Star Rating

But you don’t just have to take our word for it. All of our holiday cottages are inspected by VisitEngland annually, and graded according to their star rating. Each property we list has been rigorously measured to meet every criteria required, so you can rest assured that it’s the highest quality self-catering accommodation in its category. 

In a nutshell, three stars is good, four stars is excellent, and five stars is absolute luxury. But here’s a little more about the system and what you can deduce from the star rating of any property you are looking at:

If you choose a three-star property, rest assured it will have a good, to very good overall level of quality, maintenance and decoration. There will be space for the number of guests permitted, and good quality furnishings so you can all relax. All double beds will be accessible from both sides, and a microwave will be available.

So what more can expect at a four-star property? Four-star accommodation will have an excellent overall level of quality, with very good attention to detail throughout. There will either be access to a washing machine, or if not provided in the property, there will be a 24-hour laundry service.

Now you’ve reached the luxury gems in our collection. Think unbridled luxury, plush furnishings and a level of detail that ensures every aspect of your holiday accommodation surpasses expectations. That means high levels of décor, fixtures and fittings, excellent standards of management efficiency and guest services, plus a range of accessories and personal touches.

Visit England’s Gold Award is awarded to the highest standard of self-catering accommodation available, in recognition of outstanding quality. This means that every detail goes that extra mile, from style and sustainability, to appearance and location, as well as those little extras such as hot tubs and high-tech facilities to ensure your holiday is a breeze.

Please note that many of our three and four-star cottages also provide some extra touches and services; they just don’t include all the specifics of a five-star rated property.

For details of the VisitEngland standards in full, please click here and see the ‘self-catering accommodation standards’ download.