Lodge Cottage

Blenheim Palace, Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon are all within reach of this two-bedroom cottage near Chipping Norton. The village sits between Stow-on-the-Wold and Burford, putting you close enough to explore the Cotswolds' market towns and their galleries, pubs and restaurants without the crowds of tourist hotspots. For a quieter afternoon, there's a tennis court on the grounds, or you can drive to any number of local walks and cycle routes through the countryside.

Lodge Cottage sleeps four across two bedrooms: a kingsize on the ground floor with its own shower room, and a second room with zip-and-link beds upstairs, served by a bathroom with bath and shower. The open-plan ground floor has a kitchen equipped for proper cooking—oven, hob, dishwasher—and a living area with an open fire, French doors onto the garden, and a conservatory. An enclosed lawn with patio and garden furniture gives you private outdoor space, while the shared grounds offer more room to wander. You get wifi, heating, bed linen and towels as standard; logs for the fire are included too.

The real draw is access to the heated indoor swimming pool on the grounds—11 metres long, with a Turkish hammam and changing facilities. There's also a media room with Sky TV and surround sound if the weather turns. Parking is available for two cars. The cottage is non-smoking throughout. An unfenced pond sits within the grounds, so it's worth noting if you're travelling with very young children.