14 Cosy Cottages Within 2 Hours Of London
BEST FOR COUPLES
Honey Cottage, Cotswolds
In the picturesque Warwickshire Cotswolds village of Whichford, this property was made for romantic breaks, long dog walks and evenings beside the fire. Many of the original 17th-century features remain intact, including the thatched roof, exposed stone walls and oak ceiling beams, but the interiors are clean and modern, with monochrome details and contemporary furniture. Guests can relax beside the indoor wood burner, take a soak in the freestanding bath, and read the Sunday papers in the living room window seat. There’s also a garden for outdoor dining.
From £864 per week.
Visit LuxuryCottages.com
Spinks Nest, Norfolk
For a romantic retreat, head to Spinks Nest Cottage in the ancient hamlet of Hunworth, close to the beautiful Norfolk coast. This boutique property is full of surprises – from a sunken concrete bath to a majestic fireplace. There’s a cosy living area and open-plan kitchen-diner, a king-size bedroom, and a generous bathroom filled with Aesop toiletries. The décor is rustic and there’s even underfloor heating. Nature lovers should make a beeline for Glaven Valley and Blakeney Point, before heading to the local pub – The Hunworth Bell.
From £204 per night.
Visit SpinksNest.BooksterHQ.com
Inkwell Cottage, Cotswolds
Built from the Cotswolds’ trademark honeyed stone, this is one of the prettiest cottages on the list. In Burford, just 20 miles west of Oxford, it has plenty of original property features amid the updated, stylish 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 range of 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
Figgy Court, West Sussex
Ideal for a romantic weekend for two, Figgy Court is a 700-year-old property on the banks of the River Arun near Billingshurst in West Sussex. Easily reached by car in around 90 minutes from London, it welcomes guests with honey-hued oak beams, hand-crafted furnishings and immaculate interiors. There’s a modern kitchen, a twisting hand-built staircase leading up to a mezzanine bedroom, a spacious living area, and a bathroom with walk-in rain shower. Guests can dine on the patio, relax in the riverside hot tub and explore the South Downs AONB, a short drive away. On arrival, you’ll also receive a luxury hamper full of fresh produce, plus a bottle of local wine.
From £995 per short break.
Visit UniqueHomestays.com
Castle Cottage, Cotswolds
Tetbury is a traditional Cotswold town with boutique shops, pretty walking routes and National Trust properties. It’s here you’ll find Castle Cottage – a modern home for two with a garden, spacious bedroom and an original stone fireplace in the living room which now houses an indoor wood burner. Interiors are minimal yet chic, with pops of colour dotted throughout, and the en-suite bathroom has a beautiful freestanding bath with ample space for two.
From £644 per week.
Visit LuxuryCottages.com
BEST FOR FRIENDS
Tudor Cottage, Rye
This beautiful property oozes history and charm. Dating back to the 16th-century, several original features have been restored or carefully replaced, including the huge open fireplace, bow windows and oak ceiling beams. With space for up to six guests across three spacious bedrooms, it’s a great option for friends in need of some rest and relaxation. The main living area has a large oak table perfect for dinner parties, plus comfy sofas to relax on afterwards. The cobbled streets of Rye are just a short walk away – you’ll find artisan markets, small cafés and boutique shops.
From £275 per night.
Visit KipHideaways.com
Stonehouse, Cotswolds
If you’re after the charm of a cottage but with ultra-modern interiors, Stonehouse is an outstanding property in Weston-on-the-Green. Just a five-minute drive from Bicester village and a 15 minute-drive from Oxford, it’s the ideal base from which to explore the pretty Oxfordshire countryside. Inside, there’s an open-plan kitchen-diner with doors that open out onto a terrace, five large bedrooms with space for up to ten guests, and a snug featuring an inglenook fireplace. Outside, a large garden with a barbecue area and ample seating awaits. The bathrooms are stocked with The White Company products, and guests will receive a welcome hamper on arrival.
From £500 per night.
Visit SandAndStoneEscapes.com
Bentleys Kingham, Cotswolds
Bentleys is a classic Cotswold cottage in Kingham, just a short drive from Daylesford and Soho Farmhouse. The property dates back to the 17th century but has been given a contemporary update with an open-plan kitchen-diner, a living area with an indoor wood burner, floor-to-ceiling windows and cosy lighting. Here, guests can enjoy meals around the wooden dining table or throw open the doors during the summer months to eat outside on the garden patio. There are three double bedrooms for six guests, plus a separate study with a wood burner and a double sofa bed for extra friends. When the weather warms up, guests can use the outdoor Cotswold stone pizza oven, and play croquet and badminton on the lawn.
Prices on request.
Visit LuxuryCotswoldRentals.co.uk
Greys Cottage, Kent
For a staycation by the sea, this cottage is in the coastal town of Broadstairs, which is easily reached from London via a two-hour drive. Greys has space for up to four guests in two double bedrooms. There’s also a spacious kitchen-diner and an outdoor patio with garden sofas for warmer evenings. Ideal if you prefer modern interiors with bright and airy rooms, the décor is minimalist and chic, with grey panelled walls, light wood furniture and white decorative accents. Stone Bay and Joss Bay are a short walk away, as is Victoria Gardens.
From £100 per night.
Visit KipHideaways.com
Cart Shed, Cotswolds
Cart Shed sleeps six across two doubles and one twin bedroom. In Bibury, one of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds, the property has modern features and simple interiors. There’s a large kitchen with a breakfast bar for weekend brunches, a living room where you can cosy up under a blanket, and a spacious garden with an immaculate lawn, outdoor loungers and a separate barbecue area for summer nights. Bourton-on-the-Water is a ten-minute drive away, and there are some lovely organic farm shops within walking distance.
From £400 per night.
Visit SandAndStoneEscapes.com
HOLLY FARRIER PHOTOGRAPHY
BEST FOR FAMILIES
The Wild Rabbit Getaway, Cotswolds
For a luxury weekend away, Daylesford is always a good idea. The Wild Rabbit, part of the Daylesford estate, has a collection of five cottages, with a further nine due to open later in the year. We like the sound of the ‘getaway’ package: a three-night stay in a cottage which sleeps up to six, access to the newly extended Bamford Wellness Spa, and a selection of meals on the estate. In each cottage, expect honey-toned Cotswold stone walls, reclaimed timber beams and contemporary interiors. Bamford products are stocked throughout, tables are decorated with seasonal herbs and open fires burn during the evenings.
From £325 per night.
Visit TheWildRabbit.co.uk
Burford Hideaway, Cotswolds
This charming cottage is also in Burford. It sleeps four in a double and twin room, while the main living area is the hub of the house, complete with comfy sofas, an open fireplace with an indoor wood burner, and oak ceiling beams. There’s also a small, cobbled garden with an outdoor table, plus a stylish sage-coloured kitchen with a larger dining table inside. During the weekend, make time to visit the famous Arlington Row – a charming group of houses synonymous with the Cotswolds – then make a beeline for Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens, which little ones will love.
From £724 per short break.
Visit KipHideaways.com
Durns, New Forest
This beautiful property was made for celebratory, blow-the-budget staycations. Set on a five-acre estate in the New Forest, Durns is a restored Georgian farmstead with five double bedrooms accommodating ten guests. A fun weekend can be spent relaxing in the jacuzzi and outdoor pool (heated year-round), cooking up a storm using the outdoor kitchen and pizza oven, and keeping the kids entertained in the pool and games room. If you want to explore the New Forest, guests have access to the property’s Land Rover. Little ones and older children will love the snug and crafting area on the first floor, while adults will appreciate the well-stocked pantry and range cooker in the kitchen.
From £1,200 per night.
Visit CoolStays.com
Dovecote Cottage, Cotswolds
Dovecote Cottage is one of five Grey's Court Cottages in the Gloucestershire village of Southrop. Sleeping up to six, there are three bedrooms with scalloped headboards on the beds, grey panelled walls and crisp white linens, plus two bathrooms with freestanding roll-top baths and power showers. Families can cosy up in front of the indoor wood burner in the living room, cook meals in the modern kitchen-diner, and enjoy breakfast from a welcome hamper – it includes organic bread, milk, eggs and Tiptree jam. If you don’t fancy cooking, book a table at the nearby Thyme hotel.
Prices on request.
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