5 English holiday homes to cosy up in this winter

Winter is coming, and where better to see it out than from the confines of a cosy cottage with a roaring fire, or a historic townhouse that imbues slow living. Luckily, England has both of these in abundance.

Here are five of the best holiday homes in England to bed down in while waiting for the warm weather to return.

The Find in Cranham, Cotswolds

The Found family living room features an oversized fireplace and woodburning stove — Courtesy of Found Associates

Sleeps 12; from £5995 per week via Unique Home Stays
Cosy up in the Cotswolds at this RIBA award-winning home by architect Richard Found, which blends tradition with contemporary design. The original cottage has been extended with a striking glass-lined volume, which houses a huge living and dining space. During the winter months, guests can huddle around its long open fireplace and walk off those big meals in the surrounding rolling landscape.

Converted chapel in Forest Row, East Sussex

Converted chapel for rent in the UK this winter — Via Airbnb

Sleeps 8, from £200 per night
Perched at the edge of Ashdown Forest, this 19th-century converted chapel mixes tradition with contemporary design. There’s room for eight to pull up a pew under its lofty, beamed ceilings, and those that want to brave the cold can also soak themselves in the 8-person outdoor hot tub.

St John in Rye, East Sussex

Converted ambulance centre in Rye for rent — Via DOMstayandlive

Sleeps 10; from £400 per night via Dom Stayandlive
Gather your nearest and dearest before descending on this former ambulance station which has plenty of space for everyone to congregate in its open-plan living and dining room. St John is not far from the cobbled streets of Rye, which can also be glimpsed from the windows of the master bedroom. A firepit outside means you can toast marshmallows – or warm your hands around its wood-burning stove, which takes centre-stage on the ground floor.

Myrdle Street Residence in Whitechapel, London

Weaver's House by Hostem - a London vacation rental — Courtesy of BoutiqueHomes

Sleeps 6, from £750 per night via BoutiqueHomes
There are period details aplenty at this three-bedroom Georgian townhouse in London’s East End. A former linen merchant’s store, the entire home has been carefully restored and filled with design pieces. Guests can spread out across four floors and 3,000 sq ft of space.

Converted Barn in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire

The living room of a converted barn vacation home in Henley-on-Thames, UK — Via Airbnb

Sleeps 12; from £450 per night via Airbnb
Guests at this huge barn conversion in Henley-on-Thames won’t find themselves short of things to do. As well as its vast living space – including a dining table that sits 12 – there’s five acres of garden to explore, as well as a tennis court, indoor pool and games room. A dormitory-style room at the top of the barn has space for extra visitors and looks out over the surrounding Oxfordshire countryside.