The Dancer´s Room
Little Haseley, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
A biscuit tin cottage that sees your old-world charm and raises you poured concrete and Picassos, The Dancer's Room is a luxury self-catering thatch in the fields of rural Oxfordshire. Designed with families in mind, and named for Russian primo ballerino Rudolf Nureyev who used to holiday here, this is a country retreat that has draped itself in a blanket of patterns and thrown open its moss-blue door to welcome in all the city escapers of the nation.
Introduction
Though it sits pretty in a Medieval hamlet once ruled by Kings and goldsmiths, this Oxfordshire cottage is a lesson in curveballs. As Tolkien wrote when scribing The Fellowship of the Ring just miles from here, all that is gold does not glitter: scratch past the surface of its centenarian exterior and peel back its thatched roof to find staircases crafted from ribbons of oak, glass-roofed showers tucked under eaves, and cashmere-cloaked beds beneath ancient elm trusses. With all the trappings of a luxury self-catering cottage, but not a whiff of stuffiness, this 17th century family hideaway happens where British nostalgia meets French-provincial modernity.
Inside
Mix one quart thatched dollhouse with three quarts creativity to make The Dancer's Room, a luxury home of revivals, where metal oil drums become lamp shades and north of England couches are upholstered in velveteen Icelandic poppies. Have the whole family tumble into the vaulted kitchen-diner to make like the White Crow (the nickname Rudolf Nureyev was given for his rare ability), pirouetting around the Spanish table spread with Frank Cooper's marmalade and sweet Banbury cakes. Then into the TV room for popcorn-fuelled movie marathons, before the grown ups root out the backgammon board and swill wine in the firelight.
Outside
While would-be ornithologists disguise themselves in rooms lined with leafy wallpaper, hoping for sightings of tree pipits beyond the dormer window, the rest will scatter around the enclosed garden of this luxury self-catering cottage. Trimmed with ferns and multi-stemmed crab apple trees, this is an idyllic spot for long breakfasts spent munching granola and passing pitchers of orange juice as the dogs go about sniffing for rabbits. Once in a while, venture beyond the garden gate to discover a county where elder tree witches hold spells over Kings petrified in stone, scholars roam the collegial streets, and 3,000-year-old Bronze Age horses trim the hills in alabaster chalk.
The Facts
- SleepsUp to 8 guests from £3,150 per week
- Bedrooms and bathroomsThere are four bedrooms at the property; one with a super king-size bed (en suite with freestanding bath and walk-in shower), and three with king-size beds (one with en suite glass-roofed shower, two share the family bathroom). There is one family bathroom (with bath and handheld shower attachment) on the first floor and one WC on the ground floor. With prior agreement, the garden room offers a double bed and an en suite shower room.
View bedrooms - PetsTwo well behaved dogs are welcome
Each pet is charged at £60 per week or part thereof - Arrivals and departuresArrival Time: 4pmDeparture Time: 10am
- FamilyYes, children are very welcome
- PracticalitiesThere is private parking for four cars and an enclosed garden. The kitchen has a large range Mercury cooker with induction hob, a three-door fridge-freezer, a dishwasher, and a heated concrete floor. There is a washing machine, tumble dryer, and pulley maid in the utility room. The staircase within the property is a narrow-tread spiral staircase and guests are asked to take care. There is also underfloor heating in the family bathroom.
- Homestay includesA welcome hamper of local produce, luxury linens and towels, iPad, fast fibre internet, Bose wireless speakers, a record player with records, TV room (with access to Apple TV, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, and Sky Sports), books, board games, and logs and kindling to get you started.House book - your property and destination guideDiscover more
- Private cateringSeeking a celebratory dinner or fully catered escape? Our recommended caterers will work with you to create personalised menus for your stay. Details are shared through our house book on confirming your booking.
- Other informationProperty terms and conditionsFrequently asked questions
Prices & Availability
Little Haseley
A peaceful hamlet made up of a handful of Cotswolds stone thatches, Little Haseley is a chocolate-box parish in south Oxfordshire. Just half-an-hour from the scholastic hub of Oxford, with its hallowed halls, libraries, and medieval quads.
Getting there
- On the Map Located in the rural hamlet of Little Haseley near Oxford in south Oxfordshire.
- By Car From London, there is a journey time of just over one hour. Take the M40 toward Oxford, exit at junction 7 onto the A329, and follow the directions provided to the property.
- By Train You can take a train from London Paddington to Oxford in around 50 minutes. The property is 30 minutes away from Oxford by car.
- By Air Oxford Airport is 30 minutes away, while Heathrow Airport is 40 minutes away
From the owner
“Look closely at the three Picasso prints - you will see that he has signed each one. After my wife´s father had bought them, he went to a restaurant in Antibes, and guess who he chanced upon?”
We bought The Dancer's Room in the 90’s when our children were young as a family escape from the city. After many happy years spent there at the weekends, and now with grown-up children and grandchildren, we assembled a dream team to renovate the property. The cottage is listed, dating back to the 17th century, but interior designer Sarah Delaney, architect Barnaby Gunning, and garden designer Butter Wakefield turned it into a quirky masterpiece. The interior is inspired by our travels, chronological and geographical. We kept our eyes open for inspiration everywhere we went, and some of the items in the house were even imported, like the giant table from Catalonia.
The cottage is full of flair, but its heart and soul remains - if the cottage itself had a say, this is what it would have done! One of our favourite features is the great sky views from sliding doors at both ends of the kitchen-diner. Also the 1920's Swedish chairs from my wife's Grandmother and the Tassos sculpture from our travels in Greece. We are music-lovers in this house, and guests will have access to our record collection - any lovers of jazz are in for a treat. To us, this place is pretty much heaven, and the happiest moments of the last four centuries seem to have made their way into the walls. I hope that all who stay here can make lifelong memories of their own.
The Hastings Family
Owner recommendations
Live like a local, discovering the best hidden gem restaurants, walks and attractions during your holiday in Little Haseley with an insider’s perspective.
To Eat
La table d´Alix at The Plough, Great Haseley
Just five minutes away by car, this classic French restaurant is not just the owner’s favourite fine dining lunch spot; in their opinion, it serves the best food in all of Oxford.
To Do
Ashmolean Museum, Oxford
A hub of art and archaeology on Beaumont Street, this is Britain´s first public museum, built between 1678–1683 to house the English antiquary Elias Ashmole´s cabinet of curiosities.
To Do
Chiltern Hills, Oxfordshire
Just thirty minutes by car (and passing by the local Waitrose where dinner ingredients await), the twelve-mile-wide Chiltern Hills beckon walkers and picnickers to its chalk escarpment.
To Do
Organic Farmers´ Markets, Oxfordshire
Take a turn around the organic farmers´ markets in Oxford or Sandy Lane Farm, stocking up on local root vegetables, cheeses, and breads to take home for a hearty dinner.
Guest Testimonials
Read reviews on TrustPilot and Google
Incredibly quiet spot. Our kids loved the garden swing. Lots of dining out options which were great given the time of year. Thank you for a lovely stay at The Dancer´s Room.
Press
Below are a selection of features in which Unique Homestays has appeared. If you would like to feature the property in an editorial capacity, please contact the marketing team on +44 (0)1637 882014.
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25 of the best autumn getaways
The Times
November 2024Good manors
Condé Nast Traveller
November 2024Ways to improve your life—from our experts
The Times
October 2024The UK´s most relaxing riverside stays
The Times
October 2024At one with nature
25 Beautiful Homes
September 2024Healing waters
Condé Nast Traveller
September 202425 of the UK´s best lakeside stays
The Times
September 2024Highland fling
25 Beautiful Homes
September 2024
Collections > Large Self-Catering Groups > UK > Oxfordshire > Oxford > The Dancer´s Room
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Disclaimer: These particulars, whilst believed to be accurate, are set as a guideline so should not be relied upon as a statement of fact. The photographs show aspects of the property at the time they were taken and it should not be assumed that the property remains precisely as displayed. If there are points of particular importance that need clarifying before you book, please contact us.
