Fancy a life-swap this Christmas? How about escaping to a romantic little cottage? Cue a scene from our favourite Christmas film – The Holiday. While we can’t all be Cameron Diaz bagging Jude Law for Christmas, we can chase that storybook magic: roaring fires, wooden beams and cosy, Chrismassy charm.
The movie’s setting may have been tucked away in countryside, but there are plenty of similar hideaways not far from the sea. From fishermen’s cottages to country boltholes, here are some coastal retreats waiting to spark your own festive romance story – no home swap required.
Y Becws, Gwynedd
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You can’t get much more remote and romantic than this charming barn conversion between the Rhinog Mountain range and Cardigan Bay. Set on a 200-acre working farm a mile from Llanbedr, it feels wonderfully cut off from the world and ideal for a life reset. Inside it’s pure cottage fantasy: a log burner crackling beneath low, beamed ceilings, panoramic views stretching out to the Llyn Peninsula and Bardsey Island, and charming original features that nod to its past life as a bakery — including an impressive stone inglenook and old bread oven. A truly cosy spot to hunker down between wintry outings to the peaks, beaches and village pubs.
Mill Cottage, Trethevey, Cornwall
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On the edge of a millstream and woodlands a mile from the North Cornwall coast, this cosy cottage is a pure The Holiday-style hideaway. You can almost imagine Cameron Diaz sweeping through the heavy wooden door to stoke the fire after a windswept ‘English’ day out exploring Tintagel. When you’re not curled up by the woodburner watching Christmas classics, romance and adventure await – from King Arthur’s castle to crystal-clear coves and the magical waterfalls of St Nectan’s Glen. Perfect for your own festive escape… minus the Hollywood drama.
Glen Cottage, Newton Ferrers, Devon
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The Holiday right at the water’s edge suit your style? Time then, to indulge your festive fantasies in this 18th-century cottage on the banks of Devon‘s Yealm Estuary. Settle into the window seat and conjure up the next chapter of your own story, watching boats drift by from the glow of the fire. And when you’re ready to wrap up and head out, wander winding lanes to cosy inns and tucked-away coves, or onward into the wilds of Dartmoor – where romance blows in every weather.
Childe of Hale Cottage, Hale, Cheshire
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On a snowy day you’d be forgiven for mistaking the thatched Childe of Hale Cottage for the very same cottage used in The Holiday. This detached, Grade II-listed cottage dates back to the 15th century and was the birthplace of John Middleton – the 9ft 3in giant known as the Childe of Hale. Inside, it’s a cosy retreat, perfect for fireside evenings after days out on the cinematic Trans Pennine Trail and wild festive walks on the beaches at Ainsdale, Formby and Crosby.
Little Ivy, West Lulworth, Dorset
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Reset and recharge in this pretty 400 year-old cottage that’s sure to whisk you away from everyday life. Squirrelled away just moments from Lulworth Cove and the remarkable rock arches of Durdle Door, there’s plenty to lure you into the wild winter landscapes outside. However, you might just want to yo-yo between the stone walls of your cosy abode and the roaring fire and hearty local fare of the local inn – channeling a little The Holiday magic, where every corner feels like a scene straight from the movie.
Vine Cottage, East Prawle, Devon
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Open the stable-style door and sink into an armchair by the logburner in your 300-year-old thatched cottage. Sound like a scene from The Holiday? Minus Jude Law, of course – but wrapped up in this Grade II-listed hideaway in the heart of the South Hams, it’ll still feel like all your Christmases have come at once. Strike out to Start Point Lighthouse, track down the hidden sands of Maceley Cove, then head to the Pigs Nose Inn for a dose of festive cheer. This is a traditional British Christmas scene at its most charming — coastal, cosy and irresistibly romantic.
Book your The Holiday-style Hideaway
Ready to step into the movie magic of The Holiday this festive season? Explore our coastal cottages and find your own cosy retreat where you’ll feel like you’ve walked straight into a scene from the Christmas classic.
