England Vacation Rentals - West Midlands
The West Midlands, together with the Cotswolds, is called the "Heart of England". The West Midlands includes Shakespeare Country (centering around his birthplace of Stratford-upon-Avon), the old industrial heartland of England (most of the factories are gone but the industrial canals have been turned into beautiful waterways), Birmingham (the second largest British city), the Marches on the border of Wales with the historic "black and white" Tudor houses, Warwick Castle and the cathedral at Worcester. Counties - Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire
Contents
Local Agencies - Farms - Agencies - Directories - Tourist Offices
Local Agencies
Vacation rental agency with head office in the country where they offer vacation rentals. Usually you find the best prices with local agencies.
Cottage in the Country
Local Agency based in United Kingdom
Vacation rentals (holiday cottages) in the Cotswolds (70+ properties) and surrounding areas including the Thames Valley, the Chilterns, Windsor, Berkshire Downs. Agency in Chipping Norton. On the website click "Map", then click the region to see all properties for an area. Many cottages are pet-friendly.
Listings for England: Bath, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cotswolds, Gloucestershi -->
Country Holiday Lets
Local Agency based in United Kingdom
Vacation rentals (cottages) in Herefordshire, Welsh Marches, Worcestershire Borders, Ludlow and Shropshire Hills. This is an historic farming area with many original black and white homes, some over 400 years old. Agency based in Leominster. Changeover days are Friday or Monday. Short breaks are possible.
Listings for England: Herefordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire
English Country Cottages
Local Agency based in United Kingdom
Vacation rentals in all of England (2800+), many in the Cotswolds. Agency has been in business for over 30 years and is now part of The Hoseasons Group. Great variety of cottages, many well-priced.
Listings for England: All Counties, Bath, London
Hideaways
Local Agency based in United Kingdom
Vacation rentals in several regions of England, including towns (Salisbury, Bath) and countryside. Agency in Shaftesbury, Dorset. They run location specific sites under separate domain names (e.g. www.cornwall-coastal-cottages.co.uk).
Listings for England: Bath, Cornwall, Cotswolds, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Heref -->
Landmark Trust
Local Agency based in United Kingdom
Order their catalog of over 190 historic buildings to stay in throughout the United Kingdom, including 23 on Lundy Island off the coast of North Devon. Properties in all counties of England and Wales and some areas of Scotland. The catalog is beautiful and will be going online soon. All availability shown online. This foundation restores and preserves historic buildings which are remarkable in some way (architecture, history or setting). The vacation rental income supports the foundation and you get to stay in a piece of history.
Listings for England, Scotland, Wales - England listings for: All Counties
Manor Cottages
Local Agency based in United Kingdom
Vacation rentals throughout the Cotswolds, in and near Bath and in the Wye Valley - Wales Border area. Agency in Burford (Cotswolds). Most Cotswolds properties are near Burford and Chipping Norton.
Listings for England: Bath, Cotswolds, Herefordshire
Reviews (3)
National Trust
Local Agency based in United Kingdom
National Trust owns over 350 historic cottages in all parts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Listings for England, Ireland, Wales - England listings for: All Counties
Prestige Apartment Services
Local Agency based in United Kingdom
Serviced apartments in many cities in England, Scotland (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen) and Wales (Cardiff). Rent by night, week, month. Internet (broadband) in many apartments. Agency is in London.
Listings for England, Scotland, Wales - England listings for: All Counties, Lond -->
Rural Retreats
Local Agency based in United Kingdom
Vacation rentals in England, Scotland and Wales. Agency located in the Cotswolds and has many cottages there. Rentals are at the high end of the price range but are good quality. No fixed start day, can rent for less than a week. Catalog available. The US agency Suzanne B. Cohen represents Rural Retreats (prices are the same). Some other US agencies charge a higher price (and use different cottage names).
Listings for England, Scotland, Wales - England listings for: All Counties, Bath -->
Reviews (4)
Stately Holiday Homes
Local Agency based in United Kingdom
Selected listings in historic properties in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland. Agency in Suffolk, has over 70 top quality properties.
Listings for England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales - England listings for: Cheshire, -->
Sykes Cottages
Local Agency based in United Kingdom
Vacation rentals in many regions of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Agency in Chester, has hundreds of cottages.
Listings for England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales - England listings for: Cambridge -->
Town and Country Cottages
Local Agency based in United Kingdom
Vacation rentals in the Cotswolds, in and near Bath, Somerset, Dorset, Salisbury and Wye Valley (over 100 properties). Agency in Bath. Some of their Cotswolds properties are from the agency Manor Cottages.
Listings for England: Bath, Dorset, Herefordshire, Somerset, Wiltshire
Vivat Trust
Local Agency based in United Kingdom
20+ notable historic properties owned by Vivat Trust, a UK building preservation trust (similar to Landmark Trust). Several in Shropshire and Cumbria, some in Scotland, others in other England regions. Very interesting places to stay.
Listings for England, Scotland - England listings for: Cotswolds, Cumbria, Derby -->
Reviews (1)
Farms
Apartments, cottages or houses in the countryside on a farm, estate or in a hamlet, run by one owner. These may be converted outbuildings.
*Farm Stay UK
Self catering (vacation rentals), caravan and camping, bunkhouse and hostels, B&B on farms throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Book with owner (phone, email, website listed). There are regional versions of the Farm Stay site, with the same properties listed.
Listings for England, Scotland, Wales - England listings for: All Counties
Hidden Cottages
Four 4-star cottages (1 and 2 bedroom barn conversions) on a farm near Henley in Arden (north of Stratford-Upon-Avon).
Listings for England: Warwickshire
Hidelow House
Six cottages and B&B on a farm near Worcester and Great Malvern, west of the Cotswolds. Some cottages have internet (broadband). Cottages sleep 2 or 4. Two larger houses sleep 9 and 12.
Listings for England: Worcestershire
Knightcote Farm Cottages
Five 5-star cottages on a farm outside of the Cotswolds between Banbury and Warwick (sleeps 4 - 10). Internet (broadband) in cottages. Listed with FarmStay.uk.
Listings for England: Warwickshire
Shakespeare Holiday Cottages
Four cottages (5 star) on Arden Hill Farm three miles from Stratford-upon-Avon (2 - 3 bedrooms). Weekends or by the week. All have internet access (WiFi broadband). No pets.
Listings for England: Warwickshire
Agencies
Vacation rental agencies not based in the country where they have their properties. Usually based in the US or the UK. They may represent local agencies.
cottages4you
Agency based in United Kingdom
Vacation rentals in most of Europe - United Kingdom (England, Wales and Scotland), Ireland, France, Italy. Part of The Hoseasons Group.
Listings for England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales - England listings -->
Suzanne B Cohen
Agency based in United States
Vacation rentals in Italy, England, Scotland and Wales. In Italy these are their private listings. Several apartments in Florence. For England, Scotland and Wales they represent the UK agency Rural Retreats and charge the same price (properties are not online, they send you a printed catalog). They have personally inspected many of the Rural Retreats properties.
Listings for England, Italy, Scotland, Wales - England listings for: All Countie -->
Reviews (12)
Directories
"Rent from Owner" websites with lists of vacation rentals where you book directly with the owner.
Alastair Sawday's Special Escapes
Not your average vacation rental directory site - these are personally selected and described by travel book author Alastair Sawday. This is a great selection of "special places" - hotels and vacation rentals (self-catering) in England, Scotland and Wales. Some areas have only a few selections, but others have many (Cornwall 50+, Devon 40+, Somerset 20+, Gloucestershire-Cotswolds 10+, Lake District 20+, Yorkshire 16+). Good information about each place, rent directly from the owner.
Listings for England, Scotland, Wales - England listings for: Bath, Cheshire, Co -->
Cottage Guide
Over 6,000 vacation rentals in all regions of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Search by county or by town name. Rent directly from the owner.
Listings for England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales - England listings for: All Count -->
Cottages Direct (Stilwell's)
Directory of vacation rentals in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Part of The Hoseasons Group.
Listings for England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales - England listings for: All Count -->
HolidayLettings.co.uk - England
Directory of vacation rentals worldwide, with thousands of listings for Europe (England +2,400 properties). Good searching (can search for properties with internet access). Book directly with owner. Owned by TripAdvisor.
Listings for England: All Counties, Bath, London
Reviews (1)
HomeAway - United Kingdom
Directory of vacation rentals worldwide, with over 11,000 rentals for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Rent from the owner.
Listings for England, Scotland, Wales - England listings for: All Counties, Lond -->
Independent Cottages
Owner listings for most regions of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Can search for places with internet.
Listings for England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales - England listings for: All Count -->
Premier Cottages
Over 800 luxury cottages in England (with a few in Scotland, Wales and Ireland). Premier cottages is an association of self-catering cottage owners. Only 4 and 5 star cottages are listed. Good selection of farms with cottages. Also independent cottages and large houses.
Listings for England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales - England listings for: Cornwall, -->
Tourist Offices
Local tourist offices frequently list local accommodations that you can book directly with the owner.
Visit Britain
Tourist website for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with online accommodation booking for hotels and B&Bs, budget and student, campsites, short-term rental (vacation rentals), serviced apartments (vacation rentals). Book directly with the owner.
Listings for England, Scotland, Wales - England listings for: All Counties
