Jude Law shattered all our dreams when he revealed the honey-coloured cottage featured in The Holiday wasn’t actually real. Speaking on Zoe Ball’s BBC Radio 2 show, the actor confessed: “The director [Nancy Meyers]… is a bit of perfectionist; she toured that whole area [Surrey, where they filmed] and didn’t quite find the chocolate box cottage she was looking for. So she just hired a field, drew it and had someone build it.”
In the much-loved romcom, heartbroken Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz) leaves LA for the English countryside, swapping her modern mansion for Rosehill Cottage, owned by Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet), where she meets Iris’s brother (Jude Law) and falls in love. Iris’s quintessentially English countryside cottage is inspired by a cottage, in Surrey’s Holmbury St Mary, which used to be available for rent on Airbnb but is now a private home.
But don’t despair, England has plenty of The-Holiday-worthy cottages that are still available. And while we can’t guarantee you’ll meet a Jude Law lookalike during your stay, we certainly think they look the part and are perfect for a winter break…
1. Undercastle Cottage, New Forest, Hampshire
Set on the banks of the River Avon, this fairytale cottage is an idyllic place for a rural retreat and is as secluded as the cottage in The Holiday. Tucked away at the end of a private track and surrounded by trees, it’s the only five-star property in the New Forest, home to wildlife such as ponies, deer and wading birds. Sleeping up to six, the property has a picture-perfect thatched roof and a Tudor-esque half-timbered facade. Inside, you’ll find exposed wooden beams, a Holiday-style roll-top bath, big brass beds and a warming wood burner in the living room. It’s the ideal base for brisk winter walks, followed by romantic meals back at the cottage with breathtaking views of the river. And it’s dog-friendly, too.
Stay there: Undercastle Cottage (undercastlecottage.co.uk) costs from £900 for four nights.
2. Inkwell Cottage, Burford, Oxfordshire
This delightful 18th century cottage, constructed from The Cotswolds’ trademark honeyed stone, ticks all The Holiday boxes. Not only is it near where some of the scenes were filmed, but it has similar twin chimneys, mullioned windows, lopsided stairs and climbing roses framing the front door. Inside, it defines stylish shabby chic, with comfortable velvet sofas, inglenook fireplaces, an Aga in the country-style kitchen and handpicked vintage furniture. Sleeping two, it’s the perfect pad for a dreamy weekend away. If you can tear yourself away from the interiors, the picturesque village of Burford is brimming with tearooms, antique shops and independent boutiques lining its meandering cobbled streets.
Stay there: Unique Homestays (uniquehomestays.com) offers Inkwell Cottage from £1,195 a week.
3. Lemons Cottage, Devon
When life gives you lemons, head to the aptly-named Lemons Cottage in north Devon for a total reset. Adorned with a thick thatched roof, this beautiful period cottage – which sleeps up to six – boasts beautiful gardens, contemporary furnishings and all mod cons. Stonework features throughout, there’s a big fireplace in the living room and an archway separating it from the kitchen, as well as original wooden beams and that essential rolltop tub. The cottage is in the pretty village of Atherington, with lovely beach towns such as Ilfracombe and Bude within driving distance.
Stay there: Sandstone Escapes (sandstoneescapes.com) offer Lemons Cottage from £310 a night.
4. Lower Porthmawr, Whitesands Bay, Pembrokeshire
Offering stunning panoramic views over Whitesands Beach and St Brides Bay, this charmingly restored stone cottage is packed with original features, from the slate-flagstoned floors to the ceiling beams (a Holiday cottage essential). Keep cosy by the wood-burning stove in the sitting room and enjoy meals around the farmhouse table in the kitchen, which also has a traditional dresser and a Belfast sink. Most rooms have inspiring sea views, including the Victorian-style bathroom, which comes complete with a rolltop tub (another Holiday cottage must). The cottage sleeps up to four, with two bedrooms nestling in the eaves, both featuring A-frame beams and vaulted ceilings with traditional brass bedsteads. From your terrace, you can gather by the fire pit at night and gaze up at the stars, thanks to the area’s dark skies. As well as bracing wintry walks on the beach, the Pembrokeshire coastal path is just a few minutes from the front door, perfect for long walks on which you never know who you might meet. The tiny city of St Davids is just a five-minute drive away, where you can visit the cathedral, the ruins of the Bishop’s Palace and nurse your heartbreak in the local pubs.
Stay there: Coastal Cottages (coastalcottages.co.uk) offer a week at Lower Porthmawr from around £1,084.
5. Tweed Cottage, Boscrowan, Cornwall
Nestled on the outskirts of Heamoor village, and a stone’s throw north of Penzance, Tweed Cottage offers a tranquil and romantic retreat. Cosily catering for just two people and surrounded by orchards and fields, it also has its own terraced, landscaped garden. The welcoming stone facade is topped with a bristly thatched roof, while the kitchen features an Aga, luxurious Villeroy & Boch china and sage-coloured cabinets. Warm up in the living area, where you’ll find a multi-burner stove in a grand inglenook fireplace and French doors leading to a secluded patio. Upstairs, the opulent bedroom offers a bed hung with seductive silk drapes and a dormer window looking down onto the grounds. Add in a freestanding bath, a portable barbecue and a shimmering chandelier, and you have the perfect recipe for a festive romance.
Stay there: Olivers Travels (oliverstravels.com) offers a seven-night stay stay at Tweed Cottage from £893.
6. Gardener’s Cottage, Crieff, Perthshire
Perfect for foodies, nature lovers, country sports enthusiasts and walkers, Crieff – and wider Perthshire – is a wonderful place for a winter break. The Gatekeeper’s Cottage sits on the Monzie Estate, also home to the striking, Georgian-era Monzie Castle. Dating from 1874, this characterful cottage is situated just beyond the castle’s walled gardens and sleeps up to four. The original high ceilings, sash windows and exposed floorboards are all intact, and the kitchen has a traditional range cooker. There’s a large boot room (great after muddy walks) and a cosy lounge area with an open fireplace. Nearby Crieff offers independent shops and boutiques, as well as pubs and restaurants, and you’re not far from The Glenturret Distillery, should you wish to warm up with a wee dram (or three).
Stay there: The Gardener’s Cottage on the Monzi Estate (monziestate.com) costs from £185 a night.
