Luxurious Private Holiday Rentals For UK Staycations
By Fiona Duncan
2 days ago
Secluded getaways for those who prefer privacy
Craving a staycation with the family? Looking for your own space? A private holiday rental may be the perfect answer, and with hundreds all over the country, there’s bound to be one just right for you. From coastal retreats to idyllic Highland getaways, central city stays to countryside boltholes, these are the best private houses in the UK right now.
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Best Private Houses in the UK
Some reviews are taken from this year’s Great British & Irish Hotels Guide 2024/5. You can read the full reviews online or purchase your print Hotels Guide here.Â
The Old Vicarage, Holmrook, Lake District
Dating back to 1864, this former vicarage is brimming with period charm – but you can also expect an array of fantastic amenities including a cinema room, games room and a sunken hot tub in the garden. The property sleeps 14 people across seven bedrooms, so there’s plenty of space for the whole family (and dogs are welcome, too).
BOOK
From £500 per night. luxurycottages.com
Sand & Stone Escapes (nationwide)
If you’re after a staycation with the ‘wow’ factor, then Sand & Stone Escapes has you covered. Born out of a passion for design, quality and unique holiday stays, the brand’s impressive portfolio of coastal, city and country hideaways and houses can be found across the UK, including the Cotswolds, Devon, Norfolk, and Isle of Skye. Its Managing Director meets each property owner to determine whether their home is a suitable addition to the Sand & Stone family. As a result, the brand has curated an unbeatable selection of luxurious self-catering holiday homes to book. There’s its flagship property, Black Moon, a decadent oceanfront two-person bolthole situated on the shores of St Ives, perfect for romantic breaks. The Tree House in the Cotswolds – a real-life treetop cabin nestled in a pretty wooded valley with a wood-burning stove and a freestanding bath in front of bifold doors, which you can push back for an incredible al-fresco bathing experience amid the leaves. Or, book one of its utterly charming cottages, from sweet 17th century The Square to brand new Wood Farm House, a five bedroom Cotswold stone house could easily be mistaken for a small boutique hotel.
BOOK
From £125. +44 (0)20 8740 3097; sandandstoneescapes.com
Temple Guiting Manor, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
A country cousin to Henry’s Townhouse in Marylebone, this is the place to hold your swinging rural weekend in true Cotswolds style. There’s a stunning, historic small Medieval manor house – described by Nicholas Pevsner as one of the finest examples of its kind in the country – with utterly charming features, including two of the UK’s only purpose-built dovecotes, which have been cleverly converted into one cinema room and one hot-tub space. If your party is extensive, you can also rent The Barn next door – for those who like a more contemporary feel and perhaps more accessibility. Whichever house you’re in (the whole lot can sleep up to 32), you have a tennis court, Jinny Blom-designed parterred gardens, and a lake for wild swimming in the morning at your disposal (the pool is for The Barn guests only), as well as a cute forest playground for children. From your door, there are walks for miles around without the need to get in a car, but mostly you’ll want to linger and lounge in true Saltburn style in your perfect country estate.
BOOK
The Manor, from £2,100 per night; the whole estate from £5,450 per night. +44 (0)1451 850577; templeguitingmanor.co.uk
Trevear Farm, Wadebridge, Cornwall
With all the luxurious amenities of a boutique hotel, but featuring the privacy of a private home, Trevear Farm on the beautiful North Cornwall coast is the perfect place to escape and unwind. There’s eight self-catering cottages to choose from here, including grand five-bedroom Broadview, which has a hot tub, barbecue and garden room with a pool table, and cosy Barn Owl Roost, a cottage with two bedrooms, patio and wood-burning stove Off-site, there’s also Lowen, a fabulous three-bedroom cottage with sweeping views over the Camel Estuary and a heated swimming pool, and four-bed Rockview, which features a magnificent sun deck to make the most of its position overlooking the same stretch of water. If you’re staying at a property on the farm, you have the use of an indoor swimming pool, steam room, gym and wellness room. The farm is ideally located for visiting nearby Padstow, with its restaurants and pretty harbour, and for accessing some of Cornwall’s most spectacular beaches. Farm tours are also available upon request, and the friendly team can organise everything from yoga classes to horse riding to water sports for you.
BOOK
From £941. +44 (0)1872 553491; trevearfarm.co.uk
Cothelstone Manor, Taunton, Somerset
A magnificent Grade II*-listed Elizabethan house, Cothelstone Manor offers the ultimate country getaway for its guests. You can call its seven bedrooms – with six bathrooms, a grand dining hall, billiard room, drawing room, snug and modern kitchen – home for a weekend, a week, or even longer. The original building here dates back to the 16th century, you’ll find its present iteration (rebuilt in the 19th century) has been lovingly recently restored with interior designer, Edward Bishop, using a palette of earthy tones, plus plenty of texture and natural materials. The manor is available to hire on a self-catering basis, or alternatively it offers a fully catered luxury experience for a truly relaxing stay – how about hosting a feast in the 500-year-old Dining Hall, conjured up by a handpicked catering team using delicious local produce? It’s all set in the divine, bucolic 1,500-acre Cothelstone Estate, which places nature, heritage and community at its core, with the organic farm, ancient woodlands and historic buildings creating a special place for both locals and guests alike.
BOOK
From £1,400 a night. +44 (0)7870 111934; cothelstonemanor.com
Featured image: Honeybridge Estate