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.
Watermark
Stoke Gabriel, Totnes, Devon, UK
A former boat workshop, Watermark is a luxury waters’-edge home with a hot tub on the River Dart in Devon's Stoke Gabriel; expect chic shacks, crabbing, and canoes instead of cars.
Sleeps: Up to 4 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Features: Hot tub
The Creamery
Abbotsham, Appledore, Devon, UK
Far from the crowds on the Hartland Heritage Coast, in between characterful Appledore and Clovelly, The Creamery is a rustic-luxe cottage made for those hidden-away stays in Devon.
Sleeps: Up to 4 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome with a third small dog on request
Features: Fire pit, hot tub
Ivy Cove
Holbeton, Noss Mayo, Devon, UK
Perfectly placed for both sun baking and storm watching, Ivy Cove is a luxury cottage near Noss Mayo where colourful modern design and spectacular coastal views go hand in hand.
Sleeps: Up to 4 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome, or three small dogs on prior request
Features: Wood-fired hot tub and tennis court
Castle on the Well
South Molton, Exmoor, Devon, UK
Fusing authentic lodge appeal with an unexpected stately twist, Castle on the Well is a luxury fortress on the edge of Exmoor National Park in the rolling Devonshire countryside.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 4 & Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome on prior request
Features: Fire pit
The Lost Music Hall
Created by a London dandy as a secret retreat from society, The Lost Music Hall is a luxury Arts and Crafts manor with a pool in a hidden valley near Totnes, in Devon's South Hams.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 & Up to 12 guests
Pets: Two pets are welcome
Features: Heated outdoor swimming pool (May-September) and games room with table tennis and darts
The Brandy Thief
Lee, Ilfracombe, Devon, UK
Awash with history and swathed in character, this luxury coastal cottage is a dreamy retreat for explorers looking to hunker down in North Devon.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 4 & Up to 2 guests
Pets: One small to medium well-behaved dog is welcome and two on prior request
Novella
This cob cottage deep in Devon's woodland is a storybook home; tucked down a lane, decked in antique furnishings, Novella is a luxury chapel conversion with a hot tub in Braunton.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub, trampoline, outdoor kitchen (year-round)
Beauport
A luxury waterfront cottage on the banks of the River Yealm in yachty Newton Ferrers, the oh-so-stylish Beauport is a restful Devon hotspot with a summerhouse and private slipway.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 4 & Up to 2 guests
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Features: Summerhouse, kayaks (used at your own risk, life jackets not provided), private slipway
Botania
Ashburton, Dartmoor, Devon, UK
Wrapped in Dartmoor’s mossy-hued clutches, and minutes from the good-living village of Ashburton, Botania is an Arts and Crafts manor that keeps Devon's River Dart in its backyard.
Sleeps: Up to 8 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 6 & Up to 4 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Leopoldina
Stoke Gabriel, Totnes, Devon, UK
Once the stables to Sandridge Park, now a luxury Italianate manor with a heated pool in Devon's Stoke Gabriel, Leopoldina was the last creation of famed architect John Nash.
Sleeps: Up to 10 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 6 guests
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Features: Outdoor heated pool (available May-September), private beach on the River Dart, yoga space with roof terrace, and games annex with table tennis and a football table
Ellesmera Mill
A 400-year-old South Hams residence that's full of quaint charm, Ellesmera Mill is a luxury country home with a hot tub, sauna, and cinema room near Dartmouth on the Devon coast.
Sleeps: Up to 10 guests
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Features: Wood-fired hot tub, sauna, cinema room with table football
Verte
A spectacularly grown-up treehouse, Verte is a luxury RIBA-award winning home within Devon's lush Chevithorne Barton estate, complete with a hot tub and glorious gardens.
Sleeps: Up to 10 guests (6 adults and 4 children)
Alternative Group Option: Up to 6 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome, or three on prior request
Features: Wood-fired hot tub, large flat lawn for croquet, football and badminton