Review: Welsford Cottage, Southwold

For such a well-loved holiday destination, Southwold doesn’t have a massive selection of hotels – and most of them tend to get booked up well in advance during the peak season – so renting a holiday cottage is a popular choice for lots of holiday makers. Our top pick in Southwold is Welsford cottage, a fabulous home from home available via Kip Hideaways – a membership site that specialises in offering a hand-picked collection of the best under-the-radar, design-led and affordable places to stay in the UK.

When you opt to go self-catered rather than stay in a hotel, it’s likely because you want that cosy kind of luxury that still makes you feel right at home. The owners of Welsford Cottage have that well and truly covered; we were welcomed by a heaving hamper of local Suffolk produce, including artisan bread, cheese, snacks and a chilled bottle of wine to get the festivities started.

You’ll wake to the sounds of the seaside in this gorgeous cottage, just a 5-minute skip from Southwold’s shoreline and its neat row of crayon-bright beach huts. Bring buckets and spades, and the family: this sleeps 6 in style, and its plum position near the high street, promenade and playground means your car can remain parked up all week.

Decked out in calming coastal colours, the house is spread over three floors and has all the charm of a period cottage with beautifully plush interiors, all the mod cons and gloriously comfortable beds.

Style radiates throughout, as if it were the home of a talented interior designer (it is). Tactile fabrics, independent artworks, and sleek navy details encapsulate the grown-up but fun styling. But it’s the small, thoughtful details that really stand out, such as a kite for the beach, and a noughts and crosses game crafted by the owners’ son and his grandpa.

The kitchen is particularly scenic and well stocked, making it a real pleasure to cook a leisurely breakfast or dinner at home. The location, on a quiet and residential street, is also within easy walking distance all of the town’s attractions, including the high street with its myriad restaurants and the famous Southwold Pier.

The town is famous for its food and drink, with cosy restaurants, quirky pubs and loads of interesting independent food stores just a few minutes away from the house – so you’ll be spoilt for choice whether you want to eat out or cook in the cottage’s pretty kitchen. The Little Fish & Chip Shop is just a short stroll away if you fancy a takeaway, otherwise the Two Magpies Bakery and Black Olive Delicatessen have plenty of treats to stock up the store cupboard.

​Kip Hideaways is a travel website that only features gorgeous self-catering hideaways for 2-8 people, in an affordable price bracket. The company specialises in properties that provide those thoughtful details that make a holiday home really special, whether that’s an outdoor hot tub where you can stargaze by night or a homemade cake waiting by the teapot when you arrive. For more information visit kiphideaways.com

For inspiration on what to eat, drink and do in Southwold, click here for our ultimate travel guide.