Spending time with friends and family over Christmas is what many of us look forward to. Last year it couldn’t happen. Hopefully, this year it will. Is it time to find somewhere lovely to stay to create some special memories?

Cottage World has the most extensive choice of large holiday properties…

You may be looking to book a large property for that long-awaited family get together with enough room for everyone to sleep comfortably — or a group of cottages in a complex that lets everyone have their own space. There are some great places to choose from; A farmhouse in the Cotswolds with great walks on your doorstep, a seaside retreat with added hot tub, or a converted barn in the Peak District with magnificent views.  

Special offers this Christmas…

Toad Hall Cottages – some with 10% off over Christmas and New Year!

See Cornwall without the summer crowds 

Devon and Cornwall are popular summer destinations. The downside of this is that you often have traffic queues and need to fight the crowds for pavement space! Why not spend a winter break in Cornwall? or discover the delights of Devon without the crowds. Wild and windswept landscapes are beautiful antidotes to the winter blues. A large family gathering in the summer can be expensive, and demand outstripped supply this year once the restrictions of Covid were lifted, particularly in popular holiday destinations. Choosing off-peak times could be a better option. Okay, you might not get the weather, but some holiday properties have fantastic indoor entertainment.

Perhaps a white Christmas in Northumberland snuggled in front of a log fire

Cosying up in front of a log fire with snow gently falling around is a cliqued scene from many movies — think of the ‘Holiday’ or ‘Bridget Jones Diary’. However, it needn’t be the Cotswolds to be idyllic. The Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland and Wales, even the Malverns. Offer some gorgeous cottages with open fires. Snow is not guaranteed.

Give the local publican some support – we’ve loads of holiday cottages near a pub  

A top feature people look for when searching for a holiday cottage to rent is the proximity to a good pub! 

Something uniquely British is our love of the pub, and publicans need our support this year more than ever. It might be to enjoy a pint of locally brewed beer or a full-blown gourmet meal or just good old scampi and chips; having a pub within walking distance is a real bonus.

Working from (the holiday) home…

Flexible working — the ability to work from anywhere — has been one of the positives of the pandemic for many. There is no need to wait until 6 pm Friday to head off for the weekend; as long as the Wi-Fi is good, you can work anywhere. In addition, it opens up the opportunity to arrive early and stay in a holiday property a bit longer — still time for a stroll by the beach after logging off.

And there’s always Hogmanay in Scotland

The Scots take celebrating the arrival of the New Year very seriously. So why not join them and experience some ‘first footing’ and Scottish joy? Lang may yer lum reek, and I remember my Scottish relatives cheering –– translated as Long may your chimney smoke! Which wishes you a long and healthy life. Cottage World has numerous lovely lodges in Scotland and plenty of large houses for a family proper Hogmanay. 

Four-legged friends welcomed by many holiday property owners

If you acquired a pet during the pandemic, the joy of taking a break in the UK is that you don’t need to worry about rabies jabs and pet passports or expensive kennelling costs. 

Many holiday properties now welcome responsible pet owners. You can specifically search for ‘pet-friendly properties on Cottage World.

Are you stuck for a gift idea? Why not book a cottage?

Maybe a gift of a holiday away together could be the perfect solution to avoid the panic of what presents to buy for Christmas. It could be a getaway at Easter or during 2022’s special extended May Bank Holiday. No doubt about it big houses to rent are in demand.

Perhaps you missed celebrating a ‘big’ birthday — and you want to get all your friends together — or you’ve had the wedding but want a belated girly ‘hen do’ in luxury surroundings. 

Whatever the reason, start looking and get booking — it’s good to have something to look forward to…