Guests say
Birch House is a well-regarded holiday cottage in Cheltenham, praised for its prime location and spacious accommodation suitable for large groups and families, including pets. Guests appreciate the ample parking, large kitchen for family meals, and comfortable bedrooms. While some minor maintenance issues are noted, the overall experience is positive, with the property's charm and convenience often highlighted.
The property is generally described as clean and tidy. However, some guests mentioned minor issues such as cracked glaze on crockery, which slightly impacts the perception of cleanliness.
The location is highly praised for its proximity to local shops, pubs, and restaurants, as well as for being a good base for exploring the Cotswolds.
Guests find the beds comfortable and the living spaces ample. Some guests noted the dining chairs were hard and the absence of oven gloves, but overall the property is considered comfortable.
The facilities are well-received with a stocked kitchen and good-sized living areas. However, points are deducted for maintenance issues like an old coffee maker, a broken stove lighter, and a tripped fuse.
While guests appreciated the snacks provided, there is not enough consistent information about thoughtful touches like gifts to accurately score this category. It should be noted that such amenities are subject to change and not guaranteed.
About this property
Set in the popular, historic market town of Stow-on-the-Wold, just a short walk away from local amenities is this elegant and spacious family home, located on a quiet residential street; an idyllic retreat for you and your family or friends to escape to the beautiful Cotswolds.
With dedicated parking located just outside of the garage door, you can unload your luggage right on the property grounds and look forward to entering the wonderful home. The front door opens into a fresh and welcoming hallway so kick off your walking boots and enter into the sitting room where you are greeted by a stunning ornamental fireplace and dual aspect windows, letting the sunshine pour in. The kitchen/diner is well-equipped and is the perfect space to cook up a storm, pour a drink and socialise with your party. Choose from the selection of games on offer and have a fun game night! Finishing off the ground floor nicely, there is a convenient cloakroom and utility room, with adjoining garage which has been smartly converted into a recreation area containing a table tennis table with bats and balls; the family will love this addition!
Accessed from the kitchen to the rear is the well-presented, enclosed terrace where you will find lovely hedges providing some privacy and manicured flower-filled pots as well as a table with seating if you fancy dining al fresco. The front of the property has a lovely raised lawn area, with stunning climbing roses and wisteria blooming in the summer months.
When sleep calls, a choice of four sizeable bedrooms await upstairs; the charming master bedroom contains a king-size four poster bed giving a luxurious feel to the room and boasts an en-suite bathroom, the second bedroom has lovely view of the terrace and has a large double sleigh bed with an en-suite bathroom, perfect for children, bedrooms three and four both have twin beds. Finishing the first-floor is the bathroom where you can have an enjoyable soak in the bath.
A short walk from your doorstep there are many amenities to enjoy; visit the Fosse Gallery to admire an array of contemporary British art, indulge in a bite to eat and drinks at The Stag at Stow, add a touch of opulence and revel in the scrumptious tea and cakes – or scones! - at The Old Bakery Tea Room. Discover over 500 species of birds by visiting Birdland Park & Gardens, which is a lovely spot to enjoy a picnic, surrounded by wildlife, or perhaps make a visit to the nearby village of Bourton-on-the-Water and discover a miniature replica of the Cotswold-stone village at The Model Village.
At nearly 800ft, Stow is the highest of the Cotswold towns, located on the Roman Fosse Way and has many scenic walking and cycle route to explore. The market square is the heart of the community and offers boutique shops, tea rooms, pubs and restaurants, as well as the farmers’ market which every second Thursday of each month, featuring inviting local produce.
Take a trip to Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens in Burford for the day, or take a tour at Undiscovered Cotswolds, located in Minster Lovell. If you want to enjoy the scenic spots that The Cotswolds have to offer, why not arrange a tour with Cotswold Walks & Hikes & Bikes, all just a short car journey from Birch House.
For your next trip to the stunning countryside, stay at Birch House.
The highest town in the Cotswolds, Stow-on-the-Wold, originally an Iron Age Fort, epitomises olde worlde England. This ancient market town has played host to many fairs since the 12th century and today holds a biannual Gypsy Horse Fair, craft fairs and monthly Farmers' market. The Stow Horse Fair is held twice a year, on the Thursday closest to 12th May and the Thursday closest to 24th October, this is a traditional fair for people to meet up and trade which dates back to 1476 when its Charter was granted; Stow is very busy for a day or two before and after each fair, and a number of shops, pubs and restaurants are closed. The vast market square boasts an ancient cross at one end and the village stocks at the other, surrounded by an elegant array of Cotswold stone townhouses, antique shops, tea rooms, traditional pubs, award-winning restaurants and its very own cricket museum. Many walks and cycle rides through the beautiful rolling countryside of the Cotswolds can be enjoyed from the centre of Stow, with the Macmillan Way, Heart of England Way, Gloucestershire and Monarch's Way all running close to the town. Bourton-on-the-Water, known as the 'Venice of the Cotswolds' as the River Windrush runs through the centre, lies in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is one of the most popular Cotswold villages. The Saxon market town of Moreton-in-Marsh and the quintessential English village of Broadway are all within easy reach and make a great day out. Cheltenham (20 miles away) is, architecturally, the most complete regency town in England. A spa town with an incredible range of shops, cinemas, theatres, restaurants and pubs, it is famous for its horse-racing festival in March, culminating in the Gold Cup steeplechase. At other times of year, it is host to literature, jazz, classical music, science and food and drink festivals. Oxford, the oldest university city in England and sometimes called 'The City of Dreaming Spires’ has an abundance of prestigious attractions, including the 38 colleges of the university (half of which date back before 1600), the oldest university teaching room, the Bodleian Library, Ashmolean and Pitt Rivers Museums, and Botanic Gardens. Stratford-upon-Avon, Bath, Worcester and the waterfront city of Gloucester are also within easy reach, making Stow-on-the-Wold an ideal base.
Accommodation
Four bedrooms: 1 x king-size double with en-suite bath, separate shower, basin and WC, 1 x double with en-suite bath, separate shower, basin and WC, 2 x twin.
Bathroom with bath, shower over, basin and WC.
Cloakroom with basin and WC.
Kitchen with dining area.
Utility.
Sitting room.
Recreation area with table tennis table
Gas central heating.
Gas hob and electric oven, microwave, kettle, toaster, fridge, washing machine, dishwasher, 2 x TVs, DVD, Bluetooth speaker, WiFi, selection of DVDs, books and children’s toys.
Fuel and power included in rent.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Cots and highchairs available.
Off road parking and ample roadside parking.
Patio terrace with seating (rear) and lawned garden (front).
Two well-behaved dogs welcome.
Sorry, no smoking.
Shop 0.6 miles, pub 0.4 miles
Reviews (9)
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Jan
Very comfortable beds and lots of crockery etc, great location! There were a few things which niggled but not enough for us to not rebook again
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Vig
The house was perfect for 8 adults and a baby. Plenty of space in the four bedrooms, living room and kitchen. The bathrooms were clean and spacious. The beds and sofa were comfortable. Space for 2 cars in front of the house and plenty on the side and around the house. Location was perfect for walking into town and driving to other places of interest in the Cotswold. Price for 3 nights was good given the size and location of the house. The customer service from Sykes Cottages was very reliable. They answered my query really quickly before my stay and urgently dealt with a pressure issue we had with the boiler during our stay. I would definitely recommend and stay at Birch House again on my next visit to the Cotswold.
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Eric
The dryer was not easy to access because of the clutter in the room. The fuse tripped, turning off all of the upstairs lights. That was fixed with a call to maintenance. One morning, the water was not heated. That said, the beds were comfortable, the bathrooms were equipped. The kitchen was stocked. The location was perfect. Parking locations were unclear so we guessed and parked north of the building with others. The snacks were appreciated. A hair dryer would be nice. The food recommendations were appreciated. We loved our stay in the Cotswolds.