Its my Birthday week! Having just turned 21 I thought I would share how I spent my birthday. After just returning from Amsterdam holiday my parents whisked me away to Oxfordshire for a few days to celebrate. I had always wanted to stay at the Artist Residence in South Leigh (Oxfordshire) and my dream came true thanks to my wonderful parents.
We started the get away with a little trip to Bicester Village Shopping Collection. I mainly wanted to head here because they had a Kate Spade outlet and I'm a little bit obsessed with her bags and purses, alas I talked myself out of the highly beautiful but impractical Piñata or cacti bag. I was very restrained and left with only a Origins Feel Good Hug Warm Ginger Body Wrap with Cinnamon, Clove and Lemon.
Then we checked in for the night at the Artist Residence Oxfordshire* after a short drive from Bicester, so its a good location to stay if you wanted a retail trip. From the outside it looks like your typical country pub but with the addition of penguins sculptures at the the door but its far from typical once you are inside. The Mason Arms is the Gastro Pub part of the building with the rooms for the hotel upstairs and some in outbuildings. We stayed in the Farmhouse Loft room which was spacious, light and airy with original pitched ceilings, lead windows and wooden floorboards. Featuring super king size bed, en-suite bathroom with rainfall shower and roll top bathtub, two comfy armchairs and feature mini bar cabinets, the Lofts have an English bohemian style with eclectic artwork and touches of luxury.
We ate at the Mason Arms in the evening and my dad and I shared a 20oz Sirloin on the bone along with some chips, and gardens greens straight from their vegetable patch that you could see from our table. The food was so good and I wish I lived closer because their roast dinners sound amazing. We then settled in for the night and I had a hot chocolate in bed while we watched Poldark.
In the morning we headed downstairs for a leisurely breakfast of pancakes with bacon and maple syrup, after my hour long relaxing bath using the fabulous Bramley products. Then we sadly checked out of the beautiful hotel and headed into Oxford for the day.
After more retail therapy in Oxford, which I was super impressed with the new Westgate Shopping centre with a super nice John Lewis and lots of other of my favourite shops; Oliver Bonas, And Other Stories, Boux Avenue, Lush and many more! We then stopped off at Bills for a birthday lunch which was super delicious and the ladies there were lovely.
I'm so grateful to have such wonderful parents that treated me to this little get-away, and raised me for the last 21 years. Here's to the next 21 years!
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