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.

      Exterior of a large contemporary house with a raised terrace and surrounded by mature gardens.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Clamoak Cottage is a charming waterfront cottage in Clamoak boasting a thoroughly modern interior combined with exposed beams and touches of yesteryear and an open fire. The pet-friendly cottage offers outdoor spaces with sweeping views of the Tamar River and the South Devon countryside.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
Exterior of a brick-built country cottage with a patio dining set on its courtyard.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Country Idyll is an elegant rural cottage located close to Grantham. It is built with beautiful stone and surrounded by picturesque countryside and a lovely garden that offers delightful views. The cottage features ornate furnishings and boasts outdoor spaces along with a cosy log fire, promising a tranquil and comfortable stay.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Cycling Holidays
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
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  • Short Breaks
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Large 3-storey contemporary holiday home with well-kept gardens.
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

Three Gables is a five-bedroom house in a small rural village at the western end of the Isle of Wight. If you stay with us, you'll wake up to stunning country views accompanied by birdsong. And if you're lucky, you might even glimpse a red squirrel.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages with Car Chargers
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Eco Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Independent Cottages
  • Large Cottage Discounts
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a semi-detached holiday cottage in East Yorkshire overlooking a quiet road with plenty of parking spaces to the rear.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

The White House welcomes couples to Middleton-on-the-Wold and rewards them with an indulgent hot tub. The pet-friendly romantic cottage in the Vale of York and Yorkshire Wolds sits in a prime location for walking and cycling and offers a sophisticated style with exposed beams and an open-plan design.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
exterior view of a stone-built barn conversion amidst a garden full of mature shrubs, bushes and a lawn.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Set in a gorgeous countryside location near Holywell Bay just six miles west of Newquay, this beautifully restored eco home is perfect for four and accepts two dogs. Tastefully furnished with a spacious living area, two luxurious bedrooms and fantastic rural views, it is the ideal family retreat in any season.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Eco Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
Sleeps
20
Bedrooms
8

Woodbank is a large, idyllic holiday cottage in South Wales in beautiful rural surroundings above the River Usk. The holiday cottage in Llanhennock sleeps 20 people in 8 bedrooms with six bathrooms. It is set within twenty acres of private grounds within easy reach of the Brecon Beacons and the South Wales Coast.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
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  • Cycling Holidays
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Upper Instow Beach Cottage is a charming first-floor North Devon holiday let that overlooks the estuary. The dog-friendly waterside apartment sleeps five people in three bedrooms. It has a lovely balcony to sit in and enjoy uninterrupted views across the beach and estuary to Appledore and beautiful sunsets.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
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  • Managed by My Favourite Cottages
  • Short Breaks
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A single-storey holiday lodge overlooks a garden with mature palm trees.
Sleeps
3
Bedrooms
2

Enjoy beautiful views and a sea breeze at Oak, a coastal cottage at Primrose Hill in Somerset that boasts gorgeous gardens, disabled access, contemporary comforts, a games room, and light-filled spaces. Admire the countryside views and spend days exploring Blue Anchor Bay and Exmoor National Park.

  • Accessible By Train
  • Accessible Cottages
  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Independent Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Riding Through the Clouds is a stylish converted fishing warehouse in Newlyn on the Cornish coast. The chic coastal cottage boasts exposed stone walls, local art, geothermal heating, open-plan design, and a spacious terrace that captures the sun and leads to the nearby Coombe River.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages