Wednesday 4 November 2015

A Home from Home Holiday Cottage in Shropshire


Sometimes, you just strike it lucky on a Google search!  Recently I was looking for hotel accommodation for us and our extended family to stay a couple of nights in Bridgnorth while we went up to visit our new puppy.

The best hotels were already booked up, and it was proving expensive to put all five of us up for 2 nights, so I started looking for self-catering cottages instead.

I struck total gold with Garden Cottage and knew instantly from the website and photos that it would be perfect for us.  But it was only when we arrived that I discovered what a gem it really is.



Nestled in quite possibly one of Bridgnorth's most charming Gerorgian streets, the most famous of its previous inhabitants being Thomas Telford who designed St Mary's church at the end of the street.  The listed double-fronted, chequer-brick town house is impeccably presented, inside and out.

The owners live next door, from where they also run a discerning bed and breakfast business, so collecting the keys is no trouble, and they are on hand should you need anything. Parking can be a bit of an issue, but the owners organise a free parking permit for you in advance, and the weekend we were there we had no trouble parking outside the house.

The hallway is spacious, with plenty of room for us all to hang our coats, leave our boots and dump our bags.  There's a beautifully presented downstairs toilet and shower room, handy if you have full occupancy of six guests.

At the front of the house is the elegant but comfortable sitting room, with wood-burning stove.   The owners leave a generous supply of wood, kindling and matches for cosy evenings in.  There's plenty of room to all relax in the evening and watch TV, or perhaps play some of the board games that are provided.  There are French doors at the back leading out onto the charming back garden, from where you can see the verdigris dome of the church - as Ruby described it, a 'mini- St Pauls'. All the furnishings are beautiful, really heavy-weight,  lined curtains in period designs.  You get a real sense of luxury here.  






The owners have furnished the house with gorgeous antiques and quirky vintage trinkets, and I really 
appreciated the sturdiness of the furniture and deep patina of the dark wood.

The opposite front room is a very handy study, complete with a computer for guests use, wifi and ample reading material to keep you occupied. So if you're the sort that has work to do while you're away (guilty!) then this is perfect.


What I loved most about this place is that it really feels like home.  So often I stay in places where the owner has clearly never spent a night in their accommodation, or they'd notice the little niggles and missing equipment.  But here, everything has been thought of.  You really could very happily live here permanently - in fact browsing through the visitor book I see someone did live there for several months when their own home was flooded.  I couldn't think of a nicer place for a home.

The kitchen is well stocked, both with gadgets/crockery/cutlery but also with essentials that you'll need such as tea, coffee, sugar, oil, condiments etc. There was even some food in the freezer and cereal in the cupboard.  I personally hate arriving at a cottage to find no tea bags and one measly loo roll!  Here there was tin foil, kitchen roll and plenty in the cupboards - they'd even left us a freshly baked carrot cake.  It's the little details like that which really make a difference I think.




There was tonnes of room in the open-plan kitchen diner, perfect for a family to cook and enjoy and meal together.  Ruby was most excited about the basement, which was huge, and houses a tumble drier and airer.s  I couldn't help ponder what I'd turn the space into if it were mine...

Upstairs there are 3 large bedrooms - two doubles and a twin with en-suite, as well as the Victorian style family bathroom.  So with a total of 3 loos and 3 showers, there was no arguing over whose turn it was!  Decorated again in period style, with antique furniture and heavy drapes, all the rooms were beautiful and restful. Because the street has the church at the end, there's no through traffic and is incredibly quiet at night.  We all slept soundly, and it's amazing how just a few streets away you're in the centre of town with all the shops and pubs, yet in Garden Cottage you hear nothing.



This really was one of the nicest places I've stayed in the UK.  I didn't know this part of the world at all, but Bridgnorth has so much going for it, it's well worth a weekend visit.

The town itself has an olde-world charm, with beautiful shop fronts, independent stores, antique shops, a thriving market and an abundance of traditional inns and pubs to chose from if you're in need of sustenance.



Take some time to explore the castle ruins and the formal gardens which overlook the lower town.  Take in the views of the River Severn, and visit the Severn Valley Steam Railway.  Further afield, there's beautiful rolling countryside, Ironbridge, Much Wenlock (birthplace of the modern Olympics), Wyre Forest and West Midlands Safari Park.









For enquiries about Garden Cottage visit http://gardencottagebridgnorth.co.uk

38 comments:

  1. It is a lovely town Bridgnorth and I'm glad you made it to the gruffalo in the Wyre Forest. One time when we went to Bridgnorth we saw a coatimundi been walked on a lead. The cottage looks charming.

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    1. I didn't even know that that was and had to Google it!

      I didn't see anything as exotic, but did see the resident Bengal cat who lives on the street - he's a beauty!

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  2. What a lovely place to stay! As a family of five, we usually go self-catering in the UK. Hotels can be so expensive! I've never been to Bridgnorth before, it looks beautiful.

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    1. Bridgnorth was certainly a stunner. Can't wait to go back!

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  3. What a great idea to find a self catering cottage when the hotels were booked! This one looks really nice and welcoming.

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    1. We're only a family of three so usually I'd book a family room, but with five of us visiting it just made sense. So glad I found it!

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  4. I love a home from home, it looks great. What a good find Liz. Mich x

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    1. Ahh it was lovely Mich, I could have happily moved in permanently!

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  5. Oh wow, it looks like you found a gem there. I love that it looks like it would be somewhere to pop back to in the cold and snuggle up in front of the fire

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    1. We did find a gem! The fire was lovely, it was great to all chill out together in front of in the evenings.

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  6. What a lovely looking place to spend some time and that cottage is absolutely beautiful! x

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  7. It looks a fabulous cottage! How lucky to find it! Your photos are excellent too- very inviting!x

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  8. The railway... How beautiful.
    You chose a fab holiday cottage to stay in, the fine details are so pretty and the accomodation over all just looks so welcoming. A fantastic post x

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    1. Ahh yes we loved the railway too. A trip on it is in order next time!

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  9. That looks amazing, so comfortable.

    I bet you're counting the days till you can bring your little puppy home x x

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  10. What a beautiful place to stay, it looks more like a family home rather than a holiday cottage

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    1. Yes, that's just what it felt like Kara, we felt right at home there.

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  11. As a family of 6 I have never thought to look at cottages before but definitely will now. Sounds like such a well thought out place to stay.

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    1. Oh yes, it works out much more economical and because you can cook for yourself too you save money on eating out. This one sleeps 6 - just saying!

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  12. Looks like a fab place to stay - I would pick self catering over a hotel any day, I find it so much more relaxing to be able to spread out a bit and keep to our own schedule!

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    1. Ahh yes, I agree, it's much nicer to have all that space and relax properly.

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  13. Wow what a stunning cottage! Love the period features. As a family of 5 we struggle with hotels too defo look into cottages next time

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    1. Oh yes, it works out much better I think.

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    2. wao its look amazing very good collation you have, and thankyou for sharing Back to wall toilets

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  14. That looks like such a lovely place to stay. I have to admit I don't even know where Bridgnorth is but now I am going to find out!

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    1. It's definitely worth looking up! A gorgeous place to spend the weekend.

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  15. I've only been to Bridgnorth once and that was a long time ago, it's a lovely place though. I love the cottage you stayed in, I could easily feel at home there.

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    1. We'd never been before but I loved it so much there.

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  16. I love the look of this cottage - I have never been to Bridgnorth, but my parents love it there. Kaz x

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  17. Looks uber homely Liz..how lovely

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    1. It was lovely and homely Becky! I want to go back! x

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  18. I love finding places that feel like home, it makes such a difference. Gorgeous post Liz.

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  19. This looks and sounds amazing. A gorgeous place to spend a weekend. We are big fans of self catering in the UK too. Just popped over to check your blog out as you were included on the Brit Mums round up:)

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  20. I visited your blog for the first time and just been your fan. I Will be back often to check up on new stuff you post!
    secret retreat

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