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Last-minute holiday deals: seven top UK seaside cottages and accommodation for May
You can still book a beach holiday for May with good accommodation providers in Brixham, St Andrews, Looe and more
From a week in historic St Andrews for under £100 a night, to a hot tub cottage in Suffolk for £175 per night, there are still deals available on UK accommodation despite headlines of everything being sold out.
Which? has picked seven holiday stays, in or near some of the best towns and villages from our top 100 seaside destinations.
Each stay is with companies rated highly by customers in our accommodation and holiday cottage provider surveys, which have good or excellent flexible booking policies. All properties, at the time of writing, still had dates available in May.
This apartment close to the beach is a bit of a steal priced at under £100 per night. It's in the heart of historic St Andrews, a sought-after holiday destination, famous for its seven golf courses and university. The apartment although well-finished is compact, but it offers plenty of amenities for a comfortable stay, from a dishwasher to an oven, hob and microwave - handy if you're a keen cook. If you'd prefer to eat out, you're minutes from the centre's bustling Georgian streets lined with restaurants and pubs.
With rolling fields front and back, you might forget about the sea in this pretty two-bedroom traditional Norfolk cottage in the pretty village of Thursford. But the Norfolk coast and beautiful Blakeney is under 15mins away by car In Blakeney, you can spend your holiday in art galleries, stretching your legs over the sand dunes or looking out for grey seals.
It sleeps four.Book with Airbnb and be sure to select the refundable rate option. Book with Airbnb.
Rates on the 'English Riviera' will be expensive this summer so this fisherman's cottage in Brixham is well priced. With a view out to the harbour from one of the bedrooms, you're just minutes away from town - as well as the famous fish market. Here you can buy fresh fish to enjoy back in the cottage's courtyard garden. If you'd prefer to sample the daily catch without having to cook it yourself, then there are plenty of restaurants and cafes to choose from in Brixham, some that look out to the water. Just be aware that to access to the cottage requires climbing steps so it won't be suitable for all.
This is one of two adjoined lodges and it's got a lot going for it. With a hot tub outside and Netflix inside, it looks like an ideal place to unwind in the countryside - even if you don't plan to see much of it. If you plan to stay in at night. If you can pull yourself away, Aldeburgh on the Suffolk Coast is just six miles away. Here you can wander the shingle beach, get lost in an independent bookstore, or have lunch in one of the many eateries lining the sea front.
This converted stone barn with an upside-down layout looks comfortable inside, but you are here for the location. It provides a get-away-from-it-all feel being on the edge of the old farming hamlet of Penare with little around. However, it's just four miles from Mevagissey - a harbourside village rated in the top 20 in our recent seaside town survey. Even closer is Dodman Point - the highest point in South Cornwall - which has panoramic views. From here you can wander down to Hemmick Beach to wile away an afternoon on the sand, or tackle a section of the South West Coast path.
With a patio overlooking Robin Hood's Bay, you might not stray too far from the garden in this four-bedroom cottage. Inside is no less charming. The lounge has an open-brick fireplace and beamed ceilings, while the kitchen looks like a sociable place to gather for meals at the breakfast bar. If you can tear yourself away from the property, it sits within the North York Moors National Park so there are walks from the doorstep. Robin Hood's Bay is around four-miles away by foot and if you choose the clifftop route, there are magnificent views. Dogs are welcome.
These cabins in the Cornish woods vary in price but none can be described as cheap. All, however, come complete with a hot tub. Despite the get-away-from-it-all feel of your woodland and millpond surroundings, there is a restaurant and bar on site. The popular coastal town of Looe is eight miles away, so a day by the seaside is within easy reach. There you can relax on the sandy beach in East Looe, which is overlooked by quaint houses stacked into the hillside. Or you can cross the river over to the west and walk the coastal path above Talland Bay.
The cabins and lodges vary in size and sleep 2-8 people. Book with Forest Holidays.
*Notes: All prices were checked the week of April 26th for dates in May. Individual Airbnbs set their own cancellation policies, but all properties chosen above have flexible booking terms at the time of checking - check they've not changed before booking.
