he patio garden and exterior of a Gloucestershire holiday home with an outdoor dining table and a hammock strung between trees.

View Gloucestershire Holiday Cottages in the Severn Valley and The Cotswolds

Relax and enjoy self-catering holidays in the idyllic and historic County of Gloucestershire, and do so in comfort and style by renting a self-catering cottage for a weekend, a whole week, or even longer. There are many parts of Gloucestershire: the historic towns of Gloucester and Cheltenham, The Cotswold Hills, The Forest of Dean, and the valleys of the Severn and the Wye, all having their own distinctive appeal. You won't find yourself short of stunning views and memorable experiences.

You'll find castles such as those at Berkeley and Sudeley and achingly beautiful villages such as the two Upper and Lower Slaughters, Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Campden or Boughton on the Water, all seemingly unchanged for centuries. There's even a Roman villa at Chedworth; while just digging anywhere in the market town of Cirencester, Roman remains will be revealed. Make sure you visit the elegant Georgian spa town, Cheltenham, with its magnificent Pump Rooms, rivalling those in Bath.

The Anchor in Lydbrook
Lydbrook
Gloucestershire
England
Sleeps
22
Bedrooms
8

Once a village pub, The Anchor has been tastefully converted to create a large Forest of Dean Holiday Cottage, complete with a hot tub and games room. This family-friendly holiday home in Gloucestershire lies in a magical rural location in the Wye Valley. Pets welcome.

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A stone-built house with roses and wisteria climbing the walls.
Wood Stanway House
Stanway Wood
Gloucestershire
England
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
6

Wood Stanway House is a Grade-II listed property in a remote rural location in the Cotswolds. This Gloucestershire holiday let offers six beautifully appointed bedrooms, including ensuites and a roll-top bath. The ground floor features a well-equipped kitchen, a living/dining room with open fires, and a snug for family games. Outside, enjoy the enclosed wraparound garden with alfresco dining. Explore nearby villages, historic sites, and the cultural town of Cheltenham. Experience a luxury holiday home in the Cotswolds. View the full description for more details.

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Second Nature, Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
England
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Enjoy a romantic Cotswolds holiday with a stay at Second Nature on the outskirts of the spa town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, the perfect getaway for couples wanting to explore this picturesque region. Second Nature is an eco-friendly rural retreat for two boasting a distinctive four-poster bed and walk-in rain shower.

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Ward Court holiday cottage isa brick property next to the village shop.
Wards Court 1, Frampton-on-Severn
Frampton-on-Severn
Gloucestershire
England
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Bright and cosy, Wards Court 1 is perfect for a romantic getaway in Gloucestershire. Updated throughout, this self-catering apartment in Frampton on Severn is a lovely idyllic village retreat for two. The River Severn and nearby countryside offer many delightful options for exploring or simply relaxing together.

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A coach house conversion with tall trees behind and a lawn in front.
Coach House (Hawling)
Hawling
Gloucestershire
England
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

The Coach House is an authentic rural holiday cottage in Gloucestershire on the beautiful grounds of a Grade II-listed 16th-century Old Rectory. The cottage in the little Cotswold village of Hawling near Cheltenham dates back to the 14th century and boasts stunning views over meadows, an open fire, luxurious décor and perfectly located for walking holidays in the Cotswold Hills.

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Large Windermere holiday cottage on a terrace overlooking a spacious lawn.
Cleabarrow Cottage, Bowness-on-Windermere
Draycott
Gloucestershire
England
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
6

Cleabarrow Cottage is an impressive rural holiday cottage offering large groups seclusion, luxury and a hot tub. Generous lawned grounds surround the property in Windermere, Cumbria, and offer beautiful countryside views, while the interior and exterior promise elegant spaces in which to relax and entertain.

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Exterior of a large, 3-storey, brick-built Wye Valley cottage with a large lawn.
Forest House, Gloucestershire
Coleford
Gloucestershire
England
Sleeps
24
Bedrooms
11

Forest House is a spacious holiday cottage located in Coleford, situated in the heart of the picturesque Forest of Dean. This property was formerly a 4-star hotel but is now converted into a self-catering accommodation that is perfect for large groups of holidaymakers who wish to explore the surrounding area. With 11 bedrooms, it can comfortably accommodate up to 24 guests.

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Exterior of a small Gloucestershire cottage and adjoining stable in a garden.
Elinor Fettiplace, Newent
Newent
Gloucestershire
England
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Elinor Fettiplace is a rustic romantic cottage on the grounds of Elizabethan Pauntley Court. Sitting near Pauntley in Gloucestershire, it dates back to the 1300s and boasts beamed ceilings, wooden floors, and authentic rural charm. A tennis court and lakes are found on the extensive grounds.

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Aerial view of a contemporary farm house surrounded by open fields.
Willersey Farm House in The Cotswolds
Broadway
Gloucestershire
England
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Set in its own gated grounds, Willersey Farm House is a large holiday cottage in the Cotswolds. It is a unique blend of old and new, with a traditional Cotswold house housing the bedrooms attached to an all-new, contemporary living area. Traditional beams and honey-stone walls mix with stunning contemporary design to create an exceptional Warwickshire country cottage near Broadway.

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Visit the city of Gloucester and the 1000-year-old Norman Cathedral, whose role in history embraces the mediaeval tomb of Edward the II through to its 21st-century use as a location for Harry Potter Films (Hogwarts) and Dr Who. 

A little further up the M5 is the fine Regency Spa town of Cheltenham. Here, you’ll be spoiled for choice of restaurants and cultural experiences. Cheltenham is a festival town that hosts major UK music, literature, jazz, and folk events. To see Cheltenham from the air, a balloon flight over the city has to be one of the best ways to travel. There are festivals aplenty in Gloucestershire, attracting visitors from all over the world. In addition to the many festivals held throughout the year in Cheltenham, the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival is also a crowd-puller. It features the largest annual medieval battle in the UK - a re-enactment of the 1471 Battle of Tewkesbury. The festival is fought by thousands of people and witnessed by many more. See it! 

Many quaint traditional events, such as the Cheese Rolling every May at Coopers Hill, are worth a weekend break. Here, men, women and children take turns to run hurly-burly down a steep hill in Brockworth near Gloucester chasing a large circular cheese. You have to see it to believe it!

Talking of cheese, locally grown produce isn’t hard to find in the County with its plethora of excellent delicatessens and farmers’ markets. If you’re staying in a self-catering holiday cottage, this will ensure you feast like Royalty every evening during your holiday. You can work off dinner the following day at a choice of adrenalin-filled activity centres, such as kayaking in the Cotswold Water Park or The High Ropes Centre in the Forest of Dean. Putting food to one side, if you stop off at the Thames Head Inn, you’ll be sitting right next to the source of the River Thames.

The Forest of Dean, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty bordering the picturesque Wye Valley, is well worth visiting. It offers miles of footpaths and cycle trails through beautiful woodland. Walk the inspirational sculpture trail or view it from the carriage window of a steam train courtesy of Dean Forest Rail, whose 8 miles of track take you through the forest near Lydney. You can even travel along trails through the Forest of Dean by Segway near Parkend.

If you have a penchant for chocolate villages, tea rooms, antique shops and historic architecture, then you will love the Cotswolds. A large part of Gloucestershire is Cotswold Country, where visitors can choose beautifully restored and furnished holiday cottages. Here, there are walks a-plenty, such as the Stanton, Snowshill and Edge Walk – 6 miles over hills and down wooded dales with three ’chocolate box’ villages and a choice of tea rooms.

Spend a day or two enjoying the activities at The Cotswold Country Park & Beach near Cirencester – a water park with swimming, water zorbing, adventure playgrounds, kayaking and lovely lakeside walks. A string of cosy villages and small towns hug the banks of The River Severn, such as Tewkesbury, where the ancient Tewkesbury Abbey is open to the public, and Upton-on-Severn hosts some notable music festivals during the summer. 

The River Severn offers excellent opportunities for fishermen and those happy to spend an hour or so on the water by hiring a boat. While on the watery theme, visitors will enjoy a day at the Slimbridge Wild Life Water Park, a UK Visitor Attraction of the Year. Lakes, pools, and ponds bristle with a spectacular variety of wetland birds: ducks, geese, swans and even flamingos. Some are resident all year round, while others arrive for the summer or winter. Walk around or take a canoe safari.

As you can see, a short break or more extended self-catering holiday in Gloucestershire will give you, your friends and your family a memorable and relaxing experience, whichever part of the County you choose to call your home during your stay.

Gloucestershire Destinations