The Retreat: Our Properties in Depth
The Retreat is the OG property managed by us at Boutique Lux and offers a tranquil rustic escape from the daily stresses of life. It is set in Great Paxton, a quiet village which offers all the charm of a countryside setting! The Retreat offers so much for our guests to enjoy during a well-deserved getaway!
The Retreat is a combination of two properties: the main barn and the sauna cabin. The main barn is a two-story beautifully decorated property and the rustic sauna cabin is a stunning area to relax and recharge within the surrounds of the great British countryside. The Retreat is within a short driving distance to lush parks, exciting things to do, and places to eat. If you want to know more about The Retreat, including property details, its location, and local places to visit and eat, then keep reading!
About The Retreat
The Retreat is a beautiful barn conversion in the quiet village of Great Paxton, a 5-minute drive from St Neots and only a 30-minute drive to Cambridge, home to the prestigious University of Cambridge, dating to 1209.
The barn is a unique hideaway, with a beautiful stone arch leading to its own secluded area where you find a traditional Sauna Cabin with our cold water bucket, Jacuzzi, and stone fireplace.
You can sit back and relax with your friends in the Jacuzzi, or do you dare to take a dive under the cold water bucket? Wrap up with your loved one and have a glass of wine with a meal outside in the evening breeze, enjoying the stone fireplace.
Key Features of The Retreat
Steamy Sauna
Tranquil Garden Oasis
Bubbly Jacuzzi
Fully-Fitted Kitchen
Rustic Wooden Cabin
Open Plan Living/Dining Room
The Kitchen
The Retreat features a fully fitted kitchen to create delicious home-cooked meals for your guests and also includes high-quality amenities, including a kettle, microwave, and toaster. There is also a washing machine, perfect for longer stays, and a dishwasher for when you just want to relax after a big meal!
The kitchen is beautifully spacious, allowing for a gathering around the head chef and to chat with friends whilst embracing the sumptuous scents of lovingly homecooked meals!
The Living/Dining Room
In addition to a spacious kitchen, The Retreat also offers an open-plan living/dining area – a perfect space for entertaining family and friends! Gather your loved ones together for any celebration: anniversaries, birthdays, Christmases, graduations…all are welcome here at Boutique Rooms!
The living room is an ideal place to relax after a busy day! Put your feet up, get your snuggle on, and indulge in some of your favourite tv shows and movies with our large flat screen television!
The Bedrooms
The Retreat sleeps six guests in two beautifully decorated bedrooms, in king-size or on comfortable sofa beds. The bedroom upstairs features one king-size bed and one sofa bed. It has a gorgeous skylight, allowing gentle cascading light into the room.
The downstairs bedroom features one king-size bed and two sofa beds. It has its own ensuite with access to the garden through double french doors. It features a laptop-friendly workspace and is also a fantastic choice for guests with low mobility and those who have trouble climbing stairs.
The Bathrooms
The Retreat offers two bathrooms, one ensuite downstairs, and one main bathroom upstairs.
The main bathroom upstairs boasts a large shower space with a skylight and the downstairs ensuite offers a large corner shower and is mobility-friendly with only a small step entry to the shower and therefore is ideal to service the downstairs bedroom.
The Cabin
One of the main unique highlights of The Retreat is the rustic sauna cabin in the back garden. The cabin offers guests a private secluded space to relax and unwind with no interruptions! When you book The Retreat, the cabin is exclusively for you and your guests.
The cabin features a steamy sauna, a bubbly Jacuzzi, and a cold water bucket to douse yourself in between sauna sessions! To find out some benefits of cold water buckets, click here.
In addition to the spa-like facilities, there is a communal space with a table and seating area, as well as a small WC, perfect for when you don’t want to go back to the main barn in just your towel! For our top sauna safety tips to bear in mind whilst you stay at The Retreat, please click here.
The Garden
From the main barn, enter through the cobblestone archway and open out to countryside tranquility. The large back garden is a little hamlet in nature and features a wooden seating area and a slide and swing set – perfect for little ones! The area is fantastic for energetic pets to run around, or to get a bit more exercise, take them on long walks through the fields behind the cabin!
Also in the back garden is an enchanting koi pond and water feature – the perfect spot to ground yourself and listen to the surrounding nature as the water trickles and the koi fish splash. A beautiful area to just breathe.
The Retreat Location
A quaint, quiet village on the outskirts of Cambridgeshire, Great Paxton is the perfect location to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life whilst still being close to amenities, pubs, and lush parks.
Less than a 5-minute walk from The Retreat is Great Paxton’s local, The Bell. Offering a cosy atmosphere, friendly locals, large garden and delicious food – it is definitely somewhere to visit during your stay with us! Further out from the village of Great Paxton, are the larger towns of St Neots and Huntingdon, each with their own bustling restaurant scenes, things to do and countryside sights to see!
There are also no shortage of grocery stores and shopping centres near by. For little day-to-day things, head to the local Budgen’s in the Offords (a 5-minute drive) and for the big shop, St Neots’ large Tesco is only a 10-minute drive away. If you want a full day out to shop til you drop, head to Cambridge and take in the historic city with its plethora of shops, restaurants and activities to entertain the whole family!
Local Activities for The Retreat
Crafty Monkey Pottery Painting
Are you looking for a new thing to do, a fun trip out, or a unique and romantic activity to do with your partner? Why not look at Crafty Monkey!
Crafty Monkey is a craft workshop in the town of St Neots, offering a wide variety of activities to choose from, including pottery painting, jewellery making, decoupage, build-a-bear, and more! Why not plan a romantic trip with your partner and make each other a handmade gift?
- Location: 12 Moores Walk, St. Neots, Cambridgeshire PE19 1AG
- Suitable for: All Ages
- Times: Vary from day to day – visit the website for more information
- Prices:
- Vary depending on the type of activity chosen
- Contact:
- Phone: 01480 219222
- Email: bookings@mycraftymonkey.com
More information on Crafty Monkey Pottery Painting
Woburn Safari Park
One of our perfect activities close to The Retreat for animal and nature-lovers of all ages is a trip to Woburn Safari Park!
The park is set in over 360 acres of stunning parkland and is home to over 1,000 wild and exotic animals. Woburn is an award-winning safari park and makes an incredible contribution to the conservation and protection of animals of all kinds and is somewhere families can enjoy time spent together whilst taking in and learning about earth’s animals in a beautiful and natural environment.
Open from the 12th of April, the road safari, foot safari, keeper talks, and demonstrations are all included in the price of your ticket. So get your zookeeper boots on and immerse yourself in the wild!
- Location: Woburn Safari Park, Woburn Park, Bedfordshire MK43 0TU
- Suitable For: All Ages
- Times:
- Open daily from 12th April
- 9:30 am – 4:45 pm (last entry), closing at 5:45 pm
- Prices:
- Adults (16+ years): £23.99
- Children (3-15 years): £18.99
- Children (under 3 years): Free
- Disabled single and carer single: £23.99
- Contact:
- Phone: 01525 290407
More information on Woburn Safari Park
Anglesey Abbey
A visit to Anglesey Abbey is a day out from The Retreat that is perfect for the whole family! It is a National Trust property just north of Cambridge and features a country house built on the remains of a priory, expansive gardens covering a massive 98 acres, a working mill, shop, and cafe!
A trip to Anglesey Abbey is perfect for floral favourers, nature nutters, and those passionate about picnics! Throughout the vast grounds, there are many areas to both learn about the natural world and also to relax in the glorious greenery around you.
- Location: Quy Road, Lode, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB25 9EJ
- Suitable for: All Ages
- Times:
- Garden: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
- Plant Centre: 10:00 am – 5:30 pm
- Restaurant (takeaway only): 9:30 am – 4:45 pm
- Shop: 10:00 am – 5:30 pm
- Prices:
- Adult: £10.00
- Child: £5.00
- Family: £25.00
- One adult + up to 3 children: £15.00
- Contact:
- Phone: 012238 10080
- Email: angleseyabbey@nationaltrust.org.uk
More information on Anglesey Abbey
Local Eats for The Retreat
Bosphorus Turkish Meze & Mengal, St Neots
A family-run restaurant serving Turkish Meze and Mangal, the Bosphorus in St Neots uses authentic cooking methods to bring customers a transportive taste experience to the eastern Mediterranean!
Serving starters, mains, sides, and desserts, the food is always fresh, delicious, and served with a smile. Choose from a wide range of healthy and filling options, with choices suitable for vegetarians, vegans, and those with an intolerance to gluten. They also offer a children’s menu, perfect for smaller portions and encouraging a taste of new, unique cuisine.
- Address: 46 Market Square, St. Neots PE19 2AF
- Meals served: Lunch, dinner, late-night
- Price range: ££-£££
- Cuisines: Mediterranean, European, Turkish, Middle Eastern
- Diets: Vegetarian-friendly, vegan options, gluten-free options
- Features:
- Takeaway
- Highchairs available
- Wheelchair accessible
- Serves alcohol
- Free wifi
- Accepts credit cards
- Table service
More information:
Bohemia, St Neots
The beautiful Bohemia cafe is nestled in a quiet alcove just off of a busy market street and is the perfect spot for a delicious Eggs Benedict, cooked to perfection, a filling full English, or a tasty halloumi burger from their midday menu.
Bohemia is also famous in the local area for its mouth-watering evening tapas and tipsy cocktails – perfect for those low-awaited evening catch-ups with friends!
Everything is prepared and served with the utmost care and attention, and with a menu that is constantly updating, there is always something new and exciting to try!
- Address: Bohemia, Cross Keys Mews, St Neots, PE19 2AR
- Meals served: Breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, evening drinks
- Price: ££-£££
- Cuisines: Cafe, European, healthy, British
- Diets: Vegetarian-friendly, vegan options, gluten-free options
- Features:
- Outdoor & indoor seating
- Highchairs available
- Wheelchair accessible
- Serves alcohol
- Accepts Mastercard, Visa, and credit cards
- Free Wifi,
- Table Service
- Live Music
More information:
Elsie May's Electric Lounge, St Neots
One of our local restaurants for a gorgeous light bite out in a unique, eclectic setting is Elsie May’s Electric Lounge.
This jazzy setting brings back the original electricity showrooms, complete with a wide range of fresh, delicious, homemade food, tasty cakes, and fancy drinks. This is one of the top places in St Neots for cocktails, and with an immersive atmosphere and exciting entertainment, Elsie Mays makes for a fabulous night out!
- Address: Ground Floor, 58 Market Square, St. Neots PE19 2AA
- Meals served: Breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, drinks
- Price range: ££-£££
- Cuisines: Cafe, British, Bar, Wine Bar
- Diets: Vegetarian-friendly
- Features:
- Serves alcohol
- Free wifi
- Accepts credit cards
- Table service
- Takeaway
More information:
There you have it – a deeper delve into The Retreat!
We hope that this post has provided some more information on this stunning accommodation and as always, if you need any more information or have any questions, then please don’t hesitate to get in contact with a member of our trusted team!
Your happiness is our priority,
Team Boutique Lux
