A 17th-century inn in Kingham owned by the Daylesford estate, with 12 bedrooms, cottages and a kitchen built around farm produce.
Photos
Photos via Google
About The Wild Rabbit
The Wild Rabbit is a 17th-century stone inn on Church Street in Kingham, a village on the Oxfordshire side of the Cotswolds. It is owned by the Daylesford organic estate, which farms a few miles away, and the connection shapes almost everything about the place: much of the meat, vegetables, dairy and bread served here comes off that farm.
Accommodation runs to 12 bedrooms above and behind the inn, plus three cottages directly opposite and two more a short walk away in the village. The bedrooms are pared back rather than chintzy, with exposed stone, reclaimed timber, wool throws and roll-top or freestanding baths in the larger rooms. Smaller rooms under the eaves are cosy but tight on space. The cottages suit families or two couples travelling together, since they have their own sitting rooms and kitchens.
The kitchen holds a Michelin Guide listing and the dining room is the centre of the operation, with a wood-fired oven and a menu that changes with what the farm is producing. There is a flagstoned bar with an open fire where dogs and walkers are welcome, and a small garden for warmer months. Breakfast is a strong point, again drawing on estate produce.
It suits people who are here primarily to eat well and walk, rather than for spa facilities, which the inn does not have. Kingham has a mainline station with direct trains to London Paddington in about 90 minutes, which makes it one of the easier Cotswold bases to reach without a car. Daylesford farm shop, Chipping Norton and Stow-on-the-Wold are all within a short drive.
What guests say
Don’t get me wrong — the venue itself is lovely. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, the fireplaces create a great ambience, and the staff were generally welcoming. However, I left feeling quite disappointed by the overall value for money. I dine out frequently and couldn’t help but feel that the pricing was extremely high in comparison to the portion sizes and overall experience. While I understand and appreciate minimalist, refined dining, the balance between cost and what was served felt quite disproportionate, and unfortunately we left still feeling hungry despite spending a considerable amount. For example, I ordered the asparagus main, which felt more like a small starter portion in comparison to what most restaurants would consider a main course. We also ordered the tortellini starter at £22, which consisted of just a single small tortellini. It also felt disappointing to have to pay extra for bread to accompany such modest portions. The cocktails themselves were enjoyable, though they appeared heavily filled with ice, and at times the service felt a little too sales-driven. We overheard another table declining additional food, only to be encouraged further, which slightly detracted from the relaxed dining experience. What made the comparison more difficult was that the evening before we had enjoyed a wonderful Sunday roast at a countryside Cotswolds pub — generous, delicious, and at a fraction of the price. Overall, while the setting is beautiful and there are positive aspects to the restaurant, the experience unfortunately did not feel reflective of the cost for us personally, and I don’t think we would return.
3 months ago · via Google
The Wild Rabbit in Kingham is arguably the most exceptional hotel we have ever had the pleasure of staying in. The level of hospitality, attention to detail, and overall ambience are truly unmatched. We stayed in the Owl room, which offered a perfect blend of luxury and Cotswolds charm. The Bamford Geranium toiletries provided were so delightful that I purchased them for my own bathroom following a visit to the Bamford Spa at Daylesford. Embodying true country hospitality, the hotel also provides complimentary Barbour wellies for guests to borrow, allowing us to head straight out for scenic countryside walks without a worry. The dining experience was equally phenomenal. The menu beautifully showcases produce grown locally at Daylesford, offering flavors that are both fresh and authentic to the region. Following dinner, we retired to the bar, where an exceptionally welcoming bartender (I didn’t catch his name but he was British and wore glasses!) ensured our evening was perfect. In the mornings you can catch an outstanding breakfast spread featuring a great mix of buffet and a la carte options. Located in the heart of the Cotswolds, The Wild Rabbit is perfectly situated for village-hopping. We personally recommend having a car to easily access nearby gems like Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water. We happily explored eight villages during our four-day stay in the Cotswolds
2 months ago · via Google
This is a review for the restaurant. We made a dinner reservation to celebrate our wedding anniversary. The ambiance is definitely fine dining, so is the service. However I will second the other reviews that mention the portion sizes are a bit small for what you pay for. We had other delicious meals in the Cotswolds that were better value for money.
2 months ago · via Google
A really excellent lunch, to celebrate a special birthday, so we opted for the tasting menu. Everything was excellent, not a single thing I could fault. Food, perfect, service, perfect. This is not a cheap place, but for something special it's worth it. From the initial greeting, having time for a pre-lunch drink, nothing was rushed and nothing was too much trouble. The tasting menu was well paced, each course explained well, and all were superb.
2 months ago · via Google
Diners like this restaurant's delicious and well-presented food, especially the Sunday roast, rabbit ravioli, and duck main, with many ingredients sourced locally. Guests also highlight the cozy, charming atmosphere and the attentive, friendly, and professional staff. They also appreciate the comfortable rooms and cottages, often stocked with organic provisions, and the complimentary car service.
Summary via Google
At a glance
- Address
- Church Street, Kingham, Chipping Norton, OX7 6YA Get directions
- Property type
- Inn
- Location
- Kingham, Oxfordshire
- Star rating
- 4 star
- Guest score
- 8.8 / 10 (450 reviews)
- Prices from
- £220 per night
- Good for children
- Yes
- Destination
- Cotswolds