Choose a Cottage Holiday in the South of England for a Taste of Times Gone By

A cottage holiday in the South of England will transport you back to the tranquil charms of a bygone age. Here, you can choose from quaint thatched cottages, through to grand halls and quirky follies, to enjoy a true flavour of 'The Garden of England'.

 

Pretty Georgian villages nestle amongst the rolling Downs and heath lands of the South coast, and famous landmarks such as the White Cliffs of Dover, and the Seven Sisters make this an iconic background for the perfect cottage holiday or short break.

Accommodation with Nature on the Doorstep

deer standing in a glade of the new forest From an English Country Cottage in the South of England you can explore no less than seven protected areas of outstanding natural beauty.

 

Whether you want to spend your holiday exploring the ancient woodland and deer-filled glades of the New Forest, or spotting wild flowers and rare orchids on the dramatic scarp slopes and chalky grasslands of the Kent Downs, any of our idyllic range of holiday cottages makes the ideal base for your rural adventure.

 

You could choose a country cottage amid the beachy woodlands, heaths, and breathtaking grasslands of the South Downs, or perhaps your perfect retreat would be near the nationally important landscape of North Wessex, where visitors can find the World Heritage site of Avebury, the White Horse of Uffington, and the famous Watership Downs.

 

From The Isle of Wight, home to over 500 miles of walking and cycling paths, through to rolling hills and ever-changing views of High Weald, with its shady woods and flowery meadows; our range of holiday cottage in the South of England showcases the majestic diversity of the English countryside.

Character Cottages Steeped in History and Heritage

front ofwindsor castleFrom picture postcard thatched farm houses, to converted mills and imposing manor houses, our diverse range of holiday homes allows you to rent a piece of history for a real step back in time.

 

And there's no better place for exploring English heritage than in the South of England, home to a host of romantic castles and stately homes such as Arundel and Herstmonceux, Nymans, Groomridge Place and Wakehurst Place, not to mention Blenheim Palace, Windsor Castle and Leeds Castle.

 

Those who like to delve further into the past can visit the 1066 Battle Abbey, and the site of the Battle of Hastings, or relive the wartime era with a visit to Dover Castle and the Secret War Time Tunnels. Don't overlook the refined Regency of Royal Tunbridge Wells, perfect for a short break, or the maritime history of Southampton, home to Europe's biggest on-water boat show. Also worth a visit is the historic cathedral city of Canterbury, made famous by Chaucer's Tales.

 

However you like your nostalgia, our range of holiday cottages puts it right on your doorstep.

Choose a Cottage Holiday for Culture and Cuisine

bottle of red wineWhether your favourite indulgence is freshly baked bread, prime cuts of beef, or a bottle of red wine being poured into a glass, brewed local traditional ale, connoisseurs of fine foods find all the fresh local produce they could want in the Garden of England.

 

Here your cottage holiday can embrace wine tasting at the countless local vineyards, or a tour around England's oldest brewery, Shepherd Mean, to sample its acclaimed ales. You can dine with style at many riverside bistros or you can truly make the most of the bountiful regional produce with the self-catering facilities provided in your holiday cottage.

 

And, if it's culture you're seeking then the South of England is rich in it. You can spend your holiday exploring some of the country's top show gardens, such as RHS Wisley, or treasure gardens designed by Gertrude Jekyll and Capability Brown. Or take a cottage by the sea to delve into Brighton's designer boutiques and seaside style.

 

From an English Country Cottage in the South of England, you'll experience the landscapes that inspired such literary legends as Lewis Carroll, Roal Dahl, and Jane Austen. This year the region celebrates what would have been Ian Flemming's 100th Birthday with a host of events.

Holiday Homes near the Highlights and Hotspots

From the Henley Royal Regatta, through to Cowes Week on the Isle of Wight, there's plenty to attract marine enthusiasts to a holiday in the South of England. Or perhaps you'd prefer to rent a stylish home-from-home to retreat to during the Festival of Speed at Goodwood, Chichester?

 

Whether you want to taste the South's high life, or get active in the outstanding countryside, you'll find the region full of memorable holiday activities. And if it's family fun that makes your holiday special, then you'll find plenty of great days out within easy reach of our range of holiday cottages.

 

Why not try high-wire forest adventures in the treetops, or visit one of the South East's many Science Centres? And for kids young and old there are theme parks such as Paradise Park in Newhaven, where you'll find exotic plant-houses, a museum of natural history, dinosaurs, gardens and the Sussex history trail, or Paulton's Park, with over 50 attractions and rides, big and small.

 

The South of England's agreeable climate makes for a great cottage holiday at any time of year. Visit our availability search page to find your next holiday cottage in the South of England.