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47 of the best holiday cottages in the UK

By Condé Nast Traveller and Becky Lucas

The best holiday cottages in the UK

For more staycation inspiration, see our guide to the best holiday homes to rent in the UK , the best cabins in the UK and the best party mansions to rent in the UK .

Swing left en route to the main house of the Wootton Hall Estate and youll stumble upon one of the last remaining...

The Garden Cottage, Staffordshire

Swing left en route to the main house of the Wootton Hall Estate and you’ll stumble upon one of the last remaining cottages that hasn’t bent to cosmopolitan ideals of the English countryside. While the estate owners Laura and Johnny Greenall have certainly given the windows a lick of that ubiquitous French Gray paint, the cottage’s quirk and soul remain artfully intact. A roaring fire can still be lit in the sitting room (with a match, not a switch), the comforting creaks of the floorboards signal that breakfast is in the mix or someone’s finally out of the bath, and the walls of the downstairs loo are festooned with photographs of legendary jockey – a nod to the Greenall family’s remarkable equestrian heritage. A warm, ruddy-hued traditional dining room lends itself well to silver-clad seasonal feasting, as does the outdoor table for summer barbecues and afternoon rosé sessions, with views over the rolling fields. There's a farm shop nearby for butter, ice cream and meat, as well as the estate’s popular village pub, The Duncombe Arms, where the menu has been elevated to culinary heights by its Adam Handling-trained chef. Long, lazy lunches can be walked off with rambles through the Peak District National Park – a five-minute drive away – which are duly rewarded back at the cottage with a large pot of tea and shortbread beside the fire and cosy armchairs and sofas that seem to engulf every limb. By Rosalyn Wikeley

Sleeps: Six Price: Three-night stay from £650 Book your stay

Sometimes a bit of space and quiet is all thats required. Throw in clean design and the most modern of modcons and you...

THE PRIORY BARN, SUFFOLK

Sometimes a bit of space and quiet is all that’s required. Throw in clean design and the most modern of mod-cons and you get this smart barn conversion. Although, when you think back to a stay at The Priory Barn, what will probably spring to mind first is that space – the sheer joy and luxury of it.

It sits on a private corner of scenic countryside just behind the home of owners Nick and Clark. Former Londoners, the couple made the leap to Suffolk in 2015 and, armed with a strong vision and deeply rooted interest in architecture, took on the project of sympathetically restoring the dilapidated barn in their back garden, along with the help of architect Howard Nash, a specialist in historic buildings.

The bedroom, with its huge and supremely comfortable bed, is on a mezzanine level above the open-plan kitchen and dining area, overlooking an equally spacious living area. Beautifully restored original wooden beams run along the vaulted ceiling, criss-crossing the windows throughout the barn to create interesting shadows on the flooring and drawing the eye upwards to help you appreciate the soaring space once again.

The furniture, meanwhile, spans most of the 20th century with classics such as Cesca dining chairs, designed in 1928 by Marcel Breuer, and a very good copy of a 1949 Wishbone chair by Denmark's Hans Wegner (the owners have two originals in their house). Custom commissions are mixed in too, such as a side table by talented Suffolk cabinetmaker Greg Mosley.

One side of the barn overlooks a pretty pond, so you can watch the ducks dabbling while you relax on the wide mid-century sofa, your peace interrupted only by the crackle of the wood burner. Then there’s the terrace area, which catches the dusk light just right and is ideal for sitting out on, wrapped in a blanket listening to birdsong.

In terms of venturing outside the barn’s walls, the sweet market town of Framlingham is the closest, encircled by rural landscape, while Suffolk seaside big-hitters Southwold and Aldeburgh are only a few miles away, with cute cafés, restaurants, boutiques and art galleries as well as pastel-coloured beach huts.

Alternatively, the unspoilt coastal town of Orford is a bit of a secret hotspot with a steadily growing foodie scene thanks to places such as Pinney’s fish shop, the Pump Street Bakery, the Crown and Castle hotel and Butley Orford Oysterage. It would be a crime to leave without trying the latter’s angels on horseback, shucked oysters wrapped in seriously good smoky bacon. Karin Mueller

Sleeps: two Price: £150 per night Book your stay

Angmeringonsea Beach House in West Sussex

The Angmering-on-sea Beach House, West Sussex

This is an incredibly good-looking beach house, covered in Hamptons -y clapboard. The style is very cool and swanky, with endless pale wood, mirrored chests, all sorts of chandeliers, brass nautical lanterns, a huge elephant made out of driftwood and a mass of white leather sofas. And yet it is somehow hardy enough that you can bring your children and not freak out.

Inside it's so big the kids could, and do, play hide and seek all day. There are plenty of TVs, which might be just the thing you are trying to avoid; but late in the day when the wind is whipping up, it's no bad thing setting up one gang round the PlayStation and another in front of the football.

Outside, there's a bubbling hot tub facing the sea, which everyone is in from dawn to dusk. And right there, at the edge of the deck (so many decks – decks to sunbathe on, decks for eating lunch, decks for sunset drinks), is the beach. This stretch of the south coast is shingly and pebbly, wild and empty but for the occasional rootling dog and galloping horse.

Sleeps: 16 Price: Three-night weekend from £3,200 Book your stay

Croyde Cottage Devon

Croyde Cottage, Devon

The unspoilt coastal village of Croyde along North Devon ’s sandy shores stands out for its natural beauty and enchanting British charm, and this gorgeous 19th-century home fits right in. Taken on by award-winning interior designer Katherine Pooley, the name behind many prestigious townhouses across the UK, and transformed into a Hamptons-style, cosy-chic home, stay here for stunning green scenery, blue-water beaches and morning wanders through the pretty village streets lined with cafés, restaurants and ice-cream parlours.

The cottage itself flaunts its elegance – cool coastal colours of taupe, greys and whites breeze through the rooms, elevated by nautical decor such as seascape paintings, shells scattered across the coffee table, and a show-stopping chandelier made of English fine-bone-china fish that hangs grandly above the main dining table. Upstairs are four bedrooms, including a quadruple-bunk room which kids will love and four bathrooms to have a hot soak in after a day exploring in the bracing sea breeze. Spend your time waterside in Devon’s surfing capital – check out the top spots at Saunton Sands, Putsborough Sands and Woolacombe – before heading back to shelter with a meal cooked up in the modern kitchen and snug evenings in front of the open fireplace, or thawing out in the hot tub on the house’s private terrace. By Cordelia Aspinall

Sleeps: Eight Price: From £418 a night Book your stay

Temple Guiting Manor, The Cotswolds

This 13th-century Grade I-listed hideout ( pictured, above ) is one of the finest Tudor houses in the whole of the Cotswolds – yet with the very latest of home comforts. As well as, for example, ancient, winding stone steps imprinted with the footsteps of inhabitants from yesteryear, dozens of original oil paintings and rustic wooden roof beams, you’ll find underfloor heating in the fully equipped kitchen, a smart, ever-bubbling hot tub in one of the sky-high-ceilinged converted dove coops and a wonderful secret cinema located in the other (with gin-flavoured ice cream in the fridge).

While the building itself sleeps 12 in six bedrooms, the entire estate spans five properties and can accommodate up to 32. Set across 14.5 acres, the gardens are artfully manicured – That blossom! Those colours! That incredibly stylish mini-lake with sunloungers ideally positioned for morning sun! – and include a dramatic infinity-edged private lawn at the manor (which looks far more dangerous to parents than it is), as well as tennis courts and an outdoor heated pool along with heated changing room.

And should you be hankering after the spoiling advantages of a hotel staycation , The Luxury Travel Book concierge team along with house manager Gavin can arrange in-house chefs and massages, plus archery or even falconry lessons. There’s also an artisan café, The Pantry, just a couple of minutes’ walk away to wander to for a flat white and a pastry, taking in one of the most picturesque villages England has to offer. By Becky Lucas

Sleeps: 12 Price: From £1,500 per night, two-night minimum stay Book your stay

Moorland View North Bovey Devon

Moorland View, North Bovey, Devon

One of the most beautiful villages in the UK , North Bovey is a living snapshot of straw roofs and stone longhouses; there's a 14th-century parish church, a groomed green and an authentic country pub , the Ring of Bells.

It's an old-fangled place where community spirit is as alive as it was when Moorland View was built in 1705 as part of a row of thatched workers' cottages. What the original tenants would make of today's Georg Jensen salad bowl fashioned into a sink in the mother-of-pearl-tiled downstairs loo is anyone's guess.

The Grade II-listed cottage's flagstone floors, lath-and-plaster walls and wooden beams are part of the restored interiors. Sophie Conran crockery, Brissi linens and pastel Colefax & Fowler prints bring a feel of modern-day Provence by way of Notting Hill .

In warm weather, sit in the garden surrounded by the scent of roses and jasmine. On a chilly afternoon, make a start on the supply of marshmallows to be toasted on the log fire.

Sleeps: Four Price: Three-night weekend from £700 Book your stay

The Cottage at CornhillonTweed Northumberland

The Cottage, Cornhill-on-Tweed, Northumberland

A little Borders village beneath a cross commemorating the largest battle ever fought between England and Scotland doesn't seem a likely setting for a weekend break. But beyond Flodden Field is a world where sheep graze, bracken and pine-forested hills roll to the sea and chocolate-box two-up, two-downs line the streets.

The Cottage in Branxton would probably once have housed a whole family; today it's a sweet homespun hideout for two, dotted with antiques and trinkets. Beyond the garden's white picket fence are rooms made for hunkering down - on a puffy-cushioned sofa and leather armchair beside the open fire, around an antique oak table in the dining room lined with a tempting wall of books (alas faux), or in the pretty pink-and-white bedroom.

If the weather's unkind, the Shaker-style kitchen is well equipped for whipping up a feast (or heating up a local cook's delicious home-made meals if you're feeling lazy). There are games, books and a DVD player while you wait out the rain and, when the sun shines, a little garden with summerhouse and barbecue. That is, if you aren't drawn away by beaches, walks in the Cheviot Hills, the castle at Holy Island, country pubs and the Old Dairy antique shop, where a van might be required to get purchases home.

Sleeps: Two Price: From £350 a week Book your stay

Ukiyo translates from Japanese as ‘the floating world. Its a fitting title for a place that seems to hover over the...

Ukiyo, Coverack, Cornwall

Ukiyo translates from Japanese as ‘the floating world’. It’s a fitting title for a place that seems to hover over the Lizard Peninsula and the sea that swooshes and swirls around it. A Sixties former family home, it was transformed into a modernist, eco-friendly dream house following an exhaustive makeover in 2019. Now it combines influences from Japan , California , Scandinavia and the Mediterranean, yet maintains a simple, pared-back feel with earthy, neutral furniture and fittings, largely crafted by Cornish locals.

The main focus of the interior is, quite rightly, the ever-changing view, with huge, attention-grabbing single windows in the sitting room and master bedroom that frame the vista like a picture. Choose to stare out at it meditatively from either the enormous walk-in shower or free-standing bath, while inhaling the refreshing scent of the Land & Water products. The lighting throughout is extremely sophisticated (it may take a while to work out which switch controls exactly which corner), walls and doors are kept at a minimum, and there’s a central, show-stopping floating staircase, all making for an airy space with lots of light. And while the cool, copper-heavy kitchen is boutique, it probably contains more glasses and kitchenware than your own at home. Likewise, the smaller second bedroom neatly packs in a smart shower room and clever storage details, such as a line of nostalgic wooden pegs along the wall.

The palm-tree-lined side garden then works as an extra outdoor room, with a ready-to-dip-in hot tub, Adirondack chairs and firepit, kept private from the footpath just below by beautiful grasses that dance around endlessly, revealing the direction of the breeze. With its silvery cladding and urban look, Ukiyo stands out proudly next to the coastguard cottage on the cliffs of dinky Coverack, a charming village with a retro grocery store, the Paris Hotel which serves an excellent roast and the contemporary – and deliciously eerie – Terence Coventry Sculpture Garden, located 10 minutes’ walk up the hill. Our top tip? Arrive by night, tuck into the bacon, eggs and prosecco from the generous, locally sourced hamper, then leave the bedroom blinds open, allowing the view to slowly unveil itself to you come morning.

Sleeps: Up to four Price: From £1,450 per three nights (up to four guests) Book your stay

The Cabin at Bliss Blakeney Norfolk

The Cabin at Bliss Blakeney, Norfolk

Right on the edge of the salty marshlands just outside Blakeney village, this chic seaside shack is a new breed of hideaway. Built in just seven weeks out of sheets of Scandinavian pine and spruce wood that were laminated together like a Jenga puzzle, the finished cabin is an eco -warrior's dream.

It's incredibly well insulated and energy efficient. Designed by husband-and-wife team Lisa and Daniel Broch (the man who brought sofas and cocktails to the London cinema scene with the Everyman), the property has a clever, hotel-style flexibility.

If there are just two of you, rent the master bedroom, which comes with a scoop-shaped, free-standing bath and suntrap of a private terrace, and use the open-plan kitchen and sitting room with its flashes of pink (bright cerise cupboards, candy-painted chairs, a coral-coloured record player), cocktail kit and log fire.

Or if the whole brood is in tow, there are three other double bedrooms, all with their own bathrooms, floral Arne Jacobsen wallpaper and groovy local furniture finds that you might want to take home – which can be arranged. The most covetable are the vintage bedspreads and industrial lampshades from Nixey and Godfrey in Holt.

The living space is very well thought out, the poured-concrete and latex floors are great for sandy feet, and rather than the traditional welcome hamper there's a brown paper bag overflowing with artisanal produce: quail eggs, sloe gin and freshly picked strawberries from Wiveton Hall farm.

There are masseuses on call, a fire pit and an outdoor shower in the garden. And beyond that, high jinks on the coast: crabbing and mud sliding in Blakeney harbour at high tide, trips out on the afternoon boat for seal-spotting in the afternoon and long walks on nearby Holkham Beach.

Sleeps: Eight Price: Three-night weekend from £785 Book your stay

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This compact onebedroom cottage opposite the village pub in Embleton has a crisp simplicity that perfectly complements...

Calder Cottage, Northumberland

This compact one-bedroom cottage opposite the village pub in Embleton has a crisp simplicity that perfectly complements the ascetic beauty of the Northumbrian coastal landscape it sits in. Half-panelling, a cast-iron wood-burner and the sort of sofa that invites sprawling create a cosy living space that’s particularly welcome after a day striding the wind-scoured beaches and dunes. An Alexa smart-speaker, a hamper full of DVDs and a shelf of boardgames will keep visitors entertained when it’s a little too wild to venture out. The bathroom is sleek and warm, and the sunny, sea-facing kitchen is perfectly equipped down to the knives, which are robust and sharp enough to meet the approval of a chef.

The bedroom’s calmly muted colour scheme is enlivened by a stylish Ercol chair with bright, geometric-fabric David Hicks cushions. The owner, local farmer Guy Douglas, provides eggs from his free-range hens and a welcoming beer or two from one of the excellent local craft breweries. He can also lay on tasty home-cooked ready meals from The Stable Yard in nearby Craster. Calder Cottage has charm and dozens of perfectly chosen touches – posters of exhibitions by the artist Victor Pasmore, who spent most of his working life in Northumberland , and – who else? – Alexander Calder; ticking fabrics by Ian Mankin; kilim rugs. Ultimately though, as Douglas himself cheerfully admits, no interior, however finely judged, can compete with the views from the rear windows, or the outside decking where you can eat breakfast if you wrap up warmly, gazing across the rolling fields to the poetic ruin of Dunstanburgh Castle. A place for Byronic romance . By Harry Pearson

Sleeps : Two Prices : £450 per week Book your stay

57 NORD, SCOTLAND

At first sight, the glass and larch exterior of 57 Nord has such distinct and careful simplicity you might think it was an individual yoga studio or hallowed new meditation space. It sits on a jag of private land in the north-west Highlands leading down to the shores of Loch Duich, in the shadow of the Kintail mountains , and its view is possibly the most evocative and immutable from any holiday cottage in the UK. Reeds and moss along the loch’s edge glister with the scarlet stabs of irises. A two-masted sailboat moves alone on the great immensity of water, where the poetic 13th-century Eilean Donan Castle glowers down the centuries along a stone-piered bridge (the Clan McLeod marched to battle across here in the movie Highlander, swathed in tattered tartan, beating ominous drums).

The new, one-floor house is a masterpiece of crisp, clean luxury. Interior colours are both muted and luminous, reflecting the morning mist outside and the astonishing bursts of dappled light on distant perilous peaks, rowan trees jutting dramatically from fissures. A large warm-boarded living room is mostly glass, giving onto an infinitely private-seeming bedroom and (perfectly stocked) bathroom – but all the doors between can be pulled open to make one rolling, gentle space. A pillow-piled and immense four-poster bed is impossible to not retreat near-permanently to, especially when the weather comes down and rain surges against the powder-coated steel roof, and the windows beyond. You fall asleep here to the crooning of wind and water. Owner and designer Mumtaz Lalani trained as a sommelier, and spent much of her youth in Norway and Finland: her Scandinavian influence is evident (pale boards, Danish wood burner, a firepit in the garden ) but her welcoming provisions are all perfectly chosen, purely local touches. Moist, moreish seed bread slathered in a monolith of salted butter comes from a bakery, Manuela’s, just across the fields (which also sells home-distilled gin infused with angelica roots and meadowsweet that hits the frontal lobe like a late-summer firework.)

Fisherman Duncan in the shed by the loch will bring you langoustines (very fat and sweet) if you ask. There’s a wine fridge full of prized, minerally whites by Manni Nössing that Lalani has selected to pair with seafood. This part of Ross-shire – at the edge of the area known as Wester Ross – is very close to the Kyle of Lochalsh and the Isle of Skye, and not far from Applecross or the stunning Ratagan Pass. Inverness Airport is less than two hours away. And yet when the lane bends down towards the house you feel so immediately filled with landscape, so caught up in its ever-changing stage backcloth of distant waterfalls and its loch banks the colour of amber, it’s as though you never saw a town or city in your life. A place of deep and continuous seclusion, and romance. By Antonia Quirke

Address: 57 Nord, Sky House, Upper Ardelve IV40 8EY Price: Three-night stay from £900 Website: 57nord.co.uk

A chocolatebox cottage that is anything but chintzy inside. Owner Amanda Bannister has created a living breathing...

The Craftsman's Cottage, Wiltshire

A chocolate-box cottage that is anything but chintzy inside. Owner Amanda Bannister has created a living, breathing celebration of home-grown craft loveliness within these 19th-century Shaftesbury-stone walls. Designs from British ceramicists, English cartographers, Irish carpet-makers and Welsh painters are set alongside Victorian chests and Edwardian consoles in rooms decked in William Morris wallpaper. It feels cosy, clever and modern. Practically everything you can sit on or pick up can be bought – with a little discount too – but it’s not just a matter of style over substance. There’s a Roberts radio at every bedside (there are three bedrooms in the main house and a one-bed studio next door to spill over into), gorgeous Bramley products in the bathrooms, a gadget-stocked Shaker-style deVOL kitchen and Netflix in the sitting room. You’ll also find a bookcase of classic paperbacks, tweed Guillotine gilets hanging under the stairs to be borrowed and a knock-your-socks-off hamper on arrival, packed full of artisan food and drink, such as a homemade chicken pie and just-pulled vegetables (chard and carrots from the garden) plus freshly baked bread and freshly laid eggs (both still warm) and butter and milk from the farm over the road. This is charming country living done to the highest spec.

Sleeps: Six Price: From £275 per night Book your stay

After a cup of tea and a liedown to recover from the windy journey to this glorious part of the world you can start to...

The Malthouse, Devon

After a cup of tea and a lie-down to recover from the windy journey to this glorious part of the world, you can start to appreciate the architectural trickery going on inside this 200-year-old building. Owners Misha and Lucy Smith bought the forlorn-looking property four years ago. The house, part of a terrace a short walk from the Kingsbridge Estuary, dates back to 1800 and was in need of a total rethink. Devon -raised Misha, who quit his architect’s job in London to concentrate on the project, took on most of the construction, adding windows, extra floors and a courtyard garden, bringing in light and a sense of space to previously dark corners.

Then came the fun bit. Former chef Lucy, previously of London ’s River Café and Moro, filled the house with vintage rugs from Spain found on Etsy, linen bedding from Australian brand Castle and paintings by Dartmouth-based artist James Stewart. Anything that wasn’t bought was handmade by Misha, including the bedframes and the kitchen table. All that wood, plus the colourful accessories, work with the polished concrete floors and calming paint scheme – a mix of brilliant white emulsion, Farrow & Ball Middleton Pink and Purbeck Stone – to produce a successful meeting of style and practicality. Let the kids draw on the blackboard walls in the kitchen while you prepare some locally sourced eggs and bacon from Stokeley Farm Shop (near the stunning Start Bay). For eating out, you’re right in the heart of Kingsbridge, a proper ’ansum South Devon town. After crabbing by the quay, have a tapas lunch near the river at The Old Bakery or a good Indian at Kerala Delicacies and on the way home stop for coffee and cake at Coasters.

Sleeps: Four (plus two children) Price: From £591 for three nights Book your stay

This oneuponedown bolthole is the latest addition to the seriously smart collection of cottages in a former cartshed at...

Salt Cottage, Norfolk

This one-up-one-down bolthole is the latest addition to the seriously smart collection of cottages in a former cartshed at Sharrington Hall. Walls are freshly painted in a split of contrasting colours to reflect the shifting horizons of the north Norfolk coast just 15 minutes down the road. Upstairs there’s a huge bathtub at the end of the sleek four-poster. And on the bed are thick white towels tied with a ribbon – yours to keep because owners Steve and Katie King don’t think anyone should have to use a stiff old towel on holiday. Interior designer Katie is responsible for the coastal aesthetic: bleached driftwood floors, salt-washed linens, sea-grass rugs and wicker lampshades, as well as potted succulents and blush velvet cushions. Clever mirrored accents in the alcoves draw sky and leaf in from outside, and ancient timbers reclaimed from the Kings’ home (Jacobean Sharrington Hall) were used to create cupboard doors . Downstairs a vintage oak butcher’s table is tucked neatly into a nook, creating the perfect breakfast spot for two.

Days should be spent walking from the vast UK beaches at Holkham to Wells-next-the-Sea, where The Globe Inn, on a handsome, tree-lined square, is the place for fish and chips . Or head for the marshes at Morston and stop off in the garden at Stiffkey Stores for a flat white, served in the prettiest illustrated paper cup, and a still-gooey brownie. Then stock up on provisions from the Back to the Garden farm shop, which has everything you’d expect from a good butcher’s, wine, fresh fruit and vegetables to home-baked cakes, and hunker down for the evening under a blanket in front of the enormous log-burning stove (laid and ready to be lit on arrival).

Sleeps: Two Price: From £475 for three nights Book your stay

Temple Guiting Manor is not terribly big but it is so remarkably beautiful that it has been called ‘one of the finest of...

The Granary, Gloucestershire

Temple Guiting Manor is not terribly big but it is so remarkably beautiful that it has been called ‘one of the finest of the smaller Tudor manor houses’ by those who can claim to measure such things. It reveals itself incrementally. You get peeks here and there of 15th-century gabled roofs and mullioned windows through the trees, from Jinny Blom’s joyful gardens of velvety, heavy-headed peonies, irises and lavender humming with bees. There are Wonderland shapes in clipped yew and sudden gateways to more gardens: wild with a shepherd’s hut; formal with an exquisite pond; walled with a tennis court, the umpire’s chair wedged into the flowerbeds. The five-bedroom manor itself has been available to rent for some time; now the owners have been doing up other buildings on the estate to rent out, too, most recently, The Granary. What a surprise its interiors are: cool and contemporary, grown-up dark greys and white, monochrome with art and photography on a vaguely African theme.

On the stairs, an oversized tribal portrait hangs next to a delicate stool. Nevertheless, it is furnished like a home: no mean miniatures here but Cire Trudon candles and big bottles of Green & Spring.

Three bedrooms have deep high beds. The top-floor room is the one for dreamers – a copper rolltop bath in the bathroom, a vintage typewriter on the most perfect little desk at the attic window. Early risers can open the coops to find eggs in the straw; late risers can find them in the fridge. Signposts down the lane point to Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, the Slaughters, but we are staying put.

Sleeps: Six Price: From £1,100 for two nights Book your stay

Sheepscombe House Gloucestershire

Sheepscombe House, Gloucestershire

This place is a beauty, the sort of postcard-perfect country house that people earmark when buying a lottery ticket. It ticks all the clichéd boxes expected from a honey-hued, wisteria-draped Georgian residence.

The façade is mesmerisingly symmetrical, with regimented sash windows overlooking the Cotswolds countryside. The pale-grey-painted Devol kitchen is straight from a Pinterest board, with a double butler sink, four-door Aga and brass-knobbed, French-style oven. The attached garden room is flooded with sunshine during the day and becomes especially pretty at night when the fairy lights are on.

The rest of the house is substantial (there are five big bedrooms, a grown-up double sitting room and massive cinema room), but it feels fantastically comfy: Aubusson-style rugs, deep-cushioned sofas, animal hides and battered leather club chairs against a backdrop of the owner's extensive modern-art collection.

Behind a thick laurel hedge is a heated swimming pool and a wood-burning pizza oven for homemade Margheritas. There's a field full of alpacas that trot over when called and a grass tennis court cut into the hillside; it's an adventure having to retrieve wayward balls from the neighbouring field of waist-high wildflowers.

Sleeps: 11 Price: Three-night weekend from £2,500 Book your stay

Crailing House near Jedburgh Scottish Borders

Crailing House, Near Jedburgh, Scottish Borders

James Paton, an East India Company official, built Crailing, a glorious rosy-stone Regency house with soaring ceilings, in 1803, although the estate predates it by several hundred years. An 1881 census shows that the Patons employed a flurry of maids, a gardener and cook, who resided with their own families downstairs in the servants' quarters. There's still an air of Downton Abbey : the live-in housekeeper Linda Coles tiptoes around the ground floor under a cloak of invisibility, removing all traces of the previous night's supper before guests have woken up.

Botanical-print Designers Guild fabrics have been paired with carefully chosen antique pieces of furniture, and centuries-old portraits hang side by side with a stormy John Walker canvas. Sprigs of heather in vases, china elephants on mantelpieces and horsey sketches and sculptures add quirky touches. Double-height windows frame dreamy James Norie scenes of sheep grazing on a sloping, clover-speckled field. Apples ripen in the orchard down by the river.

Come here with family and friends, the labrador and pony (there's a stable and a paddock). This is a holiday house as home: it may be smart but it's comfortable, too. Little girls will make a beeline for the rooms with stripey beds, patchwork quilts and statement lilac and turquoise walls.

There's masses of space to spread out into the sitting room, drawing room and study, but inevitably everyone will tend to gather in the huge kitchen-dining room. The industrial-size Everhot range is big enough to make Sunday lunch for the entire village, or forget the oven gloves and pick up the silkiest salmon from the Teviot Smokery and homemade fruit tart from Floors Castle in nearby Kelso.

Sleeps: 12 Price: From £2,950 a week Book your stay

Hex Cottage Sibton Park Suffolk

Hex Cottage, Sibton Park, Suffolk

An absurdly romantic hideaway, this forester's cottage right in the middle of the woods is surrounded by foxgloves and cut off from everything and everyone. There's no electricity, and heating and hot water comes from an Esse wood-burning range that needs regular stoking (there's a well-stocked log store outside the stable-style backdoor), so even in the height of summer the warm, tickly smell of wood smoke pervades.

Gothic-style leaded windows and a gnarled veranda add to the Hansel and Gretel feel. Walls are plastered not painted, floors are laid brick (except in the bedroom, which is decked in pitch pine with sheepskin rugs bedside the canopied bed), and the interiors mix rustic auction-house finds with contemporary staples.

The cottage sits on the 4,500-acre Wilderness Reserve, where woods are intrinsic to the ethos of conserving the parkland and encouraging it to return to a more biodiverse landscape. With more than one million native trees planted, gone are the electricity pylons, arable crops and modern barns, while the indigenous bats, owls and insects are coming back. Book a barbecue breakfast to study moths with resident ecologist Matthew Deans, and be awed by the beauty of these creatures.

Sleeps: Two Price: From £200 a night Book your stay

The Parisian Stamford Rutland

The Parisian, Stamford, Rutland

Stamford, Rutland

Glowing golden in the evening sun and used in many of Cambridge 's older colleges, the stone of Rutland is as magnificent as that of the Cotswolds , but the area is largely unknown to visitors.

This cottage once formed the stables of the elegant Georgian rectory next door and was renovated by heritage builders Dovetail & Capstone. It's a Farrow & Ball Tardis, opening onto a lavender-scented terrace which looks over lawns and mature chestnut trees – a sheltered spot to stretch out on wicker loungers, read a book or sit with a glass of prosecco watching swallows loop the loop.

The sitting room is filled with books , throws and antiques from local expert Hester Cresswell. Oak stairs curve up to the one gorgeous bedroom with its soft-grey-painted rafters. Under the wool-and-alpaca-filled duvet there's a Westin Heavenly mattress, imported from the USA because the well-travelled owners believe that a good night's sleep is half the holiday.

In the morning, nip out to nearby Stamford to pick up croissants from British Baker of the Year Julian Carter at the Hambleton Bakery or go to Otters Smokehouse and Deli in Oakham for home-smoked salmon. Afterwards, stroll it off on the Four Counties Walk. For more ideas, see our guide to the best things to do in the Cotswolds .

Sleeps: Two  Price: Three-night weekend from £600 Book your stay

View of Dartmouth Devon

Number One, Dartmouth, Devon

This is a riverside retreat with a distinctly slick, urban vibe. Instead of cottagey cuteness or coastal bucket-and-spade styling, it looks as if Kelly Hoppen has been through here with her bronze-and-taupe moodboard, a van-load of silk-covered cushions and vases of orchids.

The sitting room, with its high ceilings and pale parquet floors, is full of whizzy boys' toys: a remote-controlled gas fire, electric blinds and a sound system with in-ceiling speakers. But for all the gadgetry, there's no forgetting the seaside location. When the windows are open, the cries of seagulls and the morning marina chorus flood in. It's right on the River Dart: look out to the swirling waters from the bathtub or watch boats sailing up the estuary from a rattan chair on the terrace.

The house is run by the Dart Marina Hotel, so tap into the spa (excellent massages and an indoor pool) and restaurant (mackerel and crab straight from the sea). The daily maid service means beds are made, laundry is whisked away and Elemis bath products are topped up in the blink of an eye.

Sleeps: Four Price: Two-night weekend from £1,000 Book your stay

The Cob Holsworthy Devon

The Cob, Holsworthy, Devon

Here is an unexpectedly contemporary house set in the middle of a working farm. Children are encouraged to collect eggs from the resident hens, make dens in the treehouse in the woods, pick organic vegetables from the kitchen garden and run wild in the orchard and flower meadows – if you can tear them away from the steady supply of toys and DVDs.

This seven-acre smallholding was rescued from ruin by its current owners and the derelict stone and cob barn, previously a 200-year-old milking parlour, was brilliantly reimagined by architects Feilden Fowles. The original building has been extended and transformed, cattle troughs replaced by polished-concrete worktops, straw and mud on the ground upgraded with underfloor heating.

Flashes of vivid colour have been introduced throughout the bright-white-painted, light-flooded rooms, with funky Eames chairs, lime-green blossomy wallpaper and a satsuma-hued Fifties desk lamp.

It feels urban and crisp rather than rustic rough-and-ready, although there are traditional touches: a wood-burning stove in the sitting room, painted beams in one of the bedrooms and a farmhouse sink in the kitchen, but thankfully not a horse brass in sight.

Sleeps: Nine Price: Three-night weekend from £805 Book your stay

The Orchard House Monnington Herefordshire

Monnington House, Herefordshire

It has been a three-year labour of love to deck out this 18th-century, red-brick manor for a new generation. The cleverest thing was the addition of new windows, including a double-height pane of glass halfway up the staircase to bring light to previously dark corners.

The interiors are country chic, a mix of Oka-esque fresh and new with old family pieces, velvet Day Birger et Mikkelsen cushions on herringbone wool sofas and an oak dining table that seats up to 18 (handy when you take the adjoining three-bedroom cottage at the same time).

The bounty left on the kitchen counter is more than thoughtful: bottles of Chablis, quail eggs and celery salt, locally churned butter, bread and a basket of fresh walnuts. Bedrooms are big and no one gets a bum deal, even the two up in the attic feel spoiling, and each has its own bathroom.

This is cider land and the village is surrounded by apple-tree orchards. Hereford and its soaring cathedral is 15 minutes' drive in one direction and Hay-on-Wye the same distance in the other, which explains why the house is booked up months in advance for the literary festival.

Sleeps: 18 Price: Three-night weekend from £2,200 Book your stay

It's not often that a weekend rental comes with arrowslit windows battlements and a moat. A sorry wreck for 30 years...

Astley Castle, Nuneaton, Warwickshire

It's not often that a weekend rental comes with arrow-slit windows, battlements and a moat. A sorry wreck for 30 years, Astley Castle has been stunningly restored by the Landmark Trust. The effect is bewitching.

Its mellow ruined walls now shelter a beautiful dwelling which won last year's Stirling Prize, the Oscar of British architecture. Medieval England lies through the arch in the curtain wall, in the roofless banqueting hall where fires are lit at night.

The bedrooms retain the feel of a fortress, with 800-year-old masonry, huge doors and a windowless bathroom like a small keep. There's a modern take on a baronial hall, with light streaming in from three sides.

It's a place to cook, sprawl and nose through the visitors' book, a feature of Landmark houses and often beautifully illustrated. The castle is booked well into 2015, so get snappy for a stay next summer.

Sleeps: Eight Price: Three-night weekend from £903 Book your stay

Millbrook Cottage Black Mountains Wales

Millbrook Cottage, Black Mountains, Wales

Right on the eastern edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park with the heather-covered Black Mountains on its doorstep, the village of Llanvihangel Crucorney is a curious peek back in time. The local pub, the Skirrid Mountain Inn, claims the title of Wales ' oldest public house and this cottage, an Elizabethan Monmouthshire hall house, has heritage-heavy bones.

Stuffed with original features, including a gorgeous studded oak front door, age-smoothed flagstones, panelled walls and low-beamed ceilings, it seems as though everything should be wonky and creaky – and ducking to get through the doorways is a reminder of how diminutive our ancestors really were – but, in fact, the building is wonderfully solid. Wooden floorboards are softened with Turkish rugs and the three double bedrooms, all as good as each other, have crisp white sheets topped with colourful throws.

Outside there's a large lawn (freshly mown into stripes prior to each stay and brilliantly flat for games of croquet), which catches the sun all day long so it's as good a spot for breakfast as it is for end-of-the-day gin and tonics. For anyone not tired out by long walks in the surrounding hills, there's a table-tennis table, badminton kit and boules set to mess about with. And on a damp day, pick a film from the DVD library, slump into one of the huge sofas or play board games by the wood-burning stove.

Sleeps: Six Price: Three-night weekend from £745 Book your stay

Natural Retreats Residences John O'Groats Scotland

Natural Retreats Residences, John O'Groats, Scotland

Although destined to be eternally monopolised by Lycra-clad cyclists taking photos next to the John O'Groats signpost before the epic ride to Land's End, the north-eastern tip of Scotland has now received an injection of style.

After buying the 1870s John O'Groats Hotel, the Natural Retreats group set about adding a Norse-style extension and a fleet of stand-alone eco-lodges. Made from Scottish-larch timber, topped with living sedum roofs and propped up by teepee-style poles, the three-bedroom houses are positioned to take in the drama of the North Sea through floor-to-ceiling glass.

Inside, they're tricked out with homespun yarn: tartan rugs thrown across beds, heather-coloured cushions on the sofas and locally made pendant lights. Rain-style showers, under-floor heating and a log burner will sort everyone out after wet walks to craggy Dunnet Head, the northernmost point of the British Isles.

The Natural Retreats RIB goes seal-, dolphin- and puffin-spotting, there's a little spa in the hotel for a Swedish massage and the Storehouse café serves seafood platters, extra-large hot chocolates and still-warm-from-the-oven cakes.

Sleeps: Six Price: Three-night weekend from £499 Book your stay

Home Farm Cottage Barnsley Gloucestershire

Home Farm Cottage, Barnsley, Gloucestershire

The village of Barnsley is already a hotspot. The exquisitely pretty Barnsley House has long been one of the loveliest hotels in Britain, with a garden designed by Rosemary Verey, a terrific restaurant where the lamb cassoulet is comfort itself, and a spa where slots of Time Out are booked rather than specific treatments, so you pick what you feel like when the moment comes.

Across the road, The Village Pub is low-key but polished, with wholesome food and sweet rooms for the night. And now there's a new draw: a three-bedroom family cottage for those who worry that their rowdy crew will disturb other people's bubble, or for anyone craving privacy and space while still being able to dip into all the treats at hand.

The look is elegant, Cotswolds charming: a shaker-style kitchen; two sitting rooms with tweed sofas, oil paintings and striped rugs (one is kitted out with board games and a PlayStation). The larder comes filled with essentials and breakfast can be ordered in: croissants, organic eggs, homemade jams and hams.

Children will love playing on the swings at the end of the sloping garden (there's also a barbecue and a decked terrace) or borrowing bikes to scoot around the village. An added boon is that the Barnsley House chef can be called upon to whip up supper.

Read our full review of Barnsley House

Sleeps: Six Price: Three-night weekend from £1,350 Book your stay

Grey Gables Lake Windermere Cumbria

Grey Gables, Lake Windermere, Cumbria

Owned by moneysupermarket.com founder Simon Nixon, this is a statement house: big and ballsy, with a heavy oak frame soaring skywards and thick stone walls anchoring it to its impressive lakefront setting.

It could almost have been too much, too razzamatazz, but Lancashire architects Campbell Driver have cleverly inserted massive panes of glass, so that light bounces in off Lake Windermere on even the most leaden Cumbrian day.

The whole place is finished to the highest spec, with Ralph Lauren and Andrew Martin furniture, a stainless-steel Gaggenau kitchen and hotel-standard mattresses in the five bedrooms. The interior designer Jill Stein, former wife of chef Rick, has gone for a luxe-lodge look with plenty of oomph: antler light fittings and mounted skulls on the walls; fur throws draped over sofas; mountains of logs to frame the stone- clad fireplaces.

The downside to this part of the southern lakes is its manicured, somewhat suburban qualities; the upside is accessibility, seriously good restaurants (the Gilpin, L'Enclume, the Drunken Duck) and plenty to do around Bowness-on-Windermere (fishing, flying, caving).

Grey Gables probably has too many sharp edges and slippery floors for families with boisterous young children, but with a huge sitting room, open-plan kitchen, games room and cinema, it's fantastic for a grown-up house party.

Sleeps: 10 Price: From £5,880 per week Book your stay

Calfshed at Upcott Farm in Croyde Devon

Calfshed at Upcott Farm, Croyde, Devon

Wholesomely good-looking owners Ben and Sarah Lambert live in Upcott's 500-year-old farmhouse with their two golden-haired girls. Chickens lay fresh eggs, fruit ripens in the orchard and there's a vegetable garden from which to help yourself to raspberries and rhubarb, lettuce and leeks.

The Calfshed, a converted barn, is a long, open-plan slice of this good life, where the only alarm clocks are skylights. Dashes of dove-grey, souvenirs of the sea and a wood-burning fire bring a wonderful warmth to the space in which The White Company photographed its catalogue.

The kitchen has it all: egg cups and mixing bowls and rabbit-shaped jelly moulds; herbs grow right outside in the pebbled courtyard. A stack of cookery books give a clue to who comes here - Sophie Dahl more likely than Delia Smith - not that you'll follow any recipes; local pub The Rock Inn serves a fish pie that's as creamy as it is comforting.

All the holiday essentials are here, too: a boules set, picnic basket and a barbecue to take to the beach. Surfers ride the waves at nearby Croyde Bay. From here, you can walk up to Baggy Point (the dramatic views inspired author Henry Williamson), stopping for scones and strawberries at National Trust tea room Sandleigh, or take your pick from some of Devon's best pubs nearby.

Sleeps: Four Price: From £700 a week Book your stay

According to the map Old Crofftau is in the middle of nowhere the nearest 'road' a farm track. What it's actually in the...

Old Crofftau Cottage, Brecon Beacons, Wales

According to the map, Old Crofftau is in the middle of nowhere, the nearest 'road' a farm track. What it's actually in the middle of is the greenest and most breathtakingly beautiful valley, the peaks of the Brecon Beacons rising up all around into a dramatic sky. And the feel of the house is in keeping with the soul of the place: rugged and homely.

Entering into the double-height hallway feels like walking into a private home, until you notice the visitors' book on the antique table along with photo albums and maps and books, everywhere books.

It's pet-friendly, mud-friendly; a dozen pairs of wellies range from tiny to galumphing; on hooks hang souwesters for those who don't want to ruin their own Barbours out in all that Welsh weather. Cartwheel chandeliers swing from the ancient beams; under-floor heating warms the centuries-old flagstones. Handstitched patchwork quilts are thrown over brass or carved-wood beds, and heavy curtains keep out the morning sunlight, though you might want to open them, let it in, start the day with that uplifting view.

The outlook is even better from the loft – an open-plan cooking-dining-living space with long arrow-slit windows to let in the mountains and, at night, a sky streaked with the Milky Way (the Brecons national park is a Dark Sky Reserve). There's even a telescope for stargazing, and a 1960s Wurlitzer loaded with rock'n'roll 45s.

Sleeps: Eight Price: Three-night weekend from £666 Book your stay

Restormel Manor in Fowey Valley Cornwall

Restormel Manor, Fowey Valley, Cornwall

This perfectly proportioned manor is where the Prince of Wales sets up camp when he comes to the Duchy and the setting is suitably majestic, with the ruins of Restormel castle a short scramble away and the River Fowey rushing past the back door (rods are provided).

The house sleeps 18 but is cleverly divided into three wings that can be opened up as required. Subtle regal reminders are everywhere: Duchy crests on the crockery, the Prince of Wales insignia on bathroom tiles and old black-and-white pictures of the royal family at work and play. The Middletons have stayed here too – it's all in the visitor's book.

Annabel Elliot (Camilla's sister) kitted out the interior, with wafty organic linen curtains, pretty floral sofas and antiques mixed with a spot of Oka. The bedrooms are bliss; vases of fresh cut flowers and Mitre Welsh sheets. The Prince's organic ethos is firmly in place, too, with compost bins and a wood-chip burner that also heats the indoor pool, next to a tennis court and play area (cleverly constructed with recycled materials).

Some of the best beaches in Cornwall are close by, as is Lostwithiel, the antiques capital of Cornwall and home to Fran's Pantry, an Aladdin's cave of delicious cheeses .

Sleeps: Six in one of the three wings; 18 in whole house Price: From £600 a week Book your stay

For foodies few other cottages can compare. Because where you are sleeping  in a chic twobedroomed bolthole  is...

The Potting Shed, Daylesford, Gloucestershire

For foodies, few other cottages can compare. Because where you are sleeping – in a chic, two-bedroomed bolthole – is secondary to what you will be munching on.

This is the joy of being a hop and a skip from Daylesford's rural outpost, where there are Scotch eggs as big as your fist, exquisite homemade cheeses, a café with extra-healthy salads and a cookery school with courses in everything from bread-making to butchery (scarily hands on).

After a day spent chopping and whisking, retreat to the Potting Shed where even the simplest of objects (geranium-scented candles, chunky radiators, a bright white Aga, cashmere-covered hot-water bottles) takes on a particular beauty.

There are two double bedrooms (one also has a bunk bed), a sitting and dining room with thickly woven rugs and a fire (logs provided) and a small office stuffed with cookery books ( Salad Leaves for All Seasons , Don't Sweat the Aubergine ). Clothes cupboards are hidden behind linen curtains and apple carts used as storage drawers. And you can always retreat to the Bamford Haybarn Spa for a holistic massage or yoga class.

Sleeps: Four Price: From £1050 for a two night stay. Book your stay

The Garden House in Lilycombe Somerset

The Garden House, Lilycombe, Somerset

Now this is a welcome: chocolate cake, Champagne on ice and three inquisitive cows, peering over the gate from under long lashes as you crunch up the drive.

Garden House is deep in the Mendip Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, where patchwork fields are seamed with drystone walls, rabbits run and bluebells grow. Still, it's tempting to ignore all that and ensconce yourselves in an interior of outstanding natural beauty instead.

No horse brasses here; owner Jane Clayton is an interior designer, and has turned her old dairy barn into a stylish but comfortable place to stay. Granny's wardrobe and other family heirlooms are mixed with contemporary sofas and Bertoia-inspired wire chairs; in the open-plan living space, a film projector is tastefully hidden in an antique basket.

Bag the master suite, the biggest of the four bedrooms, with its seven-foot-wide bed, picture wall of bird prints and two arched French windows leading out to the courtyard garden. And, set high in one wall, the original door to the barn loft, the kind that can only lead to a roll in the hay.

But perhaps more exciting than all these things: a pool. A proper, bathwater-warm swimming pool, with a treatment room for massages, and poolside daybeds scattered with a mass of cushions for when you get pruney.

Sleeps: Eight Price: Three-night weekend from £1,135 Book your stay

Silverholme in Graythwaite Cumbria

Silverholme, Graythwaite, Cumbria

Silverholme is a knockout. The Georgian manor house was recently refurbished with every conceivable luxury: eight blissful bedrooms, cashmere-soft carpets, bespoke wallpapers, roaring log fires, library, a hi-tech kitchen and wraparound views of Lake Windermere that makes it hard to concentrate on your Cumberland sausage at breakfast.

For added gravitas, estate owners the Sandys family have raided the antiques collection at Graythwaite Hall, their ancestral seat just across the road (even the Colonel's gun boxes have been recycled as side tables). But it's the setting that's really worth raving about.

The house commands sweeping views over vales and hills and the gardens roll down to a private jetty over the silvery waters. Beatrix Potter's Hill Top House and museum are just up the road at Hawkshead, a beguilingly pretty village that's also home to The Sun Tea Rooms, the most devilish cake shop in Cumbria.

The house manager, Katarina Stacey, is unflappable and can organise anything from zip-wiring to private chefs. But just stick to a simple walk in the estate grounds and you won't be disappointed – misty mornings and big starry skies make this place a glorious getaway.

Sleeps: 16, plus two in adjoining cottage Price: Three-night weekend from £3,087 Book your stay

Trevone Farm in Padstow Cornwall

Trevone Farm, Padstow, Cornwall

Designed by Jill Stein (business partner and ex-wife of the King of Padstow, Rick), this cluster of contemporary houses in the village of Trevone is the newest addition to the Stein empire.

Each of the four stone-and-glass cottages has terraces overlooking the sweeping cliffs of Trevone Bay (the sandy beach is just a minute's walk away).

Jill has nailed what you need at a Cornish holiday house: toasty warm flagstone floors for little feet chilled by paddling in the Atlantic, enough wine glasses to have the whole village round for drinks, and welcome hampers with homemade jam and chutney, fresh farm eggs and even a blanket for the dog.

The coastal-themed interiors have nautical stripes, sackcloth cushions and fishy artwork. And fish is what it's all about here: two miles down the road is the Padstow Seafood School, where lecturer Keith Brooksbank will teach children how to extract a pesky digestive tract from a prawn using only a cocktail stick, and fillet slippery squid; grown-ups can try their hand at getting live lobster from the tank to the plate. Or leave it to the professionals and book in for supper at The Seafood Restaurant – the Singapore Chilli Crab is a messy, spicy sensation.

Sleeps: Six-Eight  Price: Three-night weekend from £540 Book your stay

Rhoscolyn House in Anglesey Wales

Rhoscolyn House, Anglesey, Wales

Getting to this converted fisherman's cottage on a tiny headland in north-west Wales is half the fun. When the tide is in it can only be accessed by navigating a short stretch of rocky beach, so you really feel like you're staking a claim on a private, salty-aired plot (complete with flagpole).

Once you've made it to the large, rambling house, the sense of adventure amps up: a kitchen island for your crew to gather around and ogle the fabulously kitsch collection of lobster-themed crockery; a red-floored sitting room with sailboat-patterned curtains and squishy sofas; five nautical bedrooms, including a lookout loft and a plush master suite.

Through a little gate in the hedge you'll find a lovely sheltered cove; dash here for an early-morning dip and return swaddled in the fluffy robes that hang in each bedroom. Braver souls can dive off the jetty at Rhoscolyn's own boathouse. This is a place to come for afternoon shell-seeking missions on the strand, for long walks along Holy Island's meandering lanes, and for evening drinks on the terrace watching a neon-orange sunset.

Sleeps: Eight-Ten Price: Three-night weekend from £1,500 Book your stay

Cartshed Cottages at Sharrington Hall Norfolk

Cartshed Cottages, Sharrington Hall, Norfolk

The four cottages at Sharrington Hall – Shell, Sky, Seal and Samphire - are like a Farrow and Ball colour chart. Each comes with its own palette of soft greys, pale lilacs, dusty pinks, muted and chic. With painted floorboards, claw-footed baths, deep butler's sinks and French linens on the beds, they're the country crashpads on your Pinterest page, the holiday hideaways of a rainy day's plans.

Swoop into the local farmshop deli Back to the Garden just up the road at Letheringsett for supper's organic ingredients . On a summer evening you can stroll to the nearby strawberry farm, fill up your punnet, then slip freshly picked fruit into a glass of Prosecco and sit on the private terrace watching the sun go down.

The owners leave a bottle of decent red and a plate of home-made brownies on arrival, as well as a useful basket full of lists and leaflets of what to do and where to go in the area. Just outside the front door are a cluster of villages brimming with antiques and vintage clothing yards. A long walk along the wide, flat sandy beaches at Holkham or across the marshes at Stiffkey where the sky meets the sea might put you in the market for one of the candyfloss-coloured beach huts that speckle the coastline, but it equally might lead to one of the many microbreweries to try a pint of the native Adnam's.

Sleeps: Two-Four Price: Three-night weekend from £400 Book your stay

Cotmandene house in Aldeburgh Suffolk

Cotmandene house, Aldeburgh, Suffolk

This late-Victorian townhouse two blocks back from the sea is incredibly stylish, with crisp white bed linen and Designer's Guild fabrics, delicious-smelling ILA bath products and really good iPod docks. But none of this is at the expense of practicality.

It can house the most complex of groups – an inspired choice for a gang of friends and their sprats - with three double bedrooms, one single and another with bunk beds, two single beds and still room to spare for travel cots (provided for free, as are stair gates, baby monitors, wet wipes, changing mats and hot-water bottles). You will live like kings, dining around the huge oval table in the blissfully well-equipped kitchen, starting with the welcome hamper that includes all the makings of a seriously good breakfast, before venturing out to local favourite Lawson's Deli for pork sausages, the Golden Galleon for fish and chips or to one of the several fishermen's huts on the beach for freshly smoked mackerel, squished onto warm buttered toast back at the house.

The layout is brilliantly considered. While there's a pretty living room with a working fireplace and a pool table room at the front of the house, for example, there's also a sort of ante-chamber off the kitchen with a deep, outsized sofa, soft wool throws, a TV and stacks of toddler-pleasing DVDs, where the little ones can sprawl out while you cook, chat and drink wine next door, able to check they're happy in a glance. Clever.

Sleeps: 11 Price: Two-night weekend from £1,200 Book your stay

Thyme House in Southrop Gloucestershire

Thyme House, Southrop, Gloucestershire

The village of Southrop has to be one of the prettiest in the county. The church dates back to the 12th century and every rose-clad house looks as if it's been dipped in honey but, refreshingly, it's handsome rather than cutesy.

The Southrop Manor Estate has a fantastic cookery school as well as some meticulously restored cottages; take the whole place and you can sleep 34 for the best country-house party ever. Otherwise, star of the show is the eight-roomed Thyme House, which has a look that is both grand and quirky: proper paintings, huge dining tables, tapestries, glittery chandeliers and curtains so heavy it's almost a workout closing them.

You'll march about the place inspecting every mirror, every bath and every armoire while asking the same question: where did they find it? You may stumble upon the laundry room (which you're probably not meant to see), but guess what? That too is a picture, painted in perfect French blue, smelling of soap suds and with notepads on the sideboard covered in shipshape lists.

The magic trick here is that you don't have to lift a finger. The cooking is done by discreet Australian couple Carolyn and Tom. Baked eggs with prosciutto for breakfast, light lunches in the walled garden (designed by Bunny Guinness) and for dinner a choice between a three-course, dress-up affair or something more casual – homegrown radishes dipped in goat's cheese, perhaps, followed by a one-pot-wonder stew and pudding.

The Swan is a moment away, with food that people drive for, and don't forget to stock up on the estate's delicious Asian-style chilli jam and crab-apple jelly.

Sleeps: 16 Price: Three-night weekend from £6,240 Book your stay

The Secret Holt in Dartmoor Devon

The Secret Holt, Dartmoor, Devon

A little cabin in the middle of the woods, surrounded in spring by a sea of bluebells , this is fairytale enchanting without being too twee, with wooden hearts and goat bells dotted around, sheepskin throws over comfortable armchairs and a slightly battered leather sofa.

There are two bedrooms: one with reclaimed Parisian apartment doors and a bedside-table book entitled Hints on Etiquette and a Glance at Bad Habits ; the other with a carved four-poster bed from Vietnam . A wood burner takes centre stage in the sitting room, piled high with logs and impossible to resist prodding. There are thick blankets for curtains at the windows, a selection of wines available to buy for £5 and marshmallows for toasting.

Dartmoor, with its steep craggy tors and shaggy-haired ponies, is right there on your doorstep, and a walk through the woods brings you to the Rock Inn for chicken-and-chorizo risotto and the most incredible homemade Bakewell tart.

Sleeps: Two-Four Price: Three-night weekend from £550 Book your stay

Strawberry Wood Barn in the Black Mountains Wales

Strawberry Wood Barn, Black Mountains, Wales

At the end of a dirt track in the middle of farmland, the approach may be a bit rough and ready, so beg, borrow or steal a four-wheel drive if you can. But getting to Strawberry Wood is just part of the adventure.

The pair of rosy-walled barns have been impeccably put together, with a wing each for two families. Inside all is fresh and crisp and clean, with Shaker-style design, tongue-and-groove cladding and underfloor-heated flagstones. Upstairs, perfectly pressed white sheets are topped with Suzie Watson wool blankets, pots of primroses are placed on distressed chests of drawers and there's quirky Quentin Blake parrot wallpaper in the loo.

But for all that smartness, this is a family house. The playroom, with its mass of toys and DVDs, is a brilliant bad-weather den; outside there's a ping-pong table, a trampoline and a swing. With stunning views across the valley and a cushioned daybed on the west-facing terrace for drinks after bath and bedtime, it feels like you're in the middle of nowhere (though Waitrose in Abergavenny is just 15 minutes' drive away).

Sleeps: 11 Price: Three-night weekend from £950 Book your stay

Mulberry Cottages in Blakeney Norfolk

Mulberry Cottages, Blakeney, Norfolk

Blustery Blakeney on the North Norfolk coast is a Swallows and Amazons sort of spot with winding walks through the marshes to the sea, boat trips to see the seals and children dangling lines over the quayside trying to catch crabs. Here is a trio of love-nests right in the heart of the village.

The one-bed, pebble-clad, fend-for-yourself Mulberry and Slipway Cottages are charming, but the Boat House goes one better and, because there's no kitchen, has breakfast delivered each day (croissants still warm from the local deli, fresh fruit and yoghurt). The stunning open-plan studio, converted from a rundown outbuilding, is shabby chic with oatmeal coloured walls, polished floorboards and French-style country charm. The large double bed is up on a mezzanine, there's a TV, Wi-Fi and an iPod dock, as well as interior-design coffee-table books on every surface.

Outside, wisteria hangs heavy over the little courtyard, a glorious spot for a morning coffee in the sun, taking in the surroundings. Head to the White Horse for a hearty lunch (pie of the day or fish and chips); for the more serious foodies, the Michelin-starred Morston Hall is just a mile down the road.

Sleeps: Two Price: From £100 per night Book your stay

The Shed Isle of Skye Scotland

The Shed, Isle of Skye, Scotland

With quite possibly the window seat to end all window seats – taking in breathtaking views of the cloud-cosseted Cuillin Mountains – The Shed is as good as a rural retreat gets.

Essentially a home from home, albeit in a coolly contemporary, polished concrete kind of way, this hillside-hugging haven is architectural catnip for frontier-spirited families or friends looking to chill out, or indeed cycle, kayak or walk under big skies.

Accessible by a single-track road about 10 miles from the ferry harbour at Armadale, The Shed was designed by Skye -based architect Mary Arnold-Forster. It's a simple yet beautifully detailed four-bedroom timber-and-glass house, cocooned against the whirly salty winds by underfloor heating and a wood-burning stove. There's Danish Modernist furniture in the big, sociable, ground-floor living space; upstairs, a sofa-strewn snug is perfect for post-hike curling up or after-dinner lolling. Tip-off Mary before your arrival and she can arrange for the local fisherman, whose bobbing boat can often be seen from the front porch, to drop off squat and velvet crab, langoustine and lobster.

Sleeps: Eight Price: From £900 a week Book your stay

Coachmans Cottage Coniston Lake District

Coachmans House, Coniston, the Lake District

Set in the very best walking country, at the base of the Old Man of Coniston and 10 minutes from Coniston Lake, this little upside-down cottage with its fresh, pale green paintwork is a peach. There are shades of white from top to bottom, from the linen in the pristine bedrooms and painted floorboards (not ideal for muddy boots) all the way up the white staircase to the sitting room with floating muslin curtains and blinds.

It's not a 'don't touch' showroom though: underfloor heating makes the kitchen cosy and upstairs there's a wood-burning stove, a vast (beige!) sofa, squishy armchair and woollen blankets. Stock up on amazing cakes (lemon curd loaf or coffee and hazelnut) at Chester's in nearby Skelwith Bridge – it's the Lake District's answer to Ottolenghi .

After a bracing walk around the lake, stop off for a pint of Bluebird (named for Donald Campbell's ill-fated boat) at the Black Bull pub. The walk back at night is spooky at first but gives way to a dazzlingly romantic star-filled sky.

Sleeps: Two Price: Three-night weekend from £450 Book your stay

Hive Beach House Chesil Beach Dorset

Hive Beach House, Chesil Beach, Dorset

Here is a hideaway in the most phenomenal location, right on the edge of the smooth-shingled Jurassic Coast, steps from the English Channel and practically next door to the hugely popular Hive Beach Café.

It is not your regular summer rental. The clean and graphic lines of the wooden exterior, with a hot tub set into the decking, showcase the brilliance of its design – thoughtful, considered but with a low-key demeanour. Owner Phil Georgiadis has been fantastically restrained with the interiors, in a Scandinavian way. There's a deeply desirable Another Country day bed, a zinc-topped breakfast bar and tongue-and-groove walls.

Well equipped with boogie boards and a RIB on request, there are subtle nods to its location throughout including nautical bed linen, a life buoy hanging from the stepladder to the bunk room and a kitchen that's not dissimilar to a ship's galley, albeit with Kitchen Aid coffee maker and all mod cons. The three bedrooms have spectacular views, especially the bunkroom with its ocean-going lookout; Cowshed products and under-floor heating make up for the shared bathroom. At night, the dim lights of fisherman blink from out at sea and you are lulled to sleep by the sound of the waves.

This is a house that won't be here for the next generation, as the National Trust can't protect the building or the immediate area – so come here before the sea claims it.

Sleeps: Six Price: From £150 per night Book your stay

This farflung farmhouse is tucked into a hillside covered with sheep its bright red front door like a beacon in the...

Cappele Cottage, Snowdonia, Wales

This far-flung farmhouse is tucked into a hillside covered with sheep, its bright red front door like a beacon in the Welsh wilderness. Rustic roughness is tempered with an almost urban sleekness inside. There are reminders of the house's history - a cowbell hanging on the wall and a pair of old wooden milking pails full of logs by the fire – alongside Anglepoise lamps, digital radios and fantastically smart bathrooms. The kitchen has everything from teabags and freshly ground coffee to milk and butter, as well as a welcome hamper filled with antipasti.

Make sure you take the swooping, circular, eight-mile walk from outside the cottage door – you probably won't see a soul but you might meet a friendly sheepdog. And on your return disappear into the roll-top tub – there's a holder for your wine glass and a stand for your book (there are plenty of Austen and Bronte novels dotted around if you need one to borrow). Perhaps it's the location or waking up to fresh tulips by the bed or the views of the Welsh hills outside: but here you will sleep deep.

Sleeps: Four Price: Three-night weekend from £600 Book your stay

Little Polgarron in Trevose Cornwall

Little Polgarron, Trevose, Cornwall

This is so close to North Cornwall's foamy Atlantic coast that only sleeping on the sand will get you nearer. Wake to pearly blue sunlight on the waves (you'll never draw the blinds), throw open the glass doors and hear the thrum of the surf , then slip through the gate and stride straight out on the coastal path. Set above the gloriously named Booby's Bay, this place is all about the sea.

The house is a vast affair: swathed in glass and with huge timbered gables, it's cleverly angled so every room can watch the water. Inside, all is unfussy, elemental and on a giant scale: sweeps of golden floorboards, huge driftwood lampstands, oversized storm lanterns. Sunny colours, fishy motifs and raw materials – linens, leathers, wools – soften the mood. Downstairs is one big playroom. Kick off your shoes, slide through the main hall with its glass-topped teak dining table and slump into the huge sofas in the sitting room. Kids have the cinema room at the other end, with its 20-seater sofa and Fatboy beanbags. Upstairs, raftered bedrooms are furnished with deckchair colours, bleached wood and funky tree-trunk stools; the polished-pebble bathrooms have egg-shaped baths.

Once you've sampled the beaches, rock-pooled at Trevone, golfed and hiked, browsed the in-house library (Rabelais to Grisham), you might not be bothered to work the shiny Gaggenau kitchen, so chefs can be summoned. Or eat in nearby Padstow and Rock (best book ahead). This place takes the beach house to a whole new level.

Sleeps: 10 Price: Three-night weekend from £4,300 Book your stay

Lake District Love Shack Ambleside Cumbria

Lake District Love Shack, Ambleside, Cumbria

The approach from the road is deceptive: park up by a tractor and take a set of wooden stairs behind another house. It doesn't seem remotely remote. But then, when you reach the top of the steps, you see the standalone wood-and glass-cabin on three levels zig-zagging up the hill to a sensational lookout over Lake Windermere.

The shack is not a shack at all, it's an architectural beauty straight out of the Design Museum, brimming with an eclectic mix of furniture, from the Heron chair and stool by Ernest Race, backed with a smart dogtooth blanket, to the 1950s Vanson dining chairs. Urbanites will love its gadgets: the Vita iPhone dock, Sky TV, the hubcap shower. And there's a fox mounted on an oak wall. Not any fox, but a romantic, vintage fox (bagged on 14 February 1914) from Churchill's Chartwell estate.

Basil oversees kitchen proceedings – it's terrifically well-equipped, with its Parmesan grater, an unexpected Bialetti-style coffee pot and wooden-handled, brushed-chrome kettle as well as a bottle of Laphroaig in the hospitality bar hiding in the desk.

The simple, upstairs bedroom has a white double bed and a small crystal vase of daffodils, in tribute to Wordsworth; in the morning, remote-controlled blinds open smoothly to the vision of trees, twitching and swaying gently in the breeze, views of the sun rising over eco-grassy rooftop of the sitting room below.

When tourist honeypot Windermere calls, take the five-minute crossing to Bowness-on-Windermere to explore the east side of the lake.

Sleeps: Two Price: Three-night weekend from £400 Book your stay

Contributors: Suzy Bennett, Matt Buck, Peter Browne, Tania Cagnoni, Harriet Chubb, Jessica Diamond, Jake Eastham, Caroline Ednie, Olivia Falcon, Daisy Finer, Laura Fowler, Lisa Grainger, Iain Hutton-Jamieson, Debbie Jeffrey, Tabitha Joyce, Juliet Kinsman, Fiona Lintott, Hazel Lubbock, Grainne McBride, Caroline Metcalfe, Gabriele O'Rorke, Helen Pickles, Issy von Simson, Melinda Stevens, Francesca Syz, Martin Wainwright, Alice Walker, Pete Winterbottom

This feature first appeared in the August 2013 issue of Condé Nast Traveller and was updated in September 2014 and April 2019.

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27 Best holiday cottages for a UK minibreak 2023

The best holiday cottages for a stunning UK minibreak

travel republic uk cottages

By Daphne Bugler

Whether you’re looking for a family break, a couple’s retreat or a relaxing weekend away with friends, here’s our pick of the best holiday cottages and accommodation for a British staycation this year

The pandemic taught us many things, one of them being that you can have a hell of a good break without even leaving the country. And with so many amazing holiday homes available to stay in across England, Scotland and Wales, it's well worth trying to get away for a weekend without the hassle of airport queues, baggage losses, and paying for numerous taxis. From luxury cottages to converted barns, renovated wagons and even shepherd's huts with hot tubs, it's time to take advantage of everything you can do within UK shores.

Luckily for you, we’ve scoured the country for the best holiday cottages available for short-term rental, whether you want to be by the beach, in the heart of the countryside or tucked away in an idyllic village. From family breaks to couple’s retreats and relaxing weekends away with friends, these are the best holiday cottages you can rent in the UK right now, for every budget and every group size, as well as a bit of information to get you started.

Where is the best place to book holiday cottages in the UK?

As staycations and UK-based holidays have become increasingly popular over the past few years thanks to the pandemic and environmental concerns about flying, so too have more sites become available by which to book them. For luxury holiday cottages we'd suggest browsing Plum Guide or Unique Home Stays , two of our favourite spots for finding more unique destinations, plenty of which feature hot tubs, fire pits or even sea views. We'd also say one of the most reliable and wide-ranging selections of holiday cottages is available on Airbnb , which is well worth a browse. To make matters even easier for you, we've selected our favourites from each site below.

What are the best holiday cottages in the UK?

Dartmouth Devon   Sleeps Thirteen  Bedrooms Six  Bathrooms Three  Price From 450 per night  Looking out onto the River...

Best holiday cottages in Devon: Dartmouth

Dartmouth, Devon

  • Sleeps: Thirteen
  • Bedrooms: Six
  • Bathrooms: Three
  • Price: From £450 per night

Looking out onto the River Dart and sitauted only a few minutes walk away from the quaint town of Dartmouth, this cottage is exactly the place for those who want to escape to the country, but still don't want to be too far away from local pubs and shops. Uniquely combining a sea view and a river view as it sits not far from the mouth of the estuary, prepare to be spending plenty of time outside enjoying the location. In the main house you'll find room for 13 people, meaning you can bring along the whole group or family, but there's also a boathouse available on request that sleeps an additional five guests. Think unmatched scenery and dreamy relaxation. From £450 per night. At airbnb.co.uk

WestgateOnSea Kent   Sleeps Sixteen plus  Bedrooms Nine  Bathrooms Nine  Price From 1500 per night  If the phrase “go...

Best holiday cottages in Kent: Westgate on Sea

Westgate-On-Sea, Kent

  • Sleeps: Sixteen plus
  • Bedrooms: Nine
  • Bathrooms: Nine
  • Price: From £1,500 per night

If the phrase “go big or go home” applies to how you go about organising your holidays, this cottage fits the bill perfectly. Sleeping sixteen people, all in peak luxury (we're talking ensuite bathroom, ocean views, stand-alone showers), it's the ideal destination if you're planning a large family or group trip, or if you just fancy having an absolutely massive space to yourself to indulge in for a period of time. And talking about indulging, this is exactly the kind of cottage for just that. From the media room to the formal dining area, fully equipped kitchen (including espresso machine), charcoal barbecue and fireplace, it's got everything and more for that idyllic Kent holiday. Time to start inviting all your friends. From £1,500 per night. At airbnb.co.uk

Cleveleys Lancashire   Sleeps Ten  Bedrooms Three  Bathrooms Two  Price From 104 per night  This cottage was seemingly...

Best beachfront holiday cottages: Cleveleys

Cleveleys, Lancashire

  • Sleeps: Ten
  • Bedrooms: Three
  • Bathrooms: Two
  • Price: From £104 per night

This cottage was seemingly made for anyone whose idea of a perfect weekend away is a combination of coastal luxury and the Love Island villa. Situated in a beachfront location in Lancashire, it's the bells and whistles that make this property really shine, from the eight person sauna to the spa garden that incorporates a cold water bath and outdoor shower. Inside, you'll find a private cinema room, an ideal spot for when the weather gets a bit unpleasant, and you can also take advantage of the bar area with a drinks chiller and fridge. Blackpool is only a short 20-minute drive away, should you fancy venturing out of the cottage, but chances are you won't want to leave once you get there. From £104 per night. At airbnb.co.uk

Blockley Gloucestershire   Sleeps Four  Bedrooms One  Bathrooms One  Price From 150 per night  On the lookout for a cosy...

Best holiday cottages in the Cotswolds: Blockley

Blockley, Gloucestershire

  • Sleeps: Four
  • Bedrooms: One
  • Bathrooms: One
  • Price: From £150 per night

On the lookout for a cosy cottage in the Cotswolds? Consider your prayers well and truly answered. While this home has enough space to sleep four people, with a master bedroom and pull-out day bed, we'd say it's best suited to a couple, with the stone fireplace and courtyard garden setting some pretty romantic vibes. Between the kitchenette, comfortable living room and the charming interior design, you'll be more than set for a revitalising break from city life. From £150 per night. At luxurycotswoldrettreats.com

Bumble Barn Canterbury Kent   Sleeps Six people  Bedrooms Three  Bathrooms Two  Price From 300 per night  Unique holiday...

Best unique holiday cottages: Canterbury

Bumble Barn, Canterbury, Kent

  • Sleeps: Six people
  • Price: From £300 per night

Unique holiday cottages make for a fun vacation, with the excitement of staying somewhere quite far detached and removed from your own home only enhancing the feeling of being away and actually shutting off. Enter Bumble Barn. Set on a 45-acre farm (meaning there are plenty of gardens and fields to explore), it's one of a set of eco-friendly holiday lodges, with views of the nearby surroundings from the sitting room and patio. Inside, you'll find three bedrooms (one queen bedroom and two twin rooms), meaning this space works for the whole family, or for a group of friends. Whatever your thinking, you can trust you'll return feeling relaxed and suitably refreshed. From £300 per night. At airbnb.co.uk

Best Holiday Cottages Devon Saunton Sands

Best holiday cottages in Devon: Saunton Sands

Sandy Views, Braunton, Devon

  • Price: From £662 per night

It may technically be an apartment rather than a cottage, but combine the sea views with incredible proximity to Saunton Sands beach and it's hard to find yourself a better location for a Devon summer holiday. Ideally situated for making the most of beach walks, surfing or just relaxing on the balcony and enjoying the views, this apartment has three bedrooms and four beds, access to the building's landscaped garden and two bathrooms that you can make use of. If a coastal holiday is what you're after, this is where to spend it. From £662 per night. At plumguide.com

Best holiday cottages UK Diss Suffolk

Best large holiday cottages UK: Diss, Suffolk 

Copper Top Warren, Diss, Suffolk

  • Sleeps: Up to twelve people
  • Bathrooms: Seven
  • Price: From £1,059 per night

The product of three years of restoration, Coppertop Warren is the ideal location for a large group holiday, especially if you live in London and aren't looking to travel too far. Formerly a barn, the property is an exposed brick, open-plan design which makes it ideal for socialising, especially around the large dining table. We also love how much space here has been dedicated to relaxing, with a selection of board games and books conveniently at your disposal. If you've got a family gathering coming up, or just need some time away with a group of friends, you'll find yourself feeling perfectly at home here. From £1,059. At plumguide.com

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Best UK Holiday Cottages Kent

Best UK holiday cottages in Kent: Whitstable

Boat House, Whitstable, Kent

  • Price: From £220 per night

If you're chasing that classic English seaside holiday, we can only assume Kent has made your shortlist of potential destinations. Coastal, sunny (hopefully) and with plenty of villages and towns to explore, it makes for a great trip whether you're going with family or friends. And for a small group? This Whitstable boat house is a great place to stay.

A period cottage, it immediately channels a coastal feel with the whitewashed floorboards and white walls, contrasted with the original fireplaces for a look which has plenty of character and feels like a real escape. Whether you want to relax with a walk around the harbour, or unwind in the bath, your holiday is well set from here. £220. At airbnb.co.uk

Best holiday cottages in the Lake District

Best holiday cottages in the Lake District: Penrith

Starling Murmurations, Penrith, Cumbria

  • Sleeps: Eight people
  • Bedrooms: Four
  • Price: From £795 per night

The ideal base for exploring the Lake District from, this holiday cottage is situated just thirty minutes from Kendal, with many of the Lake District's delights situated not too far away either. The decor and style is very traditional, giving off cosy vibes that are perfect for relaxing in after a long day outdoors, with a large dining table for meals together and plenty of wooden design features that give off that outdoorsy, rustic feel. If you need a proper escape from city life, this home will leave you feeling refreshed and renewed (especially after some time spent in its magnificent bath). From £795 per night. At plumguide.com

Best holiday cottages in Scotland Fife

Best holiday cottages in Scotland with hot tubs: Fife

Kinnettles Mansion, Fife

  • Sleeps: Sixteen people
  • Bedrooms: Eight
  • Bathrooms: Ten
  • Price: From £1,440 per night

Heading up to a Scottish mansion for a group holiday? The concept may give us slight The Hunting Party vibes, but for a traditional mansion-style home to stay in, this spot in Fife is ideal. With eight bedrooms and nine beds, the Kinnettles Mansion can sleep up to sixteen people on a property situated only five minutes from St Andrews (golfers, this is one for you). You'll be able to lounge around the house, making use of the elegant dining space and garden area, while also relaxing in the private hot tub, a dreamy addition that makes this easily one of our favourite go-to spots. Drop this suggestion in the group chat and we can assure you that your friends will be instantly impressed. From £1,440 per night. At airbnb.co.uk

Best small UK holiday cottages Cornwall

Best small UK holiday cottages in Cornwall: Little Trenant Barn

Little Trenant Barn, Helford River, Cornwall

  • Sleeps: Four people
  • Bedrooms: Two
  • Price: From £110 per night

For a small group or a family, this renovated barn makes for an ideal homestay. With two bedrooms, one with a double bed and one with two single beds, the barn is a cosy but small home situated next to the Polwheveral creek, an idyllic location which you can row down at high tide, which conveniently also benefits from some of the lowest amounts of light pollution in the country. All of the necessary amenities are in place, and while you may not be super close to a town or city, it's exactly the spot for just getting lost in nature for a few days. Book your trip and switch those devices off. From £110 per night. At airbnb.co.uk

Best UK Holiday Cottages Cornwall

Best UK holiday cottages with hot tubs: Cornwall

Orlagh, Whitsland Bay, Cornwall

  • Sleeps: Two people
  • Price: From £1,550 per short break

Let's face it, a hot tub is an instant selling point, wherever you may be. But a private hot tub situated n a holiday cottage this luxurious? That's an offer we could never say no to.

Designed to sleep two people, this cottage makes for an excellent couples' retreat, giving you the chance to sit back and enjoy the sea views (the cottage is situated right next to the coast), while also basking in the natural light and enjoying a brief escape from reality in the hideaway style setting. If you're imagining a week away with your partner, a book and some relaxing coastal walks, Orlagh is your place. From £1,550. At uniquehomestays.com

Best holiday cottages for couples in Cornwall Sundance Newquay

Best holiday cottages for couples in Cornwall: Sundance, Newquay

Sundance, Newquay

  • Price: From £725 per short break

This cottage completely speaks for itself; look at these images and try not to immediately book yourself on a couples' retreat to Newquay. Tucked away in a ‘hideaway’ style location, the cottage is an extension of a wagon, renovated to have all of the luxury features you'll need, from a barbecue and a glass-enclosed veranda for reading, to the outdoor sun loungers and self-catering set-up, it may be small, but it's certainly well-stocked.

While the cottage itself is an undeniable attraction, it's also the garden that's drawn us in here. Filled with wildflowers and accessed by the cottage's French doors, you'll be living your best cornish life in no time. From £725 for a short break. Book now at uniquehomestays.com

Best holiday cottages with a seaview The Woman In White Devon

Best holiday cottages with a seaview: The Woman In White, Devon

The Woman In White, Devon

  • Bathrooms: Four
  • Price: £654 per night

A recently modernised Victorian home with views of the River Dart, this property absolutely speaks for itself. The house is an open-plan concept, with a glass front that really takes advantage of the location, and a fire for cosy evenings in. With four bedrooms, one of which has two single beds, and another with bunk beds, it is a good option for a larger family or group of friends who want to get away together for some peace and quiet.

The interior is spacious with a contemporary feel. Whether you want to have a barbecue on the terrace outside or just spend time in the extensive kitchen, you’ll feel refreshed and revitalised when you return from this property. Book now at plumguide.com

Best UK Holiday Cottages Cotswolds

Best UK holiday cottages in The Cotswolds: Oxfordshire

Little Scarlet, Burford, Oxfordshire, The Cotswolds

  • Price: From £1,650 per week

If you're looking for picturesque, romantic vibes, Little Scarlet is the holiday cottage that perfectly taps into that exact Cotswolds feel. Suitable for two people, ideal for anniversary celebrations, honeymoons or any other couples' breaks, it's designed to facilitate everything you need and more. With matching two crimson red baths, a rose-covered courtyard and its cosy master bedroom that boldly features a super-king bed in the cottage's eaves, this one is a little bit special. From £1,650 per week. At uniquehomestays.com

Best holiday cottages with hot tubs and fire pits Cornwall

Best holiday cottages with a hot tubs and fire pits: Cornwall 

Ukiyo, Coverack, Cornwall

  • Sleeps: Up to four people
  • Price: From £1,995 for a short break

Channelling summer house vibes, this Cornish holiday home is situated nearby the fishing village of Coverack in Southern Cornwall, a less tourist-filled nook which is ideal for a quieter holiday. Its views are what make it such an outstanding cottage, with everywhere from the sofa to the hot tub to the garden offering some of the widest sea views we've found for a full panorama of the coast ahead of you.

The cottage itself features two bedrooms, both of which have en-suite bathrooms, but it's the hot tub and fire pit which elevate this even further. It's got luxury down to a tee, especially when you take into account the prosecco-filled welcome hamper you'll be treated to on arrival. From £1,995 for a short break. At uniquehomestays.com

Best holiday cottages in Devon Jasmine Cottage Paignton Devon

Best holiday cottages in Devon: Jasmine Cottage, Paignton, Devon

Jasmine Cottage, Paignton, Devon

  • Sleeps: Three
  • Price: £426 per night

Head down to Devon and enjoy some time by the coast at Jasmine Cottage, a beautifully decorated house near the South West Coastal Path. With whitewashed stone walls and soft cream furnishings, this is an idyllic seaside retreat full of character and potential. On arrival, you’ll find a sizeable kitchen, living room space and two bedrooms, all set across one floor.

Jasmine Cottage is placed in the charming village of Marldon, but is within easy distance to Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. Take a day trip to explore their quirky pubs and restaurants, or take advantage of being in Devon and head to the beach – both Torre Abbey Sands and Goodrington Sands are close by.

This is a great retreat for couples or small families and even allows for pets if you’re hoping to take your dog away with you this summer. Make sure to book in quickly, as availability over the summer months won’t last long. Book now at airbnb.co.uk

Best Shepherd Hut Holidays Fat Pheasant Shepherd Huts Oxfordshire

Best Shepherd Hut Holidays: Fat Pheasant Shepherd Huts, Oxfordshire

Fat Pheasant Shepherd Huts, Oxfordshire

  • Sleeps: Two (additional space available in bell tents)
  • Price: from £150 per night (three-night minimum), plus £90 per bell tent

Have you ever wanted to live the Clarkson's Farm experience, just without any of the stress, the endless queues for the farm shop or having to interact with Farmer Jeremy? Well, thanks to the Fat Pheasant, you can. Set in 500 acres of prime Oxfordshire countryside, these stunning little huts offer complete seclusion, romantic restfulness and tasteful luxury without any of those annoying… other people. When you arrive, you will be provided with a locally sourced hamper for dinner and breakfast, wood for the burners, some homemade sloe gin and a few beers, and then you are on your own! There is a barbecue to cook on, a hot tub to soak in, a fire pit to relax by and then you get to spend the night in a beautifully converted hut (complete with king-size bed, small sink and fridge, and a compact bathroom). The perfect couples getaway or a family retreat (the kids will love the next-door bell tent), this is country living at its very best. The only thing missing is Kaleb. Book now at fatpheasanthuts.com

Best holiday cottages in Wales Bach Cottage Brecon Beacons

Best holiday cottages in Wales: Bach Cottage, Brecon Beacons

Bach Cottage, Brecon Beacons

  • Sleeps: Two
  • Price: £105 per night

Converted from the stables of a manor house, this cottage is situated in the Brecon Beacons and makes for the perfect countryside escape. In an open-plan style, the cottage has a classic farmhouse vibe with wooden flooring and exposed beams, as well as relaxing views, a shared terrace and picnic area for eating outdoors. The wood-burning stove is an added perk, along with all of the amenities you need ranging from a kitchen to free parking and a TV.

With only one bedroom, this is a great choice for any couples looking to getaway together, or for anyone hoping for a solo vacation. Book now at airbnb.com

Best holiday cottages in Norfolk Cloudbusting House Norfolk

Best holiday cottages in Norfolk: Cloudbusting House, Norfolk

Cloudbusting House, Norfolk

  • Sleeps: Eight
  • Bedrooms: Five
  • Price: £372 per night

Located in the Norfolk countryside, this house is the ideal spot for a countryside break, especially given that it has access to a private woodland. Should you fancy venturing out however, the North Norfolk Coast is also only a half-hour drive away.

Well equipped to help you relax and unwind, the house is spacious, with five bedrooms and four bathrooms, and plenty of space to explore on the grounds. Keep in mind however, that it is situated on a working livestock farm, so there will be animals and occasional farm vehicles present, and a car will be needed for getting around. Book now at plumguide.com

Best Holiday Cottages in Cornwall Golden Haze House Cornwall

Best holiday cottages in Cornwall: Golden Haze House, Cornwall

Golden Haze House, Cornwall

  • Sleeps: Twelve
  • Price: £785 per night

Just take one look at this property and try and tell us it isn’t idyllic. Honestly, we’re surprised you haven’t booked it already. Set in the heart of Cornwall, this is the perfect getaway with everything you need to enjoy your time outdoors and indoors including a balcony, hot tub, sauna and barbecue. Situated on a quarter of an acre of land at an elevated height, you can unwind in the evenings and take in the stunning views of the local area.

With six bedrooms, this is a great choice for larger groups (depending on Covid restrictions). In terms of the location, do keep in mind that you won’t be in walking distance of the beach and will need a car to access the property, but are only three miles from Padstow which has plenty of dining opportunities. Divine! Book now at plumguide.com

Best holiday cottages for couples The Pretty Little Cottage Saint Austell

Best holiday cottages for couples: The Pretty Little Cottage, Saint Austell

The Pretty Little Cottage, Saint Austell

  • Price: £245

If you had to imagine a small, countryside stone cottage in Cornwall, you’re probably going to be thinking about somewhere exactly like this. Located within the Pinetum Gardens, this property has access to plenty of greenery and views of nature, perfect for taking walks and relaxing outdoors in. And with the coast less than a mile away, we'd say it's the perfect blend between a beach and countryside vacation.

The house is a one-bedroom property, with a king bed and master bathroom, suitable for a couple of solo traveller. And for any pet owners out there, you’ll be pleased to know that they’re more than welcome to tag along. Book now at plumguide.com

Best holiday cottages in Scotland Historical Country House Retreat Dunfermline

Best holiday cottages in Scotland: Historical Country House Retreat, Dunfermline

Historical Country House Retreat, Dunfermline

  • Sleep: Sixteen
  • Bedrooms: Ten
  • Price: £1,000

When, and if, larger gatherings and holidays are once again allowed (fingers crossed), this is the ideal location for any bigger groups, whether you’re looking to go away with your extended family, or with friends. With ten bedrooms, nine bathrooms and 15 beds, the villa hosts 16 guests in a refurbished residence with plenty of space. Containing bright colours, rich furnishings and original period features, this is a luxury property that will definitely make you feel like you’re on holiday.

The house is spacious, with large bedrooms, living spaces and an expansive full kitchen that even includes an espresso machine (talk about luxury). Located in Dunfermline within 30 acres of woodland, you’ll be about 30 minutes from Edinburgh City centre and about 26 minutes by car from Edinburgh Airport. What are you waiting for? Make that booking. Book now at airbnb.com

Best holiday cottages in Cornwall Little Peregrine Downend Cornwall

Best holiday cottages for two people: Little Peregrine, Downend, Cornwall

Little Peregrine, Downend, Cornwall

  • Sleeps: Five
  • Price: £250 per night

This intimate two-bedroom cottage on a private estate in the Cornish countryside makes for a great base from which to both explore local villages or to stay home and relax on the terrace. With two double beds, this is a great spot for two couples or a small family to stay with a full kitchen at your disposal to make sure you take advantage of finally having some time to cook.

The living area comes equipped with an original sandstone fireplace for you to relax next to in the evenings after a long day walking in the countryside. Take a dip in the shared pool and make sure to look out for the doves and peacocks that frequent the area. Pets are also allowed for an extra charge and there are plenty of walks in the nearby area to take them on.

With antique furniture and colourful artwork displayed at every turn, you’ll feel like you’re on holiday within minutes of arriving and are bound to return to life afterwards refreshed, renewed and ready to return again. Book now at airbnb.co.uk

Best holiday cottages in Dundee North Balkello Cottage Dundee

Best holiday cottages in Dundee: North Balkello Cottage, Dundee

North Balkello Cottage, Dundee

  • Price: £308 per night

If you’re looking to venture a bit further afield this summer, this stunning cottage on the east coast of Scotland is the perfect place to escape from busy everyday life. Now is the time to start planning your road trip to this four-bedroom house and truly experience some peace and quiet in the countryside.

Complete with a well-fitted kitchen and dining area, as well as four televisions to keep you entertained, the house has everything you need to relax and get off the grid for a few days. Perfect for families or couples who love to get outside and enjoy the scenic walks nearby, this truly is the holiday cottage with it all. Two decks are also available with outdoor furniture in the garden, and after a long day in the countryside you can unwind in the six-person outdoor jacuzzi. Dundee is not far if you need to venture back into the real world for a few hours, full of freshly reopened museums, shops and restaurants. Book now at homeaway.co.uk

Best holiday cottages in the Peak District Peak District Cottage Derbyshire

Best holiday cottages in the Peak District: Peak District Cottage, Derbyshire

Peak District Cottage, Derbyshire

  • Price: £171 per night

Explore the Peak District this year from this picturesque countryside cottage, situated on what used to be an old working farm. With an open-plan downstairs area, the home has a kitchen, dining room and living space, with two upstairs bedrooms for families to make the most of. Thanks to its rural setting you can spend days hiking, cycling or swimming in the shared outdoor swimming pool, and then enjoy dinner and a glass of wine with the barbecue and outdoor eating area.

Worry not if you don’t feel like cooking every night of your holiday, as a local pub just across the street offers home-cooked meals and traditional ales that are well worth a try. The house is full of natural light and open spaces with access to a beautiful meadow to catch the sunset each evening. Book now at airbnb.co.uk

Best holiday cottages with a pool Court Barton Cottage No7 South Huish Devon

Best holiday cottages with a pool: Court Barton Cottage No7, South Huish, Devon

  • Sleeps : Four-six people
  • Price: £754 per week

Situated in a small hamlet in a tucked-away corner of Devon, this cottage is part of a group of converted barns that make up Court Barton in the South Hams. Offering stylish, luxurious accommodation across a two-level cottage, No7 benefits from beautiful and expansive sea views.

Make the most of a shared enclosed garden space and patio terrace as you relax by the newly refurbished outdoor and indoor pools, or take advantage of the all-weather tennis court and games room during your stay, keeping you and your family busy for days on end. Children will love it here as they can play in the extensive grounds, but can also enjoy time at Thurlestone Sands, a sandy beach less than a mile from the cottage.

Indoors, you’ll find a stunning kitchen and dining area for preparing your own meals, which backs onto the open-plan living room and lounge area, equipped with beanbags and sofas. With three bedrooms this property can house four people, but up to six if two guests are children. Book now at toadhallcottages.co.uk

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Deepdean the Cockerel in the Forest of Dean.

30 UK holiday cottages to book now for summer 2021

With many of us planning to holiday at home again this year, rural cottages and cabins are already hot properties. We pick the best with summer availability

Deepdean the Cockerel, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire

Visitors staying in this converted 17th-century barn may spot some unusual other guests in the grounds, including zebras, meerkats and alpacas. The owner runs a private animal sanctuary, and the income from the holiday lets (there are also two one-bedroom cottages) is invested in the animals. Another highlight is the shared outdoor pool, heated in July and August. The barn has whitewashed walls, kitchen-diner and mezzanine lounge, and two en suite doubles. It is set in nearly 25 hectares of gardens and woodland three miles from Ross-on-Wye. Sleeps 4, from £1,031 a week in summer holidays, holidaycottages.co.uk

Booking a cottage: Covid cancellation policies and insurance

travel republic uk cottages

Booking a self-catering holiday during Covid: what you need to know

The majority of UK self-catering providers have flexible booking policies that will offer a refund, a voucher or a change of date if the holiday cannot go ahead because of government restrictions.

Platforms and directories such as Airbnb,  Host Unusual  or  Sawdays  do not have their own policies; customers must check with individual properties. Some sites make it easy to find places with flexible terms.  Premier  has a “Covid guarantee” collection of 500 properties. Airbnb has a filter allowing users to search for properties offering “flexible or moderate cancellation terms”.

Companies such as  Canopy & Stars ,  holidaycottages.co.uk ,  Quality Cottages  and  Crabtree & Crabtree , as well as the  National Trust , have their own policies, which customers should read carefully.

Some only apply to holidays taken before a specific date, after which normal terms and conditions apply.

While flexible policies cover cancellations due to restrictions or other legal requirements, most do not cover cancellations by guests who have contracted Covid or have to self-isolate. These are now “known risks”, and it’s advisable to take out insurance against them.

Holidaycottages.co.uk offers insurance, and Quality Cottages is about to follow suit. Comparison website  Medical Travel Compared  offers quotes with enhanced Covid cover, including cancellation. It lists 22 companies offering such cover, usually within 14 days of the trip and following a positive test.

Self-catering prices are expected to rise once lockdown lifts. “By early April, owners will be charging premium prices,” said Alistair Handyside of the Professional Association of Self-Caterers. “There will be the same insane price inflation we saw on 4 July last year.”

• If the website doesn’t have its own policy, check with the individual property.

• Read the terms and conditions to establish exactly what scenarios are covered, and any cut-off dates.

• Take out insurance to cover for cancellation due to contracting Covid or having to self-isolate.

The Barn in Lanhydrock, Cornwall

The Barn in Lanhydrock interior

Formerly part of the Lanyhdrock Estate, this single-storey barn is now a holiday home with National Trust parkland and gardens on its doorstep. The living/dining/kitchen area has beams, exposed stone, a woodburner and a range cooker; and two of the three bedrooms are en suite. The barn is just south of Bodmin in central Cornwall, equidistant from the north and south coasts – it is less than half an hour’s drive north to the beach at Padstow or south to Charlestown Harbour. Closer to home, Cardinham Woods is about five miles away, and has walking and cycling trails. Sleeps 6, from £1,210 a week in summer, luxurycoastal.co.uk

Boathouse Cottage, Kingsbridge estuary, Devon

Boathouse Cottage exterior

The waterside setting is the star of this cottage in Frogmore, in the South Hams. Its lovely three-tier garden runs down to a private shore-side terrace by Frogmore Creek, an inlet of the Kingsbridge estuary. Inside, there is a sitting room with woodburner, a kitchen and dining room with doors on to the garden, three bedrooms (double, twin and bunk) and a bath/shower room. Frogmore village has a pub and bakery, and is three miles from the nearest beach, four from Slapton Ley nature reserve and six miles from the cliff walks around Start Point. Salcombe and Dartmouth are each about a half-hour drive away. Sleeps 6, £1,293 a week in summer holidays, simplyseaviews.co.uk

Oak House, Yetminster, Dorset

Oak House holiday cottage

The perfect retreat for history buffs. This Grade II-listed three-bedroom house is one of the oldest in the limestone village of Yetminster. A panel above the door is inscribed with the date it was built: 1607. Inside it’s spacious and filled with paintings, books and antique furniture, and there’s a good-sized enclosed garden. A 15-minute drive away, Sherborne’s history can be explored at its Abbey and two castles, the 12th-century ruins and a “new” one built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594. Also nearby are the Cerne Abbas chalk giant , and Mapperton House and Gardens . Coastal gems such as West Bay (Broadchurch) and Lyme Regis are under an hour’s drive. Sleeps 6, £1,924 for seven nights in summer, classic.co.uk

NORTH AND NORTH-WEST

Hinterlandes Cabin

Hinterlandes Cabin, Lake District

Hidden away in a woodland glade in the Lorton valley in the western Lakes, this Scandi-sleek black timber cabin with wood-fired tin bath surrounded by ferns, feels fresh for the Lakes. There’s no phone signal, thank heavens, but there are board games, an iPad loaded with music and films, a fire pit and the countless trails and wild swimming spots of one of the finest parts of the Lakes right outside. It’s also only two miles from renowned hikers’ pub the Kirkstile Inn . Food hampers and bike hire can be arranged, and the owners also have a revamped bus to stay in. Sleeps 4 (2 adults, 2 children) , £1,139 a week in school summer holidays, canopyandstars.co.uk

Weathercock Holiday Cottage, Sedbergh, Yorkshire Dales

hot tub outside cottage

Once home to the butler of Ingmire Hall Estate, which is just across the field, this 17th-century cottage now belongs to a nearby farm and is let to walkers who come for the knockout scenery of the Howgill Fells, between the Lakes and the Yorkshire Dales. The 80-mile Dales Way is a five-minute trot from this cosy hideaway, which stands next to a mid-Victorian stone chapel with bellcote. The bathroom may be the most enticing room in the house, with woodburner, roll-top bath, landscape mural and exposed stone walls, though the outdoor hot tub, games room (with dartboard) and secluded garden are also nifty. Sleeps 7, £1,349 a week in summer holidays, weathercockholidaycottage.co.uk

Seldom Seen, Lake District

SeldomSeen dining/living area

Seldom Seen’s location has to be seen to be believed: its leafy garden, where red squirrels play, tumbles down towards Ullswater, and there are paths up Helvellyn, Glenridding Dodd and Great Dodd, with Ambleside and Windermere just over the Kirkstone Pass. This traditional stone terraced miner’s cottage with exposed beams, woodburner and flagstone floors lies at the end of a single track lane, close to the village of Glenridding, a hiking hotspot. A double and a bunk room make it a good option for families, though little ones may struggle with the steep ladder-style stairs. Sleeps 4, from £ 817 in summer holidays, sykescottages.co.uk

Hedgerow Luxury Glamping, Ribble valley, Lancashire

Hedgrow Luxury Glamping pod exterior

Torn between the Lakes and the Dales? The Ribble valley to the south is within driving distance of both and near the also-tempting Forest of Bowland. Lots of joyful little extra touches bring a sense of fun to these three glamping pods: hot tubs with inflatable trays for your bottle of fizz; tub-side bar table and stools; outdoor fairy lights and bunting; and a stargazing window above the bed. The kitchen has a coffee machine, woodburner, slow cooker and hob, and guests can order in breakfast, barbecue and campfire kits. Sleeps 2 (over-18s only), from £680 a week, coolcamping.com

West Cottage, Swaledale, Yorkshire Dales

West Cottage garden with view

It’s the views that make West Cottage a winner: the purple heather and fielded flanks of the Dales, dotted with stone cottages and sheep, can be admired over a local ale from its grassy garden, enclosed by a drystone wall. Inside this Grade-II pad, part of a barn renovation, are smart simple rooms with white linens and the occasional vibrant textile, plus an inglenook fireplace with woodburner. Swaledale is the loveliest of dales, fantastic for walking, running and river dips, and handy for visits to Crackpot Cave , the sweet village of Gunnerside and the pubs and tearooms of Reeth. Sleeps 5, from £ 845 a week in summer holidays, yorkshire-cottages.info

North Farm, Teesside, County Durham

North Farm bedroom

The Teesside retreat of star interior designer Rita Konig – known for her refined-but-maximalist use of colour and pattern offset by perfectly chosen antiques and art – is newly available as a holiday rental. While you might expect to find a top designer’s pad in Somerset or the Cotswolds, she opted for this lesser-known but wonderful area, whose draws include High Force waterfall, hikes into the show-stopping North Pennines, newly revamped Auckland Castle and the now infamous Barnard Castle (and who doesn’t want to get a selfie there?). Most will come, though, for Konig’s genius: patterned wallpapers and incredible textiles, artful arrangements of vintage furniture, antique glassware and kilims… It’s a treasure trove for design lovers. Sleeps 14, from £4,200-£5,600 a week in July and August, northfarmdurham.com

Windley, Bamburgh, Northumberland

Windley  SITTING ROOM

Bamburgh Castle Estate has added several new holiday properties, including Windley, a 1950s house brought to life with retro-tinged decor – geometric prints and fabrics, angular lamps and rooms painted rich hues of teal, rust and dark green. Two doors up, the RNLI Grace Darling Museum tells the story of a brave local woman who rowed out to rescue sailors from a wrecked steamer. Visits to Lindisfarne and walking the endless white sands of local beaches can be supplemented with kitesurfing and surfing at Beadnell Bay and mountain biking in Northumberland national park. Sleeps 4, £1,485 a week in summer holidays, crabtreeandcrabtree.com

Doxford Cottages, Alnwick, Northumberland

doxford cottages exterior

All the highlights of Northumberland are on the doorstep of Doxford Cottages, from the inventive Alnwick Gardens to the beaches and seaside towns of Craster, Embleton and Seahouses. Nine comfortable cottages of different sizes sit on a 1,000-hectare private estate, and while their interiors won’t make Elle Decor, they are cosy and comfortable, with flagged sun terraces and lawns leading to a wooded glade on the fringe of the estate’s lake. The most recent addition is the Doxford Dairy, with its own grounds. Cottages sleep two to eight. Doxford Dairy Sleeps 6, £2,070 a week in summer holidays; premiercottages.co.uk

EAST AND SOUTH-EAST

The space at milestone house, norfolk.

Grey and wood living area and kitchen

Inspired by Scandinavian design and modernism, the chic, sleek Milestone House, with tea-coloured plywood walls and a handmade kitchen, feels like somewhere a Swedish Don Draper would go to get his hygge. Mid-century furniture and ceramics, and lots of cocooning wood create a warm and utterly stylish haven. Guests can relax in the adjoining meadows and orchard, go birdwatching on the salt marshes, potter round the cool cafes and independent shops of Wells-next-the-Sea or Burnham Market, and relish the space and skies of the north Norfolk beaches. Sleeps 4, £1,300 a week in summer, norfolkmilestone.co.uk/the-space

Apple Tree Cottage, Suffolk

Apple Tree Cottage exterior

The prettiest daisy-flecked lawn, colourful flower beds, a tiny dining room with low, beamed ceilings, a bushily thatched roof … Apple Tree Cottage is the sort of fairytale home where you might expect to find a family of fully-dressed hedgehogs in residence. Dating from the 16th century, the welcoming single-storey cottage is well-placed for exploring the picturesque medieval wool towns of Lavenham, Clare and Long Melford. There’s a timber summerhouse in the garden, which borders open countryside. Sleeps 4 (best for a family as it’s a little small for 4 adults), from £652 a week in summer holidays, suffolkcottageholidays.com

Black Robin Farm Cottages, Beachy Head, East Sussex

Black Robin Farm back garden sunset

Staking a claim as the only self-catering accommodation at Beachy Head, these newly refurbished cottages sit in a peaceful spot in the South Downs national park land above the UK’s highest chalk cliffs. They make a brilliant base for those wanting to tackle the South Downs Way and the walking trails of the Seven Sisters coast. Two simple cottages (each with one double and one twin bedroom) have a kitchen, office (with extra double pull-out sofabed), board games and William Morris textiles, plus gardens overlooking the South Downs, with views to Eastbourne and Hastings. They are minutes from lovely beaches with shallow waters for swimming and paddling, such as those at Birling Gap, and a secret spot at Cow Gap where you can walk to the lighthouse at low tide. Sleeps 4, £170 a night in summer holidays (two night minimum), visiteastbourne.com

Sunray, Dungeness, Kent

sunray cottage exterior with beach

It takes a certain sort of person to enjoy Dungeness – to spend days wandering across the shingle and saltmarsh, visiting Derek Jarman’s Garden, nibbling lobster rolls from Dungeness Snack Shack, snooping around the architectural curiosities and designer beach houses scattered like driftwood along the shore and Instagramming the power station in eerie moonlight. Those who appreciate such things will enjoy Sunray, a cabin-like single-storey pad built around one of the old railway carriages that were discarded here in the 1920s. Sunray’s airy rooms are wood-panelled and full of mid-century furniture, with doors on to a wooden terrace right by the beach. Sleeps 6, a week costs £1,915 in summer, cottages.com

THE MIDLANDS

The arbour, whitney on wye, herefordshire.

the arbour exterior, evening

The owners bought this former chicken farm in 2018 and have since been restoring the ancient orchards and hedgerows, and rewilding the land. They have also built two holiday cabins, 30 metres apart in the same orchard, each with a kingsize bed, woodburner, simple kitchen and en suite facilities. The cabins have picture windows framing the hillside view, plus a veranda and firepit each. The site is on the 150-mile Herefordshire Trail and a mile from Offa’s Dyke Path; the River Wye is a short walk away for canoeing; and Hay-on-Wye is an easy cycle ride away. Birdwatching can be done right from the sofa: regular visitors include buzzards, red kites and a sparrowhawk. There are two pubs within a mile’s walk although it’s uphill on the way back. Each cabin sleeps 2 (not suitable for children), 2 nights from £255 in May/June and £285 in summer, canopyandstars.co.uk

Garden Cottage, Wootton, Staffordshire

Garden Cottage, Wootton, Staffordshire

Wootton Hall – where philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau lived for a time in 1766 – was demolished in the 1930s, but its former pump house remains. This is now Garden Cottage, a three-bedroom stone holiday home surrounded by trees in the grounds of the estate. There is a sitting room with log fire, a country kitchen and separate dining room, and a garden with terrace and barbecue. Wootton is close to the Peak District and attractions such as Thor’s Cave and the Manifold Way (an eight-mile walking or cycling route); lesser-known places to visit include the Weaver Hills and the remains of Croxden Abbey. The estate’s restored woodland gardens are right on the doorstep and the Duncombe Arms pub, owned by the same people as the cottage, is just up the road. Sleeps 6, 3 nights £600, 7 nights £1,200 from May-8 September, duncombearms.co.uk

The Nut House and Leverets, near Ludlow, Shropshire

The sitting room in the Nut House

These two wooden lodges are in the grounds of the owners’ smallholding, a mile from the foodie market town of Ludlow. Both are recently built but have a cosy cottage feel. Each as an open-plan kitchen/diner/lounge with woodburner, one double and one twin bedroom and veranda. The garden is visited by lots of birds, squirrels and rabbits (hence the names). There are walks right from the hamlet, Ledwyche, or longer treks in the Shropshire Hills to viewpoints such as the Stiperstones, Long Mynd or the Clee Hills. The nearest pub and shop is a 15-minute stroll away. Each lodge sleeps 4, 7 nights from £9 49 in summer holidays, sheepskinlife.com

The Hen House and Hop Pickers’ House, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire

The kitchen in Hop Pickers’ House

Brook Farm, just outside Tenbury Wells, has two lovely cottages for two surrounded by gardens, meadow and woodland. Hop Pickers’ House is a refurbishment of the old travelling hop pickers’ barn accommodation. Downstairs is an open-plan living room/kitchen/diner with woodburner, and upstairs is a bedroom with a four-poster and a bathroom with a rolltop bath. The Hen House, part of the old stables and granary, is all on one level, and has a private garden with steps leading up to a sunset view. Tenbury Wells, known as “the town in the orchard”, is a good place to sample the local cider; and the Teme valley has lots of walking trails. Each cottage sleeps 2 , Hen House from £180 for 2 nights, Hop Pickers’ from £265, furtherafield.com

Old Oak Barn, near Laugharne, Carmarthenshire

Old Oak Barn exgterior

This family-friendly barn conversion is on a 30-hectare farm near Laugharne. There are lots of children’s books, games and toys, plus swings in the garden; and kids can collect eggs from the farm’s free-range chickens and play in the adjacent private wood, home to 50 species of bird. The barn has a large living room, kitchen, one double bedroom and a twin (a cot or camp bed can also be provided). There are french doors on to the patio and garden, which has a barbecue and chiminea. If children tire of the woods, the Gwili steam railway is nearby, and it is half an hour’s drive to the beach – guests can borrow buckets and spades, fishing nets and boogie boards. Sleeps 5, £850 a week in summer holidays, oneoffplaces.co.uk

Mountain Cottage, Llithfaen, Llŷn peninsula

cottage on hillside with sea beyond

Reached down a farm track nearly 300 metres up a mountain, this remote cottage was rebuilt from a ruin and retains its uneven stone walls and original shutters. It now has a double-storey, open-plan living area with beams and a huge inglenook fireplace, a kitchen with a Rayburn, and two bedrooms (one with an extra single bed) with great views of Snowdonia and Cardigan Bay. There is also a big garden with a swimming pond. Being on the Llŷn peninsula, it’s handy for a choice of coastal and hill walks, and Snowdonia is a 20-minute drive away. There is a pub in Llithfaen, and Pwllheli is the nearest town. Sleeps 5, £1,300 a week in summer holidays, sawdays.co.uk

Cargo Cabin at Trelan Farm, Cilcain, Flintshire

Trelan Farm cabin

A shipping container has been converted into this cosy cabin for two on a north Wales farm. The corner sofa turns into a double bed, and there is a compact kitchen and dual-aspect windows for country views. Outside is a terrace with seating and a barbecue and, best of all, an outdoor bath. The farm is in the foothills of the Clwydian rangea rea of outstanding natural beauty, and a half-hour drive from the north Wales coast and Chester. A second, larger cabin will be ready by March, built on a reclaimed wagon chassis – and also featuring an alfresco bath. Sleeps 2 (2-night minimum), from £122 a night in May/June and £135 in summer holidays, trelanfarm.co.uk

Tŷ Jac, Porthgain, Pembrokeshire

Porthgain harbour with arrow pointing to Ty Jac

Moments from the tiny harbour of Porthgain, this former fisherman’s cottage is an ideal spot for active families. The coastal path runs through Porthgain, and it’s a four-mile walk to popular coasteering spot Aberreidy and its blue lagoon, a former slate quarry. For a break from self-catering, the Shed bistro , with an à la carte menu and takeaway fish and chips and seafood, and the 270-year-old Sloop Inn (high-end pub grub) are minutes from the house. The 404 Strumble Shuttle coastal bus service connects Porthgain with St Davids and Fishguard. Sleeps 6, £1,915 a week in summer holidays, underthethatch.co.uk

Woodland Cottages, Cairngorms

BACK GARDEN WITH TREES AND SWING

After a day romping over the heathers and up the crags of the Cairngorms, a cosy nook to hunker down in with a book and a dram is imperative. Two new Woodland Cottages on the Dell of Abernathy forested estate in the Cairngorms national park fit the bill and are typical of a new generation of smart Highlands stays, pairing contemporary design and luxuries with wilderness. Fireplaces with woodburners and piles of logs, plenty of candles, records and games, and stylish interiors bring the atmosphere; the on-site grocery store has ready meals and meal kits, plus bikes to hire. Children can roam the large grounds (where there are several other holiday properties) and discover the woodland zipline or look out for pine martens and red deer– the BBC’s Springwatch filmed here recently. Sleeps 6, £1,540 a week in summer holidays, plus website membership (£10 a year or £1.99 a month), kiphideaways.com

The Bothy, Glen Dye, Aberdeenshire

OUTDOOR bath Glen Dye

All the best holiday homes these days have an outdoor bath, and The Bothy, one of the latest additions to the cool Glen Dye estate’s collection of six cabins and cottages, is no shirker. The Swedish wood-fired hot tub isn’t the only natty touch at this dinky two-person beaut: a record player and vinyl, a Big Green Egg barbecue and Margaret Howell lights raise the style game. Shared extras include a wood-fired sauna, a garden produce store and a tiny BYOB “pub” with roaring fire in the old stone sawmill. It sits amid 12,000 hectares of wilderness and moorland beside the River Dye, and for those who want to venture further, there’s walking, running, fishing, swimming and castle-visiting in the surrounding area. Sleeps 2, from £1,045 a week or £785 for 3 nights, glendyecabinsandcottages.com

Newhall Mains, near Inverness

Living area with stove

Mustard walls with copper antiques and hot pink flowers, orange lampshades and vintage floral headboards against F&B blue backgrounds … Colour clashes give the contemporary interiors of the just-launched Newhall Mains cottages and suites a substantial dollop of pizazz. After three years of work, this revamped farm estate has five holiday cottages, with underfloor heating, smart kitchens and woodburners (plus four double bedroom suites in the main house) that can be booked individually or as one property accommodating 28 people. On the Black Isle peninsula, 30 minutes’ drive north of Inverness, Newhall Mains is handy for the NC500 road trip route, dolphin spotting on the Moray Firth, whisky tasting at Glenmorangie and the seafood restaurants of Cromarty. Cottages sleep 2-6 to six, 4-berths from £1,680 a week in summer holidays. Suites for 2 are £130 a night, newhall-mains.com

Eastwood House, Dunkeld, Perthshire

eastwood house by river

This pink Victorian villa sits in glorious surroundings on the banks of the River Tay, and is usually available for parties of 20, though has been pared back to cater for smaller groups for the first part of this year at least. Smaller parties can also book the newly refurbished three-bedroom Gardeners Cottage in the grounds, with mossy green timber panelling, sitting room with woodburner, shelves of books, vintage furniture and views over the river and to Birnam Hill. Nearby Dunkeld is considered a gateway to the Highlands, and has lovely independent businesses and (in normal times) a thriving arts and music scene. Sleeps 6, from £800 a week or £560 for 3 nights in summer holidays, eastwoodhousedunkeld.com

Northern Ireland

The bakers cottages, near seaforde, county down.

Patio with firepit, evening

A former bakery in the Down countryside has been converted into a stylish three-bedroom cottage with luxurious touches such as a rolltop bath. The various outbuildings have also been repurposed: one is now the hot tub house, with a six-seater tub and a sitting area with a woodburner. Sliding doors lead to an outdoor dining area. The grounds also have a wildflower garden, a covered barbecue area, a firepit, play equipment and a restored well. It is a 10-minute drive to the foot of the Mourne mountains and 15 minutes to Murlough and Tyrella beaches, which are both nature reserves. The bright lights of Belfast are half an hour away. Sleeps 6, from £1,000 a week in summer holidays, thebakerscottages.co.uk

Magherintemple Lodge, Ballycastle, County Antrim

Magherintemple- lodge exterior

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Date of experience : 07 January 2024

Good customer service

The enquiry / booking process over the phone was really good with clear and concise information both about the report we wanted to visit and about the process of booking it when speaking to the agent. Really helpful

Date of experience : 03 March 2024

Reply from Travel Republic

Thank you for your booking Mark. Glad to hear you are happy with the service from our team. All the best Maria

Fantastic personal touch

Fantastic personal touch which made all the difference I spoke to a extremely helpful advisor who went through every stage in booking a holiday for a family group and made it simple and easy.

Plenty of options available with prices to suit all

Easy to search and plenty of filter options to narrow multiple results. A shame it was not possible to change flight options on selected flight i.e. wanted to upgrade to higher luggage allowance but not obvious if this was possible. Good prices and discounts on offer. Used company several times with no issues.

Hi Kristi Great to hear you find our site easy to use when searching for a holiday. Thanks for being with us. All the best Maria

Would have given five star however not…

Would have given five star however not able to complete booking online do you system issue. Fay in sales was excellent. Disappointed to be charged admin fee after agreeing final price.

Quick, straight forward and best price around.

Quick straight forward booking and the best price around. Had to call them to change my contact details,(my fault:-) this was done straight away. Only downside was their automated phone system didn’t work that great, none of the selections worked.

The write up for our accomodation was…

The write up for our accomodation was spot on. Making the initial payment was easy also. The app is easy to follow and the added comments section give it an all round better feel to booking up. Would use again. 5 star 🌟

Date of experience : 28 February 2024

My booking was fairly simple and…Me? I'm okay, just a warning to others

My booking was fairly simple and straight forward BUT having browsed through your website, I note, with some dismay, that you are still showing a picture of a swimming pool area for the HOURIA HOTEL which does not belong to them.

Date of experience : 24 February 2024

Before booking online I phoned and…

Before booking online I phoned and spoke to a representative who was very helpful and answered all my queries. Made everything so much easier.

A delightful experience

Our booking experience was delightful due to the chirpy and helpful attitude of Faye who looked after us. She answered all our questions honestly and made it easy for us to decide to go ahead with a booking. It was an absolute pleasure throughout. Thank you.

Thank you so much for your wonderful review Christopher. I will be sure to let the lovely Faye know about your kind words. Rosie

So easy to choose accommodation and…

So easy to choose accommodation and suitable flight times. Holidays are competitively priced, and all with atol protection. Never had a problem booking with this company.

Just booked four nights in New York…

Just booked four nights in New York over Christmas & saved around £1000 booking with Travel republic compared to other travel companies or booking flights & hotel independently. This is the fifth holiday I’ve booked with them and I’ve never had an issue. The only negative I’d say is their website doesn’t give much detail regarding the hotels, but it’s easy enough to look at TUI, Jet2 to the hotel web site to get the details needed. Over all always an excellent experience.

Date of experience : 25 February 2024

Hi Lucy Thank you for booking with us once again. Delighted you are happy with the price, we do love to over the best prices around. Take care Maria

A HOLIDAY IN ICMELER

Found a nice hotel in Icmeler , Turkey which is walking distance to everything and the price was very affordable. Was easy to pay the deposit and had a good choice of hotels. THANK YOU LOOK FORWARD TO MY HOLIDAY AT THE END OF MAY.

Date of experience : 19 February 2024

Thank you Margaret for taking the time out to leave a review. Start the holiday count down it won't be long now till you are jetting off. Take care Maria

Great price

Great price, very much better than from anywhere else we tried for the same place. Also, excellent very low deposit and nothing to pay until a month before we go. We're returning to somewhere we know, so happy about the hotel, anyway.

Date of experience : 26 February 2024

Thanks for your booking Mrs Howells- we love offering amazing prices! All the best Maria

Good images on site

Good images on site. Good selection of hotels. I was a little confused about paying and I had to call 02 number. You may want to put a link with text. Let's start the booking process.

The assistant was very good and…

The assistant was very good and helpful.. Will book again in September because of her professional advice..

It was the lovely Vesna you spoke with I will ensure she gets to see your feedback. All the best Maria

Returning customers

This is the second time we have booked with Travel Republic and our accommodation plus the staff were so nice to all our group. Fingers crossed this year will be the exact same.

Thank you Elizabeth for booking with us once again. Take care Maria

Would recommend

Have booked many holidays through travel republic. Never had any issues with refunds, cancellations (Covid time), queries always dealt with promptly and I find them competitive. Would highly recommend.

Thank you Michelle for your lovely review and for booking with us once again. Rosie

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travel republic uk cottages

Rent a Cottage in the UK

Cottage collection.

Book a staycation like no other at one of our luxury cottages in the UK. We have a dreamy collection of characterful cottages that are set deep within the countryside or on the edge of picturesque villages and cute fishing towns. Our cottages cater for family breaks, friends’ trips, and romantic getaways for two, and plenty of our homes welcome four-legged guests as well! Never mind jetting off far and wide for a relaxing trip away, you can get so much out of a stay in one of our UK holiday cottages you’ll forget that you never left the country. Make memories with your loved ones that you will still be talking about in years to come!

Where can you rent a cottage?

We have beautiful cottages in every corner of the UK. Stay in a fairytale cottage among the rolling hills of the Cotswolds , bundle up by the sea in a cosy Cornwall cottage, or find a quaint home with a giant garden and pool in Kent . Our Scotland cottages offer outdoor activities right on your doorstep or admire wondrous Wales from your cottage’s very own jacuzzi tub. Wherever you book a luxury holiday cottage with Oliver’s Travels, you’re guaranteed a unique getaway. You won’t ever want to get back to reality!

How to make your stay extra special

Why choose oliver's travels.

With over 20 years of experience in the industry, we know what it takes to find an incredible property. Our destination experts are highly knowledgeable and comb and handpick only the very best holiday homes. Take a look at our site and give us a call soon to ask any questions and arrange your cottage holiday! A cottage rental through Oliver’s Travels will be an experience you and your loved ones will treasure forever. And if you need some help with deciding which home out of our collection to choose, or any additional added extras (think entertainment, local tours, on-site activities etc) our concierge team are on hand to help! We love working with you to decide on the perfect cottage location, the specific dates and travel arrangements, and the fun social activities your group would like to experience!

Most Popular Cottages

The top 6 reasons to rent a cottage, family getaway.

The whole family, from kids to teens, will be entertained on a cottage holiday. Breathe in sea air, enjoy wholesome family meals cooked in country kitchens, play board games in front of the fire or get the kids out to appreciate nature right from your cottage doorstep. There’s nothing better than making family memories together.

Dog Friendly Cottages

Who said Pongo has to stay at home? We have a whole host of UK cottages that welcome four-legged friends too so that everyone in the family is catered for. What could be better than retiring back to one of our gorgeous cottages after long walks in charming forests or playing on the sand?

Romantic Cottages

Our cottages made for two are sure to delight those looking for a romantic break away. Leave the whole world behind and escape with just your other half to one of our characterful cottages that are the perfect setting for falling in love.

They don’t make homes like these any more. Some of our cottages are hundreds of years old and are steeped in history and intrigue, replete with original features and charming quirks that give a real home-from-home feeling.

Cottages Near London

The perfect blend of a peaceful getaway and the excitement of the capital just a stone’s throw away. Enjoy the best of both worlds with our cottages near London. You could be catching a West End show one minute, and cosying up by a roaring fire the next. Bliss!

Special Occasions

Birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, group getaways and even Christmas holidays - there’s something to suit every occasion in our cottage collection. Get the gang together and celebrate country-style with an Oliver’s Travels cottage break.

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Our team of wedding consultants are here to help! Whether you are looking for a traditional Chateau in France, a rustic and romantic Farmhouse in Italy or a good old-fashioned Grand Manor Estate in the English countryside, our team will help you find the right one for you. Although personalised and bespoke, this service is also complimentary. Give our specialists a call today or fill in the form below and they will get back to you!

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They have all lived in the country that they look after. And with an average of over 15 years' experience in their area, our Destination Experts have the ultimate insider secrets.

We ensure every house meets the 10 demands on the ' Oliver's Essential Checklist '. From WiFi and hot tubs to the less tangible 'unique characteristics', only 2% make the cut.

Quality and character nab the top spot when it comes to adding to our portfolio, but great value for money is a close second, with all our villas going through a thorough competitive analysis.

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Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

UK holiday cottage rental website guide

Best Websites for Booking Holiday Homes in the UK and Ireland

Last updated: January 3, 2022 . Written by Laurence Norah - 3 Comments

If you’re planning on a trip in the UK or Ireland, you might be considering renting a holiday home. These self-catering options can give you a home away from home experience, usually coming with a range of amenities that you wouldn’t always find in a hotel such as a kitchen, lounge, dining area, private terrace, and washing machine.

A holiday cottage can be a lovely way to have a more private and self-contained trip, which can work well whether you are looking for a romantic escape as a couple, a fun family trip, or an adventure with friends.

Holiday cottages and homes are available across the UK and Ireland and cover a vast array of budgets and sizes, from compact city centre studio apartments in London and Dublin through to sprawling mansions in the countryside. They also span styles, from simpler rustic accommodation, through to holiday villas with pools, hot tubs, tennis courts and more!

There are also pet-friendly holiday homes, family friendly holiday cottages, and large country retreats  which are perfect for a group gathering.

Jess and I have rented and stayed at a number of different holiday homes in the UK and Ireland, and we’ve used a number of different booking websites to find them. In this post, we’re going to share some of our favourite websites we use to find and book holiday cottages when we travel.

We’ll help you decide where to book holiday homes in the UK and where to rent holiday homes in Ireland.

Lighthouse vacation rental Scotland

The Best Holiday Home Websites in the UK and Ireland

Below are some of our favourite holiday home rental websites which cover the UK and Ireland. These span a wide variety of properties, from city getaways to sites that focus on rural escapes.

Some of them are UK and / or Ireland specific, whilst others have a more global coverage. We hope you find one that works for you.

Sykes Holiday Cottages

Sykes Holiday Cottages are one of the best known holiday cottage companies in the UK and Ireland, and have won multiple awards for their service and brand. They have over 15,000 properties on their books across the UK and Ireland, with a focus on self catering cottages that are perfect for a getaway.

So whether it’s a cottage with a hot tub, a dog friendly holiday cottage, a luxury holiday cottage, or a large holiday cottage for a big group, Sykes Holiday Cottages should have something to suit.

Jess and I recently rented a holiday home in Cornwall from Sykes Holiday Cottages for a week and had a lovely stay with no issues.

Pricing runs the full range from under £300 a week to in excess of £15,000 a week, so whatever your budget, we’re sure you’ll find something to suit.

Company Headquarters: Cheshire, UK Number of Property Listings : 15,000+ in the UK and Ireland Geographical Availability : UK and Ireland only Areas of the UK and Ireland Covered : England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland Pricing : Budget to luxury Book Holiday Homes Online :  Book here

Holiday cottage bedroom

If you are planning a getaway in the UK or Ireland, then we think Snaptrip should definitely be one of the websites that you check. With over 60,000 properties listed, the majority of which are found in the UK and Ireland, they have a huge amount of choice.

However, this isn’t the main reason we recommend them. You see, Snaptrip are a little different to the other holiday rental websites on our list. They focus on last minute getaways, and rather than listing their own properties, they search some of the top providers in the UK and Ireland for the best deals.

The providers they use include many of those in our list, meaning you get a huge choice and also great quality. They also guarantee their website features the lowest prices, and will refund the difference if you find the same property available at a lower price elsewhere.

Whilst they do focus on last minute deals, you can also book properties well in advance of course if you prefer to plan ahead. With so many properties available, the price range varies greatly. Properties can be rented from under £200 a week to in excess of £10,000 a week, and range from cute far flung cottages to extravagant castles.

If you are struggling to find a holiday home in the UK on another site and are looking for a last minute holiday rental, Snaptrip might be the answer you are looking for. It will save you having to hunt through lots of other holiday home websites, and will hopefully help you find your perfect getaway!

Company Headquarters: Hatfield, UK Number of Property Listings : 60,000+, primarily in the UK & Ireland Geographical Availability : UK and Europe Areas of the UK and Ireland Covered : England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland Pricing : Budget to Luxury Book Holiday Homes Online :  Book here

Many of the websites in our list focus primarily on rural or country cottages. Plum Guide covers a slightly broader range of categories, with an impressive collection of properties that range from ultra-luxurious city centre apartments through to remote Scottish castles.

One thing we like about Plum Guide is how selective they are. Properties have to pass an incredibly thorough vetting process, meaning that only the highest quality options are listed. So whilst they might not have the numbers of some of their competitors in terms of total listings, they certainly have some of the highest quality properties we’ve seen.

Currently there are around 2,000 properties on their site, the majority of which are found in England, with some listings in Wales and Scotland.

Pricing is firmly in the mid-range to luxury category. Depending on the property, you are looking at between £500 and £60,000 for a week. Naturally you can filter your search by a range of criteria, from hot tubs and gym facilities through to lift access and car parking. Fast WiFi is standard at all properties.

You can read our detailed Plum Guide review to learn more about this service and our experiences using it.

Company Headquarters:  London, England, United Kingdom Number of Property Listings : 2000+ in the UK Geographical Availability : Mostly European cities, but also the United States and Israel Areas of the UK and Ireland Covered : England, Wales, and Scotland Pricing : Mid-Range – Luxury Book UK Holiday Homes Online :  Book here

Loch Ness vacation rental Scotland

With almost 100,000 holiday lettings to choose from across the UK and Ireland, VRBO UK have no shortage of choice. The company is owned by Expedia, which has a number of brands in the vacation rental space. These brands cover a wide range of vacation rentals around the world.

In the UK, we recommend using the VRBO UK websites since it is focused on the UK market. They have a huge range of properties available, from farm cottages and apartments through to stately homes and castles. You can also filter search results by a huge range of criteria, so finding what you want shouldn’t be too difficult.

Pricing varies from under £300 a week through to over £10,000 a week.

Company Headquarters: Texas, USA Number of Property Listings : 94,000+ in the UK and Ireland Geographical Availability : 190 countries around the world Areas of the UK and Ireland Covered : England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland Pricing : Budget to luxury Book Holiday Homes Online :  Book here

TUI Villas have properties available all around the world, with over 3,500 properties in the UK and over 500 in the Republic of Ireland.

One neat feature we like is that when searching for dates for your trip, you can add public holidays and school holidays in the UK to the calendar. If you’re travelling with a family, this is a good way to see when you can go. On the flipside, it also helps you avoid these dates if you’re looking for a quieter getaway.

As with many other search systems, you can also filter by features, including distance from the water, popular amenities, and accessibility. You can also set a budget. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a way to sort results by price, as with many other options. Pricing varies from around £300 a week to around £2000 a week for the most part.

Company Headquarters: Bremen, Germany Number of Property Listings : 4,000+ in the UK and Ireland Geographical Availability : UK and Ireland, plus many more around the world Areas of the UK and Ireland Covered : England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland Pricing : Budget to mid-range Book UK Holiday Homes Online :  Book here

Holidaycottages.co.uk

Focusing entirely on the UK, and with over 6,000 properties to choose from, Holidaycottages.co.uk are an excellent choice if you’re looking for a wide range of properties to choose from.

They’ve been helping travellers find properties in the UK since 1989, and have an extensive range of options. So whether you’re looking for a great value getaway, or a luxurious mansion with pool, hot tub and tennis court, you will find something to suit.

Prices vary depending on the property of course, from around £350 a week up to in excess of £10,000. You can also filter properties based on your requirements, be that WiFi access, four poster beds or nearby amenities.

At the time of writing, they do not have many properties in Ireland.

Company Headquarters: Devon, UK Number of Property Listings : 6,000+ in the UK Geographical Availability : UK only Areas of the UK and Ireland Covered : England, Wales, Scotland Pricing : Budget to luxury Book UK Holiday Homes Online :  Book here

Vacation rental interior UK

Rural Retreats

Rural Retreats exclusively lists holiday homes in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, so you know that they know the market well. They have over 600 properties on their site, and as the name of the company suggests, the focus is very much on rural properties where you can get away from it all.

That said, they do have a small selection of city flats as well, so don’t discount them for a city break.

Rural Retreats have been helping customers find properties since 1985, and they certainly know the rural areas well. They have properties all across the UK and Ireland, at a range of prices and sizes to suit all types of travellers, from shepherd’s huts to castles.

Properties are available that are cosy enough for two, or spacious enough for groups of 20+. Naturally pricing also varies, from in the region of £450 a week up to £10,000+, depending on the size of property, time of year, size and amenities.

Company Headquarters: Gloucestershire, UK Number of Property Listings : 600+ Geographical Availability : UK and Ireland only Areas of the UK and Ireland Covered : England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland Pricing : Budget to Luxury Book Holiday Homes Online :  Book here

Oliver’s Travels

Oliver’s Travels have properties in destinations across the world, with around 300 to choose from in the UK and Ireland. They focus on character properties and luxury villas.

For their properties in the UK and Ireland there is a definite focus on higher end properties, although there are some lovely smaller properties for those in the mid-range price range. That said, if you are looking for a castle or spectacular manor house to rent for a week, they certainly have you covered.

Pricing ranges from around £450 a week through to in excess of £100,000. With such large properties available, Oliver’s Travels are a great option if you’re looking to rent a villa for a large group.

With numerous awards and positive customer feedback about the Oliver’s Travels experience, this is definitely a site to consider for your next villa rental.

Company Headquarters: London, UK Number of Property Listings : 300 in the UK and Ireland Geographical Availability : Worldwide Areas of the UK and Ireland Covered : England, Wales, Scotland, Republic of Ireland Pricing : Primarily mid-range to luxury Book Holiday Homes Online :  Book here

Hot tub vacation rental

Homes & Villas By Marriott International

You are probably familiar with the Marriott brand of hotels. What you might not know is that they also have a wide range of private properties available through their Homes & Villas platform .

They currently offer over 700 properties in the UK and Ireland. These range from bungalows through to opulent chalets, with every home on the platform professionally managed by a premium property management company.

Homes all come with fast WiFi, professional cleaning, 24/7 support for any issues and premium linens and amenities. Marriott Bonvoy members can also earn and redeem points on all stays at the properties. So if you were looking for a vacation rental where you can spend your Marriott points, this is a great option.

Price range from around £350 a week up to in excess of £20,000 a week for the larger castle properties. Properties can be filtered by a range of features, from accessibility criteria through to hot tub, pet policies and even whether a butler service is offered.

Company Headquarters: Maryland, USA Number of Property Listings : 700+ in the UK and Ireland Geographical Availability : 45+ countries around the world Areas of the UK and Ireland Covered : England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland Pricing : budget to luxury Book Holiday Homes Online : Book here

Interhome.co.uk

Founded in Switzerland in 1965, Interhome has decades of experience helping travellers book holiday homes around the world. They currently offer 50,000+ properties in 31 countries worldwide, with over 1,500 to choose from across the UK and Ireland.

Properties are available ranging from city centre apartments through to rural cottages, chalets and holiday homes. They are also able to accommodate group sizes ranging from 1 person to over 20.

Properties can be searched and filters based on a wide range of criteria, from fireplaces, saunas, and jacuzzis through to distances from the sea, or whether you prefer a hiking holiday or golf.

Pricing varies from under £300 a week through to over £5,000 a week.

Company Headquarters: Zurich, Switzerland Number of Property Listings : 1500+ in the UK and Ireland Geographical Availability : 31 countries around the world Areas of the UK and Ireland Covered : England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland Pricing : Budget to luxury Book Holiday Homes Online :  Book here

travel republic uk cottages

Imagine Ireland

If you are heading to Ireland, then you might want to use a company that focuses exclusively on properties on the island. Covering both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, Imagine Ireland has over 600 properties to choose from.

So whether you are looking for a city break in Dublin or Belfast, a country break in rural County Kerry, or a road trip along the Atlantic Coast, you’ll find something to suit.

These range from apartments through to cottages and even castles, with properties available for both small and large groups. Pricing covers a wide range, from under £300 a week to over £4,000. You can search across a variety of property styles, from luxury to teenage friendly, and filter based on your requirements.

Company Headquarters: Yorkshire, England Number of Property Listings : 600+ in Ireland Geographical Availability : 31 countries around the world Areas of the UK and Ireland Covered : Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland Pricing : Budget to luxury Book Holiday Homes Online :  Book here

It would be impossible to do a round up of holiday rental accommodation without including AirBnB . Although AirBnB is one of the youngest companies on the list, it is the company that really made home sharing popular and is now the market leader in online home sharing worldwide.

AirBnB has a huge variety of properties to choose from – in excess of 200,000 across the UK and Ireland. These range from renting a room in someone’s house through to renting an entire Scottish castle. Basically anything can be listed on Airbnb from yurts, treehouses, and houseboats to castle, country estates, and private islands. There is something for everyone at every budget.

With so much choice, finding an AirBnB can be a little overwhelming. Thankfully, there’s a wide range of useful filters to help you narrow the search down. For example, you can specify you want the whole place to yourself, as well as filter by a wide range of criteria from property type through to amenities, number of bathrooms, wheelchair accessibility, and more.

AirBnB Luxe focuses on the highest end properties available on AirBnB, and you even get a dedicated trip designed to help you plan your stay.

AirBnB properties are available at a huge range of prices, from under £300 a week to in excess of £20,000 a week.

Company Headquarters: California, USA Number of Property Listings : 200,000+ in the UK and Ireland Geographical Availability : 191 countries around the world Areas of the UK and Ireland Covered : England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland Pricing : Budget to luxury Book Holiday Homes Online :  Book here

Holiday cottage cornwall UK

Cottages.com

Cottages.com have over 18,000 properties available across the UK and Ireland, with everything on their books from coastal retreats to country castles.

One feature we particularly like is how granular the filtering system is. For example, if you’re going away for Christmas, you can search for properties that are specially decorated for this period!

Otherwise, with a wide choice of properties to suit all budgets, group sizes and tastes, we think you’ll find something to suit. Pricing varies from under £300 a week to in excess of £20,000 a week.

Company Headquarters: Lancashire, UK Number of Property Listings : 18,000+ in the UK and Ireland Geographical Availability : UK, Ireland, France, and Italy Areas of the UK and Ireland Covered : England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland Pricing : Budget to luxury Book Holiday Homes Online :  Book here

Booking.com

When you think of booking.com , you probably think of hotels. However, this popular accommodation website offers a great deal more than hotels, with categories including villas , apartments , cottages and even glamping sites available to book.

In the UK and Ireland they have over 25,000 holiday rental style properties available to book, across a wide range of styles and price points.

Pricing ranges from under £200 for a week’s stay to in excess of of £15,000 for larger properties. If you’re looking for a holiday rental, just used the specific filters on booking.com to filter by the type of property you are interested in.

Company Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands Number of Property Listings : 25,000+ in the UK and Ireland Geographical Availability : 225 countries around the world Areas of the UK and Ireland Covered : England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland Pricing : Budget to luxury Book Holiday Homes Online :  Book here

Outdoor dining holiday cottage

Further Reading

Hopefully this guide to holiday cottages in the UK and Ireland has helped you find the perfect property for your next getaway. Before you head off on your adventure though, we wanted to share some other content we think you’ll find useful.

  • We have a lot of content on travel in the UK to inspire your next trip. Check out our 2 week UK road trip itinerary , 1 week UK road trip itinerary , 7 day North Coast 500 road trip itinerary ,  Highlands and Skye itinerary , 1 week Cornwall itinerary and guide to things to do in Cornwall to get you started
  • We also have lots of content on Ireland as well, including a causeway coastal route itinerary , guide to the Game of Thrones locations in Ireland , tips on visiting the Cliffs of Moher and a guide to the Dark Hedges
  • Visitors to the UK will likely want to know the cost of travel in the UK , as well as some tips for driving in the UK
  • We have multiple city guides, including things to do in Edinburgh , how to spend 3 days in London , things to do in Portsmouth , things to do in Cambridge , things to do in Bristol , things to do in Aberdeen , things to do in Glasgow , things to do in Belfast and a 2 day Dublin itinerary
  • For more tips on booking holiday rentals, see our guide to our favourite AirBnB Alternatives , as well as this comprehensive list of vacation rental websites for worldwide travel

And that’s it for our guide to some of the best holiday cottage rental websites in the UK and Ireland! We hope you found it useful. As always, we’re open to your feedback and questions – just pop them in the comments below. Safe travels!

A detailed guide to some of the best websites for booking a holiday home in the UK. For everything from holiday cottages to castles, apartments & more!

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There are 3 comments on this post

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Claire says

8th August 2020 at 2:11 pm

This looks like a really great list for travellers to Ireland and the UK and I am excited to check out some new ones (to me anyway) like Rural Retreats. My family and I have used several of these over the years, including Airbnb, Skyes, and Imagine Ireland with good experiences.

I am a bit surprised though that VRBO is not part of your list as it has a lot of holiday homes in both Ireland and the Uk and we have used it many times over the years. Maybe it is one you’d want to add?

Laurence Norah says

9th August 2020 at 12:04 pm

Thanks very much for your comment 🙂 So I didn’t include VRBO in the list as its own entry because it’s the parent company to Homeaway.co.uk, which is in the list. They share pretty much the same property listings, but the homeaway.co.uk website has more emphasis placed on properties in the UK. I do link to VRBO in that entry, but I felt that putting VRBO in as it’s own entry might be a bit of duplication. That said, we do use and like VRBO, and it’s one of our top picks in our AirBnB Alternatives guide. So it might warrant it’s own entry as it will be a brand that travellers are familiar with.

Thanks again for your comment!

13th October 2020 at 11:06 am

Just to add to this – Homeaway UK has rebranded to VRBO UK today, so I’ve updated the description and changed it to VRBO 🙂

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IMAGES

  1. Uk Cottages

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  2. English Cottages You'll Fall in Love With

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  3. Uk Cottages / Alexandra's world: Cotswolds

    travel republic uk cottages

  4. 8 beautiful cottages in the UK that still have August availability

    travel republic uk cottages

  5. Uk Cottages : 20 great UK cottages with pools

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  6. #CottageWeek: 7 beautiful cottages to rent in the UK

    travel republic uk cottages

COMMENTS

  1. Travel Republic Holidays 2024 /2025

    Travel dates. 2 Adults, 1 Room, Economy Guests & Cabin Class. Search. Holidays for the people. Deals under £250pp. 7 nights from . £120. per person. All Inclusive Holidays. 7 nights from . ... As one of the UK's first online holiday companies, we've been giving holiday power to the people for over 20 years. And we don't plan on stopping any ...

  2. Holidays 2024 / 2025

    It's time to Travel Republic! 0208 974 7200. Help. Travel Republic Holidays Save up to an extra £200 off this Payday... Boldly book today. Flight & Hotel Hotel only. Flying from. Travel dates. 2 Adults, 1 Room, Economy Guests & Cabin Class. Search. Holidays for the people. Deals under £250pp. 7 nights from . £120. per person.

  3. The best holiday cottages in the UK

    47 of the best holiday cottages in the UK. From party crash pads to family favourites and couple retreats right across the country, there are plenty of options when it comes to cottages to rent for a weekend break in the UK. For more staycation inspiration, see our guide to the best holiday homes to rent in the UK, the best cabins in the UK and ...

  4. UK Breaks & Getaways

    Book your perfect UK break. cottages.com UK breaks and getaways offer the ultimate way to enjoy a holiday in the UK. Choose from all kinds of amazing holiday accommodation - from cosy couples' escapes to large getaways for groups - in Britain's most beautiful places. From luxurious rural retreats to stunning city breaks, there are so many getaways to enjoy.

  5. 20 best cosy UK cottages for a winter break

    The Victorian cottage makes a cosy base, with a wood-burner, two roomy en suite bedrooms and plenty of books and games. Chester is 20 minutes away by bus. Or try the River to Ridge cycle circuit ...

  6. 27 Best holiday cottages for a UK minibreak 2023

    Best holiday cottages in Kent: Westgate on Sea. Westgate-On-Sea, Kent. Sleeps: Sixteen plus. Bedrooms: Nine. Bathrooms: Nine. Price: From £1,500 per night. If the phrase "go big or go home ...

  7. 10 UK Cottages to book now … for a stay later this year

    It's on a working farm with a pedigree herd of Dexter cows, pigs and chickens that supply guests with some food, otherwise there's a 20-minute walk to a community shop. There's camping in ...

  8. Holiday Cottages to Rent

    Browse over 21,000 holiday holiday cottages in the UK. Find hot tub cottages, dog friendly holidays, short breaks and more amazing self-catering accommodation.

  9. Cottages in England & Self Catering English Holidays

    The English countryside unfolds like a picturesque tapestry, offering rolling hills in the Cotswolds, rugged moors which can be hiked from our Yorkshire cottages, and stunning coastline in Cornwall. Immerse yourself in the warmth of English hospitality in cosy pubs or venture into the thriving arts scene. From grand castles to quaint villages ...

  10. 50 of the UK's best holiday cottages

    Holeslack Cottage, Cumbria. Panoramic views and doorstep walks are the big draw at Holeslack Cottage, a simple, white-washed cottage on the Sizergh estate in the southern Lake District. Next-door ...

  11. Super Staycations

    Super staycations from Travel Republic. Time to go from townsman to tourist and explore the UK! Join our community to receive the latest deals, exclusive discounts & travel inspiration! You have been successfully registered! must be a valid email address; Registration has been unsuccessful. Please try again later.

  12. 14 of the best holiday cottages in the UK

    5. Seahorse Cottage, Aldeburgh, Suffolk. Best for seaside quirkiness Aldeburgh has its fair share of wonderfully odd little houses, particularly near its long seafront. Anyone walking along there ...

  13. 30 UK holiday cottages to book now for summer 2021

    Holidaycottages.co.uk offers insurance, and Quality Cottages is about to follow suit. Comparison website Medical Travel Compared offers quotes with enhanced Covid cover, including cancellation. It ...

  14. 22 secluded beach cottages in the UK

    10. Argus Cottage at Pendeen Lighthouse, Pendeen, Cornwall. This quiet coastal retreat offers spectacular sea views from its prominent position near St Ives on the north coast of Cornwall. It's ...

  15. Travel Republic Reviews

    Travel Republic were good to deal with, however not very accommodating if you want to change dates etc, they only allow 14 days cancellation which isn't great for a holiday that is booked 7/8 months in advance. All information was provided before travelling. Date of experience: 28 February 2024. HOWELLS. 41 reviews.

  16. Travel Republic Holidays 2024 /2025

    Travel dates. 2 Adults, 1 Room, Economy Guests & Cabin Class. Search. Holidays for the people. Deals under £250pp. 7 nights from . £140. per person. All Inclusive Holidays. 7 nights from . ... As one of the UK's first online holiday companies, we've been giving holiday power to the people for over 20 years. And we don't plan on stopping any ...

  17. Cottages

    Cottage Collection. Book a staycation like no other at one of our luxury cottages in the UK. We have a dreamy collection of characterful cottages that are set deep within the countryside or on the edge of picturesque villages and cute fishing towns. Our cottages cater for family breaks, friends' trips, and romantic getaways for two, and ...

  18. Cheap hotels, flights and holidays from Travel Republic

    Whether you're after a Spain break on a budget, an idyllic island getaway in Greece, or all-out luxury in Dubai, we've got you covered. After all, we've got over 13,000 unique hotels at SUPER low prices, and flights with some of the top airlines to help you conquer the world one holiday at a time. But it doesn't stop there, you can grab ...

  19. Best Websites for Booking Holiday Homes in the UK and Ireland

    Areas of the UK and Ireland Covered: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland Pricing: Budget to luxury Book Holiday Homes Online: Book here . TUI Villas. TUI Villas have properties available all around the world, with over 3,500 properties in the UK and over 500 in the Republic of Ireland.

  20. Travel Republic Review

    Travel Republic competes in the budget holiday OTA market against companies such as On The Beach. While On The Beach and a few others could offer a cheaper average short-haul price than its £89pp per night, Travel Republic was one of just a handful of companies with a five-star value-for-money rating for both its beach/resort and family holidays.

  21. Holiday and travel discounts

    For Less. If you're a member of the emergency services, NHS, social care sector, or armed forces, save on your next trip away thanks to our incredible holiday and travel discounts. From UK breaks and long-haul flights, to European breaks and cruises, you'll find a Blue Light Card discount for every type of holiday in 2024.

  22. Cheap hotels, flights and holidays from Travel Republic

    Find holidays across the world at surprisingly low prices. Pay in monthly instalments. Book with confidence; 24/7 in-resort support, established since 2003, ATOL protected.

  23. Travel Republic Discount Code: 25% OFF in March 2024

    Get 25% off with Travel Republic discount codes for March 2024. Save on holidays with 22 Travel Republic voucher codes tested daily. ... England, UK. 020 8974 7200.