Suncroft
Suncroft in Shotteswell village is a beautiful, Grade-II listed, 340-year-old, thatched cottage built of the local, warm-coloured Hornton Stone. This 3-bedroom holiday home sleeps six guests, with room for two more in the spacious snug. Beautifully updated with a contemporary kitchen, furnishings and bathrooms yet maintaining the character features of a 17th century property. Suncroft is in walking distance of a local pub with countryside walks in every direction. Shotteswell is ideally located for visiting the Cotswolds, Warwick Castle and Stratford-upon-Avon, with Banbury train station just 5 miles away.
Overview
The approach to Suncroft is through idyllic Cotswold countryside, with the pretty village of Shotteswell sitting high on the ridge looking out across Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. This beautiful 3-bedroom, thatched cottage has been lovingly and painstakingly restored and updated by the current owners to retain plenty of original Restoration period character while bringing the facilities right up to date with a modern kitchen and bathrooms. Suncroft sits at right angles to a quiet country lane, with the Old Post Office as its neighbour. Extending down the hill to one side of the cottage is a magnificent garden. The cottage has private parking for two cars and roadside parking for one more.
Suncroft is a spacious holiday home, with a large, fully equipped bright and light kitchen-diner with fantastic views from the kitchen windows. A family shower room sits off to one side of the dining area. From the dining area head into the first of two reception rooms, the snug (which can sleep two extra guests on a single day bed that converts into a king-size trundle bed). Continue up five wooden steps into the cosy living room. Both reception rooms have original inglenook fireplaces with realistic gas-fired wood burners. Upstairs are three double bedrooms and a large family bathroom with an inviting, free-standing bath. The third bedroom is sometimes used by the owners as a study and is accessed either from Bedroom 2 or up a spiral staircase from the dining room.
The long and pretty country cottage garden at Suncroft has a seating area and a dining area, with a charcoal BBQ, just a few steps down from the kitchen. Down a few more stone steps, is the main garden which is laid to lawn with beautifully planted borders, mature trees, a wildflower garden and a carpeted garden room with electricity - ideal for quiet contemplation or a place for the younger guests to hang out. To the front of the cottage, which sits at right-angles to a country lane, is the original front door covered with rambling wisteria, a shared drive leading to a private carport and the door into the kitchen – now used as the main entrance.
Ground Floor
Lobby:
Guests enter Suncroft through a stable door, under the covered carport, through the lobby just off the Kitchen. The lobby houses the central heating’s oil-fired boiler, clothes dryer, hooks for hanging coats and a shoe rack.
Step through the lobby door into the:
Kitchen/ Dining Area:
This lovely bright and light, newly renovated room has the Kitchen to one end and the Dining Area and spiral staircase to Bedroom 3 at the other
Kitchen:
The fully equipped kitchen features a fantastic view over the garden and on out to the surrounding countryside. A large island provides lots of preparation space, and there are plenty of kitchen wall cabinets housing everything you need for a self-catering stay. There is a large U.S.-style fridge-freezer, an induction hob and fan oven, a dishwasher, a large microwave, filter coffee machine, washing machine and all the other small appliances expected at a luxury holiday cottage.
Dining Area:
A large oval dining table at the centre of the dining area comfortably seats eight guests. A small wall-mounted TV is provided to one end, so you can watch while you cook or eat. To one end is a handy antique sideboard housing serving dishes and family games, with an ornate mirror above reflecting even more light into this pretty room.
Family Shower Room:
Just off the Dining Area is the downstairs Shower Room, with a walk-in cubicle shower (small step in), hand basin and vanity unit with a mirror over, a WC and heated towel rail.
Head from the Dining Area, over a small step into the:
Snug:
The name may suggest a small room but in fact, the Snug is a spacious second living room, featuring original exposed oak beams and a large brick fireplace with a stone hearth and electric wood burner effect fireplace, this room is a great “escape room” as it has no TV! Instead, there’s a large comfy sofa, seating five, and window seating – ideal for curling up with a book in front of the fire or playing a game. The daybed serves as a sofa, a single bed or, when pulled out, a king-size bed. (If you need the daybed set up as a single/double bed, please request on booking.) The Snug has two latched doors: to the Kitchen/Dining Area and Living Room - providing privacy for guests sleeping downstairs.
Four wooden steps lead up to the:
Living Room:
At the far end of the cottage is the delightful, cosy Living Room featuring original exposed oak beams and a thick oak post, and a brick hearth with an electric wood burner effect fireplace. At the Snug end is a seating area with a comfy armchair, reading light, a sideboard and a chest of drawers – a handy place to keep your devices charged up. At the far end of the room, up a small step, is the main seating area with a 4- and 3-seater sofa and armchair perfectly positioned to enjoy the fireplace and watch the smart TV (with Netflix provided).
Head through an oak door in the Living Room up the wooden staircase, with a banister, to the three bedrooms and family bathroom:
First Floor
All the bedrooms have a luxuriously thick-pile silver-grey carpet, while the bathroom has wood-laminate flooring. All feature a restful white/grey colour scheme with ornate chandelier lighting, which lends a feeling of luxury and opulence to each room.
Bedroom One:
At the top of the stairs sits this lovely dual-aspect room, overlooking the driveway and quiet country road. This room features exposed original timbers and is furnished with a king-size bed with bedside tables and reading lamps, a fitted floor-to-ceiling wardrobe and chest of drawers. A hairdryer is provided in the chest of drawers. The cosy alcove by the window is an ideal place for a baby’s travel cot.
Family Bathroom:
The contemporary bathroom at Suncroft has beautifully polished limestone tiling that perfectly complements the original exposed timbers. The large oval bath, with hand-held shower, is set on a slightly raised platform, giving it a feeling of seclusion. The bathroom also has a hand basin, with a mirror over, W.C. and heated towel rail.
Head along the landing and down two wooden steps to Bedroom 2 – the Master Bedroom
Bedroom Two/ Master bedroom:
The first thing you notice as you walk into this fabulously spacious and sumptuous master bedroom is the 10ft-high ceiling, with its incredible exposed timbers that create the effect of an ancient ship’s hull. The bedroom is furnished with a super-king-size bed with bedside tables and reading lamps and plenty of wardrobe space, plus a large, ornate mirror and wooden chest at the foot of the bed.
A door with a latch and lock leads from Bedroom 2 down a step into Bedroom 3:
Bedroom Three:
This bright and sunny room has French doors that look out onto a roof terrace, with far-reaching views over the garden and on to the distant countryside. The room is furnished with a king-size bed, a bedside table and reading lamp and a hanging rail. A desk with a lamp and printer is provided in the corner opposite the bed, with plenty of electricity points to connect a computer and other devices. (The doors to the roof terrace are kept locked, as a safety precaution, as the terrace does not have a safety barrier. Please do not attempt to access it from inside or outside.)
Outside
The property is approached down a shared drive leading to a gated private driveway and carport with parking for two vehicles (end-to-end). Extra parking is available on the road but is restricted. Please do not park across any neighbouring driveways or on the grass verges.
Steps descend from the house to two seating areas, one covered by a pergola with lounging seats and the other set up with a table and chairs and BBQ – the perfect spot for al fresco dining. Both seating areas have a stunning view down to the beautiful garden below and the countryside beyond.
Garden:
The gorgeous English country-cottage garden is approximately 125ft in length and features an immaculate lawn with flower and shrub borders running down each side, At the far end is a timber summer house (carpeted and with electricity – so a great hangout for younger members of the group), a raised herb bed (help yourself for your cooking) and a wildflower garden.
Facilities
Indoor
Bedroom One - Super-king
Bedroom Two - King-size
Bedroom Three - King-size
Additional Beds - Single Daybed That Converts To King-size In Snug
2 Bathrooms - 1 Family Shower Room, 1 Family Bathroom
Hairdryer - 2
Fire - Gas
Oven
Hob
Microwave
Toaster
Kettle
Fridge
Freezer
Coffee Machine - Filter
Dishwasher
Dining Table - Seats 8
Washing Machine
Tumble Dryer
Iron
WiFi *Please Note That Speeds Are For Guidance Only And Are Not Guaranteed - 12-24 Mbps
TV - Smart - Netflix, Amazon Prime And IPlayer Included
Workspace
Travel Cot (cot Linen Not Provided) - 2
Highchair - 1
Outdoor
Dog Friendly - 2 Well-behaved Dogs Welcome For An Additional Fee
Garden - Fully Enclosed
Outdoor Dining Area
BBQ - Please Provide Your Own Charcoal
Parking - Space For 2 Cars On Driveway, 1 On Roadside
On your Doorstep
The nearest food shop is Carpenters Farm Shop, just outside Warmington, 1.5 miles away, which sells a selection of locally reared fresh meat, vegetables and over 50 varieties of cheese. Cropredy (4 miles) has a small convenience store. The nearest supermarkets are in Banbury (5 miles away), including Waitrose, Morrisons, Sainsburys, Tesco and Aldi.
Eating Out:
- The Falcon - formerly The Wobbly Wheel (1 mile)
- The Moon & Sixpence in Hanwell (2 miles)
- The Green Man in Mollington (2 miles)
Suncroft is surrounded by great walking country. A brochure with seven walks is included with the Welcome Guide at the property.
Places to Visit:
- The National Herb Centre (2 miles)
- Cropredy Festival (4 miles)
- Stratford-upon-Avon (17 miles)
- Train: Banbury Station (5 miles) which has direct routes to London Marylebone
- Taxis: Banbury Station Taxis, 1st Choice Banbury Station Taxis
Points of Note
This property has a check-in time of 16:00 and a check-out time of 10:00
- Book with us to get exclusive discounts to top attractions and experiences.
- Please note that additional guests above the maximum capacity are not permitted.
- It is the policy of this property not to take bookings for groups where the majority of guests are under the age of 25, or single-sex group celebrations, including stag/hen parties.
- Please note, if you would like the single day bed in the snug to be arranged as a king-size, please clarify this on the booking form.
- Dog friendly: A maximum of 2 dogs are permitted at an additional fee per dog (on booking).
- The property has quite a few steps, including four steps between the snug and living room, one small step between the dining area and snug, and several steps, with handrail, down to the outside seating area and garden.
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Handpicked by us
Why we love this
- A 340-year-old, Grade II-listed thatched cottage full of character, beautifully updated with a contemporary kitchen, bathrooms, and snug.
- A short walk to the village pub, with countryside walks in every direction.
- Explore Warwick Castle, Stratford-upon-Avon, and nearby National Trust gems like Farnborough, Charlecote Park, and Hidcote with local pubs just minutes away.
Discover more
The Location
Shotteswell is just off the B4100 about four and a half miles to the north-west of Banbury on the Oxfordshire/ Warwickshire border. This small village is made up of a collection of period and modern stone properties, together with an attractive Saxon church, village hall and children's playground. There’s plenty to do and visit within 5 miles, including horseriding, clay pigeon shooting, the National Herb Centre, the birthplace of George Washington’s English relatives, several National Trust properties (Farnborough, Charlecote Park, Charlestone House, Hidcote and Canons Ashby), Cropredy Festival, the choice of five pubs, great walking and four wedding venues nearby (Laurel Farm, Hadsham Farm, Castle Inn, Sulgrave Manor).
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Read our reviews
A large beautiful house with a well equipped kitchen, off road parking and a mature garden with stunning views. A flexible and responsive owner.
Merton
Nice but
Suncroft was a lovely cottage with plenty of facilities. There is only parking for one car but 2nd car parked on road outside. Nice garden but down some steep steps. Unfortunately the boiler did not work Friday night so no heating or showers so called to get repaired. Someone came sat morning and said we needed to reset it. It worked for 10 mins so we had no heating or hot water all weekend. Very disappointing.
Guest
Lovely tranquil and welcoming.
Michael
Suncroft
Suncroft is an excellent, spacious, well equipped and comfortable property. My only criticism is parking. The two parking spaces on the property are only suitable for small cars and there is limited on street parking available given the nature of he village.
Andrew
What an amazing stay! We stayed as a family of 4 adults and 2 children and it was perfect. The place was well equipped with lots of effort put into the small details. It’s in a lovely location and would recommend for anyone to stay.
Abigail
Beautiful place in lovely surroundings.
Domonique
A perfect 3 day stay for us. 4 Adults, 2 Children and our dog. The space is amazing with beautiful views. We highly recommend.
Claire
A beautiful cottage, spacious and spotlessly clean in a pretty village with fantastic views and a lovely garden.
Ness
It was the perfect setting to get ready for my wedding!
Nic
Cotswold Charm
Located in the picturesque village of Shotteswell, Suncroft is the perfect place for discerning travelers. From its thatched-roof charm to the most modern amenities, this cottage is sure to provide the ideal holiday, close to all Oxfordshire sights. Its three bedrooms, two bathrooms and large kitchen with ample living spaces made for a relaxing and most comfortable stay.
Raymond
Cozy cottage with all the modern conveniences!
Both the cottage and it's garden are a delight. The kitchen area had everything we could possibly need for our stay, and has been beautifully fitted overall with a lovely central island. The sitting areas were cozy but not cramped, and well decorated and furnished. Everything was very clean and tidy. The property has the most amazing views over the landscape from the spacious kitchen and from one of the bedrooms. We visited in very warm weather, and the upstairs areas were very warm, but fans had been provided and solved this issue for us. The vaulted ceilings in the main bedroom, with the natural coloured beams are a beautiful feature. The main bedroom has a large bed, but one of the other two bedrooms would benefit from a slightly larger bed too. The large bath was another nice feature for us, and looked very new. The parking spaces to the side of the cottage need to be navigated carefully if using a large car, but there is plenty of other parking on the lane. The neighbours next door were friendly, and the village was very pretty.
Judy
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us on your recent stay at Suncroft. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay. Your valuable feedback regarding the beds has been shared with the owner who has taken this onboard and it is being looked into. We hope to see you in the Cotswolds again soon.
- Bolthole Retreats, 6th June 2025
Fabulous stay at Suncroft
The cottage was set in a beautiful location with fabulous views. There was so much attention to detail,the home was super clean and Becs very comfortable. We particularly loved the kitchen which was perfect for our family get away. The lounge was really cosy with the log burners- we were even left a rose on Valentines Day
We will definitely be recommending this cottage to all our friends
Thank you so much! We didnt want to leave!
Rena
The cottage is beautifully presented and well maintained. We really enjoyed our stay and would definitely recommend it to friends.
Tim
Beautiful cottage, would stay again
The cottage was beautiful and even more spacious than the pictures. The kitchen and living rooms were really big and made catering to a group easy. The furnishings are really high standard for a holiday let. There were provisions like oil, salt, tea, coffee, and all the cookware and utensils you'd need to cook a large meal. The kitchen window view and garden were stunning. The heating was brilliant and easy to work so we had a nice cosy stay. It is in a small hamlet so good location for getting away from it all. The parking was a little tricky but we just parked one car on the road and one under the car port.
There were a few minor points to mention. The bedroom directly above the kitchen has a spiral staircase, with no door at the top so when we cooked smelly food eg bacon, the people's clothes in that room absorbed the smells. Also we had a 7th person sleeping in the snug, so we had to walk through their room to get to kitchen while they slept. The upstairs shower is a sit down bath-shower which is a little awkward, but the downstairs shower was stand-up as normal. These factors didn't get in the way of us having a great time there and I would stay again because it was so lovely.
Kathryn
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on your recent stay at Suncroft. We're truly pleased to hear that you enjoyed your time with us, and we also appreciate your constructive feedback. While we're sorry to learn of the concerns you've mentioned, we're grateful that you'd consider staying with us again. For your reference, we offer a 3D tour of the property on our website, which provides a detailed walkthrough of the space, including the open bedroom layout with the spiral staircase, the pathway through the snug to the kitchen, and the shower ereas.We hope to welcome you back to the Cotswolds soon!
- Bolthole Retreats, 20th November 2024
Suncroft cottage
We all very much enjoyed are stay at Suncroft cottage it had a lovely garden and views one thing I wanted to say was as you go down garden steps there was a slab over hanging and I almost fell over as loose requires attention thanks very much Justin
Justin
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review of your recent stay at Suncroft. We are very glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay however sorry to hear about the paving slab. We have spoken to the owner who has confirmed that this has now been fixed.
- Bolthole Retreats, 29th August 2024
Idyllic
We stayed here the night before my wedding and it was the perfect setting. Comfortable beds, spacious home, beautiful views.
Heather
Lovely looking cottage but very dirty
We stayed at the suncroft cottage for a weekend. The agency were good in setting up the stay and providing information. The location was nice and the overall look of the cottage was lovely. However, the property was very very dirty. It looked like the cleaner hadn't hoovered. The carpet was very dirty and our socks were black within an hour of standing in the cottage. We also noticed bugs around the property - ants and other things. One of the guests woke up with a rash all over her body. Looked like bite marks. We contacted the home owner who had nothing to say. We explained about the bugs but she didn't say anything to this. We were upset because we spent money to stay here and it ended up being extremely dirty. We all had sore throats from the dust. It was such a shame.
Guest
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review on your recent stay at Suncroft. We have informed the owner of your points raised to rectify. Thank you again for your valuable feedback.
- Bolthole Retreats, 31st January 2024
A lovely stay in a beautiful cottage.
Had a wonderful stay. All that you need is provided.
The only thing I would say is I am not sure that the cottage sleeps 7 people. It was not comfortable as an adult to sleep in the middle living room.
But the views are stunning.
Zakira
Lovely cottage
A wonderful stay at a beautiful cottage. We loved the view from the back of the house and the house was very cosy and warm. The village is also great for walks and a lovely little playground nearby if you have kids. Great pub for food at the Falcon too. Thank you for a lovely stay!
Guest
Lovely comfortable cottage in a great location
Six of us enjoyed our stay at Suncroft and would definitely stay again in this charming and well equipped cottage! We missed the walking suggestions (not in file) but managed a couple of walks through the local countryside. The cottage was charming and well equipped and great for the two dogs but we felt the pet fee high at £40 per pooch! Wed love to return!
Melanie
Beautiful
A lovely house, very easy to stay in and felt like a home from home. Lovely views from the fantastic kitchen. Great walks from the front door with a brilliant little playground nearby. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay - thank you!
Guest
Review
Lovely setting, suited our needs for multi family stay. Cottage details need to be amended to exclude cafetiere from kitchen listing. Broken coffee machine was replaced promptly . Allowed later check out which was great for us!
Guest
Hi Rowena, Thank you for your review and helpful comment, which we have acted upon. We're pleased to hear the property manager was able to help promptly. Best wishes, Bolthole Retreats
- Bolthole Retreats, 15th August 2022
A peaceful oasis to wind down and enjoy exploring the beautiful Warwickshire countryside
I am please to say Suncroft lived up to our expectations. It was clean comfortable and spacious with all the mod cons and comfortable beds. It was ideal for our two dogs who could safely explore the garden and there were numerous fabulous walks on our doorstep which we took advantage of. Its the perfect location for exploring Oxford, the Cotswolds, Stratford Upon Avon and Warwick.
We enjoyed food and drinks at the Falcon and The Moon and Sixpence,and spent an excellent morning clay shooting at EdgeHill annd Tim was the perfect tutor.
I would thoroughly recommend people stay in the cottage We came back recharged and ready to face the world again Thank you
Cheryl
Great place to stay while watching the F1
We chose the cottage because of it's location to Silverstone as we wanted to be close but not too close to the circuit. Suncroft was perfect for that although it was a 40 mins drive.
The cottage was lovely, quirky and very homely. We had everything we needed for our stay.
Only one problem was parking. It says you can get two cars down the drive but in reality if you drive anything bigger than a mini you won't get your car down the drive and will need to park at the front on the house which is on a bend. So unless you're taking two small cars you'll struggle to park more than one
Angela
Characterful + quirky cottage but warm + comfortable in a good location.
Lovely cottage ,warm + welcoming ,does have a lot of steps to manage especially in the garden. May have liked some seating at the bottom end where the sun was.Really struggled to get 2 cars in, was very tight.
Was a great location to travel both north + south visiting as many places as possible for first time visitors to the Cotswolds
Shelagh
An excellent short break
We stayed at Suncroft for 2 nights and had a wonderful time. Our daughter was getting married nearby so perfect location for us. The views over the garden are stunning. The cottage is extremely well appointed , beautiful decor and very comfortable beds. Our only regret is not booking for longer. It would have been lovely to have a relaxing f few days after the wedding . We would love to come back!
Emma
Lovely cottage
Lovely cottage, suitable for groups. Everything you could think of was provided. The oven/instructions for the oven took some time to get the hang of but we got there eventually. Parking is quite tight but there's plenty of space on the road outside.
Lily
Hello Lily, Thank you for your review and we're pleased you enjoyed the cottage. Kind regards Bolthole Retreats
- Bolthole Retreats, 23rd September 2021
Autumn Family weekend
A wonderful stay with my family which included three generations and family dogs. The garden and views are lovely and the house is spacious and has everything you need. The kitchen space is great for family meals and is fully equipped.
We met the gardener too. Lovely man who was very friendly and knowledgeable about the garden he looked after.
Diane
Dear Diane, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review of Suncroft. We're so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay and hope we can welcome you back to the Cotswolds again very soon. Kind regards Bolthole Retreats
- Bolthole Retreats, 6th September 2021
Country Cottage
A well presented property with excellent accommodation. The garden is beautifully presented.
Parking is adequate but tricky for larger vehicles.
We enjoyed our stay at Suncroft.
John
Hi John, Thanks for your review and feedback - we are delighted you enjoyed your stay. Kind regards, BoltholeRetreats
- BoltholeRetreats, 30th June 2021
Charming country cottage in north Cotswold village
We had a wonderful stay at Suncroft Cottage... despite the rainy weather. The cottage is equipped with all the basic amenities visitors could ask for in a weekend away: A fully equipped kitchen, cosy gas fireplaces, Smart TV, etc. But the No 1 selling point of this charming cottage are the views and beautiful garden. Both seem to go on forever and give you a real sense of escaping to the countryside. The bustling town of Banbury is a 5-minute drive for general shopping and groceries, and there are understated pubs and restaurants in neighbouring villages.
Suncroft is perched high on top of the tiny village of Shotteswell, which is a bit further afield if youre hoping to visit the central Cotswold towns of Stow-on-the-Wold, Moreton-in-Marsh, Kingham and Burford. (All approximately a 40-50 minute drive away). But why would you want to go anywhere with these views? The ultimate hideaway to relax and unwind.
Thank you for a lovely weekend.
Virginia & Andy
Virginia
Create Memories
Experiences designed to make your stay unforgettable
We have curated not only a portfolio of properties, but also a portfolio of experiences we recommend everyone try the next time they visit the Cotswolds and surrounding counties. This selection of ours is constantly growing as we discover more hidden gems and local stars. Many of the experiences are incredibly popular, and we encourage booking in advance because these little extras can turn your everyday holiday into a fantastic, fond memory, one you aren’t soon to forget.
