South Gloucestershire

South Gloucestershire sits in that useful in-between zone: close enough to Bristol for a day out, rural enough that most of its stays are converted farm buildings rather than town-centre flats. Names like Barn Cottage, Barn End and Bramley Barn tell you what this part of the county actually looks like - old agricultural buildings turned into places to stay, scattered through villages rather than clustered in one obvious tourist spot.

That pattern runs through the self-catering options here. Alongside the barns you'll find Willis House, Bluebell Cottage, Commonwealth Cottage, Fort View and Fox Cottage - a mix that suits couples wanting a quiet weekend as much as families needing more space. There's no single resort-style base to head for; instead, you pick a cottage or barn in whichever village suits your plans and work outward from there.

The county rewards that approach. It's a landscape of villages, farmland and small towns rather than headline attractions, so days tend to be built around walking, exploring the countryside, and short drives to whatever's nearby - Bristol included, given how close many of these stays sit to the city without being in it.

It's a county that works well precisely because it doesn't try to be one thing. Stay in a converted barn down a quiet lane, then drive ten minutes for a curry, a burger, or a plate from a local kitchen - South Gloucestershire's strength is in that everyday variety rather than any single big draw.