Ideas for July Cottage Holidays

Thinking of taking a cottage holiday this July?  The month of July is a busy time for cottage breaks with the summer school holidays beginning in early to mid-July in Scotland, a couple of weeks earlier than the English ones, and the great summer stampede for holiday cottages begins.

It's always best to book ahead to obtain the cottage you would really like for your summer holiday but don't despair if you have left it to the last minute.

• See cottages with availability for July

Ideas for July Holidays in the UK

There are plenty of ideas and options when it comes to July holidays. We all like messing about by a river or beach holidays. How about a spot of fishing or golf, or if you have very young children you may prefer toddler friendly cottages?

Families with older children may want to gather ideas for family holidays or self-catering with sports activities like tennis, football or swimming. The Go Ape aerial assault courses are an exciting and challenging activity for older children and adults. These can be found in Thetford Forest in Norfolk, Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, plus a few other locations. A swimming pool is always a boon except when there are very young children to watch. A farmstay holiday may be a safer option where children can feed and pet the animals.

Alternatively you may consider visiting a place with interesting events in July - perhaps there is something you have always wanted to see.

• At the very beginning of July there is the massive Westpoint Antiques and Collector's Fair in Exeter, Devon, with over 500 stalls. During the last week of July there is the Torbay Carnival Week in Devon with traditional entertainment and craft show.
   
• Keen gardeners may be interested in Floors Castle Gardeners' Festival, near Kelso, in the Scottish Borders. It's on on the second Saturday and Sunday of July, from 10 am. to 5 pm. and features many garden stalls, garden games such as croquet and quoits, market stalls, garden advice, willow weaving and live music. Tel: Emma on 01573 224530.
   
• If you like all things historical then do try to visit Kentwell Hall in Long Melford, Suffolk for their Tudor re-enacments; it's a fascinating day out for the whole family. Volunteers in costume act out their daily lives for your pleasure, demonstrating various arts like spinnning, weaving, tent making, archery and so on. They will talk to you and your children in character. It's just like stepping back in time - complete with a hog roast.
   
• The Crich Tramway Village in Matlock in Derbyshire holds an Edwardian Festival with suffragettes, period vehicles and miltary from that time. This can be your opportunity to ride on a horse drawn tram.

If you have a young family, you may wish to consider a small cottage complex with play areas and cycle paths, or there are also cottages near places of interest for children like Woburn Safari Park, Alton Towers and so on.

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• Click for more cottages available in July in the Uk and Ireland
• Holiday cottages and self-catering accommodation in England

If you're looking for a cottage during July and the school holidays, please contact owners directly for details with your requirements (number of people, dates from and to, preferred location, special requirements, e.g. pet-friendly) to check availability in July for you. Please note that your telephone number is essential. 

We hope we've provided you with some good ideas and inspiration and that you have a perfect cottage holiday this July.