Choosing the right place to stay can make all the difference to a UK break. The perfect accommodation isn’t just somewhere to sleep — it can become a highlight of the trip in itself. Whether you’re after a cosy cottage in the Cotswolds, a fun-filled holiday park by the sea, a stylish city centre hotel or a peaceful adult-only retreat in the countryside, the UK has an outstanding range of options to suit every taste, group size and budget.
Here’s a quick guide to the main types of accommodation available, with links to search and book through our recommended partners.
Hotels
Hotels are the most flexible option for short breaks — easy to book, no self-catering required and usually brilliantly located for city centres, tourist attractions and transport links. From budget-friendly chain hotels to boutique country house properties and luxury spa resorts, the UK has hotels to suit every occasion and every budget.
Hotels work particularly well for city breaks, theatre trips, special occasions, overnight stays and breaks where you want to eat out every evening rather than cook for yourself.
Trivago
Compare hotel prices across hundreds of booking sites in one search. A great starting point to find the best rate before you book.
Search TrivagoLateRooms
Specialises in last-minute hotel deals and discounted rates. Brilliant for flexible travellers and spontaneous short breaks.
Search LateRoomsWarner Leisure Hotels
Beautiful adult-only country house hotels with entertainment, leisure and dining included. Perfect for couples and groups.
Search Warner HotelsMacdonald Hotels
Four-star hotels and resorts across England, Scotland and Wales — particularly strong for spa breaks and golf breaks.
Search Macdonald HotelsThe Inn Collection
Award-winning pubs with rooms in stunning coastal and countryside locations across the North of England and Wales.
Search Inn CollectionAll Hotels
See our full guide to UK hotels — with all our recommended partners in one place.
Explore All HotelsHoliday Cottages
Holiday cottages are the nation’s favourite for a reason. There’s something wonderfully special about arriving at your own private cottage — whether it’s a whitewashed fisherman’s cottage steps from a Cornish beach, a converted stone barn in the Yorkshire Dales or a cosy Highland hideaway with a log fire and a hot tub. Self-catering gives you total flexibility — eat when you want, bring the dog, come and go as you please and really feel at home in a beautiful part of the UK.
Cottages work brilliantly for families, couples, dog owners, groups of friends and anyone who values space, privacy and a home-from-home atmosphere.
Sykes Cottages
One of the UK’s largest cottage agencies with thousands of properties across England, Scotland and Wales.
Search Sykes CottagesHolidayCottages.co.uk
A brilliant range of coastal, countryside and family cottages across the UK with flexible search filters.
Search HolidayCottagesNational Trust Holidays
Remarkable properties in stunning historic settings — from coastal cottages to country estates.
Search National TrustRural Retreats
Hand-picked high-quality properties — perfect for romantic breaks, special occasions and luxury self-catering.
Search Rural RetreatsSnapTrip
Great for last-minute cottage availability — searches multiple providers in one place for the best deals.
Search SnapTripAll Cottages
See our full holiday cottages guide — with all our recommended cottage partners in one place.
Explore All CottagesHoliday Parks
Holiday parks are fantastic for families — especially when the kids need plenty to do without anyone having to drive anywhere. Pools, entertainment, activities, restaurants and evening shows all on your doorstep, in a self-contained environment where children can roam freely. Many coastal holiday parks have direct beach access too, which is hard to beat on a summer family holiday.
From lively, entertainment-packed parks to quieter, more relaxed lodge resorts, there’s a huge range of holiday park accommodation across the UK.
Away Resorts
Award-winning holiday parks with their own distinct character — coastal, countryside and Cotswolds locations.
Search Away ResortsShorefield Holidays
Well-regarded holiday parks across Hampshire and Dorset — great for coastal and countryside family breaks.
Search ShorefieldPark Holidays UK
A large network of caravan and lodge parks across England, Scotland and Wales with great coastal locations.
Search Park HolidaysAll Holiday Parks
See our full holiday parks guide — with all our recommended parks and what to expect.
Explore All Holiday ParksLast Minute Breaks
Sometimes the best breaks are the ones you book on a whim. Last-minute availability on cottages, hotels and holiday parks can offer excellent value — especially if you’re flexible on location or dates. If you have a free weekend coming up and fancy getting away, it’s always worth checking what’s available at short notice.
SnapTrip
The best place to find last-minute cottage and lodge availability — searches multiple providers at once.
Search SnapTripLateRooms
Last-minute hotel deals across the UK — great for spontaneous city breaks and overnight stays.
Search LateRoomsAll Last Minute Breaks
See our full last minute breaks guide with all the best places to search for availability.
Explore Last Minute BreaksAdult Only Breaks
Sometimes you want a break where you can truly switch off and relax — no children, no noise, just peace, good food and great company. Adult-only breaks cover everything from Warner Leisure Hotels’ iconic all-inclusive country house resorts to secluded rural cottages, boutique spa hotels and solo travel specialists like Just You.
Warner Leisure Hotels
The UK’s favourite adult-only hotel brand — historic country house settings, entertainment, leisure and dining all included.
Search Warner HotelsJust You
Specialists in solo travel — no single supplements, great company and brilliant holidays designed around travelling alone.
Search Just YouAll Adult Breaks
See our full adult only breaks guide — hotels, cottages, spa breaks and solo travel options.
Explore Adult BreaksNot Sure What Type of Break You Need?
Quick Guide — Which Type of Accommodation is Right for You?
- City break or theatre trip → Hotel
- Family holiday with space & flexibility → Holiday Cottage
- Family break with entertainment on site → Holiday Park
- Romantic break or peaceful retreat → Adult Only Break
- Spontaneous weekend away → Last Minute Breaks
- Solo travel without single supplements → Just You Solo Holidays
- Luxury self-catering with a hot tub → Rural Retreats or Sykes
- Coastal family holiday on a budget → Pontins or Park Holidays
Explore by destination: England • Scotland • Wales • Ireland
More holiday ideas: Theatre Breaks • City Breaks • Holidays Abroad • Family Days Out