The Cotswolds is the countryside as you’ve always imagined it: a patchwork of fields and National Trust land stretching out from your doorstep, foxes and deer moving quietly through the hedgerows and honey-hued homes curving along winding lanes. The kind of place to abandon emails and social media, switch off and forget all about city life and your 9-5 back home. For anyone keen to explore the region properly and in their own time, Jasmine Cottage makes for an exceedingly pretty and well-placed base.
Sitting halfway between Oxford and Cheltenham, this 300-year-old stone cottage is full of rustic charm. It was my first time in the Cotswolds, and the moment we pulled up, I could instantly see why the region had earned its cinematic reputation – all chocolate-box cottages and postcard views for days, like I’d stepped into my leading role in The Holiday.
The two bedrooms sleep up to three guests, and a small pet is welcome too. Characterised by low-slung ceilings, exposed beams and textured stonework, you can get cosy on sofas piled high with cushions and throws, which make the cottage feel warm and inviting. In the living room, there’s a stone inglenook with a wood-burning stove for chilly evenings.
There’s a small but well-equipped kitchen at the back, and a leafy patio calls for eating outdoors if the weather calls for it. Guests also get a welcome hamper stocked with a few Cotswold-made nibbly treats and complimentary Naturals shower gels and soaps, which I thought was a particularly nice touch.
The biggest draw here is your surroundings. You’re surrounded by miles of countryside for long country walks – a six-mile trek from Burford to Swinbrook River treats you to ancient and stone-built houses, historic churches, and enough pubs to stop at for a few well-earned pints.
Peaceful, charming and understatedly cute, Jasmine Cottage is a solid choice for anyone seeking true stillness in the Cotswolds. A couple of nights here and you’ll probably start eyeing up cottages on Zoopla – the Cotswolds does that to people.
What to do near Jasmine Cottage
The Fox Inn: A ten-minute riverside wander from the cottage brings you to this wonderful gastro pub, where seasonal menus make the most of the region’s brilliant local produce.
Burford: The village of Windrush is well worth a wonder but for a bigger dose of sightseeing, take a 15-minute drive to Burford, a medieval town renowned for its many antique emporiums and independent shops.
Take a day trip: If you fancy a bigger day out, the towns of Bath and Stratford-upon-Avon are both only an hour’s drive away.