Vacation Rentals in the Cotswolds
Vacation rentals (also called holiday cottages or self catering) are houses or apartments that you rent by the night or week. They are fully furnished and equipped, giving you a "home away from home". Read more - All About Vacation Rentals.
This page is my list of favorite ways to find vacation rentals in the Cotswolds. First I list my favorite local vacation rental agencies and farms, then the best vacation rental directory sites where you find listings by owner. I have not listed all agencies with Cotswold listings, but instead have selected what I think is a good shortlist of places to look for vacation rentals. At the bottom of the page are Home Exchange sites and Tourist Offices that have local listings.
Cotswolds Vacation Rental Agencies and Farms/Estates
These agencies/websites are listed alphabetically and range from a farm with cottages, to a one-person agency with a few cottages, to an established agency with local offices and staff.
Bibury Holiday Cottages: Four cottages on the grounds of the owner's house in Bibury, near Cirencester (1 and 2 bedrooms). Website: Photos, cottage layouts, price range (no availability calendar).
Bruern Cottages: Luxury cottages on an estate near Stow-on-the-Wold, varying sizes. 5 star rating - very expensive. Website: Photos, prices, availablity calendar.
Campden Cottages: Agency based in Chipping Campden with several vacation rentals in or near Chipping Campden. Website: Photos, location maps, prices, availablity calendar, credit cards.
Cotswold Charm Cottages: Five cottages (sleeps 2, 4 and 6) near Chipping Campden and one near Cirencester. Website: Photos, prices, availablity calendar.
Cotswold Cottages Online: Three large cottages in the valleys near Stroud (sleeps 10, 13, 19). Website: Photos, location maps, prices (no availability calendar).
Cotswold Holiday Cottages: Five cottages near Chipping Campden and Moreton-in-Marsh (1 and 2 bedrooms). Website: Photos, prices, credit cards (no availability calendar).
Cotswold Property Lettings: Agency based in Broadway with several vacation rentals in or near Broadway. Website: Photos, prices, availablity calendar, credit cards.
Cottage in the Country: Agency based in Chipping Norton with cottages in the Cotswolds and surrounding areas (70 properties in the Cotswolds). Website: Photos (small), location maps, ETC star ratings, prices, availability calendar, online reservation requests, credit cards. Search by date, or click "Map", then click the region to see all properties for an area.
English Country Cottages: Agency based in England with listings for all of England, many listings in the Cotswolds. Listings are hand-picked by the agency. Agency has been in business for over 30 years and are now part of Holiday Cottage Guide (large company that owns several vacation rental sites). Website: Photos, location map, prices, availablity calendar, online booking, credit cards.
Five Valley Holiday Cottages: Seven cottages in different locations near Stroud, Nailsworth and Minchinhampton (1 and 2 bedroom). Website: Photos, prices (no availability calendar).
Great Trips Unlimited - England: US based agency with about 12 listings in the Cotswolds and some for Bath. They represent some Rural Retreats properties, but at the same price. Website: Photos, prices (no availability calendar).
Great Tythe Barn: Vacation rentals and B&B on an estate on the edge of Tetbury, in the southern Cotswolds. Cottages sleep 2, 4, 6, 8. Website: Virtual tour (no prices, no availability calendar).
Heath Farm: Apartments on a farm on the eastern edge of the Cotswolds near Banbury (1 and 2 bedroom). Broadband in cottages. Website: Photos, availability calendar, online booking.
Lilac and Lavender Cottages: Two cottages on a farm near Cirencester in the southern Cotswolds (sleep 3 and 4). These are listed on other agency sites, but best price is booking with owner. Website: Photos, prices, availability calendar, online booking form.
Lower Court Farm - Cotswold Cottages: Three cottages in villages between Burford and Stow-on-the-Wold (2 and 3 bedroom). Website: Photos, prices (no availability calendar).
Manor Cottages: Agency based in Burford (Cotswolds) with listings throughout the Cotswolds. You will find these same listings on other websites. Website: Photos, prices, customer reviews, availability calendar, online booking, credit cards. Good searching by location, date, amenities.
National Trust Holiday Cottages - The Cotswolds: National Trust owned historic cottages in all parts of England. They offer three sets of cottages in the Cotswolds - Snowshill near Broadway, Lodge Park in Sherborne near Burford, Newark Park near Wotton-under-edge. Website: Not many photos, prices, availability calendar, online booking, credit cards, reviews.
Owlpen Manor: Nine cottages on Owlpen Manor in the southern Cotswolds. Cottages are not grouped together, but are spread out on the estate. Website: Photos, availability calendar, online booking.
Rural Retreats: Agency based in the Cotswolds with good quality vacation rentals for the United Kingdom, many listings for the Cotswolds. Their rentals are at the high end of the price range. Their listings are represented by other agencies, sometimes for a higher price. Website: Good descriptions, photos, prices, and availability calendar, book by phone, credit cards.
Stow Cottages: Four cottages in Stow-on-the-Wold (1 and 2 bedroom). Website: Photos, location maps (no availability calendar).
Sykes Cottages: Agency based in Chester with vacation rentals in many regions of England, Scottish Borders, North Wales. Over 20 properties in Cotswolds and nearby. Website: Photos, prices, availability calendar, shortlist feature.
Town and Country Cottages: Agency based in Bath with vacation rentals in the Cotswolds, outskirts of Bath, Somerset, Dorset, Salisbury and Wye Valley (over 100 listings). Website: Photos (some listings do not have many photos), prices, location map, availability calendar, credit cards.
Westley Farm Holiday Cottages: Five cottages on a large farm between Stroud and Cirencester (1 to 3 bedrooms). Cottages are spread out on the farm on a south facing hillside. Website: Not many photos, prices, availability calendar, credit cards.
Near the Cotswolds
Hideaways: Agency based in Wiltshire with listings in the Southwest of England (a few for the Cotswolds, several for Forest of Dean). Listings for towns (Salisbury, Oxford, Bath, etc.) as well as countryside. Website: Photos, prices, availability calendar, online booking, credit cards. See my review notes.
Hidelow House: Cottages and B&B on a farm, in Herefordshire, west of the Cotswolds near Great Malvern.
Knightcote Farm Cottages: Five cottages on a farm outside of the Cotswolds between Banbury and Warwick (sleeps 4 - 10). Broadband in cottages. (5 star rating) Website: Few photos, availability calendar, online booking.
Stately Holiday Homes: Selected listings in historic properties in the United Kingdom. Website: Small photos, price, availability calendar.
Weekly Homes: Oxford apartments, from 1 week to 5 months.
Rent Directly from the Owner - Vacation Rental Directory Sites
We have listed several good vacation rental directory websites where you book directly with the owner. You will find duplications between these lists as owners tend to list on several directory sites.
My Favorite Rent from Owner Sites
The Cottage Guide - Cotswolds: Rent from owner listings for the United Kingdom and Ireland. Over 80 cottages listed for the Cotswolds. Website: Easy selection by size of cottage, some listings have price and availability calendar, owner contact given.
Holiday Lettings - Cotswolds: Nearly 2000 listings for the UK, over 130 for the Cotswolds. Website: Great search options, photos, prices, availability calendar, personal shortlist.
Premier Cottages - Cotswolds: This is an excellent list of quality vaction rentals with over 80 properties in the Cotswolds. Many are 4 and 5 star cottages on farms/estates. Website: Description, photos, prices, location map, availability search for property or region, online booking request, owner contact given.
Stilwell's Cottages Direct - Cotswolds: Over 140 properties in the Cotswolds. To see all listings, search only on size (number in party). Website: location map, availability calendar, online booking request, owner contact given. They have late availability sites with last minute discounts - Cottages Online and Next 6 Weeks.
Farm Stay Sites
Farm Stay - Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds: Farms with B&B or vacation rentals (self catering). Over 10 farms in the Cotswolds offering self catering. Website: Photos, ETC rating, owner contact/website.
Farm Stay UK: Farms with B&B or vacation rentals (self catering). Part of EuroGites, European Federation for Farm and Village Tourism. Website: Search by accommodation type (select "self catering" for vacation rentals) and region (select "Gloucestershire" or "Oxfordshire"), or use their map to locate properties. Owner contact given.
Other Rent From Owner Sites
Holiday Home Rentals: Over 200 listings for the Cotswolds. Website: Photos, location map, prices, availability calendar, favorites feature.
Independent Cottages - Cotswolds: Over 50 properties listed for the Cotswolds. Website: Good descriptions, photos, prices, availability calendar, owner contact given.
Internet-Cottages.com: Short listings with links to owner's website or a page with more details. Several other websites offer these same listings. Website: Search gives you a list for the Cotswolds.
The Holiday Cottages: Many listings for the Cotswolds. Search by region (Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire). Website: Photos, price range, owner contact given.
The Lady: A weekly magazine with lots of vacation rental listings. No vacation rental information is online; pickup the magazine in England.
Other Lists of Vacation Rentals
Cotswolds.info: Good list of cottages in the cotswolds.
OxfordCity.co.uk: Good list of apartments/cottages in and near Oxford.
Home Exchange
Home Base Holidays: Home exchange club based in London, established 1985. Many listings for the Cotswolds (search for Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire). Website: Must join to post listings or contact listings.
Sabbatical Homes: Homes to rent, house-sit or exchange. Website: No fees.
Tourist Offices
Tourist Office websites have lists of local vacation rentals, but the sites for the Cotswolds have limited listings. Most accommodations listings are on the main Visit Britain site and are duplicated on the local sites.
Visit Britain - The Cotswolds: Main Tourist Office website for all of Britain with some information for the Cotswolds. Click "Where to Stay". Cotswolds vacation rentals are included in the "Heart of England" region (over 100 listings). Website: Few photos, location map, ETC rating, links to owners' sites for more information.
Cotswolds Tourist Offices
The Cotswolds: Glouchestershire Tourism. Listings for vacation rentals are by town or type of accommodation (several types to select from including barn conversion, apartment, cottage), so it not useful for finding a good list of vacation rentals in the Cotswolds because you have to know which town you want to stay in before you start your search.
The Cotswolds: Gloucestershire Tourism (and Visit Britain). Short list of vacation rentals.
The Cotswolds Stroud District: Southern Cotswolds near Stroud (including Painswick, Minchinhampton). Vacation rental listings by town.
Romantic Cotswolds and Historic Severn Vale: Short list of vacation rentals by town or for the whole area.
Gloucestershire: Cotswolds, Royal Forest of Dean, Severn Vale. Vacation rentals for this area.
Oxfordshire Cotswolds: Eastern Cotswolds, near Oxford. Vacation rentals for this area.
Visit Cheltenham: Cheltenham and the western Cotswolds. Vacation rentals for this area.
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