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.

A stone-built exterior of a Dorset cottage with a shingle garden protected by an ornate iron fence.
  • Sleeps 8
  • Bedrooms 4

The Old Butcher’s Shop in Docking offers a soft palette with dashes of colour in a detached rural cottage just moments from the coast. The large and pet-friendly holiday cottage in Norfolk blends luxury with country charm and features an open fire, a games room and multiple sun-drenched spaces to relax and socialise.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Two-storey brick exterior of a holiday home in Beverley
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

The Old Dairy opens up the North York Moors and Coast for exploration and provides for a comfortable stay in Beverley. The converted barn welcomes pets and sleeps 4 guests and offers an enclosed, lawned garden with a summerhouse, as well as an open-plan design, arched windows and contemporary style.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A single-storey barn conversion overlook a shingled courtyard with a shrub-filled flower bed.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 3

The Old Dairy is a lovely ground-floor barn conversion dripping in character and situated on 200 acres near the pretty village of Stapleton. The semi-detached, pet-friendly holiday cottage in Shropshire transports guests back to yesteryear, blending rural charm with modern comforts.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A single storey barn conversion  overlooks a courtyard full of shrubs in large pots.
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

The Old Dairy is located in the idyllic village of Herne on a beautiful stretch of the Kent coast between Whitstable and Margate. This cosy coastal holiday cottage for couples is a beautifully converted dairy near a shingle beach, ice cream parlours and beach huts at Herne Bay.

  • Accessible Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
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  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Single storey barn conversion with floor-to-ceiling French windows and a courtyard with raised flower beds.
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

Located just south of the Cotswolds and set on a farm, The Old Stables at Bradley's Farm is an idyllic rural retreat for two, with south-facing views of beautiful countryside and access to a private arboretum.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Cycling Holidays
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  • Fishing Holidays
  • Remote Cottages
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  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A brick-built barn conversion in Shropshire sits behnd a hedge and a tall, rose covered picket fence
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

The Old Workshop is an elegant romantic cottage in the delightful Shropshire village of Picklescott near Church Stretton. The pet-friendly, 19th-century cottage boasts contemporary comforts and traditional features such as an open fire, beamed ceilings and a lovely garden with rural views.

  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Small Cottages
Exterior of a slate-roofed barn conversion overlooking a courtyard in Shropshire.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

The Olde Cowshed offers couples and families a two-bedroom luxury cottage in Shropshire with a games room, home gym and hot tub on a 250-acre working farm in Westhope Village. This rural holiday home is surrounded by the beautiful countryside with easy reach of many attractions. Pets welcome.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
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  • Farm Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of asemi-detached restored fisherman's cottage with a paved courtyard in Appledore.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

The Retreat is a charming North Devon holiday cottage in Appledore. The pet-friendly cottage offers an enviable waterside location, a spacious garden, exposed beams and sash windows, and a fantastic base for memorable seaside holidays.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

The Retreat is featured in the Daphne Du Maurier novel The King’s General. Couples can write their own holiday narrative at this romantic cottage with a cute patio in St Keyne near Liskeard, Cornwall. The pet-friendly, 1-bedroom rural cottage features inviting, modern décor blended with rustic charm.

  • Accessible By Train
  • Active Holidays
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  • Coastal Cottages
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  • Short Breaks
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  • Walking Holidays
A terrace of contemporary Cornish seaside cottages bathed in sunshine.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

The Sand Dunes in the seaside village of Crantock, Cornwall, offers the perfect holiday escape along the South West coast, a child-friendly coastal cottage featuring downstairs under-floor heating, an enclosed garden with a patio, and two bedrooms that comfortably sleep four guests.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Gable end of a Shropshire Holiday Cottage wth a 1st floor entrance approached via a bridge.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

The Schoolhouse Brewhouse is a fabulous hot tub holiday cottage with a tennis court and beautiful gardens. It sleeps 4 in the quaint Shropshire village of Bishop’s Castle. Ideally positioned for cycling, horse-riding and walking in the South Shropshire Hills, Offa’s Dyke and the Welsh Marches.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A contemporary wooden holiday lodge in Est Devon overlooking a large walled lawn.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

Urban chic meets traditional charm at The Shippen, a delightful East Devon country cottage in Membury with beautiful views of an AONB. The pet-friendly cottage offers a generous, sun-lit, open-plan living space, a wood burner, double-height bedrooms, beautiful gardens and access to the coast.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Small Cottages
Exterior of a stone built barn conversion overlooking a  courtyard with dining table and chairs.
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

A gravel farm track leads guests to the restored 18th-century detached barn known as the Shippon, located in a North Wales village, boasting romantic charm, modern fittings, and a mezzanine bedroom for couples. Gardens and magnificent views surround this pet-friendly holiday cottage in Lechwedd.

  • Active Holidays
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A single storey wooden barn conversion with an extended roof to create a sheltered terrace.
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

A unique Scandinavian-style eco-friendly cottage with a swimming pool blessed with timber finishes and surrounded by lawned gardens in a tranquil Isle of Wight coastal setting. Furnished to a very high standard, romance and relaxation are assured in this child and pet-free luxury getaway near Ryde.

  • Active Holidays
  • Coastal Cottages
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  • Cycling Holidays
  • Eco Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
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  • Walking Holidays
An Exmoor coast holiday cottage with a large raised deck is surrounded by trees and mature gardens.
  • Sleeps 1
  • Bedrooms 2

The Stable Block, near the ancient seaside village of Porlock Weir, Somerset, makes the perfect romantic getaway along the Exmoor coast. It is a dog-friendly cottage featuring a Juliette balcony with gorgeous views of the garden and Porlock Bay, underfloor heating, and an open-plan living and dining area.

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

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.