Soho Farmhouse, Oxfordshire,

Great Tew, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire OX7 4JS, United Kingdom

@sohohouse I sohohouse.com

Overview

Soho Farmhouse is Soho House's 100-acre countryside about two hours from London. It's part rural members' club, part design-forward hotel, with 114 rooms ranging from cosy cabins to larger farmhouses scattered across fields, lakes, and woodland.

By car: This is the easiest and most common way to arrive — it's roughly a two-hour drive from London via the M40 (Junction 11), and onsite parking is free. Expect winding, unlit country lanes for the last stretch, and patchy phone signal, so download directions in advance.
By airplane: The nearest major airports are Birmingham (about 1 hour 10 minutes' drive) and Heathrow (about 1 hour 15 minutes' drive); Gatwick is further out at roughly 2 hours 15 minutes. There's no direct airport transfer service — you'll need to hire a car or pre-book a private taxi/chauffeur for the final leg.
By train or other: The nearest station is Charlbury, about a 15-minute taxi ride away, reached via a roughly 1-hour-10-minute train from London Paddington. Kingham station is a similar-distance alternative. Both are small stations with limited taxi ranks, so pre-booking a taxi (or asking Soho Farmhouse to arrange one for you — there's no extra fee, just the fare) is strongly recommended, especially if you're travelling with kids, luggage, and a stroller. Some guests also mention a private "Farmhouse Coach" service from London as a car-free alternative worth checking.
Families who want an outdoorsy countryside escape rather than a beach or theme-park holiday. It suits families already in (or willing to invest in) the Soho House membership world, and works well for multi-generational or bigger family groups thanks to the variety of cabin and farmhouse sizes. It's less suited to families wanting a big resort-style waterpark experience, or anyone hoping to book on short notice without a membership.

Real Talk

When you think of Soho House, “kid-friendly” doesn’t automatically pop into your mind. However, we were pleasantly surprised by how much Soho Farmhouse caters to families with babies & toddlers - it was one of the most magical winter holidays we have taken as a family.

We visited Soho Farmhouse in October 2023. We were exhausted after spending three days in London exploring the museums, parks and pubs, and were ready to do some much-needed relaxing in the countryside (well…as much “relaxing” you can do with a 15 month old!).

Soho Farmhouse is a members' club, not a public hotel. You (or whoever is booking) need a Soho House or Soho Friends membership to stay overnight. Once you're in, though, you and your family will genuinely love it. There's a dedicated kids' pool, a children's activity barn with a petting area, bikes and Hunter wellies provided to explore the grounds. Cars are largely kept out of the central "farm" area kids can roam pretty freely without you worrying about traffic. It manages to feel like a properly grown-up wellness retreat and a genuinely fun family escape at the same time, which is a hard balance to strike.

Getting around

Once you arrive, you truly don't need a car in fact, the farm actively discourages it. Cars are left at the entrance car park, and you're then ferried around (or walk) via a fleet of vintage milk floats and bikes.

Shuttles: Milk floats (and an accessible milk float on request) run guests between the car park and the Main Barn / central farm areas, a great option for parents not wanting to walk far with young kids or a stroller.
Accessibility: Accessible toilets are available in the Main Barn, Pen Yen, Boathouse, Barwell Barn, screening room, and spa; the Boathouse has accessible changing rooms and a lift to the lower level; two accessible parking spaces are reserved for blue badge holders.
Distance to Downtown: The nearest towns are Chipping Norton and Great Tew, both a short drive away; Oxford is about 25–30 minutes by car, useful for a day trip if the kids want a change of scenery.
Car rentals: No on-site rental desk; nearest options are in Oxford or Chipping Norton.

Hotel Facilities Parents Need

Pools: Two separate pools, and this is genuinely one of the best family features.

The main Boathouse Pool (heated indoor/outdoor, open 6:30am–10pm) is restricted to guests 15 and over.
Kids instead use the dedicated Teeny Pool, open to under-15s (children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult); note that adults cannot use the Teeny Pool without a child, and inflatables, ball games, and photography aren't permitted there. Worth knowing: a second family-focused pool and changing facility for under-16s has reportedly been in planning as part of a wider expansion, so it's worth checking current facilities when you book if this is a priority for you.

Hot tub/Sauna: Sunken hot tubs are set right into the Lazy Lake, plus saunas, ice baths, and mud facials at the Soho Health Club, a lovely adult wind-down, though these are aimed at grown-ups rather than kids.

Sporting & Recreation: We loved having bikes and and Hunter gumboots to explore the grounds! For all your active parents, there is also the option of tennis, padel, boules, table tennis, an eight-hole woodland crazy golf course, clay-pigeon shooting, horse riding and pony rides at the stables, and seasonal rowing boats on the lake.

Gym: Open daily 6am–10pm, with classes bookable via the Soho House app.

Spa: The Cowshed is an adult only spa open daily 10am–8pm; members can bring up to three guests, though anyone booking a treatment needs the member to also be having one.

Breakfast: Widely praised by guests; room service (including a "greasy spoon" breakfast float) runs 8am–12pm for most room types, alongside sit-down breakfast at the on-site restaurants.

Kids Menu: Not explicitly detailed in official materials, but children are welcomed in restaurant spaces until 9pm (last table booking 7:30pm), and family-friendly dishes are generally available.

On-site restaurants: Multiple options including the Main Barn, Hay Barn, Pen Yen, Blake's Kitchen Bakery, and the well-reviewed Little Berenjak. Evenings can get busy and adult-leaning in atmosphere, so book tables in advance if you're dining with young kids.

Laundry: Standard laundry service is available for guests; no self-service laundromat on site.

Stroller/Car seat rentals: Not advertised as an on-site rental service — bring your own, or arrange a rental in advance through a third-party baby-gear company, since the farm is remote and last-minute options nearby are limited.

Room Amenities Parents Look For

Family-Friendly Rooms: Room types range from cosy Piglet cabins (better for couples) to larger farmhouses and shepherd's huts that suit families better — worth specifying "family-friendly" or larger room types when booking, since the smallest categories won't comfortably fit a family with young kids plus gear.

Wifi: Available throughout, though laptop use is restricted to certain areas (Hay Barn, Blake's, Comfy Farm, Pen Yen, until 6pm). This is a a nice forced-unplugging feature for a family trip, even if inconvenient for remote-working parents.

Kitchen: Some larger cabins and farmhouses include kitchen or kitchenette facilities (noted by guests in Tripadvisor photos/reviews); smaller room categories will not. Confirm with the House team based on which room type you book.

Sleep

Cribs: We were provided with a complimentary crib and baby products (including diapers) upon arrival! I would call prior to booking if you need any sleeping arrangements made.

Other: The countryside setting means it's quiet at night, great for families with kids who wake easily to noise. It also gets very dark as the oaths between buildings are unlit so a torch/phone light is handy if you're walking young kids back to your room in the evening.

Parking & EV Charging

Parking: cars aren't driven around the central grounds, which is part of the appeal for families with young kids underfoot.

Overnight guests: Free onsite parking included; your registration is pre-recorded on arrival.

Electric Chargers: Yes — Porsche electric charging points are available in the Soho Farmhouse car park for members and guests.

Activities & Services for Kids

Kids Club: The Teeny Barn (Teeny House) is a dedicated children's space with arts and crafts, indoor and outdoor play, and an animal petting area, open daily 9am–5pm. Children staying overnight (ages 2–16) get complimentary sessions (two hours in the day, two in the morning); child members get two hours per day.

Babysitting: A nanny service is available for children under 2, at £20 per hour, and must be pre-booked, useful for parents wanting a spa treatment or dinner out without the little one in tow.

Other Services & Activities: Check with The Teeny Barn (Teeny House) for all current kids' programming, prior to booking.

Kid gifts/welcome kits: We received a complimentary crib and baby products (including diapers) upon arrival that was set up, waiting in our room!

Pet friendly

Yes, with some conditions. Dogs are allowed on the grounds and indoors at the Mill, Blake's Kitchen Bakery, and Little Berenjak, always on a lead and supervised. In the Main Barn, Hay Barn, and Pen Yen, dogs are permitted in outdoor spaces only. Good to know if you're bringing the family dog — and worth flagging if your kids have allergies, since dogs are a visible, active part of the farm experience.

Heads Up:

Members Only:

Call ahead to confirm:, If you need cribs, blackout curtains, a formal kids' menu, stroller rentals, availability isn’t always guaranteed, so call the the House team before you book confirm.

Main Pool Age Limit: The main pool is 15+ only, which some families with a mix of older and younger kids may find limiting.

No Car: Due to its remote location, enough that arriving without a car takes real planning (pre-book that taxi from Charlbury or Kingham).

Overall

Soho Farmhouse is one of the rare places that genuinely delivers on "adult wellness retreat that also works brilliantly for kids." The dedicated Teeny Pool, the Teeny Barn kids' club with its petting zoo and crafts, free bikes and wellies for exploring 100 acres, pony rides, and a largely car-free central farm all add up to a place where young kids can roam and play safely while parents still get a proper hot tub, spa, and quiet dinner. The under-2 nanny service is a standout for parents of very young children wanting a few hours to themselves.

Bottom line: if you're already a Soho House member (or willing to become a Soho Friends member), and you're after an outdoorsy, unplugged countryside break rather than a big resort pool day, this is an excellent family choice. Just plan your transport and confirm the finer sleep/dining details in advance, since it's a working farm-turned-retreat first and a family hotel second.

Note: Membership requirements, pool age restrictions, and facilities (including a possible additional family pool currently in planning) can change — always confirm directly with Soho Farmhouse before booking.

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