11 Idyllic English Cottages You Can Book on Airbnb
Sienna Miller’s 16th-century thatched-roof cottage in Buckinghamshire had plenty of us wishing for the rural idyll of the English countryside. Luckily for anyone unprepared to sweep up a holiday house on a whim like Sienna, there’s always Airbnb. Chocolate-box cottages in the picturesque Cotswolds and their sea-weathered counterparts along the Cornwall coast abound on the internet. Here are the best spots to book for a truly cottagecore experience.
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1/11Cozy Cornwall Apartment, from $111
The seaside region of Cornwall is beloved for its pale blue waters, stellar seafood, and outdoor activities like surfing, sailing, and long country walks. England’s most popular surfbreak often comes with steep prices in holiday season, though. Enter this sweet, cozy little apartment for two in a traditional country home, complete with original stone walling.
2/11Thatched Roof Chocolate-Box Cottage in the Cotswolds, from $256
Kingham, widely regarded as one of the most picturesque villages in the Cotswolds, is particularly popular among food people, including restaurateur Keith McNally. The town is 20 minutes from Daylesford Farm and Soho Farmhouse, and home to The Kingham Plough, a local favorite. This 16th-century two-bedroom cottage, complete with vine covered walls, classic chocolate-box layout, and a rose garden, makes for the ideal respite between meals.
3/11Chapel Cottage near Bath, from $72
You’ve read about England’s chapel turned boutique hotel. Now visit the nearby chapel turned Airbnb. The architectural details in this one-bedroom chapel cottage, like arched stained glass windows and original stone walls, are softened by pale wood interiors and cozy, quintessentially English details like floral wallpaper.
4/113 bedrooms in the Scottish Highlands from $160
The rolling hills of the Scottish Highlands are ideal for walkers. (Or ramblers, as they’re called locally.) At the end of a long day, this sweet little cottage makes for the ideal mix of classic and modern. The traditional whitewashed exterior is balanced by a just-renovated bathroom, a new kitchen with an induction stovetop (perfect for those nervous about trying their luck on an Aga), and a woodburning fireplace.
5/11Cottage on a 14-acre Estate, from $222
Looking for a rural, idyllic place with luxury amenities? This recently renovated cottage in Northamptonshire comes stocked with niceties to sooth away any travel weariness, like a super-king bed, a big soaking tub, and high-thread count sheets. It’s located on a rural 14-acre estate in Northamptonshire, which is an easy hour’s train journey from London or a quick turn off major thoroughfares like the M1.
6/11Quaint Cotswolds Cottage, from $110
A slew of gastropubs surround this charming Cotswolds cottage—making it the ideal escape for anyone after an authentically English weekend, complete with a Sunday roast. After lunch, come home to a woodburning fireplace. Or, in warmer weather, enjoy your morning cup of tea in the garden.
7/1116th century 1 bedroom cottage in Edinburgh from $242
At first glance this stone cottage appears to be tucked away in a rural corner of Great Britain. But upon closer inspection, you’ll see that it’s actually in central Edinburgh—it’s just hiding in a private garden. If you’re planning a city escape and need a little country living to ground you during your stay, spend a few days enjoying this 16th-century home. It’s full of charm and quirk that all English cottages should provide: For example, the dove-nesting boxes are built into the façade.
8/1116-bedroom Idyllic Wiltshire Estate with Private Cottages, from $8,363
This estate could host a micro-wedding—plus the whole wedding party—easily. Though the Wiltshire, England, home has all the aesthetic charm of a cottage—stonework exterior, flowering vines outside that are mirrored by floral upholstery everywhere inside—the sixteen spacious bedrooms tell a different story. The property is complete with a pool, a formal dining room, and five separate buildings, including two private cottages.
9/11Historic 1532 Cottage, from $581
With a build year of 1352, this might just be one of the oldest English cottages on Airbnb: Expect original touches like diamond-pane windows and beamed ceilings. The four-bedroom cottage is located down a leafy dirt road halfway between London and the southern coast—a good spot for anyone hoping to visit either the nearby beach towns or the gardens at Leonardslee or Nyman’s, both National Trust sites that showcase England’s uniquely wild and romantic landscaping.
10/11Quintessential Cotswolds Cottage, from $388
The slightly curved, low-slung roof of this two-bedroom cottage in England’s desirable Cotswolds just adds to its cozy charm: Think original stone walls both inside and out, a farmhouse sink, and a big fireplace to cozy around after a day popping in the local antique shops—or the former home of William Morris, a nearby attraction for design lovers.
11/11Coastal Cottage in Dorset Complete with a Sauna, from $174
In this coastal cottage, traditional English quirk—like brightly colored, oversized florals and hunting memorabilia—is juxtaposed against whitewashed beams from floor to ceiling. The kitchen boasts a new stovetop and roomy farmhouse sink, which have cleverly been wedged in to the original stonework. But the Dorset home’s highlight might be the sauna: The ideal thing to cap off a foggy English beach day.
