The best holiday homes for a UK summer staycation

The best places to book during the hotter months, from Airbnb, National Trust, Sawdays and more

May 20, 2026 - 19:15

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The best holiday homes for a UK summer staycation

For many, the call of a trip abroad may not be as enticing this summer. Luckily for us living in the UK, we have an abundance of places that truly shine when the sun (hopefully) comes out.

When the temperatures rise, there's nothing better than basking in the sun in the bucolic British countryside, thawing ourselves from bitter, chilly days and rainy evenings. There are plenty of holiday homes that can be booked for a rural retreat like this, whether that’s a barn in the Cotswolds or a cabin complete with a hot tub in the Peak District.

And how can we not mention our thousands of miles of coastline, with historic fishing cottages in Northern Ireland, beachside stays in Cornwall and a one-bed byre on the Pembrokeshire coast.

Certain criteria make up a good summer holiday rental in the UK, whether that’s access to a pool, the ability to bring a dog, space for your children, an extra bed for the grandparents, or staying close to a sandy stretch or pastoral fields for a late afternoon walk, before heading back and lighting up a barbecue.

We have rounded up our pick of the best summer holiday stays in the UK with blocks of availability from now into September.

1. The Mirror Houses

Oxfordshire

The Mirror Houses almost make you feel as if you were sleeping outside

The Mirror Houses almost make you feel as if you were sleeping outside (Courtesy of the Airbnb Community)

Sleeps: Two people in each house, no children aside from babes in arms.

Found in a remote woodland area of a family-run farm near the village of Kirtlington, The Mirror Houses is the place to switch off this summer. Designed and built by ÖÖD House, these unusual cabins have mirrored exteriors that reflect nature and blend seamlessly into the wooded surroundings.

There are several houses to choose from, but each comes with a barbecue, outdoor furniture and either a private wood-fired hot tub, an outside bath or a sauna. While people can’t see through the reflective mirrors on the exterior, guests will be able to soak up the floor-to-ceiling woodland views, including while you lie in bed and take a shower. The houses do not have an extensive kitchen, but are still equipped with a fridge, plug-in induction hob, toaster, kettle and other essentials. A short stroll away from the houses is the family’s lake deck, open to guests.

2. Portbraddan Cottage

Northern Ireland

Sleeps: Six people

Take in views of the beach from bed at this cottage

Take in views of the beach from bed at this cottage (Mike Henton)

You can’t get closer to the craggy coastline than at the National Trust’s Portbradden Cottage in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. This three-bed seaside property is nestled in the western end of White Park Bay, providing guests with views of the beach and out towards the cliffs of Rathilin Island.

Inside, the living room is furnished with button-tufted sofas, a cast-iron wood-burning stove and a television, while a six-seater dining table looks out of a sea-view window in the open-plan kitchen. The three bedrooms upstairs consist of one double bed and two twin rooms, one of which comes with an en suite, while another bathroom includes a bathtub.

Only a 10-minute drive away is the 100m-high Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, a wobbly structure that rewards brave walkers with a view of the turquoise-green waters below. Not too far away is also the Giant’s Causeway, the interlocking basalt columns that have inspired many a myth and legend.

3. Buddha Beach House

Cornwall

This Sawdays property overlooks Whitsandy Bay

This Sawdays property overlooks Whitsandy Bay (Sawdays)

Sleeps: 10 people

The luxury Buddha Beach House, overlooking Whitsand Bay in Cornwall, goes above and beyond what you would expect from a beachside stay in the UK – think a steaming cedar hot tub, a kids’ games room and even a small aquarium in the bathroom. This 400-year-old fish cellar has an open-plan kitchen and living space with a semi-circular slate worktop, while floor-to-ceiling windows next to the oak dining table also make the most of the view.

Down the spiral staircase is where kids can find the games room, with table football, a flatscreen TV, books and board games, as well as a pool table in the hallway. Back on the ground floor, the four bedrooms are decorated with artwork and items collected from the owners’ travels. The master bedroom has a handmade oak bed and leads to its very own courtyard.

The terrace comes with a large outdoor dining space and an Outback Ranger hybrid barbecue, ideal for endless al fresco eating in the summer sun. Nearby pubs, the Portwinkle golf course and a winding coast path will keep all the family entertained. Best of all, the beach is directly on the doorstep.

4. Congrove Barns

Cotswolds

This Airbnb comes with its own hot tub

This Airbnb comes with its own hot tub (Courtesy of the Airbnb Community)

Sleeps: Up to six people, but four comfortably

If the Cotswolds are calling this summer, check into the newly renovated Congrove Barns, hidden in the area’s rolling hills. Its standout feature is the sunken hot tub that looks out over the nearby fields, to be enjoyed by couples on a retreat or on a family getaway. The property is divided into two, with the “sleeping barn” featuring a king room with an en suite and a zip-and-link king, also with an en suite. Rooms are decorated with natural and upcycled additions, such as wooden tree stump side tables and vintage writing bureaus.

This theme is reflected in the “living barn”, which includes a country-retro kitchen with a Smeg fridge, distressed Tolix-style metal dining chairs and wooden shelving with hanging mugs. Also in this barn is a living room with a wood burner and a games room including a football table. A double sofa bed is found in the games room, but the hosts charge £100 a week for its use. Dogs are also invited to stay upon request, at £50 per dog per week. The barn is only a few miles away from Bath, if you want to expand to more spa facilities beyond the hot tub.

5. Stackpole Byre

Pembrokshire

Stay on the Pembrokshire coast with this National Trust property

Stay on the Pembrokshire coast with this National Trust property (Mike Henton)

Sleeps: Two people

Escape to the Pembrokeshire coast this summer with a partner and book the cosy, one-bed, Stackpole Byre, just metres from the sea. The converted farm building has retained original stone walls and wooden beams, but now includes a full-sized kitchen with a Smeg fridge and a living room complete with a plush red sofa and a wood burner.

Elsewhere, guests will find a simple double bedroom, a laundry room and a bathroom. Outside, there’s a large courtyard that is shared with two other byres, but the real magic is found a few steps away, where a small pebble cove takes you into the sea for summer dips. The sandy Barafundle Bay is only a half-mile walk away, while avid walkers can take a cliff-top walk along the fringes of Wind Bay.

6. Cabin with hot tub

Peak District

Stay at this Peak District cabin this summer

Stay at this Peak District cabin this summer (Courtesy of the Airbnb Community)

Sleeps: Six people, one small dog allowed, not suitable for children under the age of eight

Situated on the edge of the Peak District near Lea, this two-storey wooden cabin is located in its own section of private woodland, ideal for a rural escape. There are three bedrooms in the property, with the master having its own glass balcony looking out into the thicket. A second bedroom has a double bed, while a third has a bunk bed for kids. The second bedroom and the bunk room are connected by a Jack and Jill access bathroom.

Downstairs, guests will find an open-plan living room and kitchen decked out in colourful geometric textiles. The kitchen includes a Rangemaster oven, a full-sized fridge and a pine table and bench seating six people. Some of the cabin’s best features are outside, such as a wood-fired hot tub that can be used by burning logs and kindling provided, under the shelter of a metal-roofed pergola. There is also plenty of rattan furniture and rocking chairs on the cabin’s terrace.

7. Shore Cottage

Argyll and Bute

Sleeps: Six people

You can’t get more remote on a summer holiday than at this Scottish stay

You can’t get more remote on a summer holiday than at this Scottish stay (Jill Tate)

Situated on Saddle Bay on the east coast of Kintyre, Shore Cottage sits on its own little rock promontory, making for a truly remote stay. The Victorian cottage’s sitting room, filled with squashy sofas and a wood burner, has a door that leads right onto the foreshore, meaning you will never be far away from investigating the rockpools nearby.

The cottage includes a lot of vintage-style furnishings, such as a pastel blue Welsh dresser storing crockery and wooden carved headboards on beds, although more modern amenities are provided throughout. Guests have the whole of the wild bay at their fingertips, with seals, sea birds and otter regularly visiting. A cast iron sculpture of a person overlooking the sea by artist Antony Gormley stands on the rocks in front of Shore Cottage too, while the ruins of an ancient abbey are nearby to explore.

8. Lakefront Cabin with a boat

West Yorkshire

Spend time by this West Yorkshire lake this summer

Spend time by this West Yorkshire lake this summer (Courtesy of the Airbnb Community)

Sleeps: Four people

Escape to the countryside in West Yorkshire this summer by booking a stay at this lakefront cabin. It comes with its own rowboat, which guests can use exclusively. Inside, the open-plan living space has a bright and modern design, with a fully-equipped kitchen, table and sofas all overlooking the lake through floor-to-ceiling patio doors.

The doors lead out to a private deck that guests have permission to fish from or just relax in the summer sun. As the sun sets and the evening gets cool, retreat inside to the living room where you will find a wood-burning stove sitting atop a birch mantel. When not fishing or rowing, guests can go and spot the Worth Valley Railway steam engine from a nearby train viewing plaform, a seven minute walk away from the cabin. Guests can also hike in the nearby woods or walk to Damems train station to reach Haworth, the home of the Brönte sisters, without having to drive a car.

9. Pool House

Goring, Oxfordshire

Splash about at this Airbnb with a private pool

Splash about at this Airbnb with a private pool (Courtesy of the Airbnb Community)

Sleeps: Two comfortably, four with the sofa bed

It may not be suprising giving the UK's temperamental weather, but it can be hard to come across a holiday home with an outdoor pool to enjoy when the temperatures actually do soar. The Pool House in Goring, luckily, gives its guests exclusive access to a private heated pool in the summer months to cool off and splash about. Also outside, guests will find a barbecue, a picnic bench and several sunloungers.

Inside the property, an open-plan lounge and kitchen have floor-to-ceiling doors and windows that look directly out onto the pool, while a grand fireplace keeps things cosy during the evenings. The space also has a full-sized kitchen, a small dining space and a large bookshelf filled with reading material. The bedroom features a queen-size bed, while down the hall is a bathroom with a walk-in shower.

Guests are only a few minutes’ walk away from the charming village of Goring on Thames, ideal for lunches out or picking up barbecue supplies. Meanwhile, there is also direct access to the River Thames from the house for jaunts along the Thames path. The Pool House is on the property of a larger house, but the hosts say that the two buildings are private from each other due to surrounding trees.

10. Olive Tree House

Sleeps: Two people

The countryside is calling this summer, so why not book a stay at Olive Tree House

The countryside is calling this summer, so why not book a stay at Olive Tree House (Rural Retreats)

This oak-clad bolthole in the quaint Sussex village of Ripe is the place to head this summer for a romantic countryside escape. The Olive Tree House features a wood-fired hot tub as well as the large outdoor fire pit to keep things thermal come the evening. While the outdoor amenities allow guests to make the most of the country air, the cabin’s interiors are not to be overlooked.

Natural tones decorate every room, from a sage spiral staircase and a British racing green Aga stove to watercolour-effect wallpaper. The rest of the space is filled with hanging baskets, wrought iron chandeliers and plush leather sofas. The sitting area is complete with a wood-burning stove, while sliding back a barn door will reveal the bedroom, complete with a slipper bath and a super king bed. Both the bedroom and open plan living area have terrace doors that lead outside. There are plenty of country walks to be had in the surrounding area, while the historic town of Lewes and the Sussex coast are both just an easy 20 to 30-minute drive away, respectively.

11. The Mount Barns & Spa

Spend time lounging by the pool at this Airbnb

Spend time lounging by the pool at this Airbnb (Courtesy of the Airbnb Community)

Sleeps: Four comfortable, six with the use of a sofa bed.

Planning on a luxury retreat with a group of friends this summer? Book a stay at this huge barn in Worcester if you want endless access to a pool when the weather starts to get hot. Found near Elmley Lovett, the Granary at Mount Barns & Spa is a two-storey barn conversion with panoramic views from its huge arched windows.

The open plan downstairs includes a log burner accompanied by sofas, a green-toned kitchen area with an island and bar stools, and a dining table overlooking the fields outside. Follow a spiral staircase upstairs for the master bedroom with a super king bed and freestanding bath, as well as a private balcony with a small bistro table.

A second bedroom includes a king-sized bed and a sofa bed to squeeze even more guests in. On the estate, guests have access to the heated lap pool shared with people staying in other barns, as well as a Jacuzzi, sauna and ice bath. A massage in an on-site treatment room is also available to book. Due to the staircase, the space is not suitable for small children; however, dogs are allowed to stay and have their own outdoor dog wash station for after any muddy walks.

12. The Stables accessible holiday home

This accessible holiday home sleeps up to six people

This accessible holiday home sleeps up to six people (Castle Chase)

Sleeps: Six people

The village of Ayston in the East Midlands is home to The Old Stables, a three-bed cottage with features to make wheelchair users welcome. Inside the open-plan living space, guests will find a seating area with sofas and armchairs that cosy up to the wood-burning fire for chilly evenings. The dining area has a wheelchair accessible table, while the blue-grey kitchen has a wheel-under worktop as well as a Neff oven with a slide-and-hide door.

The spacious master has a king bed, which can be configured into two twin beds and an en suite. Another bedroom has a king-sized electric adjustable bed with direct access to the terrace, while the third room has a super king bed that can be split into twins, also with an entrance to the terrace. All the beds have space below for mobile hoists. The black slate en suite and family bathroom have grab rails for the shower and toilet, plus height-adjustable washbasins. Outside on the terrace, guests can sip coffee while looking out over rolling hills, making it an ideal place to soak up the summer sun.