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 2-storey wooden barn converted to a New Forest holiday cottage
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Imagine a tranquil escape to the enchanting New Forest, where the embrace of nature and the comfort of a well-appointed barn conversion harmonize to create the ideal self-catering holiday. Welcome to Ash Barn, a captivating retreat nestled within the grounds of Goesmere Gardens, just a leisurely three miles west of Fordingbridge and on the outskirts of the charming village of Damerham. Here, you will discover the perfect setting for relaxation and rejuvenation, where a high-ceilinged and spacious interior serves as a delightful canvas for family or friends seeking a memorable getaway.

  • Accessible Cottages
  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Stone built front exterior of a traditional Cumbrian cottage overlooking a quiet road.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

Glen Bank won the Visit England's 5* Gold Award in 2019. Fields and woodland surround this Cumbrian property in Appleby-in-Westmoreland. The pet-friendly cottage boasts outdoor entertaining areas with sweeping views and offers a light-filled orangery, two wood burners, exposed beams, and a dog shower.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A flower-filled, paved formal garden courtyard surrounded by large and small barn conversions
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
4

Set on the grounds of a decades-old family farm amidst botanical gardens and medieval architecture, The Cobnut near the village of South Newington, Oxfordshire, is a child-friendly Cotswolds holiday cottage featuring a brick fireplace, exposed beams, and two comfy upstairs bedrooms.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Eco Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A Torquay holiday cottage sits behind a rose covered stone wall.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Explore the charm of Little Acre, a recently refurbished holiday let in Torquay's serene Wellswood Village. This charming retreat is perfect for family getaways on the English Riviera, offering comfort with a sunny rear courtyard, a well-equipped kitchen, and three inviting bedrooms. With its proximity to Anstey's Cove and Meadfoot Beach, Little Acre is an ideal seaside escape in South Devon. Discover nearby attractions such as Kent's Cavern and Babbacombe Model Village, or enjoy the gastropub and traditional delights within reach. Little Acre promises a delightful home-away-from-home experience for a memorable English Riviera holiday.

  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Short Breaks
A contemporary Staffordshire Holiday cottage with floor-to-ceiling French windows overlooks a terrace and flower garden.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
2

Within the quiet hamlet of Moneystone, Barks Cottage is nestled within the boundless greenery of the Peak District. This single-story countryside cottage is a lovingly maintained spacious holiday home amidst peaceful Staffordshire scenery - an idyllic rural getaway. Pets welcome.

  • Accessible Cottages
  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A barn conversion to create a holiday cottage in Abersoch: a wramp leasds to a wooden deck with outdoor seating and an entrance to this stone-built property with rural and sea views.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

The Grain Store possesses all the charm of a stone-built 19th-century grain store and offers superb views of the sea and Cader Idris from its lush garden. The pet-friendly property spoils guests with exposed beams and contemporary facilities and lies just moments from lovely Abersoch in North Wales.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Ground-floor frontage of a stone-built holiday cottage in Mousehole.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Romance is assured at The Langley Tarne, a pet-friendly, one-bedroom holiday cottage Mousehole that boasts many traditional features as well as an open fire, modern comforts, and contemporary style a 2-minute stroll from the gorgeous harbour and the beautiful coastline of Cornwall.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A vine-clad, stone-built, corner cottage on an empty village street.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

 

Discover Cuckoo Cottage, a historic stone dwelling in Pateley Bridge, offering comfort and charm. With three tranquil bedrooms, a cosy woodburning stove, and modern amenities, it's an ideal holiday home in the Yorkshire Dales. Enjoy leisurely strolls, outdoor adventures, and nearby attractions in Nidderdale's stunning landscapes. Experience the best of Yorkshire Dales while living like a local at Cuckoo Cottage. Explore more about this delightful retreat now!

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A ground-floor countryside cottage with a central gable extension overlooks a large courtyard.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

6 Yarmouth Cottages is a sophisticated coastal cottage on the Isle of Wight set on vast grounds in Norton Green. The pet-friendly cottage sleeps 4, enjoys fresh air and expansive views, and boasts abundant natural light, contemporary chic, open-plan design, and a sun-drenched, furnished patio.

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