Lavender Farmhouse | 5-Bedroom Manor with Private Pool in Fritwell

Ten guests arrive at Lavender Farmhouse expecting a country retreat. What they discover instead is a working farmstead spread across 12.5 acres of protected Oxfordshire countryside, where children chase hens past a rowing boat pond while adults sip wine on a sun-drenched courtyard built into the bones of a 17th-century Cotswold stone manor. This is not a villa styled to look rural—it is rural, deliberately positioned at the village edge of Fritwell, yet only 25 minutes from Oxford’s dreaming spires and the designer luxury of RH England at Aynhoe Park.

Inside Lavender Farmhouse

Lavender Farmhouse sleeps 10 guests across 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms, arranged on a single storey around a central courtyard in a classic U-shaped layout that transforms logistics into choreography. Every room opens onto the south-facing courtyard garden—designed by garden designer Louise Bowman-Shaw—meaning no child or adult is ever truly separated from the action happening outside.

The entrance leads through a boot room into a kitchen that reveals itself gradually. Azure-painted wooden cabinetry lines walls above wooden work surfaces; an AGA (fired up during winter months) sits alongside a modern induction hob, Nutribullet, KitchenAid, and the usual gathering of appliances that turn meal preparation from obligation into theatre. A slate floor runs throughout. Doors from the kitchen open directly onto the stone terrace courtyard—the pivot point of the entire house—where a dining table for ten catches the best light from dawn until dusk. A separate pantry stores the pre-stocked fridge provisions.

The drawing room sprawls beyond the kitchen, its vaulted ceiling and exposed timber beams creating vertical drama while wooden floors ground the space in warmth. A fireplace and wood-burning stove occupy one wall; a piano sits ready for the musically inclined; a dining table and comfortable seating provide flexible entertaining. This room reads as dual aspect—light pours in from multiple angles, making it luminous even on grey Cotswold afternoons.

A separate living room provides additional entertaining space, anchored by a television, a second fireplace with wood-burning stove, and a pool table that will occupy hours of competitive energy. A utility room houses a washing machine and dryer—practical but often overlooked until day four when someone needs it urgently.

The five ground-floor bedrooms run along the west wing, each en-suite, each with direct courtyard access via French doors or floor-to-ceiling picture windows. The master bedroom contains a super king bed; an en-suite bathroom with both bath and walk-in shower means no queues. Three further bedrooms each feature either a super king or king-size bed with matching en-suite facilities. The fifth bedroom, pitched toward children, contains a single bed with an additional pull-out single—sleeping two comfortably, or one luxuriously.

A detached barn transforms outdoor space into usable entertainment infrastructure. Inside: sofas for sprawling, a table tennis setup, table football, a compact gym, games stored in a dedicated cupboard, a shower room and separate WC, and a kitchen area (refrigerator and sink but no cooker) where snacks and drinks materialize without requiring the main house. Trestle tables are available on request, turning the barn into an event venue for groups bringing their own catering or hosting casual gatherings.

Outdoor Spaces and Living

The courtyard garden anchors everything. Designed by a professional gardener, it functions both as the visual heart of the manor and as a genuine outdoor room. Ten guests can dine here simultaneously while watching children navigate the surrounding lawn. A trampoline occupies the east paddock; cricket nets and a croquet lawn provide afternoon activities that require nothing more than enthusiasm and loose limbs. A hidden rugby post suggests previous tenants with specific sporting allegiances.

The property’s true centerpiece emerges beyond the formal gardens: a heated swimming pool with safety cover, surrounded by sun loungers and bean bags. This is not a plunge pool—it is a genuine resort-standard swimming experience set against open countryside, usable from April through October without hesitation. The pool overlooks the water-lily pond, where a rowing boat waits for guests interested in exploring the property’s eastern boundary from water level.

Parking accommodates five vehicles at the front; the driveway continues around the courtyard and toward the rear, where stables hint at the property’s agricultural past. A basketball net occupies another section of the grounds, overlooked by mature trees that provide afternoon shade as the sun tracks west.

Location: Fritwell and the Surrounding Area

Fritwell occupies a particular corner of north Oxfordshire—quiet enough to hear birdsong from the terrace, connected enough to reach significant attractions within 30 minutes. The village itself clusters around a medieval parish church and traditional stone cottages, the kind of settlement that appears in period dramas precisely because it hasn’t fundamentally changed for 300 years.

RH England at Aynhoe Park sits 8km away—a 17th-century manor converted into a gallery and showroom for Restoration Hardware’s global design vision. Plan two hours minimum to wander through furniture displays, curated artworks, and homeware selections, then another 90 minutes at the café and wine bar. Blenheim Palace (18km west) remains the region’s heavyweight attraction: a UNESCO World Heritage Site with baroque architecture that genuinely takes breath away, plus gardens designed by Capability Brown spanning 2,000 acres. Allow a full day.

Warwick Castle (32km south) brings medieval military architecture to life; Sulgrave Manor (22km south) provides oddly compelling Anglo-American history as the ancestral home of George Washington. For garden enthusiasts, Rousham House and Gardens (12km west) represents Georgian landscape design at its finest—intimate, deliberately composed, unforgettable.

Oxford itself—40 minutes by car—contains more museums, galleries, colleges, and historic buildings than most people can absorb in a week. The Ashmolean Museum alone justifies a full day. Bicester Village (15km south) operates as a luxury outlet shopping destination where designer brands sell at London prices or lower, a particular draw for anyone requiring retail therapy between country walks.

The Cotswolds extend in all directions—honey-stone villages like Adderbury (8km north) and Middleton Cheney (6km north) preserve their character through deliberate quietness. Otmoor Nature Reserve (10km east) attracts serious birdwatchers and casual walkers alike; the Cotswold Wildlife Park (28km west) houses giraffes, penguins, and exhibits appealing to families with younger children. Kirtlington Golf Club (4km north) offers an 18-hole championship course through typical Oxfordshire countryside; Kirtlington Polo Club (4km north) allows spectating or participation depending on nerve and experience.

For those drawn to motor sports, Silverstone Circuit (35km south)—the iconic home of British motorsport and the British Grand Prix—sits accessible for fans, experiences, and trackday participation. Explore our luxury villas across Europe and our full collection in Britain & Ireland for alternative destinations. For destination inspiration and seasonal planning, read our The South West travel guide.

The best time to visit extends from May through September, when the Cotswolds warm sufficiently for pool swimming and garden living. June brings the polo season into full swing and wildflowers to the nature reserves. July and August guarantee sunny weather but also concentrate visitors; May and September offer superior light and smaller crowds. Autumn (September-October) transforms the landscape into burnt orange and deep gold—spectacular but cooling fast. Winter makes sense only for groups seeking fireplace warmth and rural walks in crisp air.

Who This Villa Suits Best

Extended families with children thrive here. The five bedrooms accommodate grandparents, parents, and assorted offspring with dignity rather than compromise. Ground-floor en-suites mean no one navigates stairs half-asleep at 2 AM. The trampoline, playground, animal farm, and basketball net address boredom before it starts. Parents benefit from the enclosed grounds—children play safely visible from the terrace where adults supervise while nursing coffee.

Groups of friends renting together find the barn’s table tennis, table football, and games cupboard facilitate the kind of evening competitions that define long friendships. The courtyard dining arrangement means communal meals without anyone being stuck in a separate kitchen.

Multi-generational gatherings—adult children returning with their own children, parents, and various relatives—fit the property’s layout perfectly. Everyone gets private bedroom space; everyone shares genuine communal areas.

Couples seeking peaceful rural seclusion might find ten-person capacity capacity overspecified, though shoulder seasons (May, September) offer quieter rental opportunities. The property’s agricultural authenticity appeals to guests seeking genuinely rural experience rather than styled countryside fantasy.

Practical Information

Lavender Farmhouse accommodates 10 guests across 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms. An additional 2-bedroom cottage adjacent to the barn accommodates larger groups at supplementary cost; enquire for specific rates.

Birmingham Airport (60km north, approximately 75 minutes by car) provides the nearest major international terminal. London Luton (85km south-east, 90 minutes) and London Stansted (95km east, 110 minutes) offer alternatives with frequent European connections. Oxford railway station connects to London Paddington in 60 minutes.

The Waitrose at Bicester (15km south) stocks provisions for self-catering; the property’s pre-stocked fridge option eliminates day-one grocery runs. Village restaurants cluster in nearby settlements; Adderbury and Middleton Cheney contain gastropubs with seasonal menus drawing on local produce.

Included: Wi-Fi throughout, bed linen, towels, pool heating (seasonal), heating in all communal areas, utilities, and access to all outdoor facilities including the heated pool and rowing boat. Cleaning is additional; enquire for current rates. Check-in flexibility depends on occupancy; request preferred arrival times during booking.

Frequently Asked Questions about Lavender Farmhouse

How many guests does Lavender Farmhouse sleep?

Lavender Farmhouse sleeps 10 guests as standard across 5 en-suite bedrooms: one master with super king bed, two bedrooms with super king beds, one bedroom with king bed, and one children’s bedroom with single bed plus pull-out single. An optional 2-bedroom cottage adjacent to the barn accommodates additional guests at extra cost.

What is the nearest airport to Lavender Farmhouse in The South West?

Birmingham Airport sits 60km north, approximately 75 minutes by car via the M40. London Luton Airport (85km south-east, 90 minutes) and London Stansted (95km east, 110 minutes) offer alternative major terminals. Oxford railway station, 25 minutes away, provides direct connections to London Paddington and beyond via National Rail.

What is the best time of year to rent Lavender Farmhouse?

May through September offers the most reliable weather for pool swimming and outdoor entertaining. June coincides with polo season and peak wildflower displays at local reserves. July and August guarantee warmth but attract maximum visitor numbers. May and September deliver superior light, fewer crowds, and comfortable temperatures for garden activities. October remains viable for autumn colour; November through March prioritizes indoor fireplaces and walking rather than water-based recreation.

Is Lavender Farmhouse suitable for families with children?

Yes. The property contains multiple family-specific amenities: a heated swimming pool with safety cover, trampoline, basketball net, children’s books, playground access nearby, and animal farm onsite. Ground-floor bedrooms mean no stair navigation carrying sleepy toddlers. The enclosed grounds and courtyard layout allow children to play safely in sight of supervising adults. A nearby children’s museum provides rainy-day alternatives. The barn’s games facilities and open lawns sustain entertainment during extended stays.

What is included in the rental price at Lavender Farmhouse?

Included: Wi-Fi connectivity, bed linen and towels, pool heating (seasonal), central heating in all rooms, utilities (gas, electricity, water), and access to all facilities including the heated swimming pool, rowing boat, trampoline, and basketball net. The pre-stocked fridge option is available at additional cost. Cleaning is not included in standard rental rates; enquire for current availability and pricing.

What restaurants and shops are near Lavender Farmhouse?

Bicester Village (15km south)—a luxury outlet shopping destination—contains designer brands and international retailers. Waitrose supermarket at Bicester stocks provisions for self-catering. Adderbury (8km north) and Middleton Cheney (6km north) each contain village gastropubs serving seasonal menus; RH England at Aynhoe Park (8km away) operates a café and wine bar suitable for casual or upmarket dining. Oxford city centre (25 minutes) provides comprehensive restaurant and shopping options ranging from casual to Michelin-starred establishments.