Small Holiday Cottages and Homes

Browse small holiday cottages and self-catering homes across the UK. This collection includes one- and two-bedroom properties for couples, friends and smaller families looking for a more compact place to stay.

Small describes the size of the property, not its style, setting or price. You may find a cottage by the coast, a rural retreat, a city apartment or a character property in a village. Use the filters to narrow your search by destination, group size and features, then check the individual listing for the bedroom layout and facilities that suit your plans.

  • Sleeps 3
  • Bedrooms 2

A modern and attractive pet-friendly lodge with room for three, The Callow Lodge offers access to a private hot tub as well as Beaconsfield Holiday Park’s terrific facilities. Many other attractions are also available in nearby Iron Bridge, Church Stretton, or Ludlow.

  • Active Holidays
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Eco Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
Exterior  of a stone-built, single-storey Chirnside holiday cottage.
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

Come to experience the rich history of the village of Chirnside or spend your days relaxing on the local beaches just outside town. Beautiful countryside awaits you at The Coach House! This lovely, romantic cottage offers a cosy country getaway on the Scottish Borders for two.

  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A twin-gabled brick holiay home overlooking a guest car-parking area
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

The Coach House offers sophisticated coast and country accommodation for four in the North Yorkshire village of Levisham. It boasts subtle elegance with a stone exterior, a contemporary interior, and a delightful garden and open-plan design, all in the heart of the North York Moors and Coast.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • 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
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Eco Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

The Compass is a stylish one-bedroom apartment in the heart of the resort town of Swanage, Dorset, a romantic flat within a pleasant courtyard that makes a cosy holiday escape for couples, with a private parking space, fully fitted kitchen, breakfast bar, tiled bathroom, and comfy sitting area.

  • Active Holidays
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Entrance to a stone-built Cumbrian coottage with a porch and small lawn.
  • Sleeps
  • Bedrooms 1

Enjoy a romantic holiday amidst the splendour of Northern England with a stay at Cow Byre, a stone-built small holiday cottage in the Cumbrian hamlet of Barras. It is situated within easy reach of the Yorkshire Dales, featuring a split-level open-plan living area, a feature wall, and a loft bedroom with a four-poster bed.

  • Active Holidays
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Farm Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A single storey barn conversion stands on the edge of a paved courtyard.
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

The Cow Cott is a stunning stone barn conversion located in a small rural village. This charming holiday cottage, ideal for couples near Peterchurch, perfectly blends rustic charm with modern style. With its exposed beams, stone walls, and wooden fittings, this property offers a contemporary and cosy atmosphere for a romantic getaway. You can also enjoy the spacious garden and breathtaking views of the beautiful Herefordshire countryside.

  • Active Holidays
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

The Diary oozes olde-worlde charm. The thatched rural holiday cottage sits on a working farm amid rolling green hills in Bicknoller and promises a beautiful holiday in Somerset. The pet-friendly cottage in the Quantock Hills boasts generous grounds with fresh air and lovely views, plus a private garden and traditional character.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Farm Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

The Dairy Barn is a charming rural holiday cottage near Fakenham bursting with a traditional character set on 7 acres of grounds in Toftrees, Norfolk. The 18th-century barn conversion welcomes pets and boasts lovely gardens, exposed beams, a swimming pool, and a games room featuring brick walls and a contemporary setting.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

The Dairy in the village of Leighton provides couples looking for a romantic cottage for a quiet countryside holiday in Shropshire. Guests receive a welcoming gift upon arrival and feel at home on this working cattle farm.

  • Active Holidays
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Farm Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A semi-detached Cotswold holiday cottage with leaded, bay windows overlooks a village street.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

The Dervish is a gorgeous Cotswold stone cottage nestled in the village of Broadway in Gloucestershire. The rural cottage boasts beams and antique furnishings, including an ornamental fireplace, and is centrally located for exploring the village and the surrounding wonders of the Cotswold countryside.

  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A single storey Tintagel Garden Apartment overlooks a large rockery.
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

The Garden Apartment is a small, romantic cottage for couples with sea views on the spectacular North Cornwall coast between Tintagel and Bossiney Cove. Features a wood burner, TV, double bedroom, and fitted kitchen—close to great beaches and stunning seaside scenery. Pets welcome.

  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Small Cottages
Entrance to a single storey seaside barn conversion in front of which is a wooden picnic table.
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

Couples on holiday in the north of England enjoy cosy accommodation at The Goat Shed, a barn conversion in the rural hamlet of High Normanby, North Yorkshire, a pet-friendly holiday cottage that retains much of its original character and sits near the Yorkshire coast and in North York Moors National Park.

  • Active Holidays
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A stone-built barn conversion surrounded by open countryside with a ramp to the front door.
  • 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
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

Enjoy everything that the rural North East has to offer with a stay at The Granary, a magnificent red brick barn conversion on the edge of the village of Long Framlington, Northumberland, a countryside cottage complete with tiled and wood flooring, two en-suite bedrooms and private garden.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Small Cottages

Find a small cottage that fits your plans

A smaller holiday home can be a good choice when you do not need extra bedrooms or unused living space. For a stay for two, you may be looking for privacy, a good kitchen and a location close to places you want to visit. For friends or a small family, the bedroom layout, bathroom and sleeping arrangements can be more important than the headline number of guests.

Your plansDetails to compare
A cottage for twoBedroom, bathroom, kitchen, location and parking
Friends travelling togetherWhether bedrooms have double, twin or bunk beds
A small family breakBedroom layout, cot space, child equipment and outdoor space
A short stayAvailable arrival days, minimum stay and total price
Bringing a dogNumber of dogs allowed, outdoor space and property rules

What to check before booking a small holiday cottage

  • Bedrooms and sleeping layout: Check the number of bedrooms and the type of beds, especially if more than two people are travelling.
  • Property type: The collection may include cottages, apartments, studios and annexes. Read the individual description before booking.
  • Living and dining space: A cottage sleeping four may still have a compact kitchen, lounge or dining area.
  • Bathroom arrangements: Check whether there is one bathroom, an en-suite or a separate WC.
  • Facilities: Parking, outdoor space, accessibility features and pet arrangements vary between properties.
  • Location: Small cottages can be coastal, rural, urban or village-based. Check the exact setting and nearby amenities.

More small-break ideas

If you are looking specifically for a stay for two, browse our cottages for couples. You can also combine your search with short breaks, dog-friendly cottages, coastal holiday cottages or country cottages.

Frequently asked questions

These are usually one- or two-bedroom self-catering properties. Sleeping capacity varies, so check the individual listing for the exact bedroom and bed layout.

No. Many suit two people, but some have two bedrooms and work well for friends or a small family.

Not necessarily. Price depends on the location, dates, facilities and demand. Compare the total cost for your chosen stay rather than assuming a smaller property will cost less.

Some can. Check how the guests are accommodated, particularly where a sofa bed, bunk beds or a shared bedroom are involved.

No. The collection can include coastal, rural, village and town properties. Check the location information for the individual cottage.