Excellence Luxury Villas · Oaksey
Luxury Holiday Houses in Oaksey
Stone cottages and family houses on the Wiltshire and Gloucestershire border, with the Cotswold lakes a short drive east
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A stone village on the edge of the lakes
Oaksey is a small farming village in the far north of Wiltshire, right on the Gloucestershire border. Most of its houses are built of Cotswold stone, and its pub has been pouring pints for centuries. It sits about five miles from both Malmesbury and Cirencester, with the Cotswold Water Park just to the east.
Our Oaksey collection runs to 45 properties, from cottages and lodges to roomy family houses. Between them they suit a quiet week for two or a gathering of three generations.
Below you will find the village, the lakes, the market towns nearby and the best time to come.
Oaksey at a glance
- Properties
- 45 houses, cottages and lodges, with up to 6 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £1,100 to £1,700 a week, from around £900
- Nearby
- The Cotswold Water Park, Malmesbury, Cirencester, Tetbury and the source of the Thames
- Best time
- May to September for the lakes; spring and autumn for walking and the arboretum
- Getting there
- Kemble station is about three miles away, with direct trains to London Paddington
Browse all 45 properties in Oakseyor see them on the map
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Appelton House United Kingdom6 bedrooms
Kirby House United Kingdom5 bedrooms
Blakely House United Kingdom6 bedrooms
Alder House United Kingdom5 bedroomsWhere to stay in Oaksey
Oaksey village for the pub and the medieval church, the Cotswold Water Park for sailing and birdlife, and Malmesbury, Cirencester and Tetbury for markets, abbeys and antiques.
A pub, a church and a very candid carving
The Wheatsheaf is thought to be at least 600 years old. These days it is known as much for its cooking as for its age, and it is the natural first stop on any evening in Oaksey.
All Saints, a few doors away, is Grade I listed. The nave holds fifteenth-century wall paintings, among them St Christopher carrying the Christ child across a stream, with a mermaid swimming at his feet. Outside on the north wall is a sheela-na-gig, a medieval fertility carving that is still startling today. The writer Elspeth Huxley lived in the village and wrote about it in her village diary, and she was not above a joke at the carving's expense.
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Lakes, birdsong and the infant Thames
Just east of the village, old gravel workings have filled with water. The result is the Cotswold Water Park, the largest marl lake system in Britain, spread across more than forty square miles of the county border. You can sail, wakeboard, waterski or paddleboard, and there is a long list of quieter pleasures too: dragonflies in summer, nightingales in spring and great flocks of waterbirds in winter.
The Thames Path begins at Thames Head near Kemble, where the river rises in a field. A gentle walk of around a mile and a half from Kemble station takes you to the source, which makes a good morning before lunch.
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Malmesbury, Cirencester and Tetbury
Malmesbury stands on a hilltop to the south-west. Its abbey has a magnificent Norman porch, and the town is said to be the burial place of King Athelstan. Cirencester lies the same distance to the north-east. It was the Roman town of Corinium, its Corinium Museum is excellent, and its great wool church watches over the market place.
Tetbury, a little further west, is the place for antiques and a good lunch. Close by is Westonbirt, the National Arboretum, which is at its finest when the maples turn in October.
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Horse trials, music and autumn colour
This corner of England has a full sporting and social calendar. In March the Cheltenham Festival is within reach, and the Badminton Horse Trials usually take place in early May. In late July WOMAD, the world music festival, comes to Charlton Park outside Malmesbury. Summer is the season for the lakes. Autumn brings the colour at Westonbirt and long walks across the fields between the stone villages.
Food here means farm shops, good country pubs and Cirencester's weekly market. Our concierge can book tables, arrange a private chef, organise watersports on the lakes and set up transfers from Kemble.
Ask our conciergeFeatured properties in Oaksey
Farley House United Kingdom4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £1,651 a week
Snowdrop United Kingdom5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £1,617 a week
The Glasshouse United Kingdom4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £1,493 a week
Starling House United Kingdom4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £1,454 a week
Dove Villa United Kingdom3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £1,390 a week
Goldfinch House United Kingdom4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £1,379 a week
Pochard United Kingdom4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £1,365 a week
The Edge United Kingdom4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £1,327 a weekWhy book your house in Oaksey with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Around Oaksey, lakes, farmland and stone villages lie close together, and we know which houses are best placed for the water, the pub and the train to London. With 45 properties in Oaksey, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Restaurant tables, private chefs, sailing and paddleboarding on the lakes, help with tickets for Badminton and WOMAD, and transfers from Kemble station. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I stay around Oaksey?
Stay in Oaksey itself if you want a village pub and a medieval church within a short stroll. The lakes of the Cotswold Water Park are only a couple of miles east, and Malmesbury and Cirencester are each about five miles away. Tell us how you plan to spend your days and we will suggest the right house.
When is the best time to visit Oaksey?
May to September is best for the lakes and long evenings in pub gardens. Spring brings nightingales and the Badminton Horse Trials. Autumn is lovely for walking and for the colour at Westonbirt Arboretum.
Is Oaksey in the Cotswolds?
Oaksey is in north Wiltshire, right on the Gloucestershire border, and is built largely of Cotswold stone. Cirencester, Tetbury and many of the best-known Cotswold villages are a short drive away.
Can you arrange a private chef at a house in Oaksey?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury propertie in Oaksey cost?
Across our 45 properties in Oaksey, weekly rates typically range from £1,100 to £1,700, with the most affordable from around £900 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to Oaksey?
Kemble station is about three miles away by road, with direct trains to London Paddington taking around an hour and a quarter. By car, the M4 and M5 are both within easy reach. Bristol and Heathrow are the nearest major airports.
Are there houses in Oaksey for large groups?
Yes. Our Oaksey collection includes properties with up to 6 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your house in Oaksey
45 houses and cottages around Oaksey, booked direct with our concierge on hand