Last-minute luxury breaks in the UK
Stuff a suitcase with knitwear and nibbles: now is the time for throwing caution to the wind. Why have a humdrum weekend at home when there's last-minute luxury breaks in the UK up for grabs?
There's nothing quite like slinging some bits in a weekend bag, dashing to the train, and making yourself at home in a one-of-a-kind retreat to add a little impulse into life. We all need to escape the rat race from time to time, and our last-minute luxury breaks in the UK are just the ticket for seekers of spur-of-the-moment escapes. If spontaneity's missing from your schedule, these blink-and-you-miss-it medley of homes with eleventh hour availability are just what the wayfarer ordered. We're sure the dog-friendly spots will send tails wagging, too!
These luxurious homes in the bustling villages and rural wilds of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland will have you striding out on long walks, tucking into fireside suppers, and plunging into hot tubs in no time. All available for at least three nights within the next fortnight, we encourage you to take advantage of a rare free weekend, throw caution to the wind, and book a last-minute luxury break; whether you choose a coastal retreat or wilderness escape, where you choose to indulge in some serious down time is up to you. Out of office, officially on.
The Studio
Upper Slaughter, Gloucestershire, The Cotswolds, UK
In the heart of Upper Slaughter, one of England’s “doubly-thankful” villages, The Studio is a luxury Cotswolds barn that wouldn’t be out of place in New York's artsy Tribeca.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Features: Pizza oven and fire pits
Inkwell Cottage
Burford, Oxfordshire, The Cotswolds, UK
Handcrafted, atelier in style and ever-so fun, this self-catering home in Burford is a pocketful of luxury throwing all conventionality out of its mullion window
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Filly Island
Cirencester, Gloucestershire, The Cotswolds, UK
Blending tiny proportions with a big dose of style, Filly Island is a luxury cottage in the Cotswolds; find it on a little island accessed by a humpback bridge near Cirencester.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two small well-behaved dogs are welcome
The Walled Garden
Dyrham, Bath, The Cotswolds, UK
Perhaps the most ornate vegetable store in all of England, The Walled Garden began life as a potato house for Dyrham Park in Bath before becoming a luxury Cotswolds garden stay.
Sleeps: Up to 4 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: One small well-behaved dog is welcome
Features: Fire pit, use of the owners´ tennis court and use of the owners´ natural outdoor pool (pool available between 8am and midday, outside of these times available on prior agreement)
The Ruby Barn
Sandford St Martin, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, The Cotswolds, UK
Bringing a touch of Californian chicness to the Oxfordshire countryside, this luxury Cotswold stone barn conversion has been fashioned with soul.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two well behaved small dogs are welcome
Features: Children´s play area with slide
Atticus
Burford, Oxfordshire, The Cotswolds, UK
Made of treacle-toned Cotswolds stone, with antique doors that hint at its history, Atticus is a luxury period townhouse at the end of a golden high street in Burford, Oxfordshire.
Sleeps: Up to 8 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Baby Grand Piano and fire pit
Evania
Bentham, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, The Cotswolds, UK
Inspired by the colours and countryside of the Mediterranean, this Gloucestershire home with heated outdoor swimming pool and hot tub, is the perfect family retreat.
Sleeps: Up to 10 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 6 & Up to 4 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome, or three on prior request
Features: Outdoor heated swimming pool (May - September), hot tub, outdoor kitchen area with built-in gas barbecue, games room with table football, pool table, table tennis and television
The Find
Cranham, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, The Cotswolds, UK
A dynamic pairing of luxury Cotswolds homes in Cranham, The Find is an old stone cottage and architect-designed glass extension in a beautifully secluded valley near Cheltenham.
Sleeps: Up to 12 guests
Pets: Two dogs are welcome
Features: Trampoline, hot tub hire is available (please enquire for details)
The Palladian
Ampney Crucis, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, The Cotswolds, UK
Georgian in style and grand in nature, this self-catering Cotswold manor offers a true countryside escape perfect for multi-generational groups.
Sleeps: Up to 12 guests (6 adults and 6 children)
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Features: Outdoor heated swimming pool and hot tub (both May - September), gym, tennis court, trampoline and small football pitch
The Aviary
Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, The Cotswolds, UK
A luxury Cotswolds manor made from traditional stone, The Aviary is a farmhouse retreat in Moreton-in-Marsh with utterly chic interiors, a heated pool, and a highbrow tennis court.
Sleeps: Up to 12 guests (10 adults and 2 children)
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Outdoor heated swimming pool and hot tub (May - September), tennis court, cinema room and playing fields with football goals
Anthology Farm
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, The Cotswolds, UK
With an indoor pool, tennis court, and yoga studio, members-only health club Anthology Farm is a luxury country estate made for family gatherings near Cheltenham in the Cotswolds.
Sleeps: Up to 18 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 10 guests
Pets: Pets are considered on prior agreement
Features: Heated indoor swimming pool, cinema room, tennis court, table tennis, gym equipment, purpose built yoga studio and electric car charging point
Gulliver´s Hall
Bisley, Stroud, Gloucestershire, The Cotswolds, UK
Playful, elegant, and ancestral, Gulliver's Hall is a luxury country manor in the beating heart of the Cotswolds; a family spa near Bisley with a heated pool, sauna, and tennis court.
Sleeps: Up to 21 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 15 & Up to 6 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome on prior request
Features: Outdoor heated swimming pool (April-October), sunken spa bath, sauna, steam room, outdoor shower, outdoor kitchen with pizza oven, paella burner, games and cinema room, tennis court, croquet lawn
The Marlings
Standish, Stroud, Gloucestershire, The Cotswolds, UK
Made up of five beautiful dwellings in Standish near Stroud, The Marlings is a luxury family resort in the Cotswolds with a heated pool, hot tub, playground, and tennis court.
Sleeps: Up to 25 guests (20 adults and 5 children)
Alternative Group Option: Up to 12 guests
Pets: Three well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Heated outdoor pool (available April to October) with pool house, hot tub, tennis court, wooden playpark