Few Christmas films have shaped the cottage escape quite like The Holiday. Its snow-dusted lanes, crooked stone walls and firelit rooms continue to inspire winter trips to the British countryside, even though Rosehill Cottage itself was built for the production.
The fictional Surrey home was partly inspired by Honeysuckle Cottage in Holmbury St Mary. Jude Law later described how director Nancy Meyers struggled to find the right property: “She toured that whole area and didn’t quite find the chocolate box cottage she was looking for. So she just hired a field, and drew it and had someone build it,” he said in a passage published by *House Beautiful*.
The six UK stays below were supplied by a travel PR as cottages with a similar festive mood. None appeared in the film or claims to be a replica, but each has features associated with the Rosehill fantasy, from thatched roofs and old fireplaces to exposed beams and secluded country settings.
Prices and Christmas availability were supplied on 24 September 2026, so both may change at the time of booking.
1. Philham Water Cottage, Hartland, Devon
Best for a romantic thatched cottage near the coast
Set beside a brook near Hartland, Philham Water Cottage is a 16th-century thatched retreat around two miles from the North Devon coast. Low doorways, flagstone floors and a substantial stone fireplace give it a timeworn character.
The cottage sleeps two comfortably, although its listing says another two guests can be accommodated “at a pinch”. A secluded garden wraps around the property, with the sound of running water adding to the rural atmosphere. The stream also means the cottage is not considered suitable for children, an important distinction from the PR description of its capacity as “2+2”.
Dogs are welcome for an additional charge, and guests should expect to drive because of the secluded setting. Hartland and the surrounding coast offer a rugged alternative to the manicured Surrey scenery associated with The Holiday, with clifftop walks and quiet beaches within reach.
The PR quoted prices from £595 a week and £1,225 for seven nights over Christmas. At the time of research, the Coolstays page separately displayed Christmas and New Year weeks from £895, so confirm the applicable festive rate before booking.
2. The Writers Retreat Brilley, near Hay-on-Wye
Best for two people seeking a quiet Welsh borders hideaway
Located in Brilley near Hay-on-Wye, The Writers Retreat is a restored stone cottage for two with wood-burning stoves and a farmhouse-style kitchen. Its compact scale and secluded setting suit couples who want the intimate side of the Rosehill Cottage aesthetic rather than a large festive gathering.
Inside, rough stone walls sit beside warm timber and simple country furnishings. Upstairs is a free-standing copper bath. Although the PR material described this as an outdoor bath, the current property listing places it indoors.
Dogs are welcome, making the retreat suitable for winter walks through the countryside around Brilley. Hay-on-Wye, the border town known for its bookshops, lies nearby and gives guests somewhere to browse between slow mornings by the stove.
Prices were quoted from £200 a night. This is the smallest property in the selection and one of the clearest options for a quiet Christmas escape for two.
3. Lodge Cottage, Castleton, Peak District
Best for a family Christmas with village amenities nearby
In the Peak District village of Castleton, Lodge Cottage is a 15th-century stone property sleeping nine guests. Its exposed beams and stone fireplaces provide the period atmosphere, while the central village location makes it practical for groups that do not want to drive for every meal or drink.
The house has four bedrooms with double beds, plus one single bedroom. Dogs are welcome, and the driveway has space for two cars. Pubs, cafés and shops are listed as less than a two-minute walk away, offering an easy change of pace from evenings gathered around the fire.
Castleton is surrounded by Peak District walking country, but its amenities distinguish this cottage from more isolated stays. Guests can spend the morning outside before returning for lunch in the village, rather than planning every part of the holiday around the house.
The PR quoted rates from £400 a night, rising to £3,950 for a four-night stay from 23 to 27 December. For an extended family or two households travelling together, the capacity and walkable location make Lodge Cottage one of the most convenient choices here.
4. Jackdaw Cottage, near Stroud, Gloucestershire
Best for Cotswolds views from a private hot tub
Set on Westley Farm near Stroud, Jackdaw Cottage is a converted farm building for four overlooking Gloucestershire’s Golden Valley. It combines a secluded Cotswolds setting with two details suited to winter stays: a wood-burning stove inside and a wood-fired hot tub outdoors.
The cottage stands within 70 acres of farm countryside, with footpaths leading towards local pubs. One bedroom has a king-size bed, while a loft room contains two single beds. The arrangement works well for a couple seeking extra space or a small family, and dogs are welcome.
The cottage offers a rustic take on the The Holiday look, with pale interiors and valley views. The pale interiors and valley views keep the focus on the surrounding landscape, while the hot tub offers a place to warm up on cold evenings.
The PR quoted £950 a week, or £1,750 for seven nights over Christmas. The listing gives Monday, Wednesday and Friday as arrival days, so guests planning a precise festive itinerary should check how those changeover rules apply to Christmas week.
5. Southlands Farm Cottages, Gunnerton, Northumberland
Best for a group stay near Hadrian’s Wall
Located on a smallholding in Gunnerton, Southlands Farm Cottages brings together four cottages and a restored 1940s showman’s wagon near Hadrian’s Wall. The collection sleeps up to 16 across eight bedrooms, making it a flexible alternative to squeezing a large group into one house.
The cottages have individually designed kitchens and log-burning stoves, retaining the warmth of a traditional festive stay while giving guests more privacy. The largest cottage can seat all 16 people for dinner, so the group can gather for Christmas lunch without remaining under one roof throughout the trip. Catering can also be arranged.
The showman’s wagon provides the most unusual sleeping space, with its restored character creating a memorable option for two guests. Dogs are accepted in the cottages but not in the wagon, despite the wider property being promoted as dog-friendly.
Hadrian’s Wall and Northumberland’s open countryside give the stay a remote northern setting, while the separate buildings suit multigenerational groups or friends with different routines. Prices were quoted from £2,680 a week or £1,740 for a three-night break.
6. Tan House, Newland, Forest of Dean
Best for a large festive gathering with hot tubs
In the Gloucestershire village of Newland, Tan House is a multi-unit group retreat sleeping up to 20 near the Forest of Dean. Rather than one conventional cottage, it combines several accommodation spaces with gardens, hot tubs and a teepee used as a communal gathering area.
The layout is designed around groups and celebrations, giving guests room to separate during the day before meeting for drinks or dinner. Its landscaped outdoor areas broaden the experience beyond the bedrooms, although winter visitors are likely to make the hot tubs and covered gathering space the centre of the stay.
The operator advertises accommodation for up to 20 people. Separate gathering information gives a capacity of up to 18, reflecting different uses of the site, so larger parties should confirm the exact sleeping and communal configuration before paying a deposit. Dogs are welcome according to the PR material.
Rates were quoted from £2,000 a night. Tan House is the largest and most event-focused choice in the selection, suited to friends or extended families looking for a private Forest of Dean base rather than a small film-style cottage.
Christmas availability for all six properties was reported when the selection was supplied on 24 September 2026. Festive dates can sell quickly, and the quoted prices may not include pet fees, cleaning charges or other booking costs, so check the complete rate and cancellation terms directly with the relevant property before confirming a stay.
