An octagonal, stone-built toll house shaded by trees.

Book Self-Catering Holidays in Quirky and Unusual Holiday Homes

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.

A 2-storey Exmoor holiday cottage stands in front of a bank of mature trees.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

Discover the quiet luxury of The Mount, a large holiday home in Dulverton accommodating up to 10 guests. This comfortably furnished property with a games room invites you to experience memorable holidays on Exmoor with family or friends. Enjoy spacious interiors, stunning views, and a tranquil atmosphere in this beautiful National Park, ensuring a perfect rural retreat for those seeking an escape to the countryside.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a single-storey, vine-dlad, one bedroom holiday bungalow near Bude overlooked by mature trees.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Primrose End is a romantic cottage for couples in North Cornwall. It sits upon a smallholding with livestock in the North Cornwall hamlet of Broad Langdon near the village of Jacobstow. This romantic cottage features open-plan living space, a contemporary kitchen, a wood-burning stove, a rear lawned garden and a cosy double bedroom.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A stone-built barn conversion overlooks a lawned garden.
Sleeps
15
Bedrooms
4

Nestled in the rural hamlet of Bottomhouse near Ipstones village, Bottomhouse Barn is a large and spacious 18th-century barn. It offers self-catering holidays to large families or groups of friends. This Peak District holiday home in Derbyshire sleeps 15 and benefits from gorgeous rural views and a hot tub.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior or a modern Cotswold honeystone house with triple bay windows
Sleeps
7
Bedrooms
4

Upper End House offers luxury holidays in the Cotswolds. The rural holiday cottage in Shipton-under-Wychwood boasts sophistication and charm throughout its spacious interior. Ample gardens capture the sun and open fire warms the interior in winter and ensures a memorable family holiday.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
Wooden chair outside than open front door of a holiday cottage
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Nobby's is a charming pet-friendly cottage that combines the best of both worlds - the coast and the countryside. The cottage is located on East Thorne Farm, in the beautiful North Cornwall countryside near Bude. Families can enjoy a range of activities, including an adventure playground, an indoor games room, a spa, a campfire, and picturesque rural walks.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
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
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
An Exmoor stone barn conversion overlooks a bend in a country lane.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

This pet-friendly farm cottage in Somerset nestles in an idyllic valley between the Brendon Hills and  Exmoor. Harthanger View Cottage near the rural village of Luxborough was recently converted from a barn into a charming retreat with a spiral staircase, cosy sitting room, and en-suite master.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

With fabulous waterside views across the beautiful River Dart and the Marina beyond, the 2-bedroom apartment at 40 Dart Marina is in a fabulous South Devon location within walking distance of central Dartmouth within a designated National Landscape.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Waterside Cottages
A double-fronted Hope Cove holiday cottage overlooks a large lawn.
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Explore this spacious South Devon retreat at 4 Coastguards Cottage, a large holiday home in Hope Cove. Nestled in the village of Inner Hope, this family-friendly holiday let has four bedrooms, a welcoming sitting room, and outdoor spaces. Just 1/3 mile from Hope Cove, it offers easy access to two nearby beaches, making it an ideal base for seaside adventures. Discover the charm of this converted coastguard cottage, ensuring a memorable and comfortable stay for the whole family.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays