Unusual & Quirky Holiday Cottages

Find unusual and quirky holiday cottages across the UK, from former windmills, lighthouses and railway buildings to distinctive conversions and historic homes. Every property in this collection should have a clearly described feature that sets it apart—whether that is its architecture, original purpose, setting or design. Explore the listings, then check the individual property details for practical information such as layout, access, parking and pet rules.

A lighthouse on a clifftop overlooking the ocean.
  • Sleeps 5
  • Bedrooms 3

Situated on the grounds of a working lighthouse at the southernmost point in Devon, Landward Cottage near the abandoned coastal village of Hallsands overlooks Start Bay. It offers gorgeous sea views and a pet-friendly three-bedroom South Devon holiday cottage featuring a gravel patio and cosy sitting room.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
Behind a low stone wall and lawns stands a lighthouse tower and buildings.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

View Stopes Cottage at The Old Higher Lighthouse, an unusual Portland Bill holiday cottage with sea views near Weymouth in Dorset, offering a sensational and unique holiday home. Once the dwelling place of Marie Stopes, this converted Jurassic Coast Lighthouse sleeps 4 in 2 bedrooms.

  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A Lighthouse tower and buildings on a grassy clifftop.
  • Sleeps 6
  • Bedrooms 4

Enjoy a unique holiday at Veronica Cottage, a stylish coastal cottage within Anvil Point Lighthouse near Swanage. Set within Durleston Country Park, the contemporary cottage enjoys spectacular ocean views and access to the beautiful beaches of Dorset. It offers spacious grounds and a sea breeze.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
A 4-storey house with balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows within a well-kept, mature garden.
  • Sleeps 12
  • Bedrooms 6

Big Blue is a beautiful waterfront cottage that offers breathtaking views of the Bristol Channel. The Portishead holiday cottage features rustic antique furnishings and artwork that add to its old-world charm. Additionally, the cottage has floor-to-ceiling windows that offer expansive views of the sea, stretching all the way across to Wales. It is a secluded coastal cottage that is truly elegant and perfect for those seeking a relaxing retreat.

  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
A lighthouse and buildings now converted to holiday cottages gleams in the summer sun in Broadstairs.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

Lodesman Cottage enjoys sweeping ocean views from its position within the North Foreland Lighthouse above the beaches of Broadstairs. The unique coastal holiday cottage in Kent sleeps 4 and offers sophisticated light and airy accommodation plus spacious grounds for relaxing in the sun and the light sea breeze.

  • Accessible By Train
  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
An ancient granite built and thatched Dartmoor longhouse overlooking a lawn.e
  • Sleeps 12
  • Bedrooms 6

Explore Hole Farm, a large Dartmoor holiday cottage just 2 miles from Chagford. This historic thatched Devon longhouse, built in medieval times, offers a unique stay with impressive features. The spacious sitting room boasts an open fire and an inglenook fireplace. Flexible accommodation includes four bedrooms and a separate cottage in the courtyard. With 130 acres of traditional Devon fields, it's perfect for large families. Pet-friendly and surrounded by captivating landscapes, Hole Farm is an ideal quirky retreat for groups seeking history, charm, and plenty of Moorland walks.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Two shepherd huts at dusk, converted and linked to form a single unit.
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

Anne’s Hut blends into the surrounding woodland. The unique former shepherd’s hut has been fashioned into a romantic holiday cottage in Penterry, Monmouthshire, which boasts extensive gardens with wonderful countryside views, luxurious décor, a wood burner, an outdoor firepit and contemporary comforts.

  • Active Holidays
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A lighthouse complex in a clifftop location with the sea in the background.
  • Sleeps 6
  • Bedrooms 3

Perched on the clifftop at Start Bay, Beacon Cottage boasts unparalleled ocean views and a wonderful sitting-out area. The coastal cottage adjoins the lighthouse near Kingsbridge in Devon and offers a unique holiday escape with contemporary elegance, modern comforts and access to sandy beaches.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
Exterior of a restored Scottish croft with stone walls thatched roof in a remote location on Skye
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

Beaton’s Croft is a truly unique romantic getaway. The A-listed rural cottage is listed under the National Trust for Scotland and occupies a secluded corner of Kilmuir on the Isle of Skye. With a thatched roof and whitewashed walls, plus an open fire, the Croft exudes character and enjoys views.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A lighthouse complex on a rugged clifftop in Cornwall.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

Bishop Rock is a cosy seaside cottage located within Lizard Lighthouse, which boasts panoramic views over the ocean from atop the cliffs. The unique property near Lizard Village promises modern comforts, subtle décor, and direct access to this beautiful stretch of the Cornish coast.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Small Cottages
Aerial view of a Cornish Lighthouse complex overlooking the sea.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

Brook Cottage is a sophisticated coastal cottage set above the cliffs within Trevose Head Lighthouse near Padstow. The pet-friendly cottage enjoys spectacular ocean views and a sea breeze. It offers enclosed lawned gardens with furnished spaces, coastal chic and proximity to the many delights and attractions on the North Cornwall coast.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Entry arch and adjoining granite-built cottage overlook a castle courtyard.
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

The National Trust for Scotland offers Courtyard Cottage, a romantic apartment inside Drum Castle in Drumoak. The pet-friendly holiday cottage in Aberdeenshire dates back 700 years and boasts antique furnishings in keeping with its history, as well as an open fire, contemporary comforts and beautiful grounds.

  • Active Holidays
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior view of St Anne's Lighthouse complex on the Isle of Wight.
  • Sleeps 5
  • Bedrooms 3

Fancy a lighthouse holiday? Book Gunard, a Ventnor holiday cottage, part of St Catherine's Lighthouse on the Isle of Wight. With superb sea views, this pet-friendly waterside cottage sleeps 5 in a secluded rural location right above the waves.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
Open-plan living space in a converted horse box in Somerset.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 1

Chill out in the Somerset countryside at Horsing Around, a converted horsebox near Frome. The luxury eco-friendly lodge offers expansive grounds with beautiful views, a spacious deck, and unique décor with modern comforts. Pick herbs from the garden and relax by the wood burner.

  • Accessible By Train
  • Active Holidays
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Eco Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A clifftop lighthouse complex in Kent with well-kept lawns.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

On the North Foreland Lighthouse site above Broadstairs, this delightful cottage features entrance hall, fully fitted kitchen, sitting room, dining room, bathroom, double bedroom and single bedroom with full size bed and comfortable pull-out bed.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays

What makes a holiday cottage quirky?

A quirky cottage is more than an attractive old building or a cottage with colourful décor. Look for a specific, documented feature: perhaps a former ticket office, a converted water tower, a lighthouse stay, a windmill or a railway carriage. The listing should make clear why the property belongs here.

If you are looking forLook forCheck before booking
A historic conversionA former mill, ticket office, tower or other repurposed buildingStairs, original layout and any access restrictions
Unusual architectureA lighthouse, tower, circular building or non-standard layoutFloor plans, headroom and external access
A memorable settingA heritage site, coastal landmark or distinctive rural locationPrivacy, nearby visitors, other properties and parking
A design-led stayA clearly described themed or characterful interiorPhotos, room layout and the exact features provided

Things to check before you book

Older and converted properties can have steep stairs, split levels, compact rooms or unusual access arrangements. If you are travelling with children, a dog, or anyone with limited mobility, read the full property description and ask the owner or agent about anything important to your stay.

Frequently asked questions

It should have a verified architectural, historic, original-use, setting or design feature that makes it materially different from a standard cottage.

Some are, but suitability varies. Check bedrooms, outside space, stairs, water features and any property-specific safety notes before booking.

Use the dog-friendly cottages collection, then confirm the individual property’s pet policy, charges and any garden restrictions.

Not always. Converted and historic buildings may have steps, narrow doorways or split-level layouts. Check the property details before booking.