A proud and elegant Victorian house offering extensive living space with both a loft conversion and a fab extended kitchen. Three double bedrooms, 25 ft living room with two fireplaces, splendid kitchen/living/dining room, a lovely landscaped garden, and off road parking!

Islip dates from Saxon times, with mentions in the Domesday book at which time there was already a water mill on the river Ray, which runs through the village. It is also the birthplace of Edward the Confessor, and during the Civil War Cromwell defeated the Queens Regiment on the bridge below The Old Rectory.

Today the village is immensely popular for many reasons. There's an exceptional school, Dr South's, which is over 300 years old; several popular pubs, a community shop, plus a village hall sitting next to the playground and playing fields; a rail station with easy access to London and Oxford; barely a five mile drive into Oxford; plus many lovely local walks amidst open countryside. It also sits inside the radius for fast access to the various Oxford hospitals, hence suits medical professionals particularly well.

For anyone who has ever lived in a late Victorian house, this one will feel like an old and treasured friend. With its tall ceilings, large sash windows, thick walls, and proud design, it's a truly lovely place that will care for you for decades to come. This one in particular has been extended to the rear, providing a fantastic kitchen, and also into the loft from where the most wonderful views into the far distance are to be found. Add to that the recent beautification of the garden space and the rare advantage in this village of parking off-road, and it offers masses of reasons to love it.

Heading through the entrance door, your instant impression is of a house that is both smart and welcoming. The formal entrance hall brings you through to a generously-proportioned sitting room. Originally two rooms, as is often the case the dividing wall has been removed, leaving a genuinely huge and inviting living room. Both fireplaces remain, and there is gorgeous timber flooring. And all this sits under a high ceiling that flatters the already generous proportions.

To the rear, the kitchen has been extended full width in more recent times. But rather than the usual straightforward extension, this has been designed with some significant flair. Roof light windows overhead throw natural light all around the space, but in addition, the window recess back into the living room has been retained, allowing more natural light back into the original house - a clever touch. The kitchen is comprehensively fitted with high quality units and a generous range of work surface space. And yet there is so much floor area remaining that a large table can sit to one side while on the other is a generous seating space for relaxing, watching TV, reading a book - your choice - all while overlooking the pretty garden behind.

Heading upstairs, the first of the two bedrooms on this floor is a delight. A pair of large wardrobes has been fitted to one side, and the fireplace has been retained to the other. And between them it's a large and inviting bedroom that will swallow the largest of beds without flinching. The outlook through the ample sash window to the front is of pretty stone cottages opposite. Just down the landing past a deep cupboard, the smallest bedroom is still a generous double by most measures. Again, the pretty fireplace is retained, and here the view to the rear is out across your own garden and properties beyond.

On the top floor, and the last of the three bedrooms offers similar space to the largest beneath it. A small and characterful Crittal window nestles in the gable end wall, offering a glimpse of the view beyond. The large roof light window in the eaves, however, provides both immense natural light and also a panoramic view of the delightful Otmoor AONB beyond. There are few places in the village that offer such a good view of the surrounding countryside. In addition to being a lovely room, it is also practical. Doors to either side lead into eaves cupboards. And there is also a tall bank of wardrobes fitted to the wall adjacent to the staircase.

Looking at the outside space, to the front the open porch is flanked by a traditional red brick wall, separating house and its path from pavement. To the rear of the house, a gated access from the High Street accesses dedicated parking for each of this house and next door. This property has space for two vehicles, off street. Next to it, the garden has been transformed in the last couple of years, with landscaping that now offers an area of lawn flanked by slate paving, ideally set to enjoy the sun as the garden is south facing. Also note that to the side of the house is a shed attached to the side wall and through which access can be gained back to the street if desired.

Mains water, electricity, gas CH
Cherwell District Council
Council tax band D
£2,212-39 p.a. 2023/24
Freehold