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 single storey barn with a private, secure, hedge-lined lawn.
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
6

Lower Curscombe Barn is a rural East Devon holiday cottage near Honiton that combines two properties on a semi-working farm. This luxury holiday home provides child-friendly self-catering accommodation for up to 12 guests with six bedrooms in two beautifully furnished, adjoined cottages amidst lovely gardens.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
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  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

Dating back to the 17th-Century, Higher Mullacott Farmhouse near Ilfracombe is a large and luxurious 5-bed holiday cottage in North Devon which has been tastefully renovated for style and comfort, all set in a beautiful countryside location with sea views on the North Devon coast.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Coastal Cottages
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  • Large Holiday Cottages
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  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

This secluded, 2-bedroom Aberdovey holiday cottage is perfect for a family of four who want to get away but not so far away as to not have access to the shops, pubs and beaches in nearby Aberdovey. Just minutes away from the sea, enjoy the beautiful rural views from Braich-Y-Celyn Lodge.

  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
Country Cottage with large garden overlooked by a steep, wooded hill
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Uninterrupted ocean views await guests at St Anthony’s Cottage, a luxurious Exmoor coastal cottage just a stroll from the beach in Porlock Weir, Somerset. The pet-friendly cottage boasts contemporary charm and pastel hues, generous grounds, a sun-drenched patio, a wood burner and refreshing sea breezes.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
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  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Small Cottages
Exterior of a weather-boarded East Sussex Cottage and lawned garden.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Cherry Cottage is a spacious, modern rural holiday cottage in East Sussex boasting seclusion and tradition. The pet-friendly cottage lies in Ripe, near Lewes and boasts stunning rural views, exposed beams and outdoor entertaining areas. Beautiful walks lead from its doorstep, and the wonders of Sussex await.

  • Active Holidays
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A glimpse of a cottage wall and window peeping through a gap between bushes.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Situated on the owner’s organic farm near the historic market town of Tavistock, Devon, Rose Cocoon offers a beautiful rural holiday experience, a child-friendly cottage with access to a gym, spa, and swimming pool. It boasts a traditional English vibe with wood panelling and antique furnishings.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
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  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
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  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a single-storey with a conservatory having sliding glass doors overlooking a spacious garden.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Escape to The Garden Studio, an idyllic and romantic holiday cottage in the serene hamlet of Bournes Green, Gloucestershire. Impeccably presented and surrounded by the stunning Cotswold countryside, this sophisticated rural retreat offers the perfect blend of traditional charm and modern comfort. Relax in the pretty garden, soak up the sun in the bright and airy sunroom, or unwind on your own private patio. This is the ultimate destination for a romantic getaway or a peaceful retreat. Book your Gloucestershire cottage holiday at The Garden Studio today and experience the beauty of the Cotswolds like never before.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a 3-storey cottage surrounded by beautiful flower-filled gardens.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Take a closer look at Hemphaye, a charming 17th-century house and now a luxury self-catering coastal cottage in East Devon with Wi-Fi. It sleeps up to 6 people in 3 bedrooms (2 bathrooms) and is an easy walk from the beach and the town centre of Sidmouth.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Independent Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Behind a hedge is a large L-shaped contemporary cottage with a conservatory.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
5

Hunter Court spoils guests with its lovely mature gardens and refined, luxurious interior. The large rural holiday cottage in Clanfield, Oxfordshire, offers seclusion on multiple acres and boasts a large conservatory, spacious light-filled rooms and the promise of a memorable holiday in the heart of the Cotswolds.

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