Cottage vacation in England

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Do you have recommendations for best areas? I’m finishing a week in London. I would like to rent a small cottage and explore. Some area similar to the Cotswolds. I will have a rental car.

Do you have recommendations for best areas? I’m finishing a week in London. I would like to rent a small cottage and explore. Some area similar to the Cotswolds. I will have a rental car.

I guess it depends on how far you want to go from London. The Cotswolds are very close and it sounds like you want something similar to them, but maybe not the Cotswolds? Don't get me wrong, I think there are some really nice places in England that would beat the Cotswolds crowds, but I'm not sure exactly what you're looking for.

There are places all over England that are wonderful. I was there in 2024 and spent almost six weeks visiting Cornwall and Devon, the Peak District (which is one of my favorite areas of England), Northumberland, and Yorkshire. Yorkshire would be a really lovely place to go as there are plenty of small cottages in the Yorkshire Dales and in North Yorkshire and the area is just lovely. You say in the spring. Are you going in early spring like late March, early to mid-April? Or closer to May?

But there are many other places as well. There are a lot of Brits who are regulars here on the forum who will chime in, I'm sure, and give you some ideas. There are places in the Southeast that I have not been to and really want to go to and also the south of England.

But it would help to know what your interests are and get a better estimate of the time of year you will be there. For example: Do you like gardens? Museums? Large mansions? Coastal areas? The moors? Shopping?

what is it about the Cotswolds that attracts you?

What is it about the Cotswolds that makes you search for something like but different?

Take a look at the South Downs. We've had quite a few trips there in the last couple of years and loved the area. Rye in particular is ridiculously beautiful.

Another thought - perhaps look for the cottage itself first. The Landmark Trust has some great properties as does the National Trust. Looking at their sites might also inspire you on the area.

https://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays/cottages

Dorset is lovely and tends to get overlooked by overseas tourists as they focus on the Cotswolds and Cornwall.

Beautiful coastline and lots of lovely villages inland too.

Dorset would work well. There's also Suffolk or Norfolk too. A bit further Away you have the Peak District and up into the Yorkshire Dales or North York Moors... Then there's the Welsh borders....

We walked by these cottages while taking a day trip from London to hike along the South Downs Way. They looked so beautiful. I would love to spend a week there someday!

https://www.beachyhead.org.uk/staying-here/holiday-cottages/

Much depends upon how far out you wish to travel from London as many regions have cottages for rental in attractive locations.

The National Trust also have properties for rent in various parts of the country.

You could try googling cottages to rent in **** & see what turns up. Here is an example of what turned up for Pembrokeshire - yes. I know it is not England and a long way from London!

Be sure to find the location of any cottage you are thinking about renting on a map such as Google. Is it remote or down miles of narrow roads - or worse - next to a busy main road? How long will it take top get there?