1 / 19Cotswolds - Thames Head Barn
Cirencester, Gloucestershire
A two bedroom barn for four near Cirencester with an enclosed garden, a wood burner and two dogs welcome, in a quiet corner of the southern Cotswolds.
There is no hot tub here and no pizza oven, and after a while that becomes the recommendation rather than the omission. Thames Head Barn is plain, dog friendly and takes four outside Cirencester, with two bedrooms, an enclosed garden, a wood burner and an allowance of two dogs. The list stops there. Some weeks want a building with fewer things in it demanding to be used.
The burner does the heavy lifting. It is the reason everybody ends up downstairs by eight, and in a barn of this size one fire genuinely heats the place rather than decorating it. There is a king and a double upstairs, one bathroom, a separate WC downstairs, and a washing machine in the cloakroom where a muddy week gets dealt with. Two dogs and four people is a comfortable load for it.
An evening runs quietly here and that is the whole design. Nothing needs booking, nothing needs switching on an hour beforehand, and two dogs come in from the garden whenever somebody decides to shut the door. The corner of the Cotswolds this sits in is the flat southern end, more arable than escarpment, and it stays empty in a way the north of the county gave up on.
Under the hill at Coates the Thames and Severn Canal disappears into a tunnel more than 2 miles long, and the portal at this end is a piece of classical architecture built in a wood for barges. The canal that reached it is being dug out again in stretches. A dog gets the towpath and the beech hanger above it, and the inn beside the portal has been there as long as the tunnel has.
Book your stay
from £662 for 7 nights
Cotswolds - Thames Head Barn takes 2 dogs and is booked through holidaycottages.co.uk.
Book with holidaycottages.co.ukPrices are a guide only, checked 27 August 2026, and change with dates and availability. We may earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
At a Glance
- Dogs Welcome
- 2 dogs
- Enclosed Garden
- Yes
- Enclosed garden at the front of property with outdoor furniture | Off-road parking for 2 cars | Shop 1
- Sleeps
- 4 guests
- Rooms
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Price
- from £662 / 7 nights
- Grading
- 4 star
- Arrival
- in from 16:00, out by 10:00
- Facilities
- Bbq, Open fire, Wifi
Cotswolds - Thames Head Barn from £662 for 7 nights
Book with holidaycottages.co.ukFrequently Asked Questions
Is Cotswolds - Thames Head Barn dog friendly?
Yes, Thames Head Barn welcomes up to two dogs. The barn has an enclosed garden where dogs can roam freely, and the setup is genuinely built around having them there rather than just tolerating them.
Are dogs allowed at Cotswolds - Thames Head Barn year round?
The listing doesn't specify any seasonal restrictions on dogs, and the barn's practical features — enclosed garden, a washing machine for dealing with muddy gear, and a wood burner to warm up around — suggest it's well suited to visits at any time of year.
What should I know before visiting Cotswolds - Thames Head Barn with my dog?
The barn accepts a maximum of two dogs, so it's worth confirming this fits your party before booking. The enclosed garden means dogs can come and go easily, and there's a washing machine on site for dealing with the inevitable muddy aftermath. Nearby, the Thames and Severn Canal towpath and the beech woodland above it make for a good dog walk, with an inn beside the canal tunnel portal if you want to stop along the way.
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Cotswolds - Thames Head Barn from £662 for 7 nights
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