Norcote Loft

Norcote Loft is a Cotswolds apartment near Cirencester: a two-bedroom holiday let in the roof of a period farmhouse at Norcote, sleeping four, with its own private entrance, off-road parking and peaceful countryside all around. Cirencester's Market Place is about five minutes' drive, Bibury about eleven, and you can book it direct with us right here.

The loft at a glance

• Sleeps 4 in two double bedrooms
• Its own private entrance, completely separate from the house below
• One bathroom with a shower
• A cosy living room with a large smart TV and a games console
• A modern kitchen with a dishwasher and coffee machine
• Washing machine, tumble dryer and iron
• Wi-Fi and space to work
• Off-road parking for two cars: an allocated space and a second space
• Self check-in from 4 pm to 9 pm, check-out by 11 am

A farmhouse hideaway

The loft takes up the top of a period farmhouse, with sloping ceilings, beams and original character, and its own front door reached up a staircase at the back. Step inside and it's bright, warm and quiet: guests talk about the peace and the views, and in winter, about watching the different birds come to the feeders over breakfast. One guest spent Christmas here and called it a wonderful, peaceful escape from all the busyness. It feels like a real Cotswold retreat, yet the town is five minutes away.

Bedrooms and bathroom

Bedroom 1: a double bed.

Bedroom 2: a double bed.

Both rooms have plenty of drawers and hanging space and blackout blinds, and guests often comment on the comfortable mattresses and quality bedding. Beds are made up with fresh hotel-quality cotton linen before you arrive, with towels, toiletries and spare pillows and blankets. The bathroom is modern, with a shower.

Living room and kitchen

The living room is cosy without feeling cramped, with sofas, a large smart TV, a games console and a dining table, so it's easy to come back from a day out, cook, and settle in for a film or a game. The kitchen is modern and well stocked: oven and hob, microwave, fridge and freezer, dishwasher, kettle, toaster, a pod coffee machine with coffee to start you off, and a blender, plus pans, baking trays, crockery and wine glasses. A washing machine, tumble dryer and iron make longer stays simple.

Exploring the Cotswolds

Norcote sits just outside Cirencester, the old Roman town often called the capital of the Cotswolds. Driving times from the loft: Cirencester's Market Place about 5 minutes; the Corinium Museum about 6; the Royal Agricultural University about 7; Cirencester Park about 9; Kemble station, with trains to London Paddington, and the riverside village of Bibury about 11; the Cotswold Water Park about 13; Tetbury about 18; Bourton-on-the-Water about 23; Westonbirt Arboretum about 28; and Cheltenham Racecourse about 35. If you fancy a longer walk, the Abbey Grounds in Cirencester are about 34 minutes on foot.

Working in the area

Companies regularly book the loft for colleagues working nearby, and it suits a solo stay of a week or two just as well: there's Wi-Fi, a table to work at, laundry, parking on site and a proper kitchen. Guests have extended at short notice without any fuss, and longer stays are discounted.

Parking, arrival and departure

You park in the loft's allocated off-road space (a second car can use the extra space), then walk round to the back of the farmhouse and up the metal staircase to your front door, where the lockbox is. Check-in is self check-in, any time between 4 pm and 9 pm, and check-out is by 11 am. We send directions, with a what3words location for the parking, before you arrive, and our local team is on hand by message every day from 8 am to 8 pm.

Worth knowing

Being in the roof gives the loft its charm, and also some low beams and eaves: taller guests will need to duck in places, including by the cooker hood. The entrance is up two flights of outside stairs, which makes it less suited to babies and toddlers. It's countryside, so you'll want a car for most trips, and on the hottest summer days the loft can get warm; there's a fan to help.

Good to know before you book

• Arrivals from 4 pm, last check-in 9 pm, by lockbox; leave by 11 am
• We can't offer late arrivals after 9 pm
• Two flights of outdoor steps to the front door, then no stairs inside
• Low beams and eaves in places
• Sorry, no pets
• Quiet hours 10 pm to 7 am
• No cot available; bring a travel cot
• No parties or events, and no smoking
• After booking, the lead guest completes a short ID check and deposit step with our partner SafeGuest

Questions guests ask

• Is there parking? Yes, off-road: an allocated space for the loft, plus a second space.
• Is it private? Yes, it has its own entrance and isn't shared with anyone.
• What are the beds? Two doubles, one in each bedroom.
• How far is Cirencester? About 5 minutes by car to the Market Place.
• Is there a train station nearby? Kemble, about 11 minutes' drive, has trains to London Paddington.
• Can I work here? Yes, there's Wi-Fi and a table to work at.
• Is it good for children? For older children, yes: a family with a seven-year-old spent a happy week here. The outside stairs make it harder with babies.
• Can we bring a pet? Sorry, the loft doesn't take pets.
• What time is check-out? 11 am, an hour later than most of our homes.
• Can we arrive after 9 pm? Sorry, no: the lockbox check-in window ends at 9 pm, so aim to get here between 4 and 9.
• Is it all on one floor? Yes, once you're inside. There are two flights of outdoor steps up to the door, then no stairs at all.
• Is there a cot? Not at the moment, so pack a travel cot for a baby.

Booking direct

Booking here is cheaper than booking the same dates through some of the big booking sites. If you have particular dates in mind, email us before you book and we'll see what we can do for you.