10 Pretty Holiday Cottages Near London
FOR COUPLES
Seaside Retreat, Suffolk
One of Suffolk’s most charming seaside towns, Aldeburgh has a seafront lined with pastel-coloured holiday villas, great fish and chip shops, unique galleries and independent shops. This pink cottage is full of handmade furniture, textiles and accessories, with chic limewashed walls of varying colours in each room. The hub of the home is the open-plan kitchen/diner – with an indoor wood burner in the central chimney breast – which leads onto the living area. Upstairs, you’ll find the main bedroom, plus a twin (for little ones), and a bathroom with a large freestanding bath.
From £179 per night.
Visit Airbnb.co.uk
Pea Cottage, Cambridgeshire
If you’re after total privacy, this spacious detached cottage is surrounded by rolling hills and Cambridgeshire countryside. Just a short drive from Stamford – and easily reached from London via a two-hour drive – the honey-stoned cottage has its original beams and oak flooring which has been kitted out with underfloor heating. There’s a custom-made kitchen/diner where you can cook meals on the aga or eat at the island, plus a cosy living room with an indoor wood burner. There’s a spacious double bedroom and bathroom with a freestanding bath and shower, plus a small patio for al fresco dining.
From £177 per night.
Visit Airbnb.co.uk
Laura Massey
New Forest Cottage, Hampshire
This small red-brick property is on the edge of the New Forest National Park, home to over 200 miles of woodland. In the small village of Nomansland, this is a traditional forester’s cottage within walking distance of the local French restaurant, pub and numerous walking routes. Downstairs, there’s an open-plan kitchen/living area with a wood-burning stove, and a separate utility area, while upstairs has a king-sized bedroom with a spacious and modern en-suite. If the weather allows, you can fire up the Ninja BBQ, and enjoy meals and drinks on the garden patio.
From £140 per night.
Visit Airbnb.co.uk
Inkwell Cottage, Cotswolds
Built from the Cotswolds’ trademark honeyed stone, this is one of the chicest options on this list. In Burford, 20 miles west of Oxford, it has plenty of original features amid the updated interiors. There’s a loft-style bedroom with a king-size bed, a ground-floor bathroom and a cosy living area. Couples can relax by the wood burner, dine in the courtyard, and explore Burford’s antique shops and boutiques. The quaint village of Bibury is a 15-minute drive away, while Blenheim Palace can be reached in around 30 minutes.
From £750 per short break.
Visit UniqueHomestays.com
FOR FAMILIES & GROUPS
Oyster Cottage, Whitstable
Sleeps: 4
If you’re longing to escape the city, Whitstable makes for a great seaside staycation. It has it all, from oysters and rosé to pastel beach huts and plenty of vintage shops – easily reached from London via a 90-minute train journey. The owners of this pretty family cottage spent almost a year renovating the property with the kind of boutique interiors you’d expect at a hotel. Think warm, neutral colours, printed fabric headboards and scalloped cushions. There are two king-sized bedrooms, plus a shared bathroom stocked with Bramley toiletries. The beach is just a short walk away (borrow folding chairs and the cool box from the garden) and there’s an outdoor bar, an al fresco kitchen and seating outside for drinks.
From £200 per night.
Visit KipHideaways.com
West Cottage, Dungeness
Sleeps: 4
This Grade II-listed cottage was once a lighthouse keeper’s house, and many of its original features have been restored, including its distinctive red chimneys and fireplaces. Inside, shades of cream and greys are a backdrop for pops of colour in patterned cushions and striped curtains, and every room has a great view – either of the wildflower garden or sweeping dunes. The cottage has two double bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, and a cosy living area with an indoor wood burner. Climb to the top of the Old Lighthouse next door for panoramic views of Dungeness and the RSPB nature reserve, and tuck into scallop rolls and dressed crab at the Fish Shack, just a 15-minute walk from the cottage.
From £275 per night.
Visit KipHideaways.com
Spring Cottage, Cotswolds
Sleeps: 6
One of the prettiest options on this list, Spring Cottage is the perfect setting for a fun girls trip. Tucked down a quiet lane in Chipping Norton, the cottage is surrounded by greenery in every direction, with a spacious garden where you’ll find a dining table, sun loungers and a hammock. There’s a homely kitchen with wicker baskets hung from the ceiling’s beams, as well as a long dining table for mealtimes. Guests can relax in the light-filled lounge, cosy up with a book in one of three double bedrooms, and head on long walks or wild swims when the weather heats up. In winter, hunker down by the roaring log burner with boardgames, and visit one of the many local pubs.
From £380 per night.
Visit KipHideaways.com
EMILY BOWDEN PHOTOGRAPHY
Little Bee Cottage, Cotswolds
The honey-coloured cottage is in the Cotswolds village of Milton-under Wychwood, between Burford and Chipping Norton. Surrounded by great pubs, restaurants and independent shops, there’s plenty to see and do here during a weekend. Having recently been renovated by two interior designers, the property is light and bright, complementing original features like the exposed beams and stained-glass windows. There’s a kitchen leading onto the cosy living room with an indoor burner and plenty of seats to cosy up with a book, plus two double bedrooms upstairs. At the front of the house you’ll find a small but secluded garden.
From £235 per night.
Visit SandAndStoneEscapes.com
Well Cottage, Cotswolds
Sleeps: 6
This family home is in the pretty Oxfordshire village of Ramsden. A typical Cotswold cottage, the property was renovated by designer Laura Stephens, who has enhanced its original features with chic country interiors. Farrow & Ball colours, pretty printed fabrics and restored beams add to the charm. Guests can cook meals in the homey open-plan kitchen/diner with its farmhouse table, cosy
up in the living room beside the log burner and watch films in the TV room. Upstairs, there are three bedrooms, including a super-king with its own rolltop bathtub. There are plenty of pubs in the local area, including The Bull in Charlbury which is well worth a visit for drinks and Sunday roasts.
From £325 per night.
Visit SandAndStoneEscapes.com
Buckingham Mews Cottages, Broadstairs
Sleeps: 4
There are five cottages in this collection of holiday homes, tucked away in a little mews just a few minutes from Viking Bay beach in Broadstairs, Kent. Each sleeps four guests across two cosy bedrooms (with space for an extra person if they don’t mind a pull-out sofa bed). Following a recent renovation, the cottages have chic country interiors, with stripped-back wooden floorboards, wicker furniture, bespoke kitchenettes with a butler's sink, and double bedrooms that lead onto bathrooms with rolltop baths. Each one has an open-plan living and dining area, an indoor wood burner, and a snug with a TV. Over at Viking Bay, you can spend the day swimming or sunbathing by the beach and eating ice-cream at the famous Morelli Parlour.
From £260 per night.
Visit CoolStays.com
Laura Massey
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