Oxford Road, Frilford Heath, OX13

Welcome to Shortlands

If you’re searching for your forever home in one of Oxfordshire’s most prestigious addresses, close to some of the best independent schools in the country and with easy access to Oxford and London, look no further than Shortlands.  This immaculate family home in sought-after Frilford Heath is just 15 minutes from Oxford City Centre and is set in grounds of over an acre, bordered by wooded heathland and the championship Frilford Heath Golf Club. 

Internally, Shortlands extends to almost 3000 sq ft. to include five double bedrooms, six reception rooms, three bathrooms and wonderful family living space.  With a great layout that allows the whole family to come together, and with private spaces for work or relaxation, Shortlands is a charming country home that will appeal to the most discerning house-hunter.

A Leafy Approach

High hedging screens Shortlands from view as you arrive at a long, tree-lined driveway that ends in a generous gravelled parking area where there is space for several cars plus a detached double garage. 

Constructed in the late 20th Century, Shortlands boasts an elegant brick façade and beautiful colonnaded entrance porch, framed by pretty climbing shrubs.  Step up to the front door and into the light and welcoming entrance hall with light wood floor underfoot and a grand staircase leading up to a galleried landing.  Take off your coat and shoes and come in - we know you’ll feel at home straight away.

Contemporary Style

To your right, you’ll discover a quiet, front-facing office with plenty of open shelving and desk space for two – the perfect spot to work undisturbed from home.  The hallway leads on to a warm and inviting sitting room with a feature fireplace as the focal point.  Light streams in through three large sash windows, ensuring you can enjoy this room throughout the day.  In the evening, light the wood-burning stove and settle down for a cosy evening in front of the fire.  Natural wood flooring and neutral tones enhance this smart but relaxing family space, which opens out onto the formal dining room.  Your guests will naturally wander through to eat around the large table after enjoying pre-dinner drinks in the sitting room.  Equally enchanting by candlelight in winter or with the sliding doors open onto the patio in warmer months, this is a fabulous room in which to entertain.  Outside, the terrace which is partly shaded by a wisteria-clad pergola is ideal for summer dinner parties.

Quality Time Together

A door from the dining room leads back to the hall.  Passing a conveniently placed WC, you will discover the stylish kitchen and breakfast area ahead.  With windows to the front and rear, this is a light and airy space to cook up a storm whilst the children catch up with homework at the table overlooking the leafy front driveway.  Crisp white units are topped with sleek granite and end in a breakfast bar – the perfect spot to enjoy a morning coffee and the papers.  There is plenty of storage for all those must-have kitchen gadgets and Integrated appliances to please the most discerning cook, including a double side-by-side oven, induction hob with overhead extractor and splashback, microwave and fridge-freezer.

Adjoining the kitchen is a useful utility room with extensive storage and worktops, sink and the house for the boiler.  With rear access to the garden, it’s the perfect entrance to take off your muddy boots and clean down dirty dogs (or kids!) after returning from a long country stomp.

Bring the Outdoors In

Passing through the utility room, you’ll find a cosy, informal family room – a great spot for a children’s playroom or teenage ‘den’ where older kids can enjoy their own space and independence.   Light is drawn in through four sash windows and double doors into the conservatory.  While away a lazy weekend afternoon watching the wildlife from this lovely garden room, which features terracotta tiles and light green frames to the windows, rising to a pitched roof.  Come summer, open up the doors onto that fabulous terrace and the manicured lawn enclosed by mature shrubs and hedging.

Sweet Dreams

Back to the hallway now and up the stairs to the stunning galleried landing.  Straight ahead lie two well-sized double bedrooms overlooking the front and rear of the home, both with built-in wardrobes.  These bedrooms are served by a stylish contemporary family bathroom with crisp white sanitaryware and creamy coloured tiles.  There’s a large bath for leisurely soaks and a separate walk-in shower, convenient for busy mornings.    Bedroom three is a welcoming double room that incorporates a stylish ensuite with corner shower – the perfect room for overnight guests.

Accessed via an inner landing with useful storage, the master bedroom awaits at the rear, where two large sash windows provide serene views over the garden.  With plenty of space on offer, the master could become your own sumptuous retreat.  The hotel-quality ensuite bathroom features a tile-sided bath with overhead shower – where better to unwind in bubbly bliss after a long day?

More to Discover

Stairs from the inner landing lead to a second floor and reveal a spacious and spotless converted loft bedroom.  Soft carpeted floor, built-in wardrobes and four Velux windows create an elegant feel.  Older children and teens will love to claim this loft as their own, or you might decide to add an ensuite bathroom and create a huge master bedroom.  In addition, the second floor offers further storage to the landing and a large loft store accessed from the stairs.

Step Outside

Shortlands’ front garden sweeps back from the garage to the entrance of the driveway, screened from the road by trees and mature hedging, creating a welcoming entrance that changes colour with the seasons.

The landscaped back garden, similarly enclosed by tall hedges, is a fantastic area for the kids to play whilst the adults enjoy a drink or a BBQ on the sun-trap terrace, which is adorned with flowering shrubs and a thriving wisteria which creates natural shade for outdoor dining.  The current owners tell us of endless games of cricket and football played on this lawn every summer.

Follow the elegant stone steps onto the immaculate lawn, where the established trees create dappled sunlight across the grass and pretty flower borders.  Tucked in the corner lies a useful shed, handy for keeping your garden tools in one place.

Out and About

Frilford Heath is sought after for many reasons; not only for the championship golf course that bears its name, but also its proximity to the historic streets of Oxford and the riverside market town of Abingdon, both of which offer world-class private education.  Home to some of the county’s most exclusive properties, it’s a peaceful rural area but also very well connected with excellent transport links, which is why it’s such a perennial hit with Oxfordshire’s most discerning house-hunters.

Some of the notable institutions within striking distance are Abingdon Prep just down the road, and further afield Our Lady’s Abingdon, St Helen & St Katharine, Cothill, Chandlings, Cokethorpe and St Hugh’s, not to mention a whole host of excellent schools in Oxford.

Shortlands is close to a range of shops and facilities including Millets Farm Centre with its farm shop, fabulous butcher, restaurant, garden centre, play areas, woodlands and more.  The shops and amenities of Abingdon, including a Waitrose, are just four miles away and the town continues to enjoy a weekly market as well as riverside walks and family friendly events galore.  The local pub, The Dog House, is within walking distance and does a fantastic Sunday lunch, plus you can enjoy some lovely country walks across Frilford Heath without having to get in your car.  You’ll also discover Oxfordshire’s oldest vineyard, The Bothy, just a stone’s throw away.

Commuters can find their way to London Paddington within 45 minutes via Didcot Parkway mainline station, which is only 15 minutes by car – affording you the perfect balance between work and rural family life.  There’s also easy access to the A34, M40 and M4.