Horsefair Cottage
Nestled peacefully down a tranquil lane, just moments from the heart of beautiful Malmesbury, Horsefair Cottage– a lovingly restored Grade 2 listed cottage that effortlessly blends timeless charm with contemporary elegance. Step inside, and you’re greeted by an open, airy atmosphere. Every detail of Horsefair Cottage speaks to the cottage's storied past, from the rustic exposed beams that hint at its rich history, to the cosy wood burner that beckons for intimate evenings of quiet reflection. Situated just a short stroll from a vibrant high-street, this Malmesbury cottage offers the best of both worlds: a peaceful, private haven with easy access to the town’s shops, cafes, and cultural landmarks. Whether you're looking to explore the surrounding countryside, visit historical sites, or simply unwind in style, Horsefair Cottage is the perfect base for your Cotswold escape.
Overview
Horsefair Cottage is a glorious example of a Cotswold cottage, nestled within a charming terrace of golden-hued stone homes. With its elegant sash windows, this period cottage exudes all the character and charm you would expect from a quintessential Malmesbury bolthole.
As you step inside, prepare to be surprised by the spaciousness that awaits. The cottage is thoughtfully designed to offer an airy, comfortable retreat, with two characterful double bedrooms. One of these, a beautiful attic room, offers breathtaking views toward the iconic Malmesbury Abbey, providing a serene setting to unwind after a day exploring. The cosy sitting room, with its large wood burner, invites you to sink into its warmth, creating the perfect spot for relaxing evenings. The heart of the home lies in the kitchen-dining area, a sun-drenched space that benefits from an impressive atrium ceiling, flooding the room with natural light. Every detail has been carefully considered to blend timeless character with contemporary convenience, making it the ideal holiday home for those who appreciate the finer things in life.
Horsefair Cottage is also dog friendly, ensuring that your four-legged companions can share in the joy of this remarkable cottage. For outdoor lovers, a private courtyard area provides a perfect retreat. The garden is adorned with pretty climbing rose trees, and the addition of a BBQ and rattan dining suite make this a wonderful space for alfresco dining or simply soaking in the Cotswold air.
Ground Floor
Entrance Porch:Enter the property into a useful porch area, with coat hooks, an umbrella stand and room for muddy boots!
Sitting Room:
A charming, cosy sitting room with contemporary décor that compliments its unique period features. Dusky, cornflower blue walls offset the original exposed beams and stone fireplace, complete with a large wood burning stove. The perfect spot to unwind with family or friends after a day exploring.
Kitchen-Diner:
A lovely light, bright and spacious room, featuring an atrium skylight and French doors out to the walled patio. Featuring a large floor-ceiling storage cupboard and concealed units decorated in a blue-toned slate, this room is thoughtfully designed to provide guests with a stylish and well-equipped kitchen. There is a dining table to seat four guests, a 5-hob range cooker, fridge, freezer, Nespresso coffee machine, toaster, kettle and washer/dryer.
First Floor
Bedroom Two:A comfortable bedroom with large French-style double bed and painted beams with a large window for light to flood in. Relax as you enjoy an indulgent lie in and even treat yourself to a cup of tea in bed.
Bathroom:
A spacious bathroom with a luxurious feel thanks to the marble-effect tiling. The bathroom offers guests the option of both a bathtub with central mixer taps as well as a separate large walk-in shower, WC and washbasin.
Second Floor
Bedroom One:
Accessed directly from the wooden stairs, this bedroom fills the top floor attic space. It is softly furnished and spacious, offering guests a comfortable double bed and features beautiful, exposed beams. The best bit – the room benefits from beautiful views over the neighbouring cottage roof tops and gardens, looking towards Malmesbury Abbey.
Outside
Horsefair Cottage has access to its own small, private patio area at the rear of the property. The patio is totally secure, with a charcoal BBQ and rattan garden dining furniture for four guests.
Facilities
Indoor
Bedroom One - Double
Bedroom Two - Double
1 Bathroom - Walk-in Shower, Bathtub, WC And Washbasin
Hairdryer - 1
Fire - Logs Are Provided For An Initial Fire (1st October - 31st March)
Oven
Hob
Toaster
Kettle
Fridge
Freezer
Coffee Machine - Nespresso
Dishwasher
Dining Table - Seats 4
Washing Machine
Tumble Dryer
Iron
WiFi *Please Note That Speeds Are For Guidance Only And Are Not Guaranteed
TV - Access To Freesat Channels Via A Sky TV Box And Access To Online Streaming Apps Including Netflix Via A NOW TV Box
Travel Cot (cot Linen Not Provided)
Highchair
Outdoor
Dog Friendly - 1 Well-behaved Dog Is Welcome For An Additional Fee
Garden - Fully Enclosed
Outdoor Dining Area
BBQ - Please Provide Your Own Charcoal
Parking - On-street Parking
On your Doorstep
Malmesbury is well-equipped with a plethora of independent stores, eateries and supermarkets, making catering for your stay at Horsehair Cottage a breeze. For a special treat in the morning, head to Hobbs House Bakery (5-minute walk) for a fresh loaf, pastry or piping hot coffee, before heading to Thomas of Malmesbury butchers (10-minute walk) for your fresh picks of the finest meat from across the region. Health food lovers should also pop their heads into The Wild Food Company on the High Street, where a host of healthy, organic and vegetarian goodies can be found. For those who prefer to buy all their groceries in one place, Malmesbury town centre is home to a Co-Operative Food and Premier Express, whilst a larger Waitrose store sits just on the outskirts of the town; a 2-minute drive or 5-minute walk from the cottage.
Eating Out:
- The Birdcage - Bistro style restaurant serving a wide variety of traditional, Italian dishes including pizza, pasta and salads (300 metres)
- The Old Bell - a Grade 1 listed restaurant serving seasonal food in a beautiful setting (0.2 miles)
- The Horse & Groom - stlylish interiors and a seasonal menu all set in a Cotswold stone Inn (3 miles)
- Lola & Co - a family run tapas restaurant with a candle-lit bar and luxurious menu (4.9 miles)
We recommend the Malmesbury River Walk, a fantastic circular walk which you can join directly from the cottage’s front door. Following the River Avon as it meanders its way around the outskirts of the town, this gentle 2-mile stroll through Malmesbury’s streets and picturesque fields takes in a host of the town’s ancient landmarks, including Daniel’s Well, Malmesbury’s 19th century Silk Mills, The Old Courthouse and the pretty Abbey House Gardens, as well as giving you the opportunity to experience the beauty of the riverbanks and the wildlife it attracts. The perfect way to discover this Saxon hilltop town’s rich history whilst enjoying as much fresh Cotswold air as you can.
Places to Visit:
- Abbey House Gardens (300 metres)
- Malmesbury Abbey (300 metres)
- Althestan Museum (500 metres)
- Train - Chippenham Station (10 miles), which has regular direct trains to Bristol and London
- Taxis - Malmesbury Taxis, Abbey Taxis Malmesbury, S A Taxi, Swift Taxi
Points of Note
This property has a check-in time of 16:00 and a check-out time of 11:00
- Book with us to get exclusive discounts to top attractions and experiences.
- One well-behaved dog welcome for an additional fee.
- The cottage is located over 3 floors, with a steep wooden staircase and some low beams. Please take care and note that this property is not suitable for people with mobility issues.
- Bedroom one on the second floor is open to the stairs and does not have a separate door.
Check Availability
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Handpicked by us
Why we love this
- A beautifully restored Grade II listed cottage in peaceful surroundings
- Just moments from Malmesbury’s vibrant high street, with shops, cafes, pubs, and historical landmarks all within easy walking distance.
- Perfectly positioned for exploring the wider Cotswolds, including Tetbury’s antique shops, Westonbirt Arboretum, and the historic market town of Cirencester.
Discover more
The Location
The cottage is located within easy walking distance of the charming and historic market town of Malmesbury, which dates back to the Iron Age. History lovers will enjoy visiting the hometown of King Athelstan, first king of all England (924-927), and the 12th Century abbey as well as England’s oldest hotel – Abbey House Gardens. As well as a multitude of shops and curiosities, Malmesbury is home to a number of fantastic restaurants, cafes, bistros and pubs – see Local Amenities for more information!
Just 15 minutes away you will find Tetbury, the antique shopping capital of the Cotswolds The lovely town is teeming with unique antique shops, and an abundance of cafes, boutiques and pubs and of course, Prince Charles’ Tetbury residence inspired shop – Highgrove, where all profits go to The Prince of Wales’ Charitable Foundation. Westonbirt Arboretum, home to over 2500 different species of tree, is just a short drive away, as is the bigger market town of Cirencester.
And relax..
Why book with us
1.
Guaranteed
best price
Book your holiday home directly with us for the best possible price. Because we work exclusively with our owners; we guarantee you won’t find our properties cheaper elsewhere.
2.
Guaranteed
best price
Book your holiday home directly with us for the best possible price. Because we work exclusively with our owners; we guarantee you won’t find our properties cheaper elsewhere.
3.
Guaranteed
best price
Book your holiday home directly with us for the best possible price. Because we work exclusively with our owners; we guarantee you won’t find our properties cheaper elsewhere.
Read our reviews
Short stay Cotswolds
Great property in a lovely town great location to explore the Cotswolds and south west would recommend
mark young
Great property in a lovely town, great location to explore the Cotswolds and South West would recommend.
Mark
I stayed with a friend at Horsefair Cottage and we had a fabulous time. The cottage was as per the photos and description, clean and tidy, well equipped, very peaceful and private, you would not have know you were in the middle of a town!
Mel
We've stayed in several different places in Malmesbury, in order to visit family. Horsefair Cottage tops the others for its calm, light and uncluttered interior and the small outside space was an added bonus. Thank you!
Naomi
The cottage was clean and catered to all of our needs. Fantastic location near to excellent restaurants and town centre.
Dylan
5 stars. Nothing else to add. Second year in a row in the same house.
Santiago
Lovely, tastefully modernised and well appointed terraced cottage. Easy walk to town centre, Abbey, and river Avon.
Sarah
Easter break in Malmesbury
27 Horsefair was a wonderful place for our Easter break. The house is very comfortable. The kitchen is well equipped and a pleasure to cook in. Malmesbury is a great town for a weekend with nice local shops and restaurants. Definitely a strong recommend.
Guest
Quaint cottage in good location
We enjoyed our stay in this historic town, particularly as the weather was good. This meant we could explore the locality with its quaint streets and river walks as well as the abbey and museum. The cottage is in a great location with lots of amenities nearby. We found it comfortable and well appointed and appreciated the courtyard garden which is quite private.
Helen Ingram
Everything was as described - highly recommend a stay at this property.
Tim
Short weekend stay in a lovely quiet cottage.
We enjoyed our stay in this comfortable cottage and would recommend quirky interesting Malmesbury.
The cottage itself was quiet, well equipped and warm during our February stay.
My only other comment was that the heating was a little unpredictable and we found it to be occasionally too warm in the night.
I suggest that better instructions are provided for control it.
Guest
Beautiful cottage in lovely location
Just enjoyed a wonderful stay in this beautiful cottage. It’s tastefully decorated with a fully equipped kitchen, super comfy beds and cosy lounge with a lovely fire. It is a Grade 2 Listed cottage so you must take that into account - the stairs are steep but we didn’t have a problem with that and only one bumped head! 🙂 Situated in Malmesbury we had a lovely walk around the town and everything is there from welcoming pubs, lovely restaurants and plenty of shops for anything you need. A really wonderful stay.
Sally Wallington
No parking
Our stay was short lived. We booked 3 nights and only stayed for one. There is absolutely no parking especially if you own a van. They say parking outside the house but the cars already parked there never move. We spent our first evening carrying items from a car park down the road and then having to move the van to a different car park due to time constraints. There is very little to do in the town. When we arrived there was no milk provided only a bottle of wine and fox biscuits. They charge extra money for a dog but don’t provide a dog bed or even a water bowl. We payed extra for cleaning but found other peoples hair in the bathroom. The house is nice but was let down by the above. I have also never in my life seen so much limescale in a kettle it was disgusting.
Abigail Marriott
Great base
The cottage is lovely, beautifully kept and cosy. The owners / contact were great, extremely helpful. The location is ideal - though parking a little tricky.
There were some tiny things (no table to put your cup of tea on while watching tv, a coffee machine but no coffee pods), but overall would definitely recommend!
Guest
A great stay in the Cotswolds
A beautiful cottage in a small south Cotswold town and an indeal location for travel. It’s a comfortable dwelling with hood bedrooms, bathroom shower and living room. Perfect for a few days break!
Jonathan Veasey
Had a wonderful stay
We had a lovely comfortable stay, the cottage was spotlessly clean and was very well equipped. Tastefully decorated and nicely furnished.
Thank you
Michael Locker
Short stay
Booked a short stay here! Really nice accommodation and received a lovely welcome gift! If you are tall mind the beams!!
Everything we needed was on our doorstep too!
Would happily return to this property.
Tracy Burton
Enjoyed our stay.
Lovely location, but I would say that as I live a few doors away and was staying here while we were having work done! Cottage laid out lovely and nicely decorated. Very clean. Bed so comfortable. A nice touch to be left lovely biscuits and wine. Thankyou. Gteat that dogs are allowed.
Jacqueline Riggs
Amazing stay at Horsefair
Just had a wonderful stay in Malmesbury at Horsefair - great location for walking to town - lots of lovely pubs and restaurants- particularly The Potting Shed, Old Bell, Smoking Dog and Michaels wonderful deli. Beautiful cottage - so cosy. Needed nothing. Thanks for letting us stay - hope to return again soon.
Ann Finnerty
Tired
Nice place. Great location. A little tired. Dining chairs are very uncomfortable. The whole accommodation could do with a deep clean. Some light bulbs not working. However, we have had a lovely few days.
Corinne Clifford
Perfect Cotswold base
Historic cottage with all mod cons in a quiet part of town perfectly maintained and cleaned. We have two toddlers and had to keep an eye on them with the open staircase but this was not a major issue.
Martin Key
Clean, cosy and characterful.
Clean, cosy and characterful property, conveniently located in a lovely and bustling town. The accommodation was tastefully decorated and well equipped with everything we needed.
Alan Eadie
Fabulous stay in a lovely place
We had a great time at 27 Horsefair - the cottage was just absolutely perfect and very clean, we especially loved using the fireplace! It was beautifully decorated, had everything you need and also located a 5 min walk to the town where there are lots of things to do and see, as well as an abundance of great pubs. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a trip to the Cotswolds! Thank you very much!
Natalie Sykes
A lovely cosy bolthole
27 Horsefair is lovely, our favourite part being the downstairs living areas. Very cosy lounge with log fire and comfy sofa. Great kitchen with everything needed to cater for ourselves for the 2 night stay. It rained for our whole stay but I’m sure the courtyard garden would be lovely for a summer staycation! Good location, 5 minuets walk to the high street for pubs and shopping.
Our only negative is that parking is a real pain, we understand that it was listed as only on street but there is not enough parking in the narrow streets for the amount of houses in the area.
Rebecca Emery
Easing Lockdown at Horsefair
We chose Malmsbury because of family connections and a desire to see our 3month old granddaughter and 27 Horsefair because it looked lovely and because of its location. Granddaughter is beautiful...of course! and Horsefair is lovely. We have had short stays in Malmsbury before but too short to be able to explore. The local walks are delightful, the town very friendly with good eateries and some great shops. The house is very comfortable, well presented and spacious given the size..we had a very enjoyable time. Thank you.
I would like to suggest some additions...a few smaller beaker style glasses, a functioning corkscrew, a knife sharpener, perhaps one smaller saucepan, instructions for TV (we had a young person nearby to help!).
Ingrid Richter
Create Memories
Experiences designed to make your stay unforgettable
We have curated not only a portfolio of properties, but also a portfolio of experiences we recommend everyone try the next time they visit the Cotswolds and surrounding counties. This selection of ours is constantly growing as we discover more hidden gems and local stars. Many of the experiences are incredibly popular, and we encourage booking in advance because these little extras can turn your everyday holiday into a fantastic, fond memory, one you aren’t soon to forget.
