The best Airbnbs for big groups in the UK

Sleeps: 12 people

Looking for a quintessentially English country home to enjoy with a large group of friends this summer? Look no further. This gorgeous water-mill-come-Airbnb in Branscombe does what it says on the tin – and so much more. With five bedrooms and four bathrooms (with enough room for 12 guests), you and the fam (or the gang) are guaranteed to have a blast here. Aside from the obviously incredible perks, like the huge grounds, hot tub and pool, this home comes with 350 years of history – and a whole lot of charm. Only thing to note? It's very rarely available, so be sure to book fast!

Price: From £795 per night
Location: Branscombe Beach
Rooms: Five bedrooms

Sleeps: Eight people

Kate Moss traded her London townhouse for a countryside retreat in the Cotswolds – and with the region’s picturesque walking trails and foodie scene, it’s easy to see why. Nestled within 120 acres of rolling fields, which are home to frolicking horses, Groves Barn offers sweeping views and easy access to scenic forest hikes via nearby footpaths.

Inside, you'll find a welcome hamper on arrival, a ping pong table, a sound system, and a selection of board games to keep everyone entertained. There’s also a playground for children. The spacious open-plan kitchen is perfect for social gatherings, while the maintained gardens make an ideal spot for a summer BBQ.

Price: From £491 a night
Location: Chipping Campden, Cotswolds
Rooms: Four bedrooms

Sleeps: 14 people

There's something to be said about English manor houses... In fact, there's a whole lot. Not only are the grounds surrounding them spectacular, but the homes themselves are pretty impressive too. And this one is no exception. Nestled on 5 acres of private land (told you) in the English countryside of Ingham, this gorgeous Airbnb has it all. From forest walks and ziplines to a dedicated indoor pool house (yes, really), you and your group are spoiled for choice here. Oh, and with the Suffolk or Norfolk coast less than an hour away, you may as well visit the seaside if you're here in summer. Or don't, because the indoor pool really is that great. Enjoy.

Price: From £896.55 per night
Location: Ingham, Norfolk
Rooms: Five bedrooms

Sleeps: 10 people

There’s no chance of getting bored in this Lancastrian pile. A detached house situated on a private island in the middle of the River Lune accessible by a collection of handsome stone bridges, the place is packed with quirky features. Inside you’ll find retro arcade games and huge tables for dinner parties, while outside there’s a hot tub surrounded by a ball pit, a sauna in a Hobbit-style hut as well as woodland to explore and areas for fishing. If you can bear to leave, you’re nearby to Lancaster for nightlife and eating out, and the beautiful Lake District is a couple of hours’ drive away for outdoor adventuring. Phew. 

Price: From £695 per night
Location: Halton, Lancaster
Rooms: Four bedrooms

Sleeps: Eight people

Haven’t set foot inside a church since your grandma dragged you along to midnight mass ten Christmasses ago? Make amends with a stay at this beautiful conversion right on the border of Wales.

With its rustic oak beams, vaulted ceilings and original carved stone windows, this idiosyncratic spot is a perfect blend of modern and period features, with a huge open-plan living area from which to sit and enjoy the country views. You’d be truly blessed to stay here.

Price: From £380 per night
Location: Oswestry, Shropshire
Rooms: Three bedrooms

Sleeps: Eight people

Set in the heart of the UK's finest countryside, this majestic lodge sleeps eight guests 'cosily' across four bedrooms. Aside from the surrounding estate grounds, which are stunning any time of year, the interiors of this gorgeous Airbnb are ideal for a large group of mates looking to hang out and snuggle up. From picnics by the lake, long morning strolls or toasting marshmallows around the campfire at sunset, you're guaranteed to have a blast here.

Price: From £465
Location: Glendridding, Lake District
Rooms: Four bedrooms

Sleeps: 16 people

Live your princess fantasy in this gorgeous Scottish Airbnb mansion. Sleeping a whopping 16 guests, you can invite the entire family or all ya wee pals. With eight bedrooms, consisting of a double or single bed, you'll have the entire Airbnb to yourselves and live as the royals do. There's a fully-equipped country-style kitchen that is fit for a Queen, and there's even a cinema room (bougie AF). Each room in the mansion is ornately decorated and each piece of furnishing oozes opulence and regalness. Unwind in the stunning gardens or simply explore the Airbnb, there's plenty of it!

Price: From £900 a night
Location: St Andrews, Fife
Rooms: Eight bedrooms

Sleeps: 15 people

This impressive seven-story windmill conversion is like something you’d see on 'Grand Designs', except that it has actually been finished – and without anyone going bankrupt or getting divorced in the process (that we know of!). With a large garden, outdoor pool, games barn and amazing views of the surrounding area from the three circular bedrooms at the top of the tower, this unique spot should make for a truly memorable getaway in the Norfolk countryside.

Price: From £859 a night
Location: Stoke Ferry, Norfolk
Rooms: Seven bedrooms

Sleeps: Eight people

This quirky Essex church conversion a short drive from the market village of Billericay is Grade II-listed, with original stained glass, wooden roof beams and carved marble slabs set into the floor.

The spacious open-plan living room is great for socialising (maybe with a glass of communion wine?) and feels bright, airy and modern despite the period features, thanks to its huge ceilings and white-washed walls. Take me to church!

Price: From £428 a night
Location: Billericay, Essex
Rooms: Four bedrooms

Sleeps: 10 people

Dust off your Daphne Du Maurier daydreams and let them run wild at this romantic, sprawling West Country home. Located just outside of Truro in Cornwall, Trenare (as the house is known) offers excellent access to the coast for surfing, sailing, fishing and… ambling slowly with an ice cream in hand (we know which option we’ll be plumping for). It’s a three-storey house that has been set up as a family home – which includes a separate games room and group distractions including air hockey, pool and table football. Here are a few things we’re swooning over: the chintzy bed linens, the free-standing claw foot bathtubs, that lovely piano and the hydrangea bushes in the garden. Beautiful.

Price: From £316 a night
Location: Truro, Cornwall
Rooms: Five bedrooms

Sleeps: 10 people

This tastefully decorated townhouse with spacious bedrooms and two large bathrooms is great for exploring the Northern Irish capital as a group.

You’ll find it in the Lisburn Road area, a few minutes from the shops, restaurants and cafés on Belfast’s vibrant Golden Mile. It’s also within walking distance of the city’s Botanic Garden, Queen’s University and the Ulster Museum.

Price: From £292 a night
Location: Belfast
Rooms: Four bedrooms

Sleeps: 10 people

This uber-rustic converted barn is situated on a five-acre estate a short drive from posh Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. Guests get access to a billiard room, private tennis courts and an indoor pool, as well as spectacular countryside views. 

The huge living room with double-height ceilings is a great social space and features a working log fire for wine-fuelled evening chats. The ideal pad for a countryside jaunt with a big group of friends.

Price: From £760 a night
Location: Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
Rooms: Three bedrooms

Sleeps: 14 people

Located in the tiny village of Baltonsborough in Somerset, Lubborn House is stuffed full of charm. Many of our favourite aspects of the house centre around food (yeah…), and include a stunning Aga in the kitchen, a beautiful long dining table, the outdoor furniture and the fire pit. There’s an indoor gym (in case you really feel you’ve eaten too much local cheese) and a gorgeous walled garden with wisteria and anemones. You’re also only five miles from Glastonbury, so make time for a day trip to the Tor, Chalice Well and lots of crystal shops.

Price: From £1,148 a night
Location: Baltonsborough, Somerset
Rooms: Eight bedrooms

Sleeps: 13 people

This stately AF Georgian townhouse features decadent decor including a crystal chandelier, a baby grand piano and a huge alcove library in its massive living room.

Bang in the centre of Edinburgh’s New Town, it’s super-close to the shopping hub of Princes Street as well as the National Gallery and National Museum, with excellent views over to Edinburgh Castle.

Price: From £1,590 a night
Location: New Town, Edinburgh
Rooms: Six bedrooms