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.

A  restored country cottage overlooks a shaded courtyard.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Squirrelled away in the North Devon countryside, less than half an hour from the coast. Somers Hiscott-6 is beautifully spacious and sits right in the middle of the private estate (40 acres). There will be more than enough room for you to spill out and make this home your own – inside and out!

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Independent Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Front exterior of a thatched Devon longhouse on a quiet Devon lane.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

A historic, romantic holiday cottage in Stockland nestled in the heart of the Devon countryside, Kites Holt makes the perfect Blackdown Hills rural retreat, part of a 15th-century thatched Medieval Hall House with a private entrance, open fire, underfloor heating in the bathroom, and quaint mid-floor kitchen.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A wooden 2-storey Essex holiday cottage overlooks a lawned garden, shaded by tall trees with four sun lounger on the grass.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

"The Limes" is a charming Island holiday cottage located on private Osea Island on the enchanting Essex Coast. It is perfect for a cosy and inviting escape for up to five guests. The cottage features a warm lounge with garden access, two spacious double rooms, and an additional single room. It also boasts a well-equipped kitchen, two elegant bathrooms with roll-top baths, and a private garden. Osea Island is a private island that offers a lot of attractions, including a private beach, saltwater lido, outdoor pool, cinema room, games room, gym, and 4.5 miles of coastline to explore with bikes. If you're looking for a tranquil getaway, "The Limes" is the perfect place to discover and start planning your next seaside escapade.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Waterside Cottages
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Take tea overlooking the old mill pond at the stone-built Locks Cottage and enjoy the idyllic setting of this two-bedroom, rural holiday cottage in Langcliffe near Settle. Gaze upon the green hills of the Yorkshire Dales and unwind by the open fire in a cosy, peaceful cottage near the River Ribble.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Smoking Cottages
  • Waterside Cottages
Sleeps
14
Bedrooms
6

The Old Chequers is an impressive converted pub in the quiet village of South Creake. The pet-friendly cottage welcomes groups and offers a spacious garden with a stream, hot tub and terrace, a sunlit conservatory, playroom, two living areas, a log fire, wonderful views and access to Norfolk.

  • 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
  • Waterside Cottages
Whitewashed exterior of a Cornish cottage overlooking a courtyard.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Willow Cottage sleeps four and has an open fire and private patio. This beautifully furnished Cornwall holiday cottage is located in the pretty medieval town of Lostwithiel, in the Fowey River Valley, near glorious South Cornwall sandy beaches, Lanhydrock House and Gardens, and the local farmers’ market.

  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a 2-storey, Cotswold 'honey stone' cottage with mullioned windows.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Escape to the picturesque village of Broad Campden in Gloucestershire and experience the charm of Ingleside Cottage. This beautiful mid-terrace Cotswold stone cottage is the perfect holiday retreat, offering a unique blend of traditional and modern features. With exposed beams, flagstone floors, leaded windows, and a cosy log fire, the cottage exudes warmth and comfort. Its antique furnishings and modern amenities make for a comfortable stay, while the ample space for pets to play ensures they can join in on the fun. Book Ingleside Cottage now and experience the magic of the Cotswolds.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a slate-roofed, single-storey barn conversion in Leominster.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
2

The Owl Barn is a luxurious stone-built barn conversion in Herefordshire amid beautiful countryside. The pet-friendly, single-storey holiday cottage in Kimbolton enjoys sumptuous countryside views and retains original features, such as beams and stone walls, combined with contemporary sophistication.

  • Accessible Cottages
  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A large Coniston holiday home at the head of a hedge-lined tarmac drive with a mature woodland background.
Sleeps
14
Bedrooms
6

Browside is a pet-friendly Lake District holiday cottage with stunning fell views down to Coniston Water welcomes large families or groups of friends. Sleeping 14, this large, warm, cosy house in a walker's paradise includes a hot tub for relaxing after a day in the fells.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays