Guest testimonials
The property is beautiful. Well looked after. And the interiors are beautiful. We had an exceptional stay. The house manager was wonderful and so helpful. She arranged a boat trip to access the property and ensured our friends could set up birthday decorations for the surprise birthday celebration. The location is so picturesque and we left feeling recharged and like we would really miss our stay. The area is so peaceful and tranquil. Would highly recommend this property.
The house, garden and location were beautiful, tranquil and more than we hoped for. All the facilities were excellent and the bed was very comfortable. All linens were of very good quality and the kitchen was well equipped. We loved the log burner and all the tea lights to use which made it very cosy. Having the canal at the front and fields at the back was amazing. Loved there was a fire pit and BBQs although we didn’t use them this time. It was fun having the kayaks, and I was glad of the hot shower after falling into canal! The place is stunning, we loved our stay. Thank you.
Being collected by boat to be taken to the property was so much fun and the ideal way to start our holiday. Arriving to a thoughtful hamper was a wonderful surprise too. The property allowed dogs, was the right size for our family, was an ideal distance from London, and looked so beautiful and quirky.
Absolutely beautiful property with great facilities. The kitchen utilities, coffee machines and juicers exceeded our expectations. The availability of both in-house and garden games, kayaks, BBQ, hot tub etc was brilliant and again exceeded expectations.
Loved every minute of our stay. The location by the canal side was beautiful and peaceful and was perfect for an escape from our busy city life!! Thank you for such a wonderful stay.
Cannot fault the property at all, it had absolutely everything you might possibly need. The property was very warm which was needed during winter. Can’t thank the hosts enough, brilliant stay!
The house location is incredible and the house itself is so beautifully done! We just loved all of it. The kayaks were a great addition, and the hot tub was a huge hit! Jason was also wonderful and so so helpful and friendly.
The most relaxing holiday we´ve had in a long time, with beautiful walks starting just outside the front door - our dog had forgotten what a lead was by the end of our week at Little Red Lock!
Jason who collected us was brilliant! Very helpful, answered all questions, helped with all our food/drink/luggage and dog! Showed us property brilliantly. The housekeeper was also amazing, she met us on arrival to assist, she told us where she was over the week and if we needed anything where to find her! She saw us kayaking one day and stopped us along canal ensuring we were enjoying ourselves and our property! Very sweet and genuinely cared that we were alright!
We have just returned from the wonderful Little Red Lock and wanted to say thank you for a brilliant stay. The property is truly amazing - such a special place where we felt at home (and a little jealous) immediately. While the weather was temperamental we managed to make the most of all the generous facilities, including the kayaks, hot tub, bbq and of course, the house. Thanks again for a lovely stay - a much-needed break with friends!
We loved our stay at Little Red Lock. From arriving at the house by boat, the red tractor in the garden our boys loved playing on, to watching he canal boats go up and down the lock in front of the house, to the house itself. My 4-year-old said it was the best holiday ever and wants to know when we can return!
A fantastic getaway, thank you to the owners for sharing their lovely home with us. The attention to detail and focus on comfort in the design and decoration of the home is amazing, we felt very welcome and comfortable.
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Little Red Lock
Claydon, Banbury, Oxfordshire, UK
Up to 6 guests
Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Children and babies are welcomeA kind of alchemy happens when city folk fall in love and up sticks from the city in search of a secret country bolthole. Filled to the beams with English eccentricity and encircled by a wooden picket fence, this unique canal-side home near Banbury in the Cotswolds is a perfect example. Little Red Lock's waterfront setting on the Oxford canal oozes tranquillity, while inside its brick walls, a carnival-like celebration of eclectic rustic charm awaits. Read more...
Allows babes in arms
Allows children
Two well behaved dogs welcome
Wi-Fi
Hot tub
Real fire
TV
Barbecue
Cot
Highchair
Firepit
Kayak- More
Introduction
Three decades ago, a London couple with two small children decided to plot their grand escape to the Oxfordshire countryside. Their mission was to find a home as isolated as it was inspiring, so this old canal forge near Banbury was the dream project. Slowly incorporating water and electric, Little Red Lock underwent a Cinderella-style transformation into a warm and welcoming family home, today offering luxury self-catering escapes to others in search of a chic waterside getaway. From the first coffee poured from the stove top to the last evening spent toasting marshmallows on the embers of the fire pit, families are ensured a charming stay.
Inside
In traditional country home style, copper pans hang amid brickwork and beams while heavy curtains frame bucolic views in the farmhouse-style kitchen. Button tufted chesterfields and ikat armchairs impart a sense of warmth, alongside the underfloor heating concealed beneath herringbone terracotta tiles. Upstairs, Andrew Martin furnishings and faded Persian rugs cover floors salvaged from an old mansion; two of the bedrooms sit beneath beams in the eaves, whilst the other resides in the ground floor extension with its own kitchen. Most who come to this scholarly love nest on the Oxford canal stay put all week long on England’s finest waterway.
Outside
Mornings are best spent plotting adventures with a generous breakfast spread laid out on the picnic table by the water's edge; the mooing cows or odd passing narrowboat your only neighbours. The market town of Banbury (six miles south) is a higgle-piggle affair, with narrow alleyways, independent shops, and a lively farmers' market on Thursdays and Saturdays. Join locals for afternoons down by the canal, a wicker basket stuffed with chilled rosé and whatever delicious cheeses the market had on offer. Back at Little Red Lock, take a twilight kayak cruise down the canal or dip in the hot tub, before finishing with a supper of local bounty.
There are three double bedrooms at Little Red Lock. Two first floor bedrooms share the family bathroom and the ground floor bedroom uses the wet room.
Bedroom one
First floor double bedroom
Bedroom one sits under the beamed apex ceiling on the first floor with a double bed and seating area while sharing the first floor bathroom and shower room with bedroom two.
Bedroom two
First floor double bedroom
Bedroom two, also located on the first floor, has a double bed and shares the first floor shower room and bathroom, featuring a roll top bath, with bedroom one.
Bedroom three
Ground floor double bedroom
With views over the fields, the final bedroom is situated on the ground floor and uses the ground floor shower room.
- PricingFrom £1,850 per week, £1,395 per short break for up to 6 guests
Alternative group sizes of up to 2 or up to 4 guests are available during selected periods at a reflective rate - FeaturesHot tub, fire pit, kayaks with life jackets for the canal
- PetsTwo well-behaved dogs are welcome
Each pet is charged at £60 per stay - FamilyChildren and babies are welcome
- PracticalitiesThere is undesignated parking for several cars 500 yards from the house by way of a footpath along the canal, however please note this is not exclusive to guests. There is also a track for emergency vehicle access only up to the house. Please note, the exterior of the property is protected by CCTV. The main kitchen features a Smeg oven and hob, full-size fridge-freezer, microwave, Nespresso coffee machine, and Sage coffee machine with milk frother. A second link kitchen (with oven, hob, microwave and under-counter fridge) joins the main kitchen to the extension and is great for couples or grandparents within the group, leading to a double bedroom and shower room. There is a washing machine and dryer on the landing. The garden is enclosed, ideal for families with dogs and children. Please watch young children by the water. Arrivals will be picked up canal-side by the house manager and taken to the property on the owner´s narrowboat. Please note that the boat is only available for pick-ups before sunset and is weather dependent
- Private cateringWhether you're looking for a fully catered stay or a one-off meal for a special occasion, discover your bespoke catering options
Explore private dining - Eco-friendlyAir source heat pump
Arrivals & departures
Arrival time: 3pm
Departure time: 10am
Other information
Fresh produce
- Crusty bread
- Dairy butter
- Milk
- Free range eggs
- A delicious jam or chutney
- A selection of cheeses
- Pasta & pasta sauce
- Cookies or biscuits
- Sponge cake
Please note - the owners strive to source the best produce for your welcome hamper, however, the contents may vary slightly depending on the season and amount of people comprising your party.
Those all-important little luxuries
- Candles
- Luxury bed linen and towels
- Firewood and kindling to get you started
- Rogers DAB radios
- Two double kayaks
- Selection of life jackets
- Monopoly, Risk and Scrabble
- Outdoor antique wooden skittles and balls
- Nespresso machine capsules
- Stove-top coffee makers
- Canal guides
- Magazines
- Hairdryer
- Throws and blankets for starry nights
- Garden furniture
- Highchair and cot
House book - your property and destination guide
Together with the owners, we've collated everything you'll need to make the most of your experience, from insider tips on local gems to practical property information, all in one digital house book, shared the moment you book.
Banbury
The historical market town of Banbury has been around for donkey´s years, but has more recently become a chic hangout spot thanks to its proximity to destinations such as Aynhoe Park, Soho Farmhouse and Wilderness festival.
Getting there
- On the map The house enjoys a secluded waterside position near the village of Claydon, which is six miles north of Banbury and the northernmost village in Oxfordshire
- By car The main transport link is the nearby A423 Southam Road, giving easy access to the M40, with a journey time around an hour and a half from London
- By train The nearest station is in Banbury, with regular connections UK-wide
- By air Birmingham airport is the closest airport, with domestic and international flights
“When we married and had our two children we decided to migrate to the Oxfordshire countryside. The more challenging the property, the better.”
We bought our little canal-side home as a getaway and, on purchasing, it had no electricity or water. The house was powered by means of single solar panels, 12-volt lights and a 1960's Lister generator that had to be manually wound to start. For water, the house used a well, which you can still see in the lounge.
We kayaked on the canal whenever the sun was out, however cold it may have been, and in winter, breaking through the thin ice on the canal.
Then one day, we decided to do the place up. It was complicated to start, without easy access and with permission required for both electricity and water from the surrounding farmers it was a challenge, however, they were all very helpful. Planning permission took ages to come through.
The vibrant colours and the rustic charm have all been designed in. Today, it's a very special place. Heated floors, insulated entirely, lovely old floorboards bought to suit the space. Furniture was bought over the years whenever we liked a piece, and over time it developed slowly into what it is today. Club chairs were sourced from France, the others from Andrew Martin and Timothy Oulton, and the hand-built kitchens were created to suit the space as the walls are not perfect (the house was once a cowshed and a forge)! We like to think of it all as perfectly imperfect.
The Mamas
Discover the best destinations, experiences and restaurants to visit during your stay in Banbury. A larger selection of recommendations will be available in the property's digital house book.
To Do
Burton Dassett Hills, Southam
It´s hard to imagine the scene in what is now southern Warwickshire 190 million years ago; at that time a shallow subtropical sea teeming with Jurassic life covered much of the area. Today walkers will find stunning views over the rolling hills as well as glimpses of the ancient Jurassic world in rusty soils embedded with fossils.
To Do
Fishing at Clattercote Reservoir, Claydon
This pretty and secluded reservoir is surrounded by greenery and a wooden walkway leading to 122 jetty-style pegs. Popular with weekend anglers, there is plenty of space for pleasure anglers mid-week. Catch carp, bream, trench, roach and pike up to 26lbs!
To Eat
The Brasenose Arms, Cropredy
Three miles south, see how three old cottages have been transformed into a traditional 17th century public house that has been serving locals for over 350 years. The pub has built a reputation for its excellent vegetarian dishes.
To See
Stowe, Buckinghamshire
See gardening on the grandest scale at this Georgian National Trust site. Visitors can look forward to picture-perfect views, winding paths, lakeside walks and lost temples, with landscaping reflecting the changing seasons. Full of hidden meaning, the gardens were created as an earthly paradise and still cast their spell today.
Whether you're curious about pet policies, the nearest walkable pubs, or wild swimming spots, we have the answers to common property-specific queries here. For everything else, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
What is the access path like to the property?
The path begins as pavement and then becomes a woodland type track. This takes approximately 5-8 minutes and is relatively flat. Bear in mind that you also need to cross a narrow lock bridge
Is the garden enclosed?
The garden is fully enclosed with mainly post, but please keep an eye on tenacious dogs in case they are able to escape through the gaps.
Below are a selection of features in which Little Red Lock and Unique Homestays has appeared. If you would like to feature the property in an editorial capacity, please contact the marketing team on +44 (0)1637 882014.
complete an image bank request
10 of the Best Boutique Stays
British Travel Journal
March 2021Wild at heart
25 Beautiful Homes
August 2026The entrepreneurs cashing in on the £1.3tn wellness holiday boom
The Telegraph
August 20265 waterside stays to book
Country Living
August 2026Time to cool off
The Times
July 2026Broad horizons
Harper´s Bazaar
July 2026The Times art critic’s favourite holiday homes with artful interiors
The Times
July 20265 beach houses to book
Country Living
July 2026
Related collections
Collections > Luxury staycations in the UK > UK > Oxfordshire > Banbury > Little Red Lock
