We felt like we were living in a fairy tale staying in The Gates Cottage! It was a truly magical experience. Just know that if you’re tall, you will likely hit your head at least once (but it’s worth it). The village is quiet in the morning and evening when there aren’t tourists around - you will feel lucky to have such a beautiful village all to yourself. The cottage is a great mix of a historical cottage with modern amenities and decor. The host was very responsive to our needs. We really appreciated the coffee and food that was left for us on arrival. We would 100% stay in this cottage again!

Pro's: "It is not often one gets the opportunity to live in one of these properties even if it is only for a short period. It’s a wonderful experience to imagine what it would have been like 300 years ago. What makes it special is the village setting. All of f this made up for the niggles as noted below. The cottage is comfortable and was a great base to explore the area. It is important to know the cottage does not have any outside space. " Cons: "Just a few niggles if sorted would make it perfect. They may seem petty but in this property bracket these are not expected. Fridge freezer controls not working so food froze solid in the fridge, dishwasher did not clean properly, microwave temperature control did not seem to work, the iron was missing the control knob, the ironing board cover was paper thin marking the clothes and there were no sharp kitchen knives. There were quite a few cob webs around which is to be expected but not when they are thick and have been there for sometime and in the front windows. Something that is not easy to resolve is car parking which is not readily available by the cottage it has to be on the access road to the village or the dedicated free car park for the village at the top of the hill, about 5-10 mins walk."

The Gates is set in a storybook. Located in the main square of Castle Combe, a picturesque village that has played home to many notable movies, you wake up to views of the stone church behind the house and the two local pubs right out front. The cottage itself is completely updated with modern appliances (including an AMAZING rain shower) while maintaining its original charm. Wood beamed ceilings, a vast fireplace in the living room, and the stained-glass windows in the master bed room are just a few of the details that will make you think you have traveled back in time. Alyson and her husband were perfect hosts—going so far as to ship a load of laundry back to Germany when it got stuck in the wash! Thank you for everything.