Seeking a quiet retreat from a busy year, editor Sarah James selected an Airbnb in the Cotswolds that met specific criteria for isolation and comfort near northwest London. The chosen property was Strawtop Two, one of two adjacent 16th-century thatched cottages located on a quiet street in the village of Adderbury. Saved previously from Instagram, the cottage offered a secluded environment where James and her partner could avoid outside interaction while remaining close to dining options.
Upon arrival in April, the couple found the interior warmly lit with lamps and a wood-burning fire ready for use. The kitchen, painted in an egg-yolk yellow hue, was stocked with welcome provisions including sourdough bread, organic eggs, marmalade, Daylesford butter, bacon, and rosé wine. Beyond the kitchen, the cottage features a dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows, a boot room equipped with Barbour jackets and wellington boots for field walks, and an exterior area adorned with fresh flowers.
The properties are owned by local content creator Josie Irons and her husband Charlie Irons, who manages the rentals. Their renovations have preserved Grade II-listed original features while integrating high-end hotel amenities. The interior design includes vintage copper pans, an Aga stove, and two bedrooms: one on the first floor with minty green walls and another tucked into the eaves featuring tongue-and-groove woodwork. Guests are provided with Bamford pillow mist, blackout blinds for deep sleep, and luxury linens.
Charlie Irons acted as a de facto concierge, providing restaurant recommendations that James followed to maintain a relaxed pace. The couple dined at The Yurt at Nicholsons for breakfast, enjoying items like camembert croissants and pork belly chops. Evening meals included steak frites at The Norman Knight and a roast lunch with cauliflower cheese at The Duke of Cumberland's Head. Back at the cottage, the living space offered a cozy atmosphere with an antique coffee table, books set into stone chimney recesses, and a bathroom equipped with Bamford products, a Steamery steamer, a Dyson hairdryer, and Soho Home robes.
Sources: Condé Nast Traveler.