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

Book Self-Catering Holidays in Quirky and Unusual Holiday Homes

Fancy a holiday that’s a bit off-kilter, 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?

Step into the delightfully eccentric world of quirky holiday cottages, where the ordinary takes a back seat and the extraordinary becomes your temporary abode!

Search here to find architecturally unique holiday cottages 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.

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.

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.

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  • Active Holidays
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  • Fishing Holidays
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A Swiss-style wooden holiday lodge with a 1st floor deck looks out across lush Somerset countryside.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Panoramic Views is a chalet-inspired countryside cottage in the Trull area on the outskirts of the county town of Taunton, Somerset, offering stunning views of the Blackdown and Quantock hills, with a well-equipped kitchen, king master with en-suite with walk-in shower, and two flat-screen TVs.

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A  stone-built cottage overlooks a large lawn surrounded by flowering shrubs and bushes.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

A perfect rural retreat set amidst a working sheep farm within the Exmoor National Park, Mill Cottage in Luxborough offers comfortable upside-down accommodation for up to six guests, a child-friendly cottage in Somerset with a spacious living area, a wood-burning stove, and an enclosed garden.

  • Active Holidays
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A lighthouse complex with a squat tower perches on a clifftop.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Rowena Cottage is uniquely positioned inside a converted lighthouse near Swanage. It enjoys superb ocean views from Anvil Point. The pet-friendly cottage features ample grounds to soak up the views of the Dorset coastline. It boasts luxury and a rare chance to get away in a spectacular location.

  • Active Holidays
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A lighthouse with a sweeping clifftop lawn and sea views.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Book an Isle of Wight holiday cottage with superb sea views at Landward, a beautifully renovated ex-Lighthouse keeper's cottage at St Margaret's Lighthouse. Near Ventnor, a few minutes walk from the beach, this attractive cliff-top rural holiday cottage sleeps 4. Pets welcome.

  • Active Holidays
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A stone barn conversion overlooks a lawn and flower-filled garden
Sleeps
11
Bedrooms
6

Dolly's barn is a large 17th-Century barn near Ilfracombe, which has been lovingly converted into a charming 6-bedroom luxury holiday cottage sleeping 11 with disabled access in a beautiful spot on the North Devon Coast.

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  • Large Holiday Cottages
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A lighthouse holiday cottage complex on a rugged North Devon clifftop.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Enjoy unique self-catering holidays in North Devon with a stay at Siren, one of four refurbished former lighthouse keepers’ cottages overlooking Bull Point near the village of Mortehoe, Devon, a child-friendly cottage that sleeps up to five, featuring three bedrooms, a fully fitted kitchen, and absolutely gorgeous sea views.

  • Active Holidays
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A clifftop lighthouse and cottages with spectacular ocean views.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Bishop Rock is a former Cornish lighthouse keeper’s cottage located within the Lizard Lighthouse grounds, boasting panoramic ocean views from its clifftop location. The unique, much modernised, comfortable self-catering cottage near Helston provides direct access to this beautiful stretch of the Cornish coast.

  • Active Holidays
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  • Coastal Cottages
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  • Quirky Cottages
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A Cornish lighthouse complex with holiday cottages in a clifftop location.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Bishop Rock is a former Cornish lighthouse keeper’s cottage located within the Lizard Lighthouse grounds boasting panoramic ocean views from its clifftop location. The unique much modernized comfortable property near Helston provides direct access to this wonderful stretch of the Cornish coast.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Waterside Cottages

Whimsical Wonders: Quirky Holiday Cottages for the Adventurous Soul

Fancy a holiday that's a bit off-kilter? Step into the delightfully eccentric world of quirky holiday cottages, where the ordinary takes a back seat and the extraordinary becomes your temporary abode!

A Spin on Traditional Stays

Imagine waking up in a windmill, your head literally in the clouds (well, almost). These cylindrical charmers offer a slice of the high life, complete with winding staircases and panoramic views that'll make your Instagram followers green with envy.

Experience the Whimsical Beauty of Converted Railway Cottages

Or how about channelling your inner conductor in a converted railway carriage? All aboard the nostalgia express! These compact cottages are just the ticket for those who love to choo-choose unique accommodations.

Lighthouse Living: Not Just for Lonely Keepers

Lighthouse cottages are a beacon of hope for those who prefer their holidays with a dash of maritime magic. Fall asleep to the rhythm of crashing waves and wake up to views that'll make you feel like the king (or queen) of the sea.

Elevated Experiences

Tree huggers, rejoice! Luxury treehouses offer a chance to live out your childhood dreams, minus the splinters and wobbly planks. These lofty retreats come with all the mod cons, proving that the high life doesn't have to mean roughing it.

Fantasy Becomes Reality

Hobbit holes aren't just for the vertically challenged or Middle-earth enthusiasts. These earth-covered dwellings offer a chance to burrow into comfort, with round doors that would make Bilbo Baggins proud.

Signalling a New Kind of Stay

For a truly on-track holiday, converted signal boxes offer a unique vantage point. These elevated abodes give you a bird' s-eye view of the surrounding landscape, without needing actual wings.

Rustic Charm in a Compact Package

Shepherd's huts prove that good things come in small packages. These snug sanctuaries offer a cosy retreat that's perfect for those looking to count sheep in more ways than one.

Architectural Oddities

Follies, those wonderfully whimsical structures built purely for decoration, now offer more than just eye candy. Stay in a mock castle or a miniature Greek temple and live out your architectural fantasies.

These unusual holiday homes are more than just a place to rest your head; they're the starring characters in your next great adventure story. Whether you're planning a romantic getaway, a family escapade, or a solo sojourn, there's a quirky cottage waiting to become the backdrop to your holiday memories.

Ready to embark on your own distinctive holiday adventure? Explore our curated selection of quirky holiday cottages and unearth the perfect unconventional abode for your next getaway. From quirky cottages to unusual holiday homes, we offer a smorgasbord of properties that are anything but ordinary. Book directly with property owners and dive into a world of unique stays across the UK, enjoying transparent pricing and a personalised booking experience.

Your extraordinary holiday begins here. Uncover your ideal quirky cottage today and enter a world where the unusual becomes the unforgettable!