Nothing beats watching my little nephew discover the joy of his first staycation, and his aunty (me), doesn’t do things by halves. I found THE most perfect farmhouse with everything we needed for a truly magical family stay at Fox and Hounds Farmhouse.
First impressions whilst driving up to the farmhouse is how big it is. We were in awe that a house which sleeps up to 12 people was ours for the next few days! Set in private grounds surrounded by fields, woodlands and nature, every inch of the surrounding space is wonderful and not to mention safe. Nestled away in the quiet Buckinghamshire village of Lillingstone Dayrell, Fox and Hounds Farmhouse is the countryside house you dream of! It just could be Buckingham’s best kept secret!
In a picture-perfect setting with manicured lawns, heated outdoor pool and a kitchen Gordon Ramsey would be jealous of, every part of the house is welcoming and waiting to be made the most of. The kitchen is the heart of the house with ample dining space to enjoy all your meals or just simply hang out with your chosen tipples. For those wannabe chefs, there’s an Aga range cooker and an island, making food prep a dream. We spent a lot of time in the kitchen as my nephew is forever snacking plus it gives easy access to reach the pool and the kids playroom in the adjoining barn. With the kitchen doors open, the summer breeze kept us cool and the light poured through glass ceiling for most of the day.
Whether you are planning a family trip, birthday stay-cay or even a work focused retreat, Fox and Hounds Farmhouse caters for all occasions. They even welcome doggies and the house is equipped with a dog bed, bowl and treats. Don’t worry, treats for us humans are also left with eggs, milk, bread and bacon for those slow mornings, plus we were spoiled with a cute range of animal shaped biscuits, natural honey and a bottle of pink fizz to devour.
There are four spacious bedrooms plus a single room attached to the master bedroom which boasts a walk-in wardrobe section. Each room has been decorated with different touches, so no room is the same. Each headboard, cushions, bedside lamp and trinkets are unique to the rooms. The views from each are also lush with miles of green landscape and treetops to gaze upon from bed. Upstairs there are two bathrooms, one of which features a whirlpool bath. Our hosts kindly made sure we had good quality amenities, fluffy White Company towels and even candles by the bath!
With so much space to play, the downstairs living areas are all different. One TV room with comfy sofas and armchairs which connects to a reading room with a beautiful chaise long, and this flows through to the office. In nearly every single room we were left fresh flowers making it feel as if we were in our very own Country House and Homes feature! Next to the kitchen you also have a guest toilet, fully equipped laundry room and another living space which is used as a playroom for both adults and kids, the cupboards are full of toys and board games, cards and cuddly toys. We sat in this room mostly in the mornings after brekkie and enjoyed letting my little man busy himself with his newfound toy loot.
Scattered around the property in the front and back gardens, you will find pear and apple trees, plus the sheep in the next field make great neighbours. The garden features a play area for kids too – it even has a small sandpit. Being such a Londoner, it’s so humbling to be able to take a break and really appreciate nature in its finest form, surrounded by your favourite people.
When we were arranging this trip, I was in total awe that there would be a swimming pool solely for our use. It’s the epitome of luxury farmhouse living in my opinion and something that I now aspire to have at as many other staycations as I can! The pool has both a shallow and deep end plus an outhouse which stores all the water toys, pool towels and inflatables for your use. The pool is situated withing a proper pergola with a shaded lounge area and a round dining table, making it the ideal spot for a BBQ alfresco feasts with a touch of poolside bliss.
Another first for us, having my nephew there for his very first swim! This was a special moment which I shall treasure forever. The pool was the perfect temperature for some splashing around to get him used to it, and after the sun had set, we swam some more because it would be rude not to! Swimming in the candyfloss sky and enjoying a glass of pink fizz was another highlight to add to the long list of perks! The pool is an absolute asset and the cherry on the cake to your private farmhouse experience.
Now, swimming, eating, relaxing and sleeping are always high on the staycation agenda for me but there are also numerous activities or experiences which you can do or arrange during your visit. With such a great entertaining space, you can organise and pay for extras such as a private chef to cook a 3-course meal or set up the BBQ for a flame grilled feast to enjoy outdoors. With Silverstone Circuit & Museum close by you can visit for a day of motor sports, or even head out to Bicester Village for a designer shopping spree (its only 15miles away)!
Those more in tune with the quiet stay-cay life can switch off and amble around enjoying the various walking paths by foot, or rent a bike for the day to explore a little further afield. Yoga sessions are available on request for guests too and you also have National Trust Stowe nearby which is home to world-famous landscaped gardens and lakes, making it the perfect extension to the surrounding nature by the house.
Fox & Hounds Farmhouse is a proven all-rounder. With everything it has to offer, there isn’t any type of group that the farmhouse couldn’t cater for. I genuinely had a heavy heart packing up the car and leaving this place as we had such a memorable escape. I imagine it would be so cosy in the winter seasons too with the fireplace in the living room and reading room, sipping on hot chocs under wool blankets with pies baking in the Aga!
You can rent Fox and Hounds Farmhouse all year round and it can be easily reached by car and train from London. We drove from Central London and it took us only 1hr 40 mins (traffic dependent).
Whatever your staycation style is, Fox and Hounds Farmhouse brings everyone together and seamlessly blends country charm with modern comforts. It’s not just a stay here – expect big spaces, big smiles and even bigger memories.
Review and Images by Zoe Laing @_zozogram_
Feature image supplied
