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.

2-storey stone-built Cotswold Cottage surrounded by a mature garden.
Sleeps
3
Bedrooms
2

Spring Cottage is a gorgeous honey-coloured stone-built cottage nestled within the Cotswolds in Alkerton. The pet-friendly cottage boasts lovely gardens, exposed beams & stone walls, oak furnishings, an open fire, a sunroom and contemporary style, plus access to the region of Oxfordshire.

  • Accessible By Train
  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Escape to the tranquillity of a pretty rural Somerset setting and enjoy a memorable family getaway at the recently refurbished Stable Cottage. This charming and characterful converted holiday property boasts modern comforts and amenities, providing ample space for all the family to relax and unwind. Don't miss out on this idyllic retreat and book your holiday today!

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Front exterior of a tone built barn conversion in Cumbria with a small, pave courtyard.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Hill Side Barn is a spacious Lake District barn conversion with a hot tub that sleeps six guests seeking a high-quality rural retreat in a quiet rural corner of Cumbria that’s not too far from the best bits of the Southern Lake District and the Cumbrian coast.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Bromyard barn conversion with large floor-height windows, in open countryside.
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
6

Wall Hills Barn is a large Herefordshire holiday cottage in Bromyard. It is perched atop a hill providing majestic views of the English and Welsh countryside. It offers the perfect rural holiday home in Herefordshire for groups. This child-friendly cottage has six bedrooms, a games room, and underfloor heating.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A double-fronted Sussex cottage with a flower-filled front garden behind a low picket fence.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

In the quiet village of Huntingfield is Holly Cottage, a Grade II listed mid-terrace cottage with rural charm and a stream view. Holly is a pet-friendly holiday cottage in Suffolk. It features exposed beams, vaulted ceilings, and an open fire in a traditional fireplace. It boasts a delightful garden plus access to Suffolk.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
A chalet bungalow with a large fenced-in deck is surrounded by open countryside.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Creag-na-Sanais is a detached rural cottage on the owner’s working farm outside the village of Laggan near Newtonmore in the Northern Highlands. It is close to cycling trails and ski fields and offers guests modern accommodation in a cottage boasting sun-drenched living areas and an open fire.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A timber eco-lodge backed by trees overlooks an open field.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Brooks Lodge is an award-winning eco-friendly cottage surrounded by lush green fields in Piddinghoe, Sussex, just moments from the scenic Egrets Way Footpath. This rural cottage boasts wonderful countryside views and offers extensive grounds, large windows to capture the views, and a stylish contemporary interior.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Eco Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior and front garden of a 3-storey Georgian town house.
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
6

A historic Georgian property offering self-catering accommodation for groups of up to 12, Derwent House provides six bedrooms, five bathrooms, a panelled dining room and a large, superbly equipped kitchen. It is an excellent holiday cottage in Derbyshire for special occasions and meeting with friends and families, ideally for exploring the Peak District.

  • Accessible By Train
  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Independent Cottages
  • Large Cottage Discounts
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
Exteriorof a large stone-built hall in Cumbria with a large lawn and parking spaces.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

This Cumbrian longhouse, which has been listed as Grade II, was not used for domestic purposes for several centuries until it was recently restored and won a 5-Star Gold Award. Its historical significance is reflected in its thick sandstone walls, ships beams, timbers, and traditional oak window shutters.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays