Extending your annual leave in 2022

We have everything crossed that 2022 means more fabulous staycations in the Cotswolds. You might think you only have 28 days’ annual leave in 2022, but, you actually have more than double that. Yes, you read that right – more than double the amount of holiday in 2022 than you may have thought possible! How? Let us show you.

UK Bank Holidays 2022

1. Friday 3 January – New Year’s Day in lieu
2. Friday 15 April – Good Friday
3. Monday 18 April – Easter Monday
4. Monday 2 May – Early May Bank Holiday
5. Thursday 2 June – Spring Bank Holiday
6. Friday 3 June – The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday
7. Monday 29 August – Summer Bank Holiday
8. Monday 26 December – Boxing Day
9. Tuesday 27 December – Christmas Day Bank Holiday in lieu

Now take those 2022 Bank Holiday dates and add days on either side of them. The result is the biggest blocks of holiday time available for the least number of working days (assuming you aren’t working Bank Holidays and weekends). In total it makes a whopping total of 62 days’ holiday (including weekends) for just 26 days’ annual leave. What’s not to like about that?

What dates in 2022 should you book to get the ‘best bang for your buck’?

There are six opportunities to genuinely extend your time off in 2022, and we’ve got some hand-picked holiday cottage suggestions where you can enjoy all that lovely time off in the Cotswolds. Be quick, though, before your work colleagues hear about these free dates too!

6 ways to extend your 2022 holiday

Start the New Year in the Cotswolds

January 4 – 7: take these four days off and you’ll have nine days off in total (1 January – 9 January inc.)

Revive and refresh yourself in the Cotswolds ready for the year ahead with a stay at a beautiful Cotswold cottage within a stone’s throw of one of the region’s most sought-after spas.

1. Westerleigh Cottage near C-Side Spa at Cowley Manor: Stay in this elegant, designer-family home, with a blend of modern and country cottage features in the village of Cowley.
2. Bay Tree Cottage near Spa on the Square in Moreton-in-Marsh: Stay in this charming Cotswold stone cottage, with a stylish interior and original features. There’s only a short walk to the spa.
3. Lovell Cottage near Minster Mill Spa: Stay at this beautifully refurbished cottage with its double fireplace. It’s a two-minute walk away from the spa.
4. Brock Cottage near Bamford Wellness Spa at Daylesford Organic Farm: Stay at this uber-stylish bungalow with bright, dramatic interiors and a spacious open plan living area, just three miles from Daylesford.
5. Singer House near Cotswold House Spa: Stay at this stylish and luxury Cotswold townhouse with a fabulous private enclosed courtyard garden, just a short walk to the spa.

Easter Holidays

April 11 – 14 plus April 19 – 22: take these eight days off and you’ll have 16 days off in total (9 – 24 April inc.) Good Friday is on 15 April and Easter Sunday is 18 April.

There’s plenty going on throughout the Cotswolds over the Easter period for all ages, but it’s particularly fun for families with young children with all the egg hunts, lambing events, Easter bonnet competitions and the GWSR Easter Egg Express train at Broadway. Here are some Cotswold cottages in super-family-friendly locations.

1. Bourton-on the-Water: Appletree Cottage is a stylishly renovated country cottage, just a minute’s walk from the centre of the Venice of the Cotswolds.
2. Bourton-on-the-Hill near Batsford: Pilgrim Cottage is a spacious, Grade II listed family home, with a unique Cruck barn frame and large garden, a few minutes’ walk from Batsford.
3. Stow-on-the-Wold: Teagles Cottage is a charming cottage with a cosy woodburner and parking. It is within walking distance of Stow-on-the-Wold’s pubs, restaurants, shops and attractions.
4. Charlbury: Tachbrook, Brown’s Cottage and the Hayloft at Newbarn Farm are three family-friendly properties within five miles of Blenheim Palace, which hosts a Giant Easter Egg Hunt.
5. Broadway: Swallows Rest Cottage is a pretty Cotswold stone cottage in a sleepy village close to Broadway, with a suntrap garden and lovely views.

Early May flowers

May 3 – 6: take these four days off and you’ll have nine days holiday in total (30 April – 8 May inc.)

Spring will have fully sprung by now in the Cotswolds, and its many gorgeous gardens will be in full bloom. This makes it a great time for those with green fingers to visit. If you stay close to a garden, you’ll be able to miss the busiest times of the day by arriving early or leaving late. Here are cottages near some of the most popular Cotswold gardens.

1. Painswick Rococo Gardens: Stay at either Under the Walnut Tree or Tudor Oak, two gorgeous shepherd huts with hot tubs and fantastic views down the Painswick Valley.
2. Miserden Gardens: Stay at Court Cottage, a fabulously renovated 1930s country house with a stylishly chic interior and gorgeous garden.
3. Kelmscott Manor and Gardens: Stay at Maisey Cottage, a 200-year-old Cotswold cottage with a pretty courtyard garden in a quiet village, just four miles from Kelmscott.
4. Abbey House Garden: Stay at either The Leat or 27 Horsefair, both character properties in easy walking distance of the Abbey and the Garden in Malmesbury.
5. Snowshill Manor and Gardens: Stay at Box Cottage in Broadway. It’s tucked behind the main high street so you can enjoy some quiet time after exploration.

Celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

May 30 – June 1: take these three days off and you’ll have nine days off in total (28 May – 5 June inc.)

On a royal theme, why not visit Sudeley Castle & Gardens in Winchcombe, one of the UK’s most enchanting castles? We have a great choice of self-catering cottages (including the Castle Gatehouse, which looks just like a mini castle) on Sudeley Castle’s doorstep where you and your family and friends can not only enjoy Winchcombe but also have the added benefit of free entry to the Castle and Gardens. Check Sudeley’ Castle‘s website for opening times.

Five cottages in walking distance of Sudeley Castle & Gardens:

1. Almsbury Farmhouse: A stunning Cotswold Farmhouse with an annex, located on the Sudeley estate, that’s perfect for large groups and families.
2. Archers: A beautifully decorated Cotswold stone holiday home on the Sudeley estate that sleeps eight in four bedrooms.
3. Castle Gatehouse: An iconic and historic gatehouse at the entrance to the Sudeley Castle estate; an ideal place for two couples to escape to and explore the Cotswolds.
4. Emma Dent: A delightful, newly built detached cottage on the Sudeley estate that sleeps up to six guests.
5. 14 Vineyard Street: An 18th century, three-storey Cotswold cottage, with a garden annex, that sleeps up to seven guests in four bedrooms.  

Last chance before school restarts

August 30 – September 2: take these four days off and you’ll have nine days off in total (27 August – 4 September inc.)

A holiday at the end of the school summer break, even if only for a couple of nights, is a great way to prepare for the grand return to regimented school days. We think it’s worth homing in on National Trust properties as most of them put on great ‘end of summer’ activities for all of the family to enjoy. Here are five National Trust properties with a family-friendly self-catering cottage on the doorstep.

1. Lacock near Bath: Stay at Candlemaker’s Cottage is a Grade II listed townhouse that is full of character and charm throughout, with beautiful interiors and unique features.
2. Woodchester Park: Bellhouse is a country holiday home in walking distance of the National Trust park, and with easy access to the woodland and lakes.
3. Upton House and Gardens: Stay at Suncroft, a gorgeous, thatched cottage with a stylish, contemporary interior and fabulous garden, within walking distance of a pub.
4. Hidcote Manor: Stay at Maple House, a newly built period-style house with sunny garden and hot tub. The farm shop and pub are within easy walking distance.
5. Crickley Hill: The Granary at Hunt Court is a delightful holiday home surrounded by beautiful countryside within easy reach of Cheltenham.

Christmas holidays

December 28 – 30: take three days off and you’ll have 10 days off in total (24 December – 2 January inc.)

Not many people like to think about Christmas way in advance, but it pays to if you want to plan a big family get-together, or you know you’re going to have a challenging lead up to it and will need a proper break. So, with that in mind, be at the ready to grab these three days off so that you can tune out and turn off from work from Christmas Eve through to the New Year. Here are five self-catering cottages perfect for a Christmas escape.

1. Barebones Farm: A welcoming family Cotswold holiday home in Winchcombe, with a lovely, landscaped garden and patio area for alfresco dining.
2. Lily Cottage: an enchanting, thatched cottage in the equally picture-perfect Cotswold village of Great Tew.
3. Field View: a beautiful Cotswold cottage full of character, in the rural village of Tarlton close to Cirencester.
4. 33 Percy Street: a 1930s town house with a contemporary and stylish interior, just a few minutes’ walk from Stratford-upon-Avon.
5. Colebrook Cottage: a stunning, three-storey, 18th century stone cottage in the quintessentially Cotswold village of Blockley.