Barnsley House
The Cotswolds, Oxford, Bath & The Cotswolds, United Kingdom
At a Glance
Rural idyll that combines character with contemporary comfort
Set in the pretty village of Barnsley in the heart of the Cotswolds
Wonderful Rosemary Verey-designed gardens
First class spa with hydrotherapy pool overlooking meadows beyond
Helpful yet discreet staff and beautifully designed rooms make this a perfect romantic retreat
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Best time to Visit
Good time to visit
Average time to visit
It is very difficult to predict the weather in the United Kingdom - in the summer from May to late September is generally seen as the most pleasant time to visit. Rainfall is difficult to predict - but the UK does not receive as much as many are led to believe! In the winters, temperatures do fall, but there is nothing better than finding a remote pub with a roaring fire to sit beside after a long walk in the country.
Insider's View
Book ahead at The Village Pub as this watering hole is very popular with locals and hotel guests alike thanks to its welcoming atmosphere and excellent food.
Book the spacious and secluded Secret Garden Suite compete with a private courtyard and double walk in shower.
Call us on 858 345 1764 to start planning your vacation to Barnsley House or take a look at our itineraries to Oxford Bath The Cotswolds
Description
Barnsley House is the kind of country house hotel of which dreams are made. Nestled among flower filled gardens in the Cotswolds, the grade II listed ivy-clad building is home to beautifully designed rooms where comfort and relaxation are paramount.
Set down a quiet lane in the country village of Barnsley, this hotel is the perfect city escape at just 90-minute drive from London. Unnecessary airs and graces are out; instead Barnsley House offers warm yet discreet service in a beautiful setting. The ambience is very much home-away-from-home, albeit with immaculately designed rooms and helpful staff on hand to cater to your every whim.
Fancy dinner in the garden on a balmy summer's evening? Or hosting your own private party for two in the cosy cinema? Or simply relaxing with a well-earned glass of red in front of a roaring fire after a bracing autumnal country walk? Barnsley House offers it all.
With a head chef hailing from London’s Caprice and Chez Bruce, The Potager Restaurant is a real treat, overlooking the gardens and with an accompanying terrace perfect for al fresco dining in summer, afternoon tea or evening aperitifs. For a change of scenery The Village Pub in Barnsley Village, a short walk from the hotel, offers hearty fare and an excellent selection of local ales.
Barnsley House's beautiful rural backdrop is too good not to explore and the hotel loan Wellington boots for just such a purpose. After all there is nothing more satisfying than a walk in picture-perfect Cotswolds countryside, followed by a hard-earned pub lunch or a relaxing afternoon of pampering in the hotel's spa. If you like your afternoons more refined, Cirencester Park and Beaufort Polo Club are just down the road.
Accommodation
No two rooms at Barnsley House are exactly the same, although common features of wooden floors and beams blended with contemporary furnishings run throughout. Some rooms have traditional stone fireplaces, others twin bath tubs or a private terrace. There are only 18 rooms in total and each one has views of either the gardens or the meadows - or both.
Childcare
Children over 14 years old are welcome at Barnsley House, but really this is a place for couples.
Facilities
The Potager Restaurant has a contemporary feel which blends with the traditional Cotswold stone features of the hotel. The menu is centerd on local, seasonal produce and serves British dishes with an Italian influence. As well as inside dining, there is a pretty terrace for dinner or evening drinks during the summer months. Lunch and afternoon tea is also served. For something less formal, The Village Pub across the road from the hotel serves excellent food in a relaxed atmosphere.
Activities
You may find it difficult to tear yourself away from the comfortable rooms and pretty gardens, but when you do want to explore, the staff are more than happy to arrange a picnic or help book a horse back ride through the countryside. Hot air balloon rides, clay pigeon shooting and fishing are also available locally.
Experiences
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A day in Oxford
There is so much to see in wonderful Oxford - this is 'the city of dreaming spires' and your private guide will show you the highlights. Home to the oldest university in the English-speaking world, Oxford is packed with history and stunning architecture.
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A day in the Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are rural England at its best, and a day spent exploring the ancient, honey-colored limestone villages of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, set amongst rolling sheep-dotted hills, stone-walled fields and country inns is simply magical.
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Blenheim Palace
A masterpiece of eighteenth century Baroque architecture, Blenheim Palace is home to the 12th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and the birthplace of Winston Churchill.
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Explore Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon
On the banks of the River Avon and just to the north of the Cotswolds, lies the home of the world's most famous playwright, William Shakespeare. Discover where the Bard was born and raised, and admire the beautiful Tudor architecture of the town.
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Harry Potter's Oxford & Studio Tour
Leave the land of Muggles behind and discover the real-life sets of Hogwarts, hidden throughout beautiful Oxford. After exploring the city, enter the magic of the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio for a chance to see the props and sets from the films.
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Hidcote Manor & Gardens
Located just outside the charming Cotswolds town of Chipping Campden, Hidcote is a stunning Arts and Crafts garden famous for its rare shrubs and trees and outstanding design features. It’s a perfect place to visit if you need gardening inspiration.
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Highgrove Gardens
The gardens at Highgrove, Gloucestershire residence of the Prince of Wales, are some of Britain’s most inspiring. Strictly following sustainable and ecological methods, the gardens are both magically stimulating and a haven for local wildlife.
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Kelmscott Manor
Famed as the Cotswold country retreat of artist, designer and writer William Morris, Kelmscott Manor is an archetypal seventeenth-century gabled manor house housing an outstanding collection of Morris artifacts and a delightful Thames-side garden.
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Salisbury
Salisbury is an early English gothic cathedral city in Wiltshire located 8 miles from Stonehenge.
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Stourhead
Lying in a secluded Wiltshire valley, Stourhead features one of the world’s finest landscape gardens and a majestic Palladian mansion. At its heart a magnificent lake reflects classical temples, grottoes and rare trees – a delight to explore.
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Sudeley Castle
Set in the heart of the beautiful Cotswolds, Sudeley Castle is just eight miles from Broadway in Gloucestershire. Sudeley Castle has played an important role in England’s turbulent history, with royal connections that stretch back over 1000 years.
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Walking in the Cotswolds
A walker's paradise, the Cotswolds is named as an area of outstanding natural beauty for a reason.
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Warwick Castle
Warwick Castle is a medieval castle dating back to 1068 and originally built by William the Conqueror then developed over time, Warwick Castle now houses a collection of armoury to rival that on display at the Tower of London.
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Westonbirt Arboretum
Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, located near the Cotswolds village of Tetbury, is one of the finest collections of temperate trees and shrubs in the world. World-famous for its explosion of autumn color, Westonbirt is a tree-lover’s paradise.
Vacation Ideas
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Classic England
London, Bath & Cotswolds
from $5600 pp 8 nights
- Explore the highlights of England with your own exclusive driver-guide
- Get into the heart of rural England - showcasing its picturesque villages and rolling hills
- See the major highlights including Stonehenge, Bath, Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford
Location & directions
The Cotswolds, Oxford, Bath & The Cotswolds, United Kingdom
Barnsley House is located in the center of the Cotswold village of Barnsley, on the B4425 (Cirencester to Bibury and Burford road), four miles north-east of Cirencester.
How to get there
From London there are direct trains from Paddington to Kemble which take a little over an hour. Alternatively Barnsley House is a 90 minute drive from West London.