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.

Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
3

The Cider House is a charming thatched cottage set on North End Farm in Chideock, Dorset. The large, pet-friendly cottage sleeps eight. It features exposed beams, stone walls, wooden floors, endless rural charm, an open-plan design, and multiple outdoor spaces for enjoying fresh air and views.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Independent Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Large 3-storey contemporary holiday home with well-kept gardens.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

Three Gables is a five-bedroom house in a small rural village at the western end of the Isle of Wight. If you stay with us, you'll wake up to stunning country views accompanied by birdsong. And if you're lucky, you might even glimpse a red squirrel.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages with Car Chargers
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Eco Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Independent Cottages
  • Large Cottage Discounts
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A 3-storey, glass-fronted house curves around a courtyard with a central lawn and sofas
Sleeps
16
Bedrooms
6

Indulge in a delightful luxury cottage vacation at Woolbrook Reservoir in Sidmouth - a stunning coastal cottage retreat with an awe-inspiring design. This holiday home in East Devon features spacious rooms, a captivating atrium, and a rooftop garden complete with a wood-fired hot tub. The property includes common areas like a high-quality kitchen, a games room, and an outdoor lounge suite. Located less than 1.5 miles from Sidmouth, it provides privacy and offers breathtaking views.

  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages with Car Chargers
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Eco Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
On the edge of a mature wood, a timber-frame lodge with a spacious deck overlooks an open field.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Brook Lodge is a charming and romantic cottage on 500 acres of Wakes Hall Farm in Essex. This pet-friendly, comfortable cottage with a hot tub for couples is located by a small lake amidst beautiful woodland and tranquillity. The cottage is eco-friendly and sophisticated. It features an enclosed garden and deck to enjoy the stunning rural views. 

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Eco Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
A multi-turreted Scottish castle in landscaped gardens.
Sleeps
24
Bedrooms
12

Isobel’s Expeditions is an opulent fairy tale castle near Edinburgh in Scotland. The magnificent grand cottage offers groups gorgeous, expansive grounds, a banquet room, a bar, incredible artwork, luxurious detailing, a private tennis court, many entertaining spaces & photogenic scenes

  • Accessible By Train
  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A single storey holiday bungalow with a patio and large lawn.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

As part of a holding of chalets, Glen Dessary is a compact and cheerful Fort William holiday home in Argyll. For a truly remote rural getaway with your partner or family, this coastal holiday lodge offers all you need in a homely base for exploring the Highlands and the Western Isles.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Remote 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
Twin-gabled extertior of a Kent farmhouse surrounded by a large, fenced lawn
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Hensill Farmhouse is a gorgeous rural cottage set among woodland on the edge of Hawkhurst in Kent. The 19th-century cottage offers true seclusion with a wrap-around garden and views, plus an interior boasting tiled floors, French doors, natural light, an open-plan design, elegant décor, and a log fire.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Farm Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
Front exterior of a modern house with stone steps to the 1st floor overlooking a lawn
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Wootton Gray enjoys enviable ocean views from many vantage points and sits just moments from the beaches and attractions in West Cornwall. The sophisticated Mousehole holiday home offers light and airy spaces, a furnished lawned garden, contemporary design features and a wood-burning stove.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays