Go big or go home: the best stays for your next group trip
Our favourite UK getaways – plus two Greek villas – for families and friends who holiday in numbers
Whether you’re planning a milestone birthday, a big family get-together, or just a weekend away with friends, it’s time to take that trip out of the group chat. To help, we’ve rounded up 9 brilliant stays made for groups, from British country houses to sun-soaked villas in Greece.
Bath House at The Tawny – Staffordshire
On The Tawny hotel's neighbouring estate, the Grade II listed Bath House is self-catering, with all the perks of a hotel stay. There are five en-suite bedrooms and a kitchen made for feeding a crowd – with the option to have a chef along from the main hotel so nobody’s stuck cooking all week. Or, you can hop over to The Tawny's three AA Rosette restaurant, The Plumicorn. The real showstopper, though, is outside – with the lake, private heated pool, sauna, jacuzzi spa bath, and cold plunge. Guests can also organise experiences, from water aerobics to private yoga, foraging classes, and movie nights.
Sleeps 10 | From £900/night (£90/person/night), minimum stay 2 nights | www.thetawny.co.uk/stay/the-bath-house/
Pitcombe Barn – Near Bruton, Somerset
At the end of a winding track in the Somerset hills, Pitcombe Barn – carefully restored by its owners into their dream family home – has an easy, lived-in warmth. Outside, lawns tumble into open fields (meaning kids and dogs can run free), and a cedar hot tub is set for golden-hour soaks. Group dinners couldn’t have lovelier settings either – under the olive trees, in the kitchen, or in the glass-walled dining room. Close by, there's also Briar's private dining room at Number One Bruton for a celebratory evening out.
Sleeps 12 | From £995/night (£82/person/night), minimum stay 3 nights | www.kiphideaways.com/hideaways/pitcombe-barn/
Avrio – Peligoni, Zakynthos, Greece
Avrio is a genuine epic, well worthy of its Greek setting. An impeccably designed property for up to 23 people, it's the largest house in this roundup – offering guests direct access to a private beach, endless sea views from the large pool and outdoor kitchen, an at-home gym, and an outdoor cinema. Included in the booking is access to all Peligoni has to offer – from fitness classes and watersports to feasts with guest chefs and kids activities (from age four months to teens).
Sleeps 23 | £15,000 (villa only) for 7 nights (£652/person/7 nights). Peligoni membership extra – from £415 per adult / £275 per child for a week | www.peligoni.com/stay/avrio-villa
Hebrides House – Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides
Overlooking Uig Sands beach, this GRAS-designed house has five bedrooms to sleep groups in cloud-soft comfort. Two open-plan living spaces mean plenty of room to cook, eat, and chatter together – while the surrounding landscape provides the perfect backdrop for swimming, surfing, cycling, and unwinding in a wood-fired beach sauna. It’s definitely remote – this is the most north-westerly point in the British Isles – but it’s what makes this place so special.
Sleeps up to 10 | From £300/night (£30/person/night), whole house rental only April-August and over Christmas/Hogmany period with 7 night minimum stay, otherwise 3 or 4 night minimum | www.kiphideaways.com/hideaways/hebrides-house/
Wraxall Vineyard – Shepton Mallet, Somerset
At Wraxall Vineyard, the whole clan can stay right among the vines that produce its award-winning bottles. A clutch of cottages and shepherd's huts (each sleeping between two and ten) sit at the heart of the working estate. Days can mean walking straight out into fields and woodland, exploring Bruton's indie shops or the gardens at Stourhead – or simply a lie-in, lunch at the on-site restaurant, and a wine tasting before sundown.
Sleeps up to 20 | All 5 units together from £870/night (£44/person/night), minimum 2 night stay for Shepherd’s Huts and Old Winery Cottages, 3 nights for Vine Cottage | www.kiphideaways.com/hideaways/wraxall-vineyard/
The Manor House at Cottage Orné – Cornwall
The Manor House is the heart of Cottage Orné – a brand-new, restored 17th Century Cornish hamlet of 14 retreats. With seven bedrooms, two kitchens, two living rooms, a games-ready conservatory, two wood-fired hot tubs, and a large garden, there's ample space to gather. Guests also have access to the shared outdoor pool, sauna, tennis court, and yoga studio – and if you’re travelling with an even larger crowd, you can book multiple of the hamlet's other retreats alongside it. Creative workshops in the dedicated studio offer a chance to slow down, while Looe, Fowey, and Lantic Bay are all a short drive away.
Sleeps 14 | From £900/night (£65/person/night), minimum stay 3 nights | www.cottageorne.com/stay/the-manor-house/
The Cider Press – Somerset
Sitting within 100 acres of private land, The Cider Press is a love letter to summer days. This converted barn has ten stylish bedrooms, with entertaining spaces that don't disappoint: floor-to-ceiling windows over a long dining table, a magazine-worthy cinema and games room with snooker, and a heated indoor pool with sauna and cold plunge. Outside, settle into BBQ lunches in the rose-dotted courtyard, starlit suppers by the fire pit, and a bit of friendly competition on the tennis court.
Sleeps 20 | From £999/night (£50/person/night), bookable for stays from either Monday for 4 or 7 nights, or Friday for 2, 3, or 7 nights | www.sandandstoneescapes.com/property/the-cider-press/
Wood Farm House – The Cotswolds
Beyond the honey-stone facade of this five-bedroom farmhouse, a grand entrance hall leads to an open-plan orangery with bespoke furniture, a cocktail bar for shaking up drinks, and a dining table built for feasting – plus a separate sitting room and a secret cinema room. Upstairs, five characterful bedrooms mix double rooms, a dinky bunk room, and playful design details from HAM interiors throughout. Outside, a lavender-lined lawn wraps the house, with an Ofyr fire pit made for gathering as the sun goes down.
Sleeps 10 | From £420/night (£42/person/night), minimum stay 3 nights | www.sandandstoneescapes.com/property/wood-farm-house/
The Upper House – Peligoni, Zakynthos, Greece
Coming soon is this beautiful contemporary villa perched above the port in Nidri, just seven minutes from Peligoni itself. Five bedrooms and five bathrooms mean everyone gets their own space, while high-end finishes and natural textures throughout bring style to long lazy days by the water. With Argo on the doorstep, this is a brilliant new option for groups wanting the best of both: a private retreat and easy access to island life.
Sleeps 10 | £4,200 (villa only) for 7 nights (£420/person/7 nights). Peligoni membership extra – from £415 per adult / £275 per child for a week | https://www.peligoni.com/stay/upper-house-villa