A guide to bagging holiday cottages in England
In our world of high-rise skyscrapers and high-pressure jobs, it’s easy to forget the simpler things in life. That’s where holiday cottages in England come in. They can transport you from the buzzing heart of cities, such as London and Manchester, out to the time-stood-still dales and moors and stone-built villages of Old Blighty. They’ll surround you with nature and quaint towns, offering a real retreat from the rat race.
Which travellers will love holiday cottages in England?
A whole mix of different people will feel right at home in an English cottage, from loved-up couples on a pre-wedding jaunt to whole families with a springer spaniel in step.
Walkers keen on a dog-friendly English cottage
Don’t worry – floppy-eared family members won’t have to miss out on the country getaway. There’s a whole sub-section of pet-friendly cottage stays in England, which recognise just how important it is for some travellers to share those long walks with their ball-chasing buddy. You might have to pay just a small extra fee to get your dog along with you.
Couples looking for a romantic English cottage
A classic cottage is a great way to get away from it all with your other half. Snuggle-inducing features like real-wood fires and cosy lounges could be the perfect backdrop for that memorable minimoon. Meanwhile, the various locations of holiday cottages in England, whether it’s the poetic hills of the Lake District or the rolling dales of the Cotswolds, often lend themselves to something truly romantic.
Families who need a large, self-catering English cottage
No matter whether it’s a family trip to the castles of Northumberland or the corkscrewing rollercoasters of Alton Towers, the likelihood is that you’ll be on the lookout for larger rentals if the whole crew is coming along for the ride. Luckily, there are many of these all over England. They come with plenty of bedrooms and sprawling kitchen-dining spaces, and can often host groups of up to 10, or even more.
Places to look for a coastal English cottage
On an island nation that’s hemmed in by the sea, it shouldn’t be a surprise that many an English cottage sits perched by the coast. If you’ve decided you’d like to wake to salt-filled breezes, you can get ready to explore some of the country’s best-loved holidaying counties.
Seas, beaches and more in Cornwall
Whether you settle between the salt-washed skiffs of Padstow or near the prestigious Tate Gallery of St Ives, you can rest assured that Cornish holiday rentals offer a uniquely English taste of the coast – quite literally, when you factor in all those award-winning fish bistros.
Dorset cottages can’t be ignored
The Dorset south coast is largely a designated area of outstanding natural beauty. It hits a zenith with the Jurassic Coast, which stretches out on either side of Lyme Regis, with its high cliffs and curious geology. Families tend to love it for all the fossil-hunting days and folksy fish-and-chip stalls.
Something wilder on the Yorkshire coast
Bracing breezes roll off the North Sea to make the Yorkshire coast a whole different beast, when compared to England’s southern shores. Cottages stand strong against it all, offering access to the chalky Flamborough Cliffs and their stunning coves, not to mention whale-watching trips that depart from the abbey-topped town of Whitby.
Taste luxury cottages in England
Whoever said that a rustic cottage means rustic amenities? These nature-shrouded stays might be nestled in the fells of the Lake District or between the bogs of the New Forest, but they can offer a taste of luxury, if that’s what you’re after. Consider booking somewhere that has the following features.
Find an English cottage with a hot tub
A hot tub won’t distinguish between the icy waters of the North Sea or the bristling breezes that caress Dartmoor, come winter. It will just wait to warm your bones and muscles when you return from the surfing trip or stroll. Cottage stays tend to put their bubbling baths outside, in order to make the most of the stunning landscapes that erupt all around.
Historical holiday cottages in England
With millennia of history at its back, old Albion is laced with towns and hamlets that ooze medieval charm and Jacobean heritage. You’re sure to be able to find an English cottage with its own story to tell. Many are even Grade-listed buildings, which means that their rich past has been recognised for its exceptional level of interest to chroniclers and architects.
Other frills to enjoy in a luxury English cottage
The real accomplishment of luxury home rentals in England is the way they manage to fuse quaint charms with modern conveniences. That could be a converted farmhouse with a swimming pool and steaming sauna, a brick-faced Cumbrian bolthole with a babbling hot tub in the garden, or a compact Cotswolds escape with Bluetooth connectivity and flat-screen TVs.