Holiday Rentals: What They Are, Where to Find Them, and How to Choose

When you think of a holiday rental, a privately owned home or cottage you rent for a short stay, often with kitchen and living space. Also known as vacation rentals, it lets you live like a local instead of staying in a hotel. Unlike hotels, these places give you space to cook, relax, and stretch out—no shared hallways, no daily room service calls. You’re not just booking a bed; you’re booking a home base for your trip.

Holiday rentals in the UK are most common in places where nature meets quiet charm: the Lake District, a mountainous region in northwest England known for its lakes, hiking trails, and stone cottages, the rugged coasts of Cornwall, a county famous for its surfing beaches, fishing villages, and cliffside cottages, and the wild hills of the Scottish Highlands, a remote, scenic area with historic castles, lochs, and cozy log cabins. These aren’t just locations—they shape your whole experience. A cottage in Snowdonia feels different from one near the Causeway Coast. One gives you misty walks and tea by the fire; the other gives you sea spray, crab sandwiches, and sunset views from the porch.

What you get in a holiday rental depends on where you look. Some come with hot tubs and fireplaces. Others have basic kitchens and washing machines. Some are tucked into villages with pubs down the lane. Others sit alone on a hillside with no neighbors in sight. The price? It’s not just about size. A small cottage in the Lake District in August can cost more than a larger one in January. Location, season, and how far off the beaten path you go all matter.

You’ll find holiday rentals used for family trips, romantic escapes, and even work-from-nowhere weeks. They’re not just for Christmas or summer. People rent them for long weekends, birthdays, or just because they need to get out of the city. And unlike resorts, you’re not stuck on a schedule. No 8 a.m. breakfast rush. No 10 p.m. curfew. You eat when you want, walk when you feel like it, and sleep in if you want to.

But here’s the thing: not every listing is what it seems. Some photos are taken in perfect light. Some reviews are fake. You need to read the small print—what’s included, what’s extra, where the nearest shop is, and whether the Wi-Fi actually works. That’s why the best picks come from people who’ve actually stayed there.

In the posts below, you’ll find real stories about where holiday rentals are located, what they really cost, how they compare to hotels, and which ones deliver on their promises. You’ll see why some families keep coming back to the same cottage year after year. You’ll learn why a coastal cottage in Devon can feel more like home than a five-star hotel in London. And you’ll find out how to avoid the traps that turn a dream getaway into a stressful mess.