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Country Manor

Wantage, Chiltern Hills

12 Bedrooms

7 Bathrooms

25 Guests

Dog-Friendly

Price From: £ 1,430 Per Night

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Your very own Georgian stately home in the beautiful North Wessex Downs countryside. Set in private parkland with a lake, outdoor swimming pool and tennis court, it’s perfect for a celebratory holiday.

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Key Features

Highlights

Cinema Room
Countryside Views
Dog-friendly
Farmhouse Kitchen
Games Room

Heated Outdoor Pool
Historical Building
Open Fire
Outdoor Dining
Parking

Period Features
WiFi
Wood Burner

At a glance

Stately home with 30 acres of private parkland with a lake and a river
Use of an outdoor swimming pool in the summer months
Walking distance to the village pub and the North Wessex Downs

About the property

If you are looking for an exclusive-use house for a celebratory holiday with family and friends, Country Manor – Ardington is sure to impress. Built in 1720, this stately home is set in 30 acres of private parkland, complete with formal gardens, a lake, a river (fly-fishing is available) and stunning views of the North Wessex Downs countryside. You can even borrow bikes to explore your surroundings. Interiors are grand and elegant, yet homely. Think Georgian design, country style and roaring log fires, while outside there is a tennis court and swimming pool. The house is perfect for special occasions and sleeps up to 23 adults, plus two children up to the age of 12 may be added for the bunk bed.
The space

While the house is undeniably grand, it is also cosy. Built with the intention of creating perfect symmetry and emphasising natural light, it is true to say that there is a very calming ambience.

There is plenty of space for everyone to spread out, be alone or socialise, whether all together or in smaller groups.

While the house is kitted out for modern living, there are many historic features. One of the finest is the rare imperial staircase which starts as two separate sets of stairs then twists into one suspended flight. Its elegance is a sign of what the rest of the house has in store.

There’s a formal drawing room with sofas, ideal for relaxing with a coffee or reading a book. Plus, there’s the cosy music room and the snug, both with a TV with Apple TV and Freeview, that are more informal. All three rooms have an open log fire or wood burner to add plenty more atmosphere on a chilly day.

The large country kitchen features a double Aga, as well as an electric oven and gas hob, fridge, freezer, microwave, coffee machine and dishwasher, plus a farmhouse kitchen table that seats 12 to 16.

For a more formal dining experience, head to the oak-panelled dining room which has a beautiful, intricate ceiling and exudes a real sense of occasion. The long dining table is ideal for a dinner party and seats 18 comfortably or 21 at a squeeze .

When you’re in the mood for fun, or it’s a rainy day, head to the basement level, where in the vaulted hall there's an antique bar billiards table and table tennis. Meanwhile, children have a playroom with plenty of toys and books, as well as a home cinema system with apple TV and Freeview, to keep them entertained.

There are 12 bedrooms in the house. On the first floor there is the master suite with a four-poster, super-king-size bed and a bedroom with two single beds. These share an en-suite Jack and Jill bathroom. There is also a king-size double bedroom and a small double room that share a bathroom.

On the second floor there are two king-size double rooms, one with an en-suite bathroom and one with an en-suite shower room. There are also two twin bedrooms with two single beds, plus a small double bedroom, that all share a family bathroom.

At the basement level, which has underfloor heating, there is a king-size bedroom, a twin room with two single beds (this room also features the original cooker of the house) and a children’s bedroom with a bunk bed and a single bed. These bedrooms share a cloakroom with a WC, a shower room with a WC and a bathroom with a WC.

Outside, there are 30 acres of parkland, including formal gardens, a lake, and a riverbank to enjoy. You will also have use of a gas BBQ (from May to September) and outdoor leisure facilities within the grounds including a heated swimming pool open May to September (heated June to August), the tennis court and a croquet set. There are bikes that you can borrow too, while fly-fishing is available in the trout stocked brook from April to October (bring your own rods, catch and release).
Guest access

A member of the resident staff team from the house will meet you on arrival and provide you with a set of keys for the house and assist you with any queries that you have. The house, the grounds and facilities are exclusively yours during your stay.
Sustainability

If you would like to offset the carbon emissions from your trip, get in touch and we can arrange this for a small fee.
Keep in mind

Check-in: from 16:00

Check-out: by 10:00 (or 16:00 on Sundays)

Deposit: Bookings are subject to a non-refundable deposit of 30% of the booking value plus applicable booking fees with the balance payable 90 days before the date of travel.

Accidental Damage Deposit: To maintain the highest standards in our properties, guests will need to pay a refundable Accidental Damage Deposit of £2,000 prior to their stay.

Book with confidence: If your booking is affected by new Government travel restrictions which were not known at the time of booking, and you're legally unable to travel, we agree to postpone your booking.

There is a lake and a swimming pool in the grounds, please supervise children at all times.

Please note that the property has live-in staff that will not be on duty during guest stays.
House rules
- No smoking
- No parties and events
- Please keep noise to a minimum. A small music player, such as a docking station, can be used if you wish, however music may not be played outdoors in the evening.
- 2 dogs are welcome at an additional fee of £30 per dog. Dogs are only allowed in the house kitchen and the basement level and mustn’t go onto the carpeted areas of the house.

Amenities

General
- Aga
- Bicycle Storage
- Canoe Storage
- Coffee Machine
- Croquet Set
- Dishwasher
- Electric Oven
- Freezer
- Gas Hob
- Hairdryer
- Heating
- Iron And Ironing Board
- Kitchen
- Microwave
- Nespresso Machine
- Outdoor Space
- Private Entrance
- Range Cooker
- Seating Area
- Smart TV With Internet Access
- Tumble Dryer
- Washing Machine
- WiFi
Highlights
- BBQ - Gas
- Bikes For Hire
- Children Welcome
- Cinema Room
- Countryside Views
- Dog-friendly
- Extensive Gardens
- Farmhouse Kitchen
- Games Room
- Garden
- Heated Outdoor Pool
- Historical Building
- Open Fire
- Parking
- Period Features
- Ping Pong Table
- Pub Within Walking Distance
- Shop Within Walking Distance
- Tennis Court
- Underfloor Heating
- Village
- Wood Burner

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Location

Local Info

The neighbourhood

Set in the stunning estate village of Ardington in the Oxfordshire countryside, the house is within walking distance of the village pub and convenience shop/cafe. If you have young children, there’s a playground in the village too, while dogs will love walkies in the woodland.

Also within walking distance is Holy Trinity Church which was built in 1200 and is where author, CS Lewis, worshipped and is buried.

If you want to get out in the fresh air, footpaths lead directly from the house up to the North Wessex Downs which is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Meanwhile, the bustling market town of Wantage, famous as the birthplace of King Alfred the Great in 849, is just a 5-minute drive away. There’s a good range of independent shops, a couple of supermarkets and plenty of places to eat and drink, including some cosy pubs. A little further, you’ll find the towns of Hungerford, Newbury and Abingdon, plus the city of Oxford – all within a 30-minute drive.

Getting around

A car is recommended for travelling to the property and ease of getting around. It is approximately a 75-minute drive from central London and 30 minutes from Oxford and Newbury. There is ample private parking at the house.

The nearest train station is Didcot Parkway which is a 15-minute drive away and has direct services from London and the south.

The house also has a helicopter landing point.