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.

Spacious, open-Plan interior of a modern seaside holiday apartment.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

A modern luxury apartment home in a brand-new North Devon coastal complex, 5 Putsborough in the heart of the seaside resort village of Woolacombe, Devon, offers a family-friendly holiday stay, a pet-friendly home with a master bedroom having a  king-sized bedroom and an en-suite bathroom, private balcony, and access to indoor pool and gym.

  • Accessible Cottages
  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Independent Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Sliding doors reveal the luxuriously furnished open-plan exterior of a modern holiday cottage.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Kersey Cottage is a beautiful, newly refurbished, family-friendly holiday home in the heart of Flushing village with an open plan living to sleep up to 8 guests in comfort. Dogs are welcome, and the spacious sun-trap garden is a real bonus!

  • Accessible By Train
  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Little Lamb is a lovely shepherd’s hut near the historic market town of Faringdon, Oxfordshire, a small romantic, rural retreat for couples amidst the picturesque Cotswolds. The compact and cosy eco-friendly holiday property provides a spacious feel, with a fully equipped kitchen, walk-in shower, and king-size bed.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Eco Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A single storey stone built cottage with a raised terrace overlooking a garden.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

The delightful village of Lastingham houses this 18th-century stone-built cottage for couples with an authentic exterior and high-quality interior. The romantic cottage features delightful decor plus a patio area within easy reach of The North York Moors National Park or the coast at Whitby.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Small Cottages
Attached stone barns form an L-shape around a shrub and flower-filled courtyard garden.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Derby is a luxury holiday cottage for couples at Endmoor Farm in the Derbyshire Peak District near Bakewell. This beautifully furnished, pet-friendly cottage in secluded rural surroundings is a beautifully appointed romantic retreat in the countryside for two (+cot) at any time of the year.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Independent Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Small Cottages
Sleeps
11
Bedrooms
4

Beesoni Lodge is a delightfully-converted barn which exudes charm and treats groups to a four-bedroom property with contemporary fittings. The large rural holiday cottage lies at the foot of the Malvern Hills in Hill End and is ideal for pets, wildlife enthusiasts and those wishing to explore Worcestershire.

  • Agency Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A Cotswold holidy cottage with a vine-covered exterior.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

The 99 Yew Trees is a gorgeous 3-bedroom holiday cottage in Painswick overlooking the church in the heart of The Cotswolds. The 16th-century townhouse boasts a lavish garden full of mature plants and a neutral palette accentuated by traditional features such as the fireplace, wood burner, exposed beams and stone walls.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a large L-shaped stone farm house overlooking a large courtyard parking area.
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
5

One of two wonderfully refurbished farm cottages near the rural village of Clawddnewydd in Clwyd, Maestyddyn Farm House (Maes for short) makes an ideal holiday base for large families and groups in North Wales. This large pet-friendly cottage features a shared games room, hot tub, sauna, and five stylish bedrooms each with TVs and en-suite.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

The charming property located at Wickmere near Sheringham boasts antique furniture, exposed beams, and a wood-burning stove, surrounded by breathtaking views of the countryside. Cromer, a popular seaside town, is only nine miles away.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays