
When the days get chilly and the nights close in, there’s nothing better than cuddling up in front of a roaring fire, hot chocolate in hand. These quaint country cottages are the ultimate retreats for a healthy dose of hygge, with wood burners, snuggly soft furnishings and charming decor filling the rooms with warmth and contentment. Whatever the weather outside, you’ll feel right at home in these enchanting abodes.
From tiny little hideaways to larger family homes, the following properties will have you ooh-ing and ahh-ing from the moment you catch a glimpse of them, and will continue to delight as you step through the front door. Think thatch-topped, stone-walled and draped in pretty blooms, and you'll get an idea of what's to come below.
Read on to be inspired by our pick of cute cottages, some of which have been given a stunning artist's treatment, or browse our entire collection to find your perfect home-from-home.
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Leys Cottage | Lower Swell, Cotswolds
Sleeps 4 + 1 dog
Sitting in a row of similar properties, all with endearingly uneven slate rooves, this chocolate-box Cotswold-stone cottage exudes a warm welcome. Step in through the pretty porch with attractive planting either side, and find a homely, bright interior. Original features and contemporary decor meld to create five-star accommodation.
Curl up in front of the toasty wood burner in its eye-catching stone hearth, luxuriate in the fabulous roll-top bath, and snuggle down in one of the sumptuous beds – there are outstanding features aplenty. Outside, the walled cottage garden promises evenings of BBQs and socialising as the sun goes down.
Leys Cottage Lower Swell

Laundry Cottage | Combe Hay, Somerset
Sleeps 6 guests
Wandering through the picturesque garden to the door of this quintessential country cottage, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped right into the pages of a Peter Rabbit book. Just a short drive from the equally charming city of Bath, the Grade II listed honeyed stone house is beautifully decorated in a homely style. Settle down with a novel in front of the crackling wood burner in the lounge, where characterful beams and an exposed stone hearth create a feeling of cosiness.
With two super-king-size bedrooms boasting elegant slipper baths, you can enjoy an indulgent soak before sliding sleepily between the sheets. A further comfortable twin room means all guests will enjoy a peaceful slumber.
Laundry Cottage

Elsie Cottage | Northiam, Sussex
Sleeps 2 + 1 dog
Tucked away down a country lane in rural Sussex, 300-year-old Elsie Cottage sits comfortably in its peaceful surroundings. Attractive white clapboard panelling, climbing roses and a brick chimney set the tone for the quaint interior – a modest space with old wooden beams, an inglenook fireplace and cottage-style bedroom creating the perfect romantic retreat for a loved-up couple.
The compact back garden has been expertly designed by a Chelsea Flower Show medal winner. An enclosed, dog-friendly spot with a handmade bench, cute bistro set, and beautiful planting, it invites you to linger a while with a good book.
Elsie Cottage

The Secret Burrow | Westward Ho!, Devon
Sleeps 4 + 2 dogs
The Secret Burrow is a charming, characterful cottage which looks like it's been lifted straight from the pages of a fantasy novel. The fantasy theme continues throughout the bespoke interior of the single-level retreat, whose quirky design features include its circular door, curved walls, exposed brickwork and fabulous rustic-wood touches. The wood burner keeps things cosy, while two bedroom sanctuaries offer flexibility, with one of them being furnished with twin zip-and-link beds which can be made into a second double on request, making it perfect for a small family, or two couples.
The attraction doesn't stop there, however. Outside, a private hot tub and patio with countryside views offer space to relax and sizzle up a BBQ in the sunshine.
The Secret Burrow

Little Thatch | Netherbury, Dorset
Sleeps 2 + 1 dog
With roses climbing up the front, a traditional thatched roof, and a cute, compact size, Little Thatch – Netherbury epitomises the English country cottage. The pretty abode is set within a neat lawned garden and surrounded by rolling hills, its interior maintaining a bygone charm with chintz-style carpet, decorative curtains and floral plates displayed on exposed beams.
Upstairs, beneath the eaves, sits a cosy double bedroom where you could be forgiven for thinking that you’ve been whisked back to times gone by. Here it’s easy to embrace the simplicity of yesteryear, put screens and phones to one side, and sink into a slower pace of life.
Little Thatch – Netherbury

Bloomsbury Cottage | Axminster, Devon
Sleeps 6
The epitome of a chocolate-box cottage, this attractive thatched house is a wonderful retreat for a group of friends or family to enjoy time together. Cook up hearty meals on the beautiful range cooker to warm the cockles after a day out in Devon or neighbouring Dorset, then draw the curtains and settle down to share stories in the restful living room with its warm wood floors, fluffy rug and charming brick fireplace.
Children will no doubt leap out of their beds in the morning, fling on their coats, however cold the weather, and head out into the garden to make the most of the fantastic shared play area with trampoline, swings and slides.
Bloomsbury Cottage

Kitten Cottage | West Witton, Yorkshire Dales
Sleeps 2 + 1 dog
Comparing this quaint and pretty cottage to a TARDIS does nothing to convey its character and charm, but just like Doctor Who’s capacious cabin, Kitten Cottage will amaze guests with its bigger-than-expected interior.
The dainty stone cottage offers bijou accommodation, packing in a compact lounge with wood burner, well-equipped one-wall kitchen, intimate bedroom with sloping ceiling and skylight, and a lovely en-suite complete with a bath. A small, enclosed patio is perfect for giving Fido a bit of fresh air.
Kitten Cottage
Planning your next escape?
These are just a handful of the delightful cottages available to book on holidaycottages.co.uk. For more delightful retreats, take a look at our whole collection, or narrow your search based on comforting features, whether that be thatched cottages, romantic retreats, properties with open fires or wood burners and even four-poster beds!
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