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 partially thatched Dorset cottage overlooks a large and secure lawned garden
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
3

Enjoy the unspoilt beauty of the hamlet of Benville, Dorset, just as Thomas Hardy described it a century ago, with a stay at Benville Cottage, a historic child-friendly cottage with three bedrooms, a large garden with three terraced lawn areas, an Inglenook fireplace, and 17th-century stone wall carving.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Agains a woodland backdrop a large cottage with spacious deck overlooks a flower and shrub-filled garden.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

The Stable Block is an Exmoor holiday cottage for couples near the ancient seaside village of Porlock Weir with underfloor heating and an open-plan living and dining area. It's perfect for romantic breaks on the Somerset coast. This dog-friendly cottage features a Juliette balcony and has gorgeous views of the garden and Porlock Bay,

  • Active Holidays
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Cottages with hanging flower basket line a quiet village street.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Discover The Grange, a charming Dorset cottage in Charmouth perfect for self-catering holidays. This traditional yet modern property, less than a 10-minute walk to the beach, offers a spacious kitchen/diner, inviting lounges, and a delightful patio with a brick-built BBQ. Explore nearby shops, cafes, and the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre. With flexible sleeping arrangements and parking for convenience, The Grange is an ideal retreat for cottage holidays on the Jurassic Coast.

  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages with Car Chargers
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a contemporary house in Cornwall with a balcony overlooking a large lawned garden bordered with shrubs and trees.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

This beautiful home is just a short drive from Truro. Situated within The Valley Resort, it has everything you need for a stylish retreat close to fantastic amenities. You can enjoy outdoor dining on your private patio or take a leisurely stroll through the picturesque surrounding woodland—it's the perfect Cornish holiday for a small family of two couples..

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
A thatched Exford cottage overlooks the village green.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Crown Cottage is a thatched roof end-terrace holiday cottage in Exford, a charming village in the Exmoor National Park. The pet-friendly cottage is made for walkers and those who enjoy country life and features traditional details such as a woodburning stove, a traditional fireplace and period furniture.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

A fabulously relaxing Hampshire holiday home, Inglewood Cottage provides family-friendly holidays for 2-6 guests in a stunning location on the south coast. The pet-friendly cottage is on a quiet road in New Milton, a few miles to the New Forest and just over one to the beach at Barton on Sea.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A large slate roofed Lake district holiday cottage its in front of a line of tall tres.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

A lovingly maintained large Snowdonia holiday cottage, Tyn Llwyn is a grand farmhouse beautifully renovated to create a rural holiday home near Harlech in North Wales. Standing on a 7-acre smallholding, pet-friendly Tyn Llwyn welcomes families and groups looking for a coast and countryside retreat.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
2-storey country cottage with large conservatory overlooking a large lawn.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Bridlecott is a delightful rural cottage in Monksilver, offering the best of both worlds: the picturesque Somerset countryside and the stunning coastline. The property, situated on the edge of Exmoor National Park, is a paradise for walkers. It boasts ample grounds, spacious rooms, an open-plan layout, and access to a charming English country village.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Backed by tall pine trees a 2-storey tone-built Newtonmore holiday cottage overlooks a large lawn.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Nestled amidst the natural beauty of the Monadhliath and Grampian mountain ranges, Feagour is a remote country cottage in the western approach to the Cairngorms in the Central Highlands of Scotland, offering well-equipped, tastefully furnished self-catering accommodation. Sleeps 4.

  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages