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How to book a cheap holiday cottage in Devon, Dorset and other holiday hotspots
A week’s stay in an inland cottage in Cornwall is £278 cheaper than one within five miles of the beach, according to our analysis of thousands of cottage prices.
That’s the largest premium for staying near a beach anywhere in the UK – despite the fact that few places in Cornwall are more than 20 minutes' drive from the coast.
In Dorset you’d pay £231 more, and in Devon £226 more, to be beside the seaside. In other parts of the country there are also price hikes the closer you are to the beach. In Northern Ireland, where the Antrim coast is among the most beautiful in the country, it’s £184 more expensive; in Suffolk it's £220.
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Where does it pay to book cottages near the beach?
We found six areas where it’s cheaper to be near the coast than further inland. These are typically places such as the Scottish Highlands or Cumbria, where most visitors come for the mountains, hills or lakes – rather than to visit the beach.
In the Highlands, cottages near the beach are £152 cheaper than those further inland.
In Essex and Lancashire, too, you can find cheaper coastal accommodation – perhaps thanks to low-cost seaside resorts such as Clacton or Blackpool.
In Norfolk and in Durham/Tyne and Wear there’s also cheaper accommodation on the coast.
Thinking of a beach break? See where Clacton and Blackpool come in our guide to the best and worst seaside towns.
How much more does it cost to book a cottage within five miles of the beach?
Area | Beach | Inland | Difference | Percentage difference to stay near the beach |
Cornwall | £1,569 | £1,291 | £278 | 21.5% |
Northern Ireland | £1,048 | £864 | £184 | 21.3% |
Suffolk | £1,389 | £1,169 | £220 | 18.8% |
Dorset | £1,485 | £1,254 | £231 | 18.4% |
Devon | £1,466 | £1,240 | £226 | 18.2% |
Sussex | £1,309 | £1,114 | £195 | 17.5% |
Northumberland | £1,110 | £968 | £142 | 14.7% |
Our research: Figures are for a week’s stay in cottages within 5 miles of the coast during the summer holidays, compared with those more than 5 miles from the coast, taken from the three biggest cottage firms – Cottages.com, Holidaycottages.co.uk and Sykes – in May 2024
Best cottage companies for beach and inland stays
There are four UK holiday cottage firms that are Which? Recommended Providers – based on our survey of thousands of holidaymakers and our independent research.
Landmark Trust came out on top in our survey, with its unique historic properties, including a restored railway station, 19th-century towers and modernist, designer homes.
Rural Retreats got four stars for value for money, despite featuring luxury properties with high-end furnishings and impressive locations.
The National Trust’s holiday cottage arm helps provide the funding for its charitable aims, but was also one of the highest-rated firms.
If you want to stay in Cornwall, Devon or Dorset, Classic Cottages, is best known for its properties in the South West, where it began – although it now has properties all over the UK.
See our reviews of the best UK cottage firms – and the ones to avoid.
What's the most beautiful part of the UK's coast?
In our survey of the best Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – now rebranded as National Landscapes – seven of the top 10 were coastal regions.
Northumberland, parts of Northern Ireland and Wales all came out ahead of Devon and Cornwall.
See our guide to the most beautiful parts of the UK, to learn more about the spectacular islands that came out on top.
We also asked thousands of travellers to tell us the UK’s best National Parks and, again, the best-known holiday destinations weren’t always the highest rated.
