The Oaks Barn

The Oaks Barn is a four-bedroom barn conversion with a private hot tub in Durley, Hampshire, sleeping eight, in peaceful countryside between Winchester and Southampton. It has a six-person hot tub and fire pit in its own enclosed garden, underfloor heating, a log burner in the open-plan kitchen and dining room, and a mezzanine lounge up a spiral staircase that children adore. Dogs are welcome and there's parking with an EV charger, so it's made for family get-togethers, weekends with friends and celebrations in the country. Book it direct with us here.

The barn at a glance

• Sleeps 8 in 4 bedrooms: two king rooms and two twin rooms that can become doubles
• 2 bathrooms, with a bath and a walk-in shower
• Private six-person hot tub, fire pit and barbecue in an enclosed garden
• Open-plan kitchen and dining room with a log burner
• Mezzanine lounge with a TV and a children's games corner
• Underfloor heating throughout
• Step-free, with bedrooms and a bathroom on the ground floor
• Cot, high chair and stair gates
• Dogs welcome
• Free parking on the driveway, with an EV charger
• Self check-in, 4 pm to 9 pm; check-out 10 am

Inside the barn

Completed in 2021, The Oaks Barn mixes the bones of a country barn with a modern, beautifully designed interior. The heart of it is the big open-plan kitchen and dining room, with a log burner for chilly evenings, a feature TV wall and a flower wall, and a dining table where everyone can sit down together. Guests call it luxurious, modern and so spacious, and say the communal spaces are perfect for a group get-together. Underfloor heating keeps it warm underfoot all year.

The mezzanine

A spiral staircase climbs to the mezzanine, the barn's star feature: a second lounge with comfy seating and its own TV, plus a children's games corner with toys and built-in baby gates. Grown-ups use it for movie nights, and children treat it as their den. Families staying over half term told us their kids absolutely loved it.

Bedrooms

Bedroom 1: a king-size bed.

Bedroom 2: a king-size bed.

Bedroom 3: two single beds that lock together, so we can make them up as twins or as a double.

Bedroom 4: two single beds that lock together, as twins or a double.

Just tell us when you book how you'd like the two flexible rooms set up. The bedrooms have wardrobes, storage and dressing tables, beds are made up with high-quality linen and fresh towels are ready for everyone, with room-darkening blinds and extra pillows and blankets.

Bathrooms

There are two bathrooms, with a full-size bath and a walk-in shower, fluffy towels and starter toiletries: shampoo, conditioner and body wash, plus a hairdryer. The bedrooms and a bathroom on the ground floor mean nobody has to tackle the stairs to get to bed.

Kitchen

The kitchen is fully equipped for cooking for eight: an oven and hob, a microwave, a fridge and freezer, a dishwasher, a toaster, a kettle and a coffee maker, with pots, pans, baking trays, crockery and wine glasses, and a breakfast bar for the morning rush. We leave tea and coffee to start you off. It's a fully self-catering stay, so bring your favourite oils, spices and condiments. There's a washing machine and tumble dryer too.

The garden, hot tub and fire pit

The enclosed garden is yours alone, with outdoor seating, a barbecue, a fire pit for toasting marshmallows under the stars, and a six-person hot tub. Pack a dressing gown or two for the walk back inside after a soak.

Using the hot tub

We drain, clean and refill the hot tub after every single stay, to keep it hygienic and in line with health and safety rules. The trade-off is heating time: fresh water takes around 6 to 8 hours to reach full temperature, so after a same-day changeover it may still be warming up on your first evening, though we always get it ready as fast as we can. It's open until 10 pm each night, because the barn sits in a quiet village and we want to keep things peaceful for the neighbours.

Families and dogs

The Oaks Barn is set up for children of all ages, with a cot, a high chair, stair gates, children's books, toys and board games, and an enclosed garden to run around in. Dogs are welcome too, and the country lanes and footpaths around Durley make for great walks. Just let us know you're bringing a dog when you book.

Where you are in Durley

Durley is a quiet village in the Hampshire countryside between Winchester and Southampton, with great walks, big views and lots of pubs nearby, including the village's own Robin Hood and Farmer's Home. Hedge End's supermarkets are a short drive for supplies. By car, Bishop's Waltham and the village of Upham are about 8 minutes away, Marwell Zoo about 9, Botley about 10, and the riverside village of Hamble about 16. Winchester and its cathedral are about 19 minutes' drive, Paultons Park about 24, the New Forest at Lyndhurst about 29, and Portsmouth's Gunwharf Quays about 29.

Getting here and parking

By car, the M27 and M3 are close by. Southampton Airport is about 15 minutes' drive, Eastleigh station about 14 and Southampton Central about 21. There's free parking on the shared driveway, with an EV charger.

Arriving

You have the whole barn and garden to yourselves. Check-in is self check-in from 4 pm to 9 pm, through a keypad gate and a key lockbox; we send the codes and directions before you arrive. Check-out is by 10 am. Our local team is on hand by message every day from 8 am to 8 pm, and there's an emergency number for anything urgent.

Worth knowing

The Oaks Barn adjoins The Piggery, our two-bedroom barn next door, which is let separately unless you book both barns together for up to 12 guests. The mezzanine is reached by a spiral staircase. Durley is a quiet village, so the barn is perfect for celebrations but not for parties, and stays of up to 30 nights can be booked.

Good to know before you book

• Check-in 4 pm to 9 pm by keypad gate and lockbox; there are no arrivals after 9 pm. Check-out by 10 am
• All four bedrooms and both bathrooms are on the ground floor; the mezzanine lounge is up a spiral staircase
• Up to three dogs; a pet fee is added when you book, and dogs stay off the furniture
• A travel cot, high chair and stair gates are already at the barn
• The hot tub is open until 10 pm and is refilled for every stay, so it can take 6 to 8 hours to heat after a same-day changeover
• No parties or events, no smoking, and no fireworks (there are horses in the next field)
• One outdoor security camera on the site, facing away from the hot tub
• Minimum stay 3 nights, and up to 30 nights can be booked
• After booking, the lead guest completes a short ID check and deposit step with our partner SafeGuest

Questions guests ask

• Does it have a private hot tub? Yes, a six-person hot tub in the barn's own enclosed garden, open until 10 pm.
• Will the hot tub be hot when we arrive? Usually, but it's refilled for every stay, so after a same-day changeover it may take 6 to 8 hours to heat.
• Can we bring our dog? Yes, up to three dogs are welcome; a pet fee is added when you book.
• How are the beds set up? Two kings and two rooms with interlocking singles that can be twins or doubles, sleeping eight.
• Is there parking? Yes, free on the driveway, with an EV charger.
• Is it suitable for children? Yes, with a cot, high chair, stair gates and a kids' corner on the mezzanine.
• Is it step-free? Yes: all four bedrooms and both bathrooms are on the ground floor. Only the mezzanine lounge is upstairs, up a spiral staircase.
• Can we book both barns? Yes, book The Oaks Barns together for up to 12 guests.
• Can we arrive after 9 pm? No. Check-in closes at 9 pm, so please plan to arrive between 4 pm and 9 pm.
• Is there a cot? Yes, a travel cot, plus a high chair and stair gates.

Booking direct

Booking here is cheaper than booking the same dates through some of the big booking sites. Stays of a week or more are priced lower per night, and if you have particular dates or a special occasion in mind, email us before you book and we'll see what we can do for you.