It’s not quite on top of the world, but this rural shepherd’s hut is at the top of a wildflower meadow, set on the 500-acre Burrow Farm Estate. It’s as close as you can get to escaping it all while retaining the modern comforts of a more traditional stay: a hamper of local products welcomes you; armchairs cozy up next to a wood-burning fire; underfloor heating keeps your toes warm on crisp mornings; a hot tub invites you to relax day or night.
As for your itinerary, you have options. Choose a walk through the chalky Chiltern Hills, or make the 30-minute drive to Windsor Castle; a bastion of British royalty, it was founded in the 11th century and is the oldest inhabited castle in the world.
Rooms: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Amenities: Kitchen, heating, outdoor dining area, grill, on-street parking
Location: Hambleden, Buckinghamshire
Distance from London: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Courtesy of the Airbnb photographer community
The UK is brimming with history, but this Grade II-listed cottage has more than most. Once a 17th-century inn for highwaymen (either armed thieves or semi-heroic versions of Robin Hood, depending on who you ask), the original building was destroyed by fire. The cottage as it stands today was rebuilt in 1840. Georgian-style design remains, complete with sash windows, decorative cornicing, plus an original fireplace and pine floorboards. Its outdoor area is just as pretty, with colorful plants (a Judas tree, a Mount Etna Broom, roses, and jasmine) filling the garden. Oxford, too, has a long history: its university, which is almost 1,000 years old (and home to plenty of Harry Potter filming locations), is a short walk away.
Rooms: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Amenities: Kitchen, washer, dryer, heating, garden
Location: Oxford, Oxfordshire
Distance from London: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Courtesy of the Airbnb photographer community