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 large Exmoor Farm Cottage overlooks a lawn surrounded by a gated stone wall.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
4

With views of the Bristol Channel, Yenworthy Mill rewards visitors with tradition, walking trails, comfort and style. The pet-friendly cottage sits on a working farm in the Exmoor National Park, just moments from the coast. This large Countisbury cottage in North Devon sleeps ten.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Aerial view of a country cottage on the edge of a wood overlooking fields in Glamorgan
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Nos Da (Welsh for 'good night') is a beautifully presented contemporary cottage offering the ideal tranquil escape in South Wales' beautiful countryside and nearby coastline. It is perfect for walkers and cyclists, and there are many attractions nearby, including the Millennium Stadium.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Remote Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Jamaal Lodge is a large wooden  Northumberland holiday lodge in the peaceful hamlet of South Broomhill. The pet-friendly lodge boasts a lovely garden and entertaining areas, a sun-drenched balcony, light and airy spaces and within easy reach of the best attractions of the Northumberland region.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
2

Sleep among the canopy is The Treehouse, a luxurious rural cottage in Halse, Somerset, which boasts beautiful views, a swimming pool and a hot tub. The wooden-clad cottage includes a fireplace and promises 5-star eco-friendly comfort, access to the countryside, and miles of sandy beaches.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Car Chargers
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Eco Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a stone built cottage overlooking a courtyard.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

This semi-detached Cumbrian holiday cottage is located near Cark-in-Cartmel and can sleep four people in two bedrooms.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior anf front garden of a double-fronted thatched holiday cottage in West Lulworth
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Discover the charm of Cajun Cottage, a captivating West Lulworth holiday let. This delightful holiday cottage in Dorset enjoys an ideal location, a brief stroll from Lulworth Cove beach and two welcoming pubs. Admire breathtaking sea views from the elevated terrace and indulge in the property's modern amenities, a cosy wood-burning stove, and well-appointed bedrooms. It is tailored for families or friends seeking a pet-friendly retreat on the Dorset coast. View the complete description to unveil the enchanting features that make Cajun Cottage an unforgettable coastal escape.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A twin-gabled Exmoor barn conmverion surounded by a lawn.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Large families looking to holiday off the beaten track can enjoy a stay at Nethercote Byre in the centre of Exmoor, a child-friendly barn conversion near the Somerset villages of Winsford and Exford. It features a living room with a wood burner, a games room with table football and four comfy bedrooms.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A rambling, stone-built cottage in Cumbria with a terraced garden
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Whether blanketed in snow or blossoming with wildflowers, the grounds of Cazenovia Hall complement this Grade II listed rural holiday home near Greystoke in Cumbria. The pet-friendly cottage promises extensive gardens, beautiful views, an open fire and a masterful blend of modernity and tradition.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
14
Bedrooms
6

If your large family is looking for a place in the Peak District for a cottage holiday, look no further than The Rindle! This large rural holiday cottage near Leek comfortably houses up to 14 people and serves as the perfect rural base for countryside holidays for families and friends.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays