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.
Over Lemon River
Ashburton, Dartmoor, Devon, UK
Dartmoor is Devon’s wild heart; a place where heather cloaks the ground like an over-sized velvet eiderdown and granite tors scramble to meet big open skies. On fine days, ponies wander amidst the mysticism of faeries but when the swirling mists arrive, Over Lemon River is the perfect hideaway.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two dogs are welcome
Features: Al fresco living space with wood-fired hot tub and fire pit
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 luxurious shooting lodge appeal with a modern country twist, Castle on the Well hides within a patchwork of rolling Devonshire countryside, on the edge of Exmoor National Park. A unique luxury castle in miniature for a family holiday to remember.
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
Features: Fire pit
The Riddle
North Bovey, Dartmoor, Devon, UK
Plot your country escape to this luxury holiday cottage in North Bovey; one of Devon's most idyllic villages set within the rugged beauty of Dartmoor National Park. The Riddle is the type of cottage you might find on the pages of a storybook.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 4 & Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome, or three on prior request.
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
Beauport
Nestled on the banks of the River Yealm in South Devon's yachty haven of Newton Ferrers is the oh-so-stylish Beauport. This stunning self-catering luxury cottage exudes a restful ambiance echoic of the rippling river which sits at the bottom of the garden.
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
Novella
This cob cottage deep in Devon woodland is a storybook of a home, tucked down a lane and decked out in botanical prints, vintage embroidery and antique furniture, inviting imaginations to unfurl.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub, trampoline, table tennis, outdoor kitchen (year-round)
Kohtalo
Combe Martin, Ilfracombe, Devon, UK
Kohtalo is a grand design conceived by childhood sweethearts. Just 15 minutes from the Ilfracombe coast and with a hot tub settled under the stars, this luxury holiday home is a modern, welcoming family escape.
Sleeps: Up to 8 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 4 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub
Verte
A spectacularly grown-up treehouse, Verte seamlessly merges inside-outside living within the lush Devon estate of Chevithorne Barton. This RIBA-award winning modern home was designed to reset the soul.
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
Leopoldina
Stoke Gabriel, Totnes, Devon, UK
Once the stables to Sandridge Park and now a harmonious family home with a heated pool in Devon's Stoke Gabriel, this grand Italianate manor was the creation of John Nash, architect to the Prince Regent.
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
This enchanting 400 year old millhouse is chock-full of old-world charm. Set in the South Hams near Dartmouth, the dreamy south Devon coast is almost within touching distance and a short stroll through the valley leads to the sheltered cove of Blackpool Sands.
Sleeps: Up to 10 guests
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Features: Wood-fired hot tub, sauna, cinema room with table football
Botania
Ashburton, Dartmoor, Devon, UK
All at once wrapped in Dartmoor’s mossy-hued clutches and minutes from the good-living village of Ashburton, this Arts and Crafts manor is a portrait of minimal maximalism that keeps Devon's River Dart in its backyard.
Sleeps: Up to 10 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 6 & Up to 4 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome