had thought would not cause too many problems noise wise, i think it was just unfortunately the week you were there that they were mainly working outside on the roof, as no one else has made any comments on the noise since then, but i believe they had moved inside, obviously a lot quieter, when you left. Unfortunately they are allowed to do that work to their property, as long as they stick to the normal noise constraints, and no noise outside of working hours, which apparently they did adhere to.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ashley E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely farm stay

Had a lovely time in the little farm cottage. Everything was clean and it had everything you needed.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely location and welcoming owners

We loved the location, had a great stay and the cow shed met all our needs. There was lots of wildlife about and it was very peaceful. We used it as a base to visit Blenheim, Stowe and Oxford. The owners were very helpful and accommodating.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Bilye M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Simply wonderful

The house was so comfortable and Chrissy and Charlie were the most superb and helpful hosts. We were lucky enough to be here during the Covid pandemic and Chrissy and Charlie made our extended stay a dream. The house has everything we needed with some special touches to make it very comfortable and functional, especially during a long-term stay. Life on the farm is quiet and relaxing. I would highly recommend it, short or long-term. It's a great place to recharge!
Stayed 38 nights in Mar 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 21 April 2020
Dear Bilye... thanks so much much for such a lovely review, we really appreciate it! And happy continued stay, at least the sun is shining! all best Hugo
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Alexandra M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Charming cottage

We stayed for a week in this welcoming and warm cottage in February 2020 where everything was provided for. Good selection of free food and milk/tea/coffee which took away any stress of having to shop after a long trip from Scotland. Thank you for that. I particularly liked the quality, heavy interlined curtains and blinds! Beautifully warm on arrival, light, airy, lovely views out of windows. All in all, a recommended homely cottage. Communications from the owners were excellent.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 23 March 2020
Dear Alexandra ... thanks so much much for such a lovely review, we really appreciate it! You are welcome again any time. Thanks so much and happy onward travels to you! all best Lizzie & Chrissy
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mariah W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely cottage in perfect location

We loved our time here. The cottage is perfectly quaint, comfortable, well equipped, in a great location with wonderful hosts. We would definitely recommend this property.
Stayed 15 nights in Sep 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 23 March 2020
Dear Mariah ... thanks so much much for such a lovely review, we really appreciate it! You are welcome again any time. Thanks so much and happy onward travels to you! all best Lizzie, Hugo & Chrissy
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Philip H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place to stay

Great location and very well appointed, appreciated the grocery welcome pack and the useful information on local area and restaurants
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amanda G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Gorgeous location with comfy house

This property was an absolute delight. So many nice, small touches in addition to having a clean property, comfy beds, in a lovely location. We spent 30 days here and immediately felt at home. The house has a well supplied kitchen, nice washer and dryer, and a lovely path for walks. I only wish we could have stayed longer. Thanks for the lovely hospitality!
Stayed 30 nights in Jun 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 23 March 2020
Dear Amanda ... thanks so much much for such a lovely review, we really appreciate it! You are welcome again any time. Thanks so much and happy onward travels to you! all best Hugo, Charlie & Chrissie
Verified

10/10 Excellent

b c.

marvelous

The cottage is in a perfect location for visiting Blenheim Palace, Oxford and even the Cotswolds. It is kitted out very nicely without being overly precious... with little luxuries to boot. The beds and linens are very comfortable; the kitchen well equipped. Everything had been thought through very carefully. We enjoyed our stay immensely and recommend it wholeheartedly.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 23 March 2020
Dear Beth ... thanks so much much for such a lovely review, we really appreciate it! You are welcome again any time. Thanks so much and happy onward travels to you! all best Lizzie
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Frans v.

A lovely stay in the Cow Shed

The Cow Shed is a really nice cottage. You can see and feel the effort Hugo, Lizzie and Chrissy put in it to make the Cow Shed a warm 'holiday'home. We (3 persons and our dog) enjoyed our stay and we felt sorry to leave the Cow Shed so soon. Hugo, Lizzie and Chrissy many thanks and we hope to come back soon! family van Leeuwen, The Netherlands
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 23 March 2020
Dear Frans ... thanks so much much for such a lovely review, we really appreciate it! You are welcome again any time. Thanks so much and happy onward travels to you! all best Hggo Lizzie & Chrissie
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marie G.

Beautiful house in the countryside

Beautiful, well equipped house with plenty of space, and a big garden. Well located for trips to Oxford and the Cotswolds. Nice, friendly hosts. Highly recommended!
Response from VrboOwner on 23 March 2020
Thanks so much Marie!
Verified

8/10 Good

Margaret W.

Beautiful property and setting

Loved this property suited us perfectly peaceful but not isolated so you can travel into bisecter for great shopping
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

We'll come again

We had a lovely stay in The Old Milk Shed. It is beatutifully decorated and modern, with big windows that let in alot of light. The beds were comfortable, the bathtub fantastic, the kitchen modern and convenient. We appreciated the garden very much, as well as access to a washing machine! There are some fine pubs and gastropubs nearby, which the owners very kindly let us know about. We highly recommend this cottage – perfect!
Response from VrboOwner on 23 March 2020
Thank you so much - we will look forward to seeing you in Oxfordshire again I hope ....

About the host

Hosted by Elizabeth & Hugo

Host profile image
We manage 20 'home from home' beautiful holiday apartments in West London (and a select number of cottages in the Cotswolds). Visit us at Kensington Property Management. And follow us on the image sharing site. We pride ourselves on our warm welcome, personalised service and we will be on hand 24/7 for any information requests or property problems. We love our portfolio of apartments and cottages and we are sure you will too… Best wishes, Hugo & Elizabeth

Why they chose this property

This estate has been in the family for 200 years

What makes this property unique

The world famous Bicester Village shopping village is very nearby (5 mins drive). Join the bargain hunters for top quality brands at affordable prices.

Pubs: The Oxford Arms in the nextdoor village of Kirtlington is recomended. The Bell at Hampton Poyle is also excellent. Then in Woodstock, there’s the very nice King’s Arms. And the bar/restaurant at the Feather’s Hotel there is also nice. There are famous gastro pubs galore around the Cotswolds, our favourites are: The Plough at
Kingham for a special treat; The Chequers at Churchill; The Feathered Nest at Nether Westcote; the Swan at Southrop in the beautiful Coln Valley south of Burford; and the excellent Five Alls in Filkins.

Getting to Oxford: Driving into Oxford has generally be discouraged by the authorities for years. It’s okay to drive and park in the evenings, but probably for day trips it’s easiest to use the Park & Ride system. The nearest place to park and get the bus into Oxford is at the Pear Tree Roundabout on the A34. But in summer, the best way to see Oxford is to hire a bicycle and see it under your own steam - bike hire at www.

Blenheim Palace - The most famous house in the country is literally in the nearby village of Woodstock. You can park inside the palace no problem. Its a gem, and its also great if you just want to go for a walk (free of charge) around the grounds. There are also numerous events there throughout the year. Please check on their website.

Places not to miss: The Slad Valley, north of Stroud (where Laurie Lee’s Cider with Rosie was set); Bath, it’s a Regency gem; Chipping Camden, classic Cotswold town; Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe; Hidcote Manor Gardens; The Coln Valley south of Burford, beautiful villages around Quenington, Eastleach and Southrop.

The area’s most famous polo club is in the nextdoor village of Kirtlington, pop along in summer months and take in a few chukkas from the shade of the surrounding oak trees

Languages:

English, French, Spanish
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