An octagonal, stone-built toll house shaded by trees.

Book Self-Catering Holidays in Quirky Holiday Cottages

Fancy a self-catering holiday in a quirky and unusual holiday property? Who wouldn’t say no to a holiday with friends in a luxury lighthouse or a beautifully restored Napoleonic Fort?

Search here to find an architecturally unique holiday cottage for a more than usually memorable holiday with family or friends. The UK has a splendid choice of distinctive and unusual character cottages appealing to those looking for something slightly different from a traditional house. 

While quirky cottages are not the ‘everyday’ holiday property, they still offer the same standards, facilities, and amenities you would expect to find in any decent holiday property worth its salt. Types of out-of-the-ordinary holiday lets include (but are not limited to):

  • Lighthouses
  • Windmills
  • Restored railway stations and carriages
  • Castles and Forts.
  • Shepherds Huts
  • Narrow Boats
  • Tree-houses
  • Signal boxes
  •  Follies 

View this collection of distinctive holiday properties to find one with that ‘must-stay’ funky factor for a long holiday or just a weekend break.

Exterior of a stone-built station-master's house overlooking a platform of a steam railway.
Sleeps
11
Bedrooms
5

For a stunning retreat that pulls out all the stops, The Station House is a large North Yorkshire holiday home full of charm. The Grade II listed Victorian property is ideal for large family groups, offering exquisite accommodation from which to explore the North York Moors and the Whitby coast.

  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Single storey holiday cottage in Glamorgan with a terrace bordered by a low stone wall.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

The Cwtch is a 5-star rated romantic cottage offering seclusion and style in Lllanilid, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. Set beside a 16th-century rectory and near the coast, the cottage provides acres of grounds, a private furnished garden, authentic urban chic, an open-plan design, and a wood burner.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A twin-gabled brick house with large windows site behind a shingled drive.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

Welcome to Highcroft Cottage. Situated just two miles away from the enchanting medieval town of Stratford-upon-Avon, Highcroft Cottage is a haven of tranquillity set within 2.5 acres of shared grounds. This idyllic rural retreat in Warwickshire boasts a wildlife garden and a tennis court, providing a delightful backdrop to your stay.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Shakespeare Country
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
3-storey house with a 2-storey wing and a large parking space in front
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
6

The North East Coast of Scotland is adored for its scenic coastal walks all year round. 1 Seafield Street is a large holiday cottage in Cullen, a historic coastal town on the Murray Firth, sleeping up to ten adults and two children in spacious, well-equipped accommodation. One well-behaved pet is welcome.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Waterside Cottages
Exterior of a hexagonal toll house in Nether Stowey
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

This listed 18th-century former toll house makes for a memorable romantic retreat in Somerset. This small yet enchanting Quantock Hills cottage lies on the quiet high street in Nether Stowey, a pretty Somerset coastal village, perfect for walking, riding and exploring unspoilt countryside.

  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a large, L-shaped brick East Yorkshire farmhouse overlooking a spacious courtyard and lawn.
Sleeps
14
Bedrooms
7

Hall Garth is a large and impressive rural holiday cottage in Beverley sitting on beautiful grounds near Beverley in the Vale of York and Yorkshire Wolds. The grand house sleeps 14 and boasts outdoor entertaining areas with stunning views, a luxurious interior with a log fire, exposed beams, rural elegance and an open-plan design.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Sail Boats is a lovely beachfront holiday bungalow within walking distance of Marazion's sandy beach in far West Cornwall. The Cornish holiday cottage can sleep two people in one bedroom within sight and sound of the sea.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
A large L-shaped Gwynedd holiday cottage house with a deck and rockery garden. garden.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Outdoor enthusiasts of all ages can use Llety’r Bugail, a country cottage with mountain views located in the small market town of Dolgellau, Gwynedd, as their home base to explore scenic Snowdonia National Park by foot or mountain bike or make a day of it at nearby Fairbourne Beach. Sleeps 6.

  • Accessible Cottages
  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A holiday bungalow with a flowerbeds and a lawn surrounded by open fields.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Barmoor Ridge makes any self-catering holiday in the North East of England a comfortable one – a rural cottage situated between the villages of Lowick and Ford in Northumberland, with under-floor heating in the bathroom and open fire in the sitting room, whilst affording gorgeous views of the Cheviots and the sea.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays