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.

Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Spectacular ocean views extend to the horizon from Galatea, a coastal cottage within the Whitby Lighthouse complex. The unique cottage offers elegant and light-filled accommodation, spacious furnished grounds, a refreshing sea breeze, sophistication, and seclusion within easy reach of the beach. 

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Waterside Cottages
A single storey bick-built bungalow is surrounded by a lawn lined by hedges.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Based in the peaceful Norfolk countryside near Kings Lynn, Sheppard's Hut is a quaint bungalow on the outskirts of Terrington St. Clements. A quiet and simple holiday home, it is a perfect base to explore the Lincolnshire coast and countryside, popular for its trails and wildlife.

  • Accessible Cottages
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
A lighthouse and buildings now converted to holiday cottages gleams in the summer sun in Broadstairs.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Lodesman Cottage enjoys sweeping ocean views from its position within the North Foreland Lighthouse above the beaches of Broadstairs. The unique coastal holiday cottage in Kent sleeps 4 and offers sophisticated light and airy accommodation plus spacious grounds for relaxing in the sun and the light sea breeze.

  • Accessible By Train
  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
2

Sleep among the canopy is The Treehouse, a luxurious rural cottage in Halse, Somerset, which boasts beautiful views, a swimming pool and a hot tub. The wooden-clad cottage includes a fireplace and promises 5-star eco-friendly comfort, access to the countryside, and miles of sandy beaches.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Car Chargers
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Eco Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A 4-storey house with balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows within a well-kept, mature garden.
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
6

Big Blue is a beautiful waterfront cottage that offers breathtaking views of the Bristol Channel. The Portishead holiday cottage features rustic antique furnishings and artwork that add to its old-world charm. Additionally, the cottage has floor-to-ceiling windows that offer expansive views of the sea, stretching all the way across to Wales. It is a secluded coastal cottage that is truly elegant and perfect for those seeking a relaxing retreat.

  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
Stable Cottage, the front of a stone-built barn conversion
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Stable Cottage on the North Norfolk coast in Cromer is a luxury 5-star Award-winning Norfolk holiday cottage. This beautifully furnished, pet-friendly holiday cottage in East Runton features a private hot tub, table tennis, pool table, Sky Q HD and a private walled garden + BBQ. It's a 5-minute walk from the Blue Flag beach.

  • Accessible By Train
  • Accessible Cottages
  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages with Car Chargers
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Independent Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
A 2-storey stone-built Cotswold mill conversion overlooking a well-kept garden.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Lower Mill Cottage is a charming country cottage that was once part of a larger traditional mill. It is situated in the beautiful Cotswold village of Broadway, which is considered one of the most attractive villages in the Cotswolds. The cottage features a lovely garden that is bordered by a peaceful stream, making it a perfect retreat for dog owners. Additionally, the cottage has private parking available.

  • Accessible By Train
  • Active Holidays
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Independent Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
Exterior of a holiday cottage in Cark-in-Cartmell overlooking a small patio and lawn.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Lovely 18th-century holiday home near Cartmel village in the South Lakes. Off-road location, log fire, free Wi-Fi. Short breaks from £240.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Independent Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
An ancient granite built and thatched Dartmoor longhouse overlooking a lawn.e
Sleeps
12
Bedrooms
6

Explore Hole Farm, a large Dartmoor holiday cottage just 2 miles from Chagford. This historic thatched Devon longhouse, built in medieval times, offers a unique stay with impressive features. The spacious sitting room boasts an open fire and an inglenook fireplace. Flexible accommodation includes four bedrooms and a separate cottage in the courtyard. With 130 acres of traditional Devon fields, it's perfect for large families. Pet-friendly and surrounded by captivating landscapes, Hole Farm is an ideal quirky retreat for groups seeking history, charm, and plenty of Moorland walks.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays