Holiday cottages in the Heart of England

Susan Roscoe
( Travel Expert)

Cottages4you - Thousands of Cottages and Villas in the UK, Ireland, France, Italy Spain and Portugal all in one place.

Hoseasons - Hoseasons offer a superb range of carefully selected cottages for holidays and short breaks throughout the most beautiful locations in the Heart of England.

English Country Cottages - A premium Cottage holiday brand with a portfolio of 4 and 5 star graded properties throughout England and Scotland.

See more of our recommended companies

Cottage holidays in the Cotswolds

The Cotswolds lie mainly within Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, but extend into parts of Wiltshire, Somerset and Worcestershire. Their unique olde worlde charm together with the thatched roof cottages and honey-coloured houses make this one of the most beautiful areas in England, and a massive draw for both UK tourists and overseas tourists.

The larger market towns and villages of the Cotswolds are famous for their shops, such as Stow-on-the-Wold, Cirencester, Chipping Norton and Tetbury whilst the tiny villages of The Slaughters or Chipping Campden are renowned for their beautiful settings. 

Explore some of the countryside whilst taking a walk, sample tea and cake at one of the many tea shops and end the evening in one of the typical country pubs.  Renting a self catering holiday cottage in the Cotswolds is the perfect way to relax and feel as though you have gone back in time.

Cottage holidays in the Peak District

In the beautiful area of the Peak District lies Britain's first established national park, created to preserve the stunning region for visitors to enjoy - and renting a holiday cottage here is the perfect way to really explore the many attractions.

The contrasting landscape is never more apparent than in the High Peak to the north, where you'll find the Derwent Valley's historic dams and the popular show-caverns in the picturesque village of Castleton. Lying at the foot of the spectacular gorge of Winnats Pass, the village is dominated by the romantic ruins of Peveril Castle. Just a few miles away, the elegant spa town of Buxton is fast becoming an unmissable tourist destination, with a growing selection of stylish shops, cafés and restaurants.

Further south, are the limestone valleys of the Derbyshire Dales offering endless opportunities for walking and cycling. Here, the many charming villages and larger market towns, like Bakewell and Ashbourne have their own unique atmosphere. The area has its fair share of world-renowned products such as Bakewell tart, Ashbourne gingerbread and Buxton Mineral Water - enough to give you a real flavour of the Peak District! Food lovers should look out for pubs, cafés, hotels and restaurants displaying the Peak Cuisine symbol, which signifies that their menu carries at least one dish whose main ingredient is sourced locally.

Who do we recommend?

With so many companies to choose from, we have researched the market to find those with a wide range of choice as well as some that are more specialist. Browse our list below to find the right company for you, then click through to their web site for more information and how to book. It couldn't be easier!

Further guides on cottages, gîtes and holiday homes