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Accessible Airbnbs: 11 holiday cottages with wet rooms in the UK
The best rentals with accessible features, from quirky cabins to sprawling beach houses
Happily, in recent times, holiday companies are making an increasingly concerted effort to be more inclusive, ensuring travel is as easy and enjoyable for wheelchair users and disabled visitors as possible. As more self-catering accommodation becomes available to such travellers, we thought now would be the perfect time to round-up the very best accessible escapes on offer.
We've selected some of the best disabled-friendly holiday cottages with wet rooms in the UK's dreamy countryside, to inspire those with mobility needs to explore a classic British staycation this year.
One company working to make travel more inclusive is Airbnb, which has compiled on its app and website a useful 'Adapted' category. This section lists wheelchair-accessible accommodation Airbnb has manually verified for offering step-free paths into the homes, bedrooms and bathrooms, alongside other best-in-class accessible features.
Whether you're looking to get away from it all at a gorgeous Airbnb beach house in West Sussex, or get cosy with a partner in a luxurious cabin in Lancashire, these are the Airbnbs worth considering. And if you're looking for a holiday cottage with direct beach access, we've found one that comes pretty close...
From a luxurious lodge in Dorset with a hot tub and hoist, to a dog-friendly Airbnb on the edge of National Trust property Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk, these are some of the best disabled-friendly holiday cottages with wet rooms and more in the UK.
Read more from Country Living's Access for All campaign, which champions the right of everyone to enjoy Britain’s green spaces and countryside.
Laskill, North Yorkshire
The Granary – a barn conversion and English take on a chalet – was formerly a corn mill and horse stable. Now, it's a stunning stay close to the North York Moors National Park. Accessibility features include extra-wide disabled parking, step-free access on the entire ground floor and a bedroom with a wet room ensuite and shower chair.
Nearby, Miles Without Styles routes are widely available, so disabled visitors can explore the county's famed landscapes and breathtaking views.
Sleeps: 4-6
Sutton Mandeville, Wiltshire
Head for the small Wiltshire village of Sutton Mandeville and you can check in to this modern barn conversion offering open-plan living, panoramic country views from the sliding doors and everything you need in the kitchen for a memorable self-catering stay.
There's an abundance of features for a disabled-friendly cottage break, including accessible parking, a lit path to the barn entrance, step-free and wide entrances and fixed grab bars in the wet room, as well as a luxurious double bedroom with profiling beds.
Sleeps: 4
Aylmerton, Norfolk
Set in North Norfolk and surrounded by acres of woodland, this disabled-friendly holiday cottage is close to National Trust property Felbrigg Hall, which offers some accessibility to visitors. The cottage is only 15 minutes from the sandy beaches of Cromer and Sheringham, providing an excellent base for exploring coast and country.
There are three bedrooms and a host of accessible features, such as the accessible doors, a downstairs bedroom with a wheel-in wet room, a shower seat, hospital grade non-slip flooring and a grab rail beside the toilet. For guests bringing four-legged family members, the owner has installed a warm outside doggy shower as an extra-thoughtful touch.
Sleeps: 6
Maidencombe, Devon
A luxurious holiday home that's perfect for a big celebration with the family, Maidensea House has enough space for 16 people to spread out and enjoy its amazing features, including a cinema room and a beautiful dining area on the ground floor.
The accessible ground floor bedroom with a wet room can be used as a super-king or twin room. The eight-bedroom house also has underfloor heating, gated parking and sea views from the upstairs bedrooms.
Sleeps: 16
Pilling, Lancashire
For a quirky country escape, book a stay at this tranquil cabin in Lancashire. House Park Hideaway is an Airbnb for four people, with a double bed and double sofa bed, as well as a travel cot on request. You'll find everything you need to make basic meals in the kitchen or fire up the BBQ outside, plus there's a large outdoor seating area for dining alfresco in the warmer months.
You'll find an electric heater and log burner to keep you toasty during the winter months, too. For accessibility, there is a large tiled wet room with a shower chair and toilet rails, a wide entrance and accessible parking with a step-free path.
Sleeps: 4
Saint Issey, Cornwall
This superb stone house, just outside Padstow, is close to the restaurants and activities of the charming fishing port. With North Cornwall's glorious beaches nearby, it's a fantastic place for a disabled-friendly beach holiday. You'll love the chic interiors, which include the cool and contemporary decor of the den (perfect for teens) and the stylish and cosy living room.
Spectacular Atlantic views can be seen from the terrace and landscaped gardens, and guests in wheelchairs have a large entrance, step-free access, a shower chair and accessible parking.
Sleeps: 9
Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex
Located just three minutes from the beach, this West Sussex Airbnb comes pretty close to offering direct access to the sea. Disabled-friendly holiday cottage, the Salt Shack, is eco-stylish, welcoming to pets, child-friendly and has beautiful open-plan living so you can really make the most of your time together.
The gated holiday home has three bedrooms and is a terrific place to relax in the summer months, with its outdoor BBQ, fire pit and landscaped gardens. For accessibility, there is a lit path for the step-free entrance, as well as step-free access to the bedrooms, patio, utility room and dining area.
Sleeps: 6
Hill, Dorset
This wheelchair-friendly lodge in Dorset's Ranmoor Estate is the perfect bolthole to relax on a quirky staycation. The best bit is the hot tub, which comes with a hoist for access. The disabled-friendly holiday cottage with a wet room has two bedrooms, so you can travel with friends or as a small family.
Pets are allowed for those looking to bring the dog. The large entrance, accessible parking spot and bright interior makes it a wonderful place for disabled travellers to retreat to this year.
Sleeps: 4
Commondale, North Yorkshire
This traditional stone cottage is ideal for an accessible farm stay within the breathtaking North York Moors National Park. There's level access throughout, wide entrances and a wet room with toilet and shower grab bars. The kitchen was recently refurbished so you have everything you need to have memorable feasts with the family or friends.
The tiled floor, log burner and dog friendliness make it a perfectly cosy place to hole up, whatever the season. Set in the quiet village of Commondale, there are quaint pubs and the seaside town of Whitby is only a 30-minute drive away.
Sleeps: 7
Seasalter, Kent
Close to Whitstable for a quintessential UK seaside escape, this disabled-friendly holiday cottage, with a wet room, large entrance for wheelchair users and step-free access, is perfectly sized for couples. Located in Seasalter, just a few minutes' drive from Whitstable, the beach cabin has an enclosed private garden and is just metres from the beach.
There's a large king-sized bed and dogs are welcome (extra fee), too. The Airbnb host treats all guests to a welcome basket, including essentials like eggs, milk and bread. They can even arrange your food shopping so that everything is in the cabin when you arrive.
Sleeps: 4
Kerry, Powys
This two-bedroom annexe (with its own private entrance) is a great place to stay. Set in a quiet spot just outside the rural village of Kerry in mid-Wales, it's a delightful place to soak up the countryside and simply relax.
It caters well for wheelchair users too, with direct parking outside, no steps on the ground floor, low kitchen surfaces, a downstairs bedroom and a mobility-friendly wet room. All this makes for a restorative escape in Wales.
Sleeps: 4
Roshina is a contributing editor to Hearst UK. She was previously Senior Travel Editor, where she covered titles including Country Living, Red, ELLE, Harper's Bazaar and Good Housekeeping.
When she's not scoping out the next destinations we should explore (Uzbekistan, the Austrian Alps, Tbilisi), she loves revisiting old favourites (Mauritius, the Dolomites, Istanbul) and spending summer in the mountains - especially when hiking or wrapped in a spa robe.
Maddy is the Homes Writer at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she can be found writing about the latest interiors news and collating inspiring trend edits. She has previously worked for Good Housekeeping, Prima and Red, and has an MA in Classics and Ancient History from the University of Manchester and a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia, where she was the editor-in-chief of the student newspaper.
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