Bala Farm Cottage - 2 miles from West Chester

Entire guest house hosted by Mina

  1. 2 guests
  2. 1 bedroom
  3. 1 bed
  4. 1 bathroom
Dedicated workspace
A common area with wifi that’s well suited for working.
Great location
90% of recent guests gave the location a 5-star rating.
Great check-in experience
100% of recent guests gave the check-in process a 5-star rating.
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Bala Farm Cottage is a wonderfully cozy stone cottage, located less than 3 miles from the center of West Chester, on a hilltop in a quiet neighborhood. It has a charming study downstairs with a bay window looking out towards majestic trees, and an entry hall that ends with a wet bar, equipped with a mini-fridge, coffee machine, microwave & small toaster oven. The original curved staircase leads to the upstairs bedroom with queen bed and a spacious bathroom. You'll love your stay in the Cottage!

The space
Bala Farm Cottage, located 2 miles from the center of West Chester, was built around 1850 to serve as a "library" (1800's version of a man cave, we think) at a time when the main Bala Farm house (built in 1759) was being used as a boarding school for boys. It's undoubtedly been employed in a variety of functions since then, and when we bought the property we thought it would make a perfect guest cottage.

We've made a few changes to give the cottage some of the comforts that help make a very enjoyable stay. The wet bar is located at the end of a quaint entry hall, and has a small refrigerator and microwave, in addition to a K-cup coffee machine with complimentary pods provided, a small toaster oven and an electric kettle. There is also a sliced bread toaster and cutting board provided, but please be aware that there are no cooking appliances, utensils or abilities beyond these.

The study includes a love seat with pillows and additional blankets for staying cozy in winter months, across from a gas fireplace that warms the room nicely. There is a small table with two chairs that can be used both for dining or as a workspace. For those looking to spend quite a bit of time working, there is a desk against the wall that provides more of a formal workspace. There are also built-in cabinets in the study, which serve as a sort of panty, holding wine glasses, plates & utensils (we've switched to paper & plastic since COVID began), salt & pepper, napkins and bottle openers. To round out the seating, there are a couple of padded accent chairs that provide additional options.

The curved staircase leads up to a cozy bedroom with a comfortable queen bed and a spacious bathroom. There are both privacy curtains and wood shutters, so you can either fill it with natural light, or keep things dark for a longer slumber. There is no closet in the bedroom, but there is a suitcase stand and a garment rack for hanging clothes. The bathroom includes a shower and small vanity with mirror, as well as closeted shelves, with some basic amenities such as shampoo & conditioner and body wash.

There is a large stone fire pit just steps from the cottage that guests are welcome to use, with Adirondack chairs and picnic table nearby, that you may find perfect for enjoying an evening glass of wine or cold beer outdoors. All of the trees on the property mean that there is plenty of wood nearby for enjoying fires if the weather allows (we keep one stack next to the fire pit).

Please note that the house and cottage are within a small development. However, we are on top of a hill at the end of a cul-de-sac and surrounded by trees, so there is a private feel and you hardly notice when you are on the property and in the cottage, but you will notice when you drive into the neighborhood.

We look forward to welcoming you for your stay at Bala Farm Cottage!

Where you'll sleep

Bedroom
1 queen bed

What this place offers

Wifi
Dedicated workspace
Free parking on premises
Air conditioning
Garden
Indoor fireplace
Luggage drop-off allowed
Hair dryer
Fire pit
Microwave

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4.96 out of 5 stars from 141 reviews

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Where you’ll be

West Chester, Pennsylvania, United States

The cottage is only a 5 minute drive from the center of West Chester, and history abounds in the area. In fact, Bala Farm is located just off Birmingham Road, considered the "spine" of the Battle of Brandywine, and which British Troops marched down in September of 1777. Battlefield sites are just minutes away, as are multiple historic locations...some noted for their role in the battle, and others for their longevity and beauty.

If natural beauty is your cup of tea, then you've got plenty of options. The world-renowned Longwood Gardens is only a scenic 15 minute drive away, and highly recommended. Downtown Kennett Square is just five minutes further from Longwood Gardens. You may also opt to venture further south towards Wilmington to visit some of the other gardens and estates established by the du Pont family Winterthur, Nemours, Hagley Museum & Library). There are miles of hiking trails at the Stroud Nature Preserve (5 minutes away) and at various spots along the Brandywine River in addition to the battlefield sites. Ridley Creek State park is a little further away (20 minutes), but is another highly recommended option with even more miles of hiking trails. Or, just sit outside the cottage and enjoy the beautiful trees on the grounds!

If you're coming to West Chester to visit a student at the university, it's only 5 minutes away, and there are no shortage of establishments at which to feed hungry students. There are over 65 restaurants in the borough with enough variety to satisfy just about any request, and plenty of drinking establishments as well. We'll be happy to make some recommendations!

Further from West Chester, you can head east to enjoy the world class city of Philadelphia, or head west and venture through Amish farmlands. Again, the options are many!

Check out the Bala Farm Cottage guidebook on the listing for more details and recommendations.

Hosted by Mina

  1. Joined in June 2017
  • 141 Reviews
  • Identity verified
Mina was born and raised in Italy, came to America in her 20s and fell in love with her husband, Chad. Two children and 4 states later, they've settled in West Chester, PA. Mina loves to travel and cook (she owned a restaurant in northern Italy), with frequent returns to Italy, and enjoys meeting new friends. She is fluent in Italian and English and capably conversant in Spanish and French, so don't hesitate to communicate in the language you are most comfortable with!
Mina was born and raised in Italy, came to America in her 20s and fell in love with her husband, Chad. Two children and 4 states later, they've settled in West Chester, PA. Mina lo…

During your stay

We're happy to interact with guests as much or as little as they prefer! Since we live on the grounds, we'll usually be available to answer questions, provide recommendations, or tell stories.
  • Languages: English, Français, Italiano, Español
  • Response rate: 100%
  • Response time: within an hour
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Things to know

House rules

Check-in: 15:00 - 00:00
Check out: 11:00
Not suitable for children and infants
No smoking
No pets
No parties or events

Health & safety

Airbnb's COVID-19 safety practices apply
Carbon monoxide alarm
Smoke alarm
Security Deposit – if you damage the home, you may be charged up to £1203

Cancellation policy