A Cottage for a Special Occasion

If you’re planning a celebration – a family birthday or a special wedding anniversary – why not think about taking a short break with friends in the UK?

There are plenty of lovely big cottages that sleep up to 8 or 10 people and if you pick a location that’s convenient for you all, people can arrive in their own time and leave when they need to.

Even if you can’t find one cottage that’s big enough, you could book two or more cottages in the same location to accommodate you. You can have privacy when you want it, but then easily come together for meals, parties and activities.

There are cottages that have both hot tubs and swimming pools which are great for all ages. Or you could choose a house with a lovely big garden and organise a barbie or garden party. Everyone can chip in to buy food and help with the cooking and the prep – it’s a fun and cost-effective way to celebrate a big birthday, an engagement or a pre-wedding get-together.

If you don’t want to do the cooking yourself, there are lots of good outside caterers – ask your host to recommend one.

Ashlin Farm Barns, at Dunholme near Lincoln has four luxurious holiday barns arranged around a private courtyard with a swim spa/hot tub, which is a perfect central point for people to gather and relax. Booked together, the four barns can accommodate up to 40 people and there’s plenty to do during the day, such as an outing to Lincoln (four miles away) and trips to the many bars and restaurants in the area in the evenings.

Wold House Cottage in Nafferton, near Bridlington, Yorkshire is a stunning house that sleeps up to 10 people. The facilities are wonderful and there are three bathrooms and a lovely big kitchen.

It has a large communal dining area and even a play room for the youngsters, but the pièce de résistance has to be the 21 foot long swimming pool set in the shared two acre grounds. It also has a private hot tub, sauna, fitness room and gym as well as table tennis and a pool table. Gather your friends and start organising!

For parties of between 10 and 21, the Morland Estate is a great choice. Four substantial properties provide 21 bedrooms which can be booked together or individually and you’ll be staying in the height of luxury – they’ve all been beautifully restored. Set in 15 acres of ancient woods in the Eden Valley in Cumbria, it’s a wonderful location for a family Christmas (with open fireplaces) or a New Year celebration to remember.

The Hall and Coach House both have a civil license for weddings and with a swimming pool and glorious grounds, this is a superb place for a big occasion.

Sharing a cottage with family and friends is a really relaxed way of doing things – these are just a few of the larger properties we love, but there are plenty more all over the UK.