About Tolstoy Cottage
Find out more about Alexandra Tolstoy’s Cotswolds cottage
Featuring three beautiful bedrooms, and sleeping up to six, the design of Tolstoy Cottage was overseen by Alexandra Tolstoy herself, combining her own unique design finds and antiques with the skills of celebrated decorator Emma Burns of Sibyl Colefax and John Fowler.
A showcase for her own personal style, Alexandra strove hard to restore this 18th-century farmworker’s cottage to its roots using traditional methods such as lime plaster, and creating a cosy treasure-trove of a place with all the mod cons you might need, ideal for family holidays and groups of friends.
At the heart of the cottage is a spacious kitchen with an Aga and farm table that seats eight. Leading off it are a cloakroom and sitting room. The latter is home to a large open fireplace with lots of comfortable seating and antiques.
Upstairs are three bedrooms – one double, one single and a children’s bedroom with two singles and a smaller child’s bed – and one bathroom.
Perfectly located for walks and wild swimming in the heart of the Cotswolds, the River Thames is just a mile away, while the market towns of Faringdon and beautiful Burford are nearby.
What's included
- Electric Aga with a separate electric unit for summer use
- TV in the linen press in main bedroom with Sky, Netflix and Apple TV
- TV in the sitting room with Sky, Netflix and Apple TV
- High-speed Wifi
- Washing machine and dishwasher
- Two fridges and a freezer
- Underfloor heating in the cloakroom
- Outside terrace with table and chairs
- Open log fire and log store
- Beautiful countryside walks direct from the cottage.
Explore the area
Local places of interest:
- Visit William Morris’s home, Kelmscott Manor. Please note that the house is closed during the winter months.
- Blenheim Palace, the seat of the Dukes of Marlborough, home to famous gardens and a maze.
- The City of Oxford, including the University and the Pitt Rivers and Ashmolean museums.
- The White Horse Hill, for a peek at the famous 110-metre long chalk-cut hill figure, the oldest in Britain.
Local pubs:
- The Trout at Tadpole Bridge is within walking distance across the fields from the cottage.
- The Plough Inn at Kelmscott is a charming village pub, located next to Kelmscott Manor and serving delicious food.
- The Double Red Duke at Clanfield is a more glamorous option, with high-end food and cocktails.
- The Swan at Swinbrook is an idyllic Cotswolds pub, on the banks of the Windrush and near Burford.
Shopping:
Head to Burford for antiques shopping and local cafés, or Daylesford for fresh farm produce and beautiful homewares. Lechlade has an excellent butcher and deli.
“This cottage is clearly a cherished family home. It is the loveliest house rental I’ve ever stayed in – both full of charming furnishings and antiques, and clean and accommodating.”
“Wonderful as always.”
“A lovely quintessential English cottage, with a great garden and everything you need to enjoy a weekend away in the country.”
“What a perfect little cottage, full of antiques and charm without feeling dirty or downtrodden. The cottage is set in a beautiful idyllic area, great for walks and close to nice pubs.”