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 wooden-clad Shropshire holiday home overlooks a lawn backed by trees.
Sleeps
9
Bedrooms
5

Dingle Cottage, a large holiday home in the charming Shropshire village of Stiperstones, sits amidst the magnificent scenery of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This pet-friendly countryside cottage with a garden hot tub has table football, a country kitchen with a range cooker, and five bedrooms for up to nine guests.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A hot tub under a pergola sits in front of a large 2-storey, Somerset farmhouse.
Sleeps
9
Bedrooms
5

Surridge Farmhouse is a Grade II listed Exmoor cottage in the Brendon Hills near Waterrow in Somerset. The large, pet-friendly cottage sits on 80 acres of grounds, is steeped in tradition with exposed beams and fireplaces, and offers a games room, modern comforts, and an Iron Age Play Fort for children.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Sandstone exterior of a sandstone holiday cottage with sash windows in Alnwick
Sleeps
7
Bedrooms
4

The elegant Cosy Nook will delight guests with its immaculately presented furnishings and decor. The 19th-century townhouse boasts three bedrooms and two bathrooms, plus a sunny patio and open fire across its three floors and contains modern finishes in a pet-free holiday cottage in Alnwick, Northumberland.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a North Devon farm cottage overlooking a garden
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Duck Cottage is a large luxury barn conversion in North Devon, nestling in a quiet corner of Little Torrington. The rural cottage boasts commanding views over its generous gardens and woodlands. It features an open fire, a heated outdoor swimming pool, a library, a games room and access to farm animals.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Farm Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Independent Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A 3-storey Georgian House overlooks an open field
Sleeps
16
Bedrooms
7

Upper Mowley promises groups a peaceful holiday in a delightful rural cottage boasting spacious gardens, two fireplaces, a games room, a unique indoor tennis court and privacy. The pet-friendly, large holiday cottage near Kington sits among the rolling Herefordshire countryside and blends modern comforts with rural charm.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A row of thatched village cottages overlook trees and flowering bushes on a village green.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

11 The Green is a charming thatched cottage located in the coastal village of Otterton, perfect for those looking for self-catering holidays in East Devon. The village is home to a historic working watermill and offers easy access to local amenities, beaches, clifftop walks, and scenic country lanes. The holiday home boasts a tastefully decorated interior with two cosy bedrooms, a spacious living area, a fully equipped kitchen, and a delightful garden for al fresco dining. It's an ideal base for exploring the beauty of East Devon.

 

 

 

 

 

  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Stone-built bungalow exterior overlooking a paved courtyard in Robin Hoods bay
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Abbey View Cottage is a charming stone-built barn conversion on a working coastal farm near Robin Hood’s Bay, which offers couples the peace and seclusion of a romantic cottage. The pet-friendly holiday home provides beautiful views across farmland to Whitby Abbey and proximity to the North York Moors.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A gable-windowed holiday cottage overlooks a large lawn bordered by bushy shrubs.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Garden View is an impressive holiday apartment in Porlock Weir with a gorgeous garden and views over the countryside to the coast of Somerset. Situated within a former Edwardian hunting lodge, the pet-friendly cottage sleeps four. It has a lovely lawned garden with a furnished area for outdoor dining, plus a light and airy interior with an open-plan design.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Seafront houses and apartments overlook a beach in Falmouth.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Sand-n-Sea is a superb ground-floor apartment in the 5-Star Endcliffe development overlooking Gyllyngvase Beach. Located on Falmouth promenade, this luxury beach apartment features two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a beachfront terrace and reserved parking. This is beachside Cornwall at its best!

  • Accessible By Train
  • Accessible Cottages
  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Independent Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Waterside Cottages