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How to book a cheap last-minute holiday cottage for the summer holidays
With most of the UK basking in sunshine, a stay at a holiday cottage has never looked so tempting. The good news is it's still possible to find an affordable getaway even during the school summer break.
We've analysed thousands of cottage prices to reveal the cheapest destinations to book, and how much you can save by staying inland rather than close to the beach. You’ll pay the biggest premium for being beside the seaside in Suffolk: a whopping £317 (28%) extra per week on average.
We’ll also reveal the best regions to book a holiday cottage that has a hot tub, without breaking the bank.
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Where are the cheapest UK cottage breaks?
If you want to book a holiday cottage for this summer, Oxfordshire is the most expensive part of the UK. Cottages cost £1,693 on average. Stays in Surrey, Berkshire and Cornwall were also among the priciest.
Northern Ireland is the cheapest UK region for a holiday cottage. A week’s booking will cost £905 on average – a great opportunity to visit the Giant’s Causeway or the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. The Causeway Coast also made the top five in our recent survey of the best Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – now rebranded as National Landscapes.
You can also find bargains in Durham and Tyne & Wear – close to some of the UK’s best seaside towns. Bamburgh and Tynemouth both made the top 10 in our recent survey, scoring the full five stars for their beaches.
The cheapest regions for a UK cottage stay
| Area | Average price per week |
|---|---|
| Northern Ireland | £905 |
| Durham/Tyne and Wear | £946 |
| Lincolnshire | £993 |
| Shropshire | £994 |
| Lancashire | £998 |
| Midlands | £1,009 |
| Cumbria | £1,014 |
Where does it pay to book cottages near the beach?
Our research found that you’ll generally pay more for a property within five miles of the beach. Besides Suffolk, you’ll pay the biggest seaside premiums in Sussex (£210 extra) and Kent (£174).
Surprisingly, in some regions it’s actually cheaper to be closer to the coast than further inland. In Devon, cottages near the beach are £110 cheaper on average. Even bigger savings could be found in the Scottish Highlands (£201), where most visitors come for the mountains and lochs.
How much more does it cost to book a cottage close to the beach?
| Area | Beach | Inland | Difference | Percentage difference to stay near the beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk | £1,453 | £1,136 | £317 | 27.9% |
| Sussex | £1,318 | £1,108 | £210 | 18.9% |
| Northumberland | £1,149 | £989 | £160 | 16.8% |
| Kent | £1,291 | £1,117 | £174 | 15.6% |
| Cumbria | £1,124 | £989 | £135 | 13.6% |
| Essex | £1,162 | £1,072 | £90 | 8.4% |
| Norfolk | £1,162 | £1,080 | £82 | 7.6% |
Prices are for a week’s stay in cottages within 5 miles of the coast during August, compared with those more than 5 miles from the coast.
Where can I find the cheapest holiday cottages with hot tubs?
The Midlands is your best bet if you’ve got your heart set on an affordable cottage with a hot tub: the average property will set you back £1,170 a week. Mid Wales is also relatively affordable at £1,194 a week.
This is almost half the price of Cheshire – the most expensive region for a hot-tub stay this summer, at an eye-watering £2,264 a week.
The cheapest regions for a hot-tub stay
| Area | Average price per week for a cottage with hot tub |
|---|---|
| Midlands | £1,170 |
| Mid Wales | £1,194 |
| Brecon Beacons | £1,206 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | £1,263 |
| West Wales | £1,271 |
| Northumberland | £1,284 |
| South Wales | £1,302 |
How can I save money on a holiday cottage break?
The easiest way to save money might be to just drive a few miles down the road. Our research shows that crossing from Suffolk to Norfolk could save you almost £150 a week, on average.
You can save even more (£250) by heading just outside the Lake District to the rest of Cumbria, while swapping Cornwall for Devon could shave more than £100 off a week’s stay.
Other tricks include contacting the cottage owner directly - but only if you’re totally sure it is them and not a scam, and never pay by bank transfer. Some cottages will be listed on more than one website, so shop around.
Who should I book my holiday cottage with?
There are four UK holiday cottage firms that are Which? Recommended Providers – based on our survey of thousands of holidaymakers.
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.
Our research
In May 2025, we captured prices for more than 23,600 holiday cottages still available for a week’s stay around 8 August, with 3 days' flexibility. Prices are taken from the three biggest cottage firms – Cottages.com, Holidaycottages.co.uk and Sykes.
