Soho Farmhouse, Oxfordshire: What to Expect From Your Visit
Soho Farmhouse is a luxury retreat set amongst 100 acres of sprawling countryside in The Cotswolds, England.
I’ve been a Soho House member for over 4 years, and I’ve visited Soho Farmhouse nearly 20 times, with my Mum, my friends, my boyfriend, and even on a solo trip.
Soho Farmhouse is a peaceful retreat away from the chaos of everyday life. It’s the kind of place you visit and never want to leave. And they make it pretty easy to stay, with a pool, cinema, gym, cowshed spa and 5 onsite restaurants!
This guide covers everything you need to know before you visit.
About Soho Farmhouse
Soho Farmhouse is a members-only retreat located just outside of Great Tew in The Cotswolds (in the south of England).
It’s part of the Soho House members club, which means you’ll need a membership to visit (more on that here).
There’s 114 bedrooms, 5 restaurants, and an array of excellent amenities set across 100 acres, meaning you have everything you need in one place, and all you need to focus on is relaxing and having a good time.
Getting to Soho Farmhouse
The easiest way to get to Soho Farmhouse is definitely by car. There’s free onsite parking a short walk from the main farm. Don’t fancy walking? There’s milk floats that run between the car park and the Main Barn to escort you.
If you don’t have a car, take the train into Charlbury station and then jump in a taxi. The train journey takes around an hour from London followed by a 15 minute drive.
What to expect when you arrive
Good service is at the heart of your visit to Soho Farmhouse, and I’m always so impressed by the attention to detail that goes into ensuring my stay is as relaxing as possible.
Upon arrival, the car park is divided into two sections depending on whether you’re visiting for the day or spending the night.
If you’re staying over, you’ll make your way to reception where a member of staff will greet you. Check-in time is 4pm but you’re welcome to arrive whenever you like and use the facilities whilst you wait.
For me, this is a huge bonus and justifies the price of a stay. You can do this after you’ve checked out the following day as well, so you’re essentially getting 2 full days at the farm.
Hand over your car keys and your luggage will be placed into your room ready for your arrival. This means all you needed to worry about was where you’re going to eat.
If your room is ready earlier than 4pm, you’ll receive a text to let you know.
Do you need a membership to stay at Soho Farmhouse?
To visit any Soho House or stay in their hotels, you need to either be a member or be visiting with one.
A membership gives you access to most of the houses around the world, the hotels, and facilities, but you can also choose to become a member of just one house, which is cheaper.
To be approved for a membership you need to have two referrals from people who are already members, and you’ll be asked to write a short bio about yourself and why you want to join.
The price you pay depends on your age – they offer an under 27s rate starting at £96 a month for a full membership, or £200 if you’re over 27.
They also offer the more affordable Soho Friends membership. For £100 a year you can stay at any of the houses, but you can’t visit if you aren’t spending the night.
How long is the waiting list for Soho House?
There isn’t a set rule around how long it’ll take for you to hear whether you’ve been accepted, although I’ve heard rumours of meetings to discuss applications taking place quarterly.
I was accepted within a few weeks of applying.
Which room should you choose at Soho Farmhouse?
There’s 114 rooms split across 16 different room types at Soho Farmhouse, from the cosy Piglets perfect for 2, to The Farmhouse that sleeps larger groups.
Which room you choose will depend on the size of your group and your budget. For the larger properties, there are rules around how many people need to have memberships.
In The Farmhouse, where up to 14 people can stay, at least 3 of the guests must be Soho House members.
What are The Piglets like?
I was pleasantly surprised by how spacious The Piglets were on my visit, they’re much larger than they appear in pictures. They’re perfect for a short stay and have everything you could need. And I do mean everything.
I’ve never stayed in a hotel room that’s as well-stocked as this one. My Mum, bless her, asked if she should bring shower gel with her, only for us to be greeted by 3 different types of shower gel, shampoo and conditioner.
All of the toiletries are from Cowshed, the Soho-House owned brand. They smell incredible and if you have a membership you’ll also get discount on the products.
Also in the room you’ll find an impressive mini-bar, an umbrella, hairdryer, iron, and even condoms and lube.
The bed was huge and incredibly comfy, and there was space for a small seating area in front of the TV. Outside, there’s a couple of chairs and a small table. As in all Soho House properties, the design was impeccable.
Clashing prints, coffee table books and quirky artwork give all of their rooms a distinctive feel. Few hotels do interiors as well as Soho House, and it adds to the luxurious feel that’s evident across the whole farm.
You don’t get as much privacy as you would in the other room types, as The Piglets are bundled together and you share a wall with your neighbour.
That being said, I really enjoy the fact that they were further away from the main part of the farm, as I like the peace and quiet.
Food and drink at Soho Farmhouse
There’s 5 restaurants to choose from at Soho Farmhouse, so you’re bound to find something you like. You can either book restaurants on the Soho House app, or with member services.
You’ll receive an email from them a few weeks before your stay asking if you want to make any reservations.
All of the meals I’ve had at Soho Farmhouse have been delicious incredible and there’s plenty of choice.
I’d recommend booking in advance if there’s a particular time you want to eat, or a restaurant you really want to go to, as it does get busy.
The Main Barn
The hub of the farm, it’s where most people will go to eat. They serve a varied menu, with classics such as burgers, mac and cheese and salads.
The Hay Barn
The Hay Barn serves a similar menu to the Main Barn, but it’s a smaller building and has a more relaxed vibe.
Pen Yen
Overlooking the water, Pen Yen serves up Japanese meat and fish from a Robata grill.
Blake’s Kitchen Bakery
Located across the yard from the Main Barn, Blake’s Kitchen Bakery is a great place for brunch, or a quick snack. As well as hot food, they serve fresh bread (baked daily), pastries and sausage rolls.
The Mill Room
Their take on an English country pub, this is a really cosy spot for a drink in the day, but at night, they often have a DJ and it gets really lively.
The Cocktail Float & Breakfast Greasy Spoon
If you’re staying in one of the cabins, you can arrange for the cocktail float to come to your room.
Your very own bartender can whip you up a cocktail at your doorstep.
There’s also a breakfast float – ‘The Greasy Spoon’ that delivers fry ups.
Is breakfast included at Soho Farmhouse?
No, you’ll need to pay for breakfast separately.
Things to do at Soho Farmhouse
The activities on offer at Soho Farmhouse are endless and are what make it a stand-out place to stay. You can book all of the activities with member services.
You’ll receive an email from them a few weeks before your stay asking if you want to make any reservations.
The swimming pool and gym
Soho Health Club features an indoor-outdoor pool, that’s heated year-round, as well as a gym and classes. The pool is one of my favourite things about Soho Farmhouse, it overlooks the water and is open all day.
You don’t need to book to use the pool, just turn up when you fancy a dip! Everything is provided for you, there’s changing rooms downstairs, towels, and even straighteners.
Children aren’t allowed in the morning so get up early if you’d prefer that. They also run weekly classes, including HIIT, tennis, yoga and barre.
In the gym, there’s treadmills, rowers, squat racks, a boxing ring and Peloton bikes. If you’re looking for a more focused workout, you can book a session with a personal trainer.
The Cowshed spa
Book a treatment, get your nails done or relax with a massage at The Cowshed Spa. There’s 13 treatment rooms, and across the footbridge, a hidden island. There you’ll find a steam room, sauna, ice shed and a hot tub that looks over the lake.
Explore the farm by bike
Each room at Soho Farmhouse comes with bikes for you to use during your stay. The farm is really well set up for cycling, there are clear paths across the whole 100 acres.
Catch a film at The Electric Barn Cinema
Book into a screening at the on-site cinema if you’re in the mood for a more relaxing evening.
Clay pigeon shooting
The resident farmer, Frank, offers clay pigeon shooting on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Horse riding
Soho Farmhouse has its own stable where you can book a horse ride or a hack around the farm.
Even if you’re not riding, you can still visit the horses to say hello. If you’re bringing children, they’ll need to be over 4 to ride the horses.
Go shopping
There’s a few shops across the farm if you’re in the mood to shop. If you’re feeling inspired by the design you see during your trip, you’ll be able to buy it in the Soho Home shop.
The Store X is a great place to pick up designer pieces. I grabbed a bottle of locally-made Limoncello for our bar cart at home. Finally, Farm Flowers sells floral displays and hand-tied bouquets.
Take a boat out on the lake
When the sun’s shining, take a rowing boat out on the lake in the centre of the farm.
How much does Soho Farmhouse cost?
Rooms start from £300 for one night in The Piglet. It’s up to you how much you spend on activities and food and drink.
The Piglets don’t have self-catering facilities, so you’d need to book into a different room type if you wanted to cook.
When’s the best time to go to get a cheaper room?
As with any hotel stay, if you go mid-week or during the winter, you’ll get a cheaper rate.
Soho Farmhouse often has last-minute rates if they have availability, so keep an eye out for those.
Is it suitable for children?
Definitely! I don’t have kids so I can’t speak from experience, but the facilities are set up so well for little ones.
The Teeny Barn is open from 9am-5pm and has an indoor and outdoor play area. Babysitting can also be arranged as long as you give them 48 hours notice.
As well as horse-riding, there’s loads of animals around the farm for children to enjoy, including cows, goats, chickens and pigs. Some of the rooms aren’t child-friendly, so make sure you check when you book.
Can you visit Soho Farmhouse for the day?
This depends on which membership you (or your friend) has. If you have a Soho House membership, you can visit for the day, but if you have a Soho Friends membership, you can only visit if you’re spending the night.
How many people can you bring?
If you have a membership, you can bring 3 people with you. If you’re travelling with someone who also has a membership, you can bring 6, and so on…
Can you take pictures?
As you can tell by this blog post, I took pictures when I was there. That being said, you do have to be respectful of the fact that Soho House is a place that people go to relax and not be disturbed, and they pay for that privilege.
Usually when I’m away I’d take pictures on my camera, but for this trip I just used my phone (except when I was in the room). Be mindful of who’s around you if you do want to take pictures and be discreet.
And if you do see someone famous, definitely don’t take pictures of them (or anyone else for that matter).
Can you bring dogs?
Soho Farmhouse is dog-friendly, there are restrictions about where your dog can actually go.
They’re allowed in some accommodation types, but even then you’ll need to request a dog-friendly room.
When you’re around the farm, they need to stay on a lead, and they can’t join you in most of the restaurants. I don’t have a dog so this isn’t a problem for me, but I can see how it could be frustrating if you did.
What’s the service like?
I’ve seen mixed reviews about the service at Soho Farmhouse as they’ve scaled, but I can only speak from my experience. On all of my visits, the staff couldn’t have been more helpful and attentive.
Whilst eating in The Main Barn on a trip with my mum, the restaurant manager introduced himself to us, gave us his name and told us that if there was anything we needed, to let him know.
On another trip with my friend, I realised I didn’t have my laptop at 11pm, so I called reception and within 10 minutes someone had been to our car, got my laptop and delivered it to our door.
Normally I wouldn’t be this annoying so late at night, but we’d been out all day so I’d only just realised I didn’t have it and was worried it had gone missing.
On the way home from dinner on a trip with my boyfriend when I decided I fancied their infamous cookie dough dessert, I ordered it from The Main Barn and it arrived at our room shortly after we got back.
At check out on my solo trip when I didn’t recognise a charge on the bill, they took it off, no questions asked.
You don’t even have to walk to get your car at the end of your stay, it’ll be brought round to reception, luggage already inside, ready for your departure!
Things to do near Soho Farmhouse
Soho Farmhouse is based in The Cotswolds, one of my favourite places to spend the weekend in the UK.
Whilst I don’t tend to leave the farm on my trips as I’ve visited The Cotswolds a lot over the years, I’d definitely recommend exploring the area if you’ve not been before, it’s absolutely stunning!
You’re only a short drive away from the villages of Great Tew (The Falkland Arms is a brilliant pub) and Chipping Norton, a charming market town.
Conclusion
Soho Farmhouse is one of my favourite hotels in the UK, whether you’re spending a whole weekend there or just visiting for the day, you’re going to have an incredible time.
With 5 restaurants, a swimming pool, spa, cinema, horse riding, and endless activities, it’s like Disneyland for adults!
This is a total retreat from everyday life, and you’re guaranteed to leave feeling completely refreshed.
