Thimble Cottage
Thimble Cottage is a tranquil village retreat in an idyllic setting. The compact interior is a comfortable home from home while the first-floor bedroom is surprisingly spacious. Ideal for couples and their dogs, walking trails lead from the door, including the Wardens Way and along the River Eye. Inside, the cottage is well-equipped and you will find added luxuries including a wood burner in an inglenook fireplace and a freestanding rolltop bath. This romantic cottage is perfectly situated for The Slaughters, nearby Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, and the Cotswolds beyond.
Overview
Quietly secluded in the delightful village of Lower Slaughter between Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold, Thimble Cottage is a country getaway for couples and their dogs. A stone’s throw from The Old Mill gift shop and museum with the River Eye flowing gently by, this is a perfect Cotswold bolthole.
When you arrive after your journey through the Cotswolds, you pass through the cottage garden to the front door. Surrounded by climbing vines and rose bushes in the summer it is a picturesque property. Through the front door you find yourselves in the living room which has a wood burner in an eye-catching inglenook fireplace. The cottage has a country aesthetic with tartan curtains and well-chosen accessories. In this room is a dining table for two where you can enjoy romantic home-cooked meals which have been prepared in the well-equipped kitchen.
On the first floor, the stairs open into the king-size double bedroom. This surprisingly spacious room is a relaxing haven with luxurious bedding. A rolltop freestanding bath provides a real retreat where you can soak away your stresses and there is also a shower room on this floor.
Outside, the garden gives extra space for your dogs, and you can enjoy meals cooked on the BBQ. The icing on the cake of this property are the many walking routes you can choose from which you can follow right from your doorstep.
Ground Floor
Living Room/Dining Room:
Stepping into the living room you will instantly feel at home. Closing the curtain across the front door behind you, this is a true bolthole retreat. Traditional features including a stone floor, exposed stone walls and wooden beams give this perfectly sized cottage added character. There are nods to your country location with stag décor and traditional hunting imagery on the walls.
This comfortable room has been wonderfully decorated with warm Mulberry red accessories, a leather armchair, and a plump two-seater sofa in front of the inviting wood burner in its inglenook fireplace. There is a dining table in front of a window seat where you can enjoy evening meals together looking out to the lawned garden.
Kitchen:
Up one step is the kitchen with wooden worktops and a stone floor. It is well-equipped for your stay and you will find all the appliances you could need including a coffee machine, washing machine, dishwasher and oven/hob. There is space in this room to store your dogs’ accessories by the side door.
First Floor
Carpeted stairs with a turn and a handrail lead up to the bedroom and bathroom.
Bedroom One:
This king-size double bedroom overlooks the garden and is a tranquil escape away from the world. Enjoy the silence lying beneath the exposed wood beams with the electric log burner on to keep you cosy. Decorated in tones of taupe and cream you will start each morning well-rested.
Three steps take you up to the bathroom with underfloor heating and a freestanding rolltop bath where you can fully immerse yourself in luxurious relaxation.
Shower Room:
The shower room includes a shower with a rainfall head, heated towel rail, sink, and WC.
Outside
To the front of the cottage is a south-facing garden, a real sun trap, where you can enjoy a morning coffee or evening glass of wine at the four-seater table on the patio. There is an electric BBQ to enjoy a meal alfresco in the summer and lawned space for the dogs. While there is no parking at the cottage, there is on-street parking at the village green, a short walk from the door.
Facilities
Indoor
Bedroom One - King-size
1 Bathroom - Shower Room And Separate Bath
Hairdryer - 1
Fire - Logs Are Provided For An Initial Fire (1st October - 31st March)
Oven
Hob
Microwave
Toaster
Kettle
Fridge
Freezer - Compartment In Fridge
Coffee Machine - Nespresso
Dishwasher
Dining Table - Seats 2
Washing Machine
Tumble Dryer
Iron
WiFi *Please Note That Speeds Are For Guidance Only And Are Not Guaranteed - 12-24 Mbps
TV - Smart
DVD Player
Board Games
Sound System - Bose Speaker
Outdoor
Dog Friendly - 2 Well-behaved Dogs Welcome For An Additional Fee
Garden - Enclosed
Outdoor Dining Area
BBQ - Electric
Parking - On-street Parking 3 Mins Walk
On your Doorstep
Eating Out:
The Slaughters Country Inn (2 mins walk)
The Slaughters Manor House (3 mins walk)
The Atrium at Lords of the Manor (1 mile)
Walks: There are many walks which run through Lower Slaughter and it is a short walk to visit nearby Upper Slaughter. The Wardens Way is an 8 mile route which runs from Winchcombe in the north to Naunton in the south, following this route you can reach Bourton-on-the-Water.
Places to Visit:
Upper Slaughter (1 mile)
Cotswold Motoring Museum & Toy Collection, Bourton-on-the-Water (2 miles)
The Model Village, Bourton-on-the-Water (2 miles)
Hawkstone Brewery, Bourton-on-the-Water (20 mins walk)
Travel:
Train - Kingham (8 miles) and Moreton-in-Marsh (7.5 miles) have regular services from London Paddington. Cheltenham Spa (21 miles) has services from the South West, Midlands and north of England.
Taxis - Bourton-on-the-Water Private Hire, Call Bobby Private Hire.
There is so much to discover in the Cotswolds, why not have a look at some of our favourite Bolthole Retreats Experiences.
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.
- Thimble Cottage is an adult-only property and does not accept children or infants.
- 2 well-behaved dogs welcome for an additional fee.
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Handpicked by us
Why we love this
- A charming and romantic cottage with a wood burner, freestanding roll-top bath, and cosy, well-equipped interiors.
- First-floor bedroom is surprisingly spacious, offering a restful and romantic stay.
- Stroll the Slaughters, grab a riverside coffee, then explore Bourton-on-the-Water or Stow-on-the-Wold.
Discover more
The Location
The Slaughters are two picturesque villages full of unique character and stunning architecture. Joined by the River Eye, Upper and Lower Slaughter are a short walk apart and create a romantic setting for breaks away. In Lower Slaughter is the much-photographed Ford Bridge which crosses the river in front of a row of Cotswold stone cottages. In the village is the Church of Saint Mary, a Village Hall and two restaurants set in beautiful buildings. You might find you don’t want to leave this idyllic location, but you can easily reach Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water and even Cirencester and Cheltenham in around 30 minutes.
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Read our reviews
Thimble Cottage is very quaint, clean and comfortable. The cottage is meticulously decorated, and the host provided a welcoming supply of breads, eggs, sweet treats and other niceties for our arrival. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay! Rachel, our host, was very communicative and responsive to our inquiries both before and during our stay.Parking, while not directly on-site, was always available within a short walk to the cottage. We were able to temporarily load and unload immediately in front of the cottage for arrival and departure.The cottage is conveniently located next to the old mill, and there is a coffee/pastry cart less than one minute away from the cottage for purchase of morning coffee, tea and treats!We would highly recommend Thimble cottage for a comfortable get-away to the Cotswolds!!
Jay
Fantastic property in a beautiful location. Owner extremely helpful and the welcome basket was very much appreciated. Looking forward to our return visit
Edward
Thimble Cottage was exactly what I was hoping for when I booked ! It is the quintessential Cotswolds cottage complete with absolutely beautiful surroundings .
The cottage itself was like out of a movie set being so pretty & cosy & the hosts know how to decorate the cottage to fulfill the dream county cottage . The decor was so high standard together with every anticipated need was covered both in the kitchen and throughout the cottage . I would return in a heart beat . Thank you
Theresa
Amazing location, great cozy little cottage. Everything you need for your stay and even a welcome basket with treats, eggs, butter, milk and wine. A throwback to early ABnB days with quality hosts. Definitely would recommend a stay here. Had a small issue with water pressure/temp in shower and tub but owner was quick to send handyman to address. No parking on site, but several options along the village green or incoming streets. Never more than 5 min walk away and really easy once day trippers head home for night. Lovely place and perfect secure garden for dogs. Also easy access to multiple footpaths to explore the area. Peaceful and tranquil at night, just a great little place.
Adam
Lovely stay as described, perfect for a dogs staycation. Would definitely come again. 5 stars.
Scott
A beautiful cottage in the Cotswolds
We had a wonderful stay at Thimble cottage. The location was perfect, the cottage itself was so beautifully decorated, a perfect home away from home to enjoy after a long day of exploring. The owner and customer service were always on hand to help. Thank you so much, we hope to return some day.
Kayleigh
I had a lovely stay at Thimble Cottage, it’s a lovely cottage which is very cosy and homely. Plenty of walks on the doorstep and pub just down the road. It had everything I needed. I’ll definitely be back!
Michelle
Our stay at Thimble Cottage the week before Christmas couldn’t have been more perfect. The cottage is perfectly located, perfectly-sized, so well-kept & well-decorated, and exactly what we were dreaming of for a Christmas-time stay in the Cotswolds. The host went to great lengths to make sure the place was made up for a cozy Christmas experience, and it was one of the most hospitable and best stays we’ve ever had. The bed was extremely comfortable, the bathtub room was amazing, and the living room quickly felt like home. It can’t be over-stated how perfect the location is. Right in the heart of Lower Slaughter and just steps from The Old Mill. We would stay here again in a heartbeat!
Josh
Chilling in slaughters
This cottage is amazing its in the heart of the slaughters and if you are a walker its the ultimate stop .
So comfortable and lovely and clean inside and the welcome basket was a lovely touch !!
Would definitely recommend anyone to stay here
Lovely place lovely cottage and amazing walks!!
Simon
This cottage is amazing it’s in the heart of the slaughters and if you are a walker it’s the ultimate stop . So comfortable and lovely and clean inside and the welcome basket was a lovely touch !! Would definitely recommend anyone to stay here. Lovely place lovely cottage and amazing walks!!
Simon
Location is ideal. Lower Slaughter is quaint and picturesque. Cottage decor is well maintained and homely.
Clayton
Gorgeous cottage in the most fabulous surroundings. Super property would definitely recommend.
Lindsay
A lovely couple of days away was had with our little family. Would come again for sure.
Kirsty
We loved our stay at Thimble Cottage in Lower Slaughter. It is as described. Extremely well-furnished. Very comfy bed. Lovely bathtub in separate room. Beautiful garden to sit in. The details in this cottage were fantastic and felt like someone's home. We had no issue finding parking at the village green. The host provided a great welcome basket with breads, crisps, biscuits and snacks. Also milk and eggs.The kitchen is fully equipped. Overall, highly recommended!!!
Richard
Comfy bed, cosy cottage, well equipped, amazing location.
Stephen
Lovely stay at Thimble Cottage
We very much enjoyed our stay at Thimble Cottage. Please be aware there is no parking at the cottage but you can find parking in the nearby street.
Hugh
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us on your recent stay at Thimble Cottage. Were delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay. We appreciate your feedback about the parking, just to clarify we do note on our website that parking is on-street a 3-minute walk from the cottage. We hope to see you in the Cotswolds again soon.
- Bolthole Retreats, 13th June 2025
The cottage has been renovated nicely, and was well stocked, we arrived to fresh eggs, pastries, milk in the fridge, a bottle of Merlot, and firewood for the fireplace. We couldn’t have asked for anything more. The bed was comfy and the location was great.
Doug
Lovely cottage
First of all a little thank you to the owner for leaving a lovely welcoming pack very nice touch the cottage is in a lovely little town close to Bolurton on the water 20 minute walk
Don't have a car parking space which was no trouble you can unload outside and park. The car. Literally a two minute walk. Little coffee stall, basically at your front door a local pub.
Restaurant 3min walk can't fault anything
Mark
Perfect Cottage!
We stayed in Thimble Cottage to welcome in the New Year. It was perfect!
Everything about it was amazing. Its so pretty on the outside and decorated like a little English cottage should be.
The location is amazing. There is no parking but we managed to get a space towards the pub/church which is only a 2 min walk away.
The welcome hamper is such a kind thing to do and little touches just make it even better.
Rachel, the owner was really easy to reach and so helpful.
Would love to go back.
Kate
Shortcomings
The cottage and its situation are delightful. There was a welcome hamper to greet me with a variety of goodies. The bedroom was lovely and the bed extremely comfortable. Unfortunately I couldnt use the bath as the pressure in the tap was so low it was just a trickle. The owner is aware of this, but it was a bit disappointing. However, the shower was perfect. The kitchen could do with some scales (luckily I brought my own), decent knives (especially a small, sharp peeling knife) and a bread bin! Whilst I appreciate the nature of a cottage is dark and cosy, it was very difficult to find a spot to read particularly as the weather was dark and wet! The light by the fireplace was helpful but I would suggest higher voltage bulbs in the various lamps would help. Overall (and despite the weather) I enjoyed my time there enormously and hope to return. Finally, my thanks to Rachel who was at the end of the phone with any queries I had and it was particularly nice to meet her when she called in for a cuppa! Many thanks.
Sally
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review of your recent stay at Thimble Cottage. We are very glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay, however disappointed to read the points that you have raised. We have shared your feedback with the owner who has confirmed that the pressure in the bath tap is being looked at and a plumber is visiting the cottage. They have also taken the other points raised on board, and these will be looked into. We hope to see you again in the Cotswolds soon.
- Bolthole Retreats, 30th September 2024
Short break in the Cotswolds
Property a bit tired, not quite the luxury we were expecting! Lovely location but need to make it clearer that the parking is abysmal.
Guest
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review of your recent stay at Thimble Cottage. We are very glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay, however disappointed to read the points that you have raised. We have shared your feedback with the owner who has taken these points on board, and these will be looked into. With the parking after booking you have access to the guest portal where we state the places to park nearby.
- Bolthole Retreats, 24th September 2024
Absolutely loved the House
The location was beautiful, the house, albeit small, was absolutely perfect and the attention to details was incredible, the perfect place for a peaceful weekend. An added delight was the hamper left by Bolthole was wonderful thank you.
Samantha
Lovely peaceful with great dog walks
Lovely location and very very peaceful (tourists walk the main road in the day) but otherwise tucked away. Some beautiful walks and long walks (with the dogs - 2 black labs) on the doorstep. Easy walk to the local hotels for some great food. Just an all round great place to stay.
Louise
**** Lovely cottage,amazing location,feels like a home.
***** my self and my partner had a very good calm and enjoyable family time. The Cottage have everything we need very warm cosy and pretty
Clara
A lovely stay
The cottage was very warm and cosy in the chilly weather. Spotlessly clean and comfortably furnished, it provided the perfect base to explore the Cotswolds. We shall definitely return.
Lindsay
it was a wonderful stay in tfe cottage and Rachel ,it s a really friendly and helpfull person.
see up.I m sure i will come back. The onlyone is; the keybox is so deep by the ground and it can be difficult to use this.
Marita
Lovely cottage, perfect location, but couldn't use lovely bath
We loved our stay at Thimble cottage, it's a perfect location with lovely local walks. It was very clean and quiet and finished beautifully. But be aware there is no guaranteed parking that comes with the cottage so you need to account for this in your day trip planning. There was literally nowhere to park in the village on a Saturday afternoon due to tourists so we had to stay out for longer. Obviously can't be helped but good to know!
The cottage has a lovely rolltop bath and a whole room dedicated to it however the water flow from the taps was SO slow that we didn't have time to use it and had to shower instead. The shower taps come out at least 20cm from the wall, taking up a lot of room and leaving you very little room to move around in the shower. This is made worse by there being nowhere to put your shampoo etc. other than the floor, so you have to keep turning around and bending down - really difficult in the small space and quite frustrating - not relaxing at all. For the price paid this left us quite disappointed with the bathroom facilities as we were expecting to really enjoy the bath and was part of the reason we booked this cottage.
The cottage was dog friendly and had a bowl, towel, blanket etc provided which was really sweet. But I would suggest that if dogs aren't allowed upstairs maybe a stairgate would be helpful to install to assist guests with adhering to this rule. Some scales in the kitchen were the only thing we were missing for weighing dog food out.
Guest
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review of your recent stay at Thimble Cottage. We are very glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay. The owner is looking at options to improve the water pressure and have taken your other points onboard.
- Bolthole Retreats, 18th April 2024
A picture-perfect, cosy retreat in an idyllic location
We could not have asked for anything more from our stay at Thimble Cottage. Set in the peaceful and picturesque Cotswolds village of Lower Slaughter with countryside walks right on the doorstep, this adorable property was the perfect retreat for a couple with their dog. Full of charm and character, the cottage was a delight to return to after a day's exploration of the local area. Spotlessly clean and extremely well equipped, our every need was catered for and we felt very comfortable and relaxed during our stay. From the luxurious bath and spacious bedroom to the log burner, underfloor heating and the pretty garden, we loved everything about the cottage. A little peace of heaven to which we hope to return.
Toby
January 2023
We got lucky with the weather in January, but a lovely cottage for 2 people in a fantastic location. The owner even went above and beyond in helping us get back some of our belongings we'd accidently left behind. Great stay!
Jon
A wonderful stay at Thimble Cottage
We had a wonderful stay at Thimble cottage. The space was clean, cozy, very comfortable and well supplied with everything we might need. Rachel decorated for our Christmas stay and we felt right at home. The location was perfect to walking trails, nearby villages and local pubs and restaurants. We would definitely stay again. Thank you
Dale
Lovely cottage in a great location, perfect for a quiet weekend away.
Perfect for a weekend away in the Cotswolds. Cottage was lovely, clean and in a perfect location. Instructions were really comprehensive and clear, would highly recommend.
Oliver
Wonderful retreat
The cottage is just perfect.we have had a wonderful stay at thimble cottage. The cleanliness comfort and attention to detail was excellent. We loved the food essentials left for us and the small details, like very good quality bed and bedding. Only one thing we would like to draw attention to is the shower. To get any water pressure it had to be on full and was then scalding hot. Otherwsise perfect stay.
Anne
Birthday break
We had a lovely stay at Thimble Cottage so would recommend. The cottage is beautiful and we love Lower Slaughter.
There was only one thing that we were confused by - on more than one occasion we were asked to contact the owner before arrival - I tried to do this twice - no answer - went to voice mail and no call back. Was this necessary to do? If yes why werent we called back. Other than that a perfect stay. Thank you.
Linda
Fairytale
A beautiful and romantic cottage on a top location in the heart of the Cotswolds. Totally relaxed here.
Marly
Long Weekend in Lower Slaughter
An absolute gem of a place. Fantastic location and great little cottage, nestled in the picturesque village of Lower Slaughter. All and everything was provided, countryside walks and a glass of wine around the fire in the evenings. Almost perfect
Arriving on-time, having checked-in with Rachel as instructed. Settling ourselves for the evening, we were extremely surprised (startled) to have visitors. A couple, arriving mid-evening and convinced they were also staying at Thimble Cottage (or Thimble Mill, as they referred). After 3 hours of trying to get in touch with Rachel, in torrential rain, there was no response. In hindsight, fortunate for us all, we were able to agree on a first-come, first-served outcome and the other couple were pragmatic and reasonable enough to seek alternative arrangements, averting unnecessary confrontation and complete disaster.
We are still yet to receive that call from the owner. Bolthole Retreats were also unreachable throughout.
Guest
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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.
