Stayed two nights in 6Kirkstyle Biggar Lovely accommodation However a couple of minor points of observation Pubic hairs on bathroom shelves Dust in lounge, smell of pets , Dish washer tablet... See more
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A quirky layout with kitchens both upstairs and down. Crockery and cutlery needed washing again before it could be used on the first evening. No dishwasher but three washing machines, and three f... See more
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A large rambling house which we had fun finding our way around but an ideal one for the family party of 12 over 3 generations. Spotlessly clean on arrival, just a shame we had forgotten to check on t... See more
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Good but too many emails which is annoying from sykes. Lapwing is amazing 2nd visit very clean well equipped,friendly owners looking forward to going back, only fault area around pod not suitable to h... See more
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Company details
- #8 of 9 best companies in Cottage
- #10 of 10 best companies in Cottage Rental
- #16 of 19 best companies in Self-Catering Accommodation
About Sykes Holiday Cottages
Written by the company
We're a holiday cottage rental agency with over 30 years of experience. We represent 22,500 holiday homes available across the UK and Ireland.
Our range includes cottages with hot tubs, sea view apartments, log cabins, luxury retreats, over 12,000 pet-friendly properties and much more.
You can always be safe in the knowledge that every one of our holiday homes is up to our exacting quality standards. At Sykes Holiday cottages, we help travellers make memories and experiences, and make staycationing simple for guests with quality accommodation and 'on holiday' customer service.
Our award-winning team, being recognised for our expertise with over 30 years of experience in UK holiday letting, ensures you’ll have round-the-clock support, whenever you need it, helping you find your dream getaway.
See all holiday homes
Search over 12,000 pet-friendly holidays
Search over 3,000 hot tub breaks
Search over 1,900 log cabin stays
Search over 1,300 luxury holiday homes
Looking for a last-minute break? With discounts on 1000s of holidays, with some even offering same day check-in, you could be relaxing on your getaway sooner than you think!
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Contact info
United Kingdom
- www.sykescottages.co.uk
4.3
Excellent
188k reviews
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Great communication
Great communication from booking to the end of the holiday. Although we didn’t need any additional help from Sykes, it was good to have timely reminders of payment dates and access arrangements for the property as the holiday got closer.
Would recommend and use this company again.
13 August 2026
Reply from Sykes Holiday Cottages
Hi,
Thank you for your review!
We're so pleased to hear our communication was great throughout your booking and holiday! It's wonderful that our timely reminders were helpful, and we appreciate your recommendation.
Kind regards,
Shoaib
Customer Care & Resolution Team
Sykes Holiday Cottages
Please do not book through this…
Please do not book through this company, they have the worst customer service I have ever encountered. Last month I made a payment it left my bank and they said they never received it sent proof and they tried to cancel so I double paid and raised a disbute with bank as they threaded me with a £250 cancellation fee. Then they sent an email yesterday cancelling my holiday with no explanation no phone baring in mind we leave Monday in disgusted the child are so upset no refund of £587 received yet so can’t even take them anywhere else. Really horrible experience caused me so much stress and anxiety
11 August 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Sykes Holiday Cottages
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are very sorry to hear about your experience and appreciate how upsetting and stressful this situation must have been, particularly with your holiday due to begin so soon and with young children looking forward to the trip.
Unfortunately, as no booking reference has been provided, I am unable to investigate the specific circumstances surrounding your booking, payment, or cancellation. However, we understand how concerning it would be to make a payment, be advised that it had not been received, and then receive notice that your booking had been cancelled shortly before your departure date.
We also appreciate the impact that delays to refunds can have, especially when you are trying to make alternative arrangements for your family at short notice. While refunds can take time to be processed and returned by payment providers, we recognise the frustration this can cause when a holiday has been unexpectedly cancelled.
We would encourage you to contact our Customer Relations team directly with your booking reference so that the matter can be fully reviewed and the circumstances surrounding the payment and cancellation can be investigated.
We are sorry for the disappointment and anxiety this experience has caused and appreciate you bringing your concerns to our attention.
Kind regards,
Ian
Sykes Holiday Cottages
Sykes do nit publish negative reviews
We booked a cottage that was nothing like the description or photos. Complaints to Sykes fell on deaf ears and my negative review was never publishef
15 February 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Sykes Holiday Cottages
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback. We're sorry to hear that the property did not meet your expectations and that you were disappointed with the outcome of your complaint.
Unfortunately, as no booking reference or property details have been provided, I am unable to investigate the specific concerns you have raised regarding the property, your complaint, or your review.
We take reports about listing accuracy seriously and would normally review any concerns raised about a property's description, photographs, or condition. We also encourage guests to report issues during their stay so that they can be investigated and, where possible, addressed.
With regard to guest reviews, we do not selectively publish reviews based on whether they are positive or negative. They do, however, have to meet our terms and conditions. If you believe a review you submitted has not been published, we would encourage you to contact our Customer Services team with your booking details so that the matter can be reviewed.
We are sorry that your experience has left you feeling dissatisfied and appreciate you sharing your concerns.
Kind regards,
Ian
Sykes Holiday Cottages
A beautiful property, views to die for.
The property was clean, airy, and the views we're outstanding. The owners were lovely and really helpful. Sykes have done really well to have a property like this on their site.
8 August 2026
Reply from Sykes Holiday Cottages
Hi,
Thank you for your review!
We are so pleased to hear you enjoyed your stay and found the property clean and airy. It's wonderful that you appreciated the outstanding views and the helpful owners. Thank you for your kind words!
Kind regards,
Shoaib
Customer Care & Resolution Team
Sykes Holiday Cottages
Ease of booking and good information…
Ease of booking and good information prior to holiday. Good selection of accommodation at a good cost.
6 August 2026
Reply from Sykes Holiday Cottages
Hi,
Thank you for your review!
We're so pleased you found the booking process easy and received good information before your holiday. It's great to hear you found a good selection of accommodation at a good cost.
Kind regards,
Shoaib
Customer Care & Resolution Team
Sykes Holiday Cottages
Great site to use. Excellent
Great site to use.
Company always give you regular updates.
Good verity of places to stay, with good prices
12 August 2026
Reply from Sykes Holiday Cottages
Hi,
Thank you for your review!
We're delighted you found our site great to use and appreciate the regular updates. It's wonderful to know you enjoyed the variety of places and good prices!
Kind regards,
Shoaib
Customer Care & Resolution Team
Sykes Holiday Cottages
Check the small print .
Booked and payed in full a 4 night break as it was pet friendly . After, I checked to see if they had a hairdryer as I strolled down right at the end it said only one dog . ( I have 2 ) I had put 2 dogs when I was searching for a cottage . I contacted the owner and explained my situation . Saying I guarantee they would be well behaved and I would clean the cottage before leaving , but they said no only one dog . I asked if there was a refund but they said no . I then contacted Sykes who we booked with but the owner still said no . So I asked Sykes if I book another property could I have a discount . They said no I should have read the small print . I pointed out that it should have said on the booking form that they would only have one dog . After losing £500 for our 4 day holiday we could not afford to go away . Very disappointed. If booking with this company please read everything 100 percent . As I would hate this to happen to someone else . The company could have helped more but choose not to .
12 August 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Sykes Holiday Cottages
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are sorry to hear of your disappointment and understand how frustrating this situation must have been, particularly after discovering that the property could only accommodate one dog after you had already completed your booking.
Property-specific restrictions, including the number of pets permitted, are detailed within the property's listing information. We appreciate that this detail may not have been immediately obvious and understand your concerns regarding how the information was presented during the booking process.
We can see that both the property owner and our team reviewed your request to bring a second dog, however the owner decided not to make an exception to their property rules. As the booking was cancelled outside of the terms under which a refund was available, the owner declined to authorise a refund.
We appreciate that this outcome was extremely disappointing and that it meant you were unable to proceed with your planned holiday. Your feedback regarding the visibility of pet restrictions during the booking journey has been noted and shared with the relevant teams for review.
We are sorry that your experience did not meet your expectations and thank you for taking the time to share your concerns.
Kind regards,
Ian
Sykes Holiday Cottages
The cottage was delightful and in a…
The cottage was delightful and in a most gorgeous location. So quiet. The view was stunning. Lots of walks close to the cottage.
31 July 2026
Reply from Sykes Holiday Cottages
Hi,
Thank you for your review!
We're so pleased to hear you found the cottage delightful and enjoyed its gorgeous, quiet location. It's wonderful that you appreciated the stunning views and the nearby walks!
Kind regards,
Shoaib
Customer Care & Resolution Team
Sykes Holiday Cottages
We were very happy with the cottage in…
We were very happy with the cottage in Kent. The people were very friendly and went out of their way to help. We will visit again soon.
7 August 2026
Reply from Sykes Holiday Cottages
Hi,
Thank you for your review!
We are so happy you enjoyed your stay at the cottage in Kent and found the people friendly and helpful. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon!
Kind regards,
Shoaib
Customer Care & Resolution Team
Sykes Holiday Cottages
Good but too many emails which is…
Good but too many emails which is annoying from sykes. Lapwing is amazing 2nd visit very clean well equipped,friendly owners looking forward to going back, only fault area around pod not suitable to have dog off lead, Wonderfully peaceful place, thank you
20 May 2026
Reply from Sykes Holiday Cottages
Hi,
Thank you for your review!
We're so happy you enjoyed your second visit to Lapwing and found it clean and well-equipped with friendly owners! We appreciate your feedback regarding the emails and the dog-off-lead area. We will certainly consider this as we continually strive to improve our guest experience. We look forward to welcoming you back!
Kind regards,
Shoaib
Customer Care & Resolution Team
Sykes Holiday Cottages
Are any properties checked before listing?
We were unable to use our cottage as it had not been cleaned, there were no clean towels and the mattress and topper on the unmade bed were stained. There were dirty pots in the sink. The cottage had obvious damp issues with the walls. Neither ourselves or Sykes could contact the owner. One person that we spoke to did her best to help, but the second person, on the following day, failed to understand or help with the problem of being stranded without accommodation.
Update 21/8: I have received a refund, but am waiting for a reply to my complaint that the cottage had not been looked-over before listing, as the problems were not recent. Also the service provided by phone on the second homeless day was very poor.
12 August 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Sykes Holiday Cottages
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback. We are very sorry to hear about your experience and appreciate how upsetting it must have been to arrive and find the property in the condition you have described, particularly when you were left without suitable accommodation.
The issues you have raised, including the cleanliness of the property, the condition of the bedding, the lack of clean towels, and your concerns regarding dampness, are not the standards we expect for our guests.
We understand your frustration that neither you nor our team were able to contact the owner to resolve the situation quickly. While we are pleased to hear that one of our colleagues did their best to assist, we are sorry that you felt unsupported during your subsequent contact with us when trying to find a solution.
As no booking details have been provided in your review, I am unable to investigate the specific circumstances of your stay or comment on the outcome of any complaint that may have been raised. However, we take feedback of this nature seriously and use it to help improve our service.
We are sorry for the disappointment and inconvenience caused and thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention.
Kind regards,
Ian
Sykes Holiday Cottages
A v beautiful lodge with excellent…
A v beautiful lodge with excellent views. Comfortable, everything you need for a week away. At Beechwood ,a table on the patio would have been useful to sit at with a cuppa
6 August 2026
Reply from Sykes Holiday Cottages
Hi,
Thank you for your review!
We're delighted to hear you found the lodge beautiful with excellent views and everything you needed for your week away. We appreciate your helpful suggestion regarding a patio table.
Kind regards,
Shoaib
Customer Care & Resolution Team
Sykes Holiday Cottages
Avoid this company
Trip cancelled by the owner at late notice. Promised full refund which has only been partial. Sykes useless and impossible to speak to.
I will avoid in future and still await balance of refund.
6 August 2026
Reply from Sykes Holiday Cottages
Hi,
Thank you for your feedback.
Having looked into the matter, I can see that Sykes has not been notified that your booking has been cancelled, and it is still showing as active on our system.
We appreciate that this situation is concerning and apologise for any confusion it may have caused. We are currently investigating the matter to establish what has happened and will review the information available to us as a priority.
As soon as we have further information, we will be in touch with an update.
Kind regards,
Ian
Sykes Holiday Cottages
Bracken Cottage Dalbeatie
The house that we took, Bracken Cottage Dalbeatie was excellent, the key collecting the easiest I have ever experienced, the quality of the interior and exterior excellent. Sykes was easy to book with and clear and straightforward. Well done, it was a great week away.
24 July 2026
Reply from Sykes Holiday Cottages
Hi,
Thank you for your review!
We're so pleased to hear Bracken Cottage Dalbeatie was excellent and that the key collection was the easiest you've experienced. It's wonderful that you found booking with us straightforward. Thank you for your kind feedback!
Kind regards,
Shoaib
Customer Care & Resolution Team
Sykes Holiday Cottages
Good service, easy to use and nice properties
Booking process is very easy to complete by App or phone. I have called by phone late in a day for a same day booking/last minute decision. Very easy and helpful staff got everything done in a few minutes. Good communication and helpful. Had a couple of good beaks/holidays in nice locations.
15 November 2025
Reply from Sykes Holiday Cottages
Hi,
Thank you for your review!
We're so pleased you found our booking process easy, even for a last-minute decision, and that our staff were helpful. It's wonderful to hear you enjoyed your holidays in nice locations. Thank you for your kind feedback!
Kind regards,
Shoaib
Customer Care & Resolution Team
Sykes Holiday Cottages
Avoid like the plague!
🚨 HOLIDAY DISASTER — AVOID THIS COMPANY! 🚨
I honestly don’t know where to start with this, but after what our family has experienced, I feel people need to know before booking through this company.
We booked a family holiday back in October 2025 for 10 people, paying it off monthly. We received repeated emails confirming our booking and, shortly before travelling, even received the key box information.
After a 10-hour journey, we arrived at the property expecting to finally start our holiday… only to discover that we could not access the property at all.
We were told by a neighbour — who was related to the family — that the property had been repossessed and was now on the market.
Nobody had contacted us.
Nobody had cancelled our booking.
Nobody had warned us.
We were simply left standing there after driving 10 hours with 5 children im also 6 months pregnant and we had some one who has limited mobility , including 2 under the age of 2, with nowhere to stay.
We called the so-called emergency line at around 11pm and waited approximately an hour for a response. Imagine being in that situation with young children, needing somewhere safe to sleep and somewhere to prepare hot milk, while having absolutely no idea what you’re supposed to do.
When we finally spoke to the company, we expected them to take responsibility and find us suitable accommodation within the area we had originally booked.
Instead, we were told to choose from holiday homes hours away from our original destination.
At this point, we weren’t asking for anything unreasonable. We just wanted the holiday we had paid for and somewhere suitable for our family to stay.
The customer service throughout this whole situation has been disgraceful. We’ve been passed from person to person, told that certain people are “off that day”, asked to send yet another email or complete yet another form, and repeatedly given excuses about the property owner.
To be completely honest — we don’t care whose fault it was. The property was still advertised, booked, paid for and confirmed to us. The responsibility should not have fallen on a family who had travelled 10 hours with five children.
We were promised compensation and told it would be dealt with quickly. We sent the invoices requested and were told we would be reimbursed within a day.
We are still waiting.
We were promised one thing and then given another.
I have repeatedly tried to speak to the same person dealing with our case, only to be told they are “off that day” — leaving us to start the whole process again with someone else.
This whole experience has been incredibly stressful and completely ruined what should have been a family holiday.
A holiday booked, paid for and confirmed should not end with a family stranded outside a property that no longer existed as a holiday rental.
If you are considering booking through this company, PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH FIRST.
We certainly won’t be booking with them again.
#HolidayDisaster #HolidayFromHell #CustomerService #FamilyHoliday #TravelWarning #HolidayRental #Avoid
15 August 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Sykes Holiday Cottages
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We are truly sorry to hear about the circumstances surrounding your holiday and appreciate how distressing this must have been for you and your family.
Travelling for 10 hours with five children, including two under the age of two, whilst pregnant and accompanied by a family member with limited mobility, only to discover that the property was unavailable on arrival, is clearly not the start to a holiday that anyone would expect. We fully understand the frustration and anxiety this situation would have caused.
Following our investigations, we found that the property owner had not notified Sykes that the property had been repossessed and was therefore no longer available for holiday bookings. As a result, the booking remained active on our system and key collection information was issued based on the information available to us at the time.
We appreciate how upsetting it must have been to arrive at the property and discover that it was unavailable, particularly after receiving booking confirmations and key collection details before your departure. We also understand your disappointment with the alternative accommodation options that were offered and the difficulties you experienced whilst trying to resolve the situation late in the evening.
We are sorry to hear of your dissatisfaction with the communication following the incident, including the need to speak with multiple colleagues and the delays you experienced whilst seeking a resolution. We understand how frustrating this would have been during an already stressful situation.
Whilst we cannot discuss the details of individual cases in a public forum, we recognise the significant impact this situation had on your family and regret that your holiday was affected in this way.
Kind regards,
Ian
Sykes Holiday Cottages
Website was easy to navigate and…
Website was easy to navigate and communication was good. Prices were very competitive
6 August 2026
Reply from Sykes Holiday Cottages
Hi,
Thank you for your review!
We are delighted to hear that you found our website easy to navigate, appreciated our communication, and found our prices competitive.
Kind regards,
Shoaib
Customer Care & Resolution Team
Sykes Holiday Cottages
Easy to navigate- straight forward…
Easy to navigate- straight forward process with all the info you need. We loved our stay at Crabs and Lobsters Newquay. So spacious clean and light with lovely views. Wonderful!
13 August 2026
Reply from Sykes Holiday Cottages
Hi,
Thank you for your review!
We're so pleased you found the process straightforward and enjoyed your stay at Crabs and Lobsters Newquay. It's wonderful to hear you appreciated the spaciousness, cleanliness, and lovely views!
Kind regards,
Shoaib
Customer Care & Resolution Team
Sykes Holiday Cottages
Title: breach of contract: 11 adults and a dog stranded on a Friday evening
Review:
Booked a property for 11 adults and a dog. Arrived at 15.30 on Friday to find a total lockout. The owner ignored all calls and texts. Sykes’ emergency lines failed, calls were repeatedly cut off, and their urgent WhatsApp business chat completely ignored our pleas for help.
When we finally got through (at 17.10) after unanswered calls and multiple dropped calls an agent told us the booking was cancelled within the last hour on their end (after we had arrived at the property - as I was constantly refreshing the app all afternoon)but could not explain why. With no Sykes properties available within 40 miles ( from our own research)we had to source 6 hotel rooms on the spot out of our own pockets. We were not going to turn round and go home, this was an important 2 family reunion and holiday and some of us had travelled 5 hours to get there. Sykes refused an immediate refund to help fund this, then instantly changed our app booking status to "Cancelled" to lock us out of making a formal complaint online.
We submitted an official claim via customer service last Tuesday for a full refund, our £1,600 emergency hotel bill, food costs, and distress compensation. We have received zero acknowledgement.
We have now escalated this directly to the CEO’s office and the Executive Complaints Team. If this is not settled within 14 days, we will proceed directly to Trading Standards and the Small Claims Court without further notice. We have a booking reference and unique reference number
I would not recommend Sykes Cottages to anyone due to their appalling customer service - to include email, WhatsApp business chat and on the phone
7 August 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Sykes Holiday Cottages
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are very sorry to hear about your experience and appreciate how frustrating and distressing this situation must have been for your group, particularly given the importance of the family reunion and the distance some members had travelled.
We understand how upsetting it must have been to arrive at the property and be unable to gain access, whilst also being unable to reach the owner. We are also sorry to hear of the difficulties you experienced when trying to contact our emergency support teams and appreciate the additional stress this caused while you were trying to secure accommodation for 11 adults and a dog at short notice.
Having reviewed the information available, I can see that a full refund of your holiday cost has already been processed. I also understand that you have submitted a claim regarding the additional expenses incurred as a result of the disruption to your holiday plans.
As this matter is currently under investigation, we are unable to comment further on the specifics of your claim via a public forum. However, we can confirm that the circumstances surrounding the booking cancellation and the concerns you have raised regarding communication and support are being reviewed by the relevant team.
We appreciate that this experience fell well below the standard you expected and thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention.
Kind regards,
Ian
Sykes Holiday Cottages
Reply from Sykes Holiday Cottages
Hi,
Thank you for your review!
We're delighted to hear that you found our communication excellent throughout your booking journey. Providing clear and helpful service is something we take great pride in, and we appreciate your feedback. We hope you have a wonderful holiday and look forward to helping you again in the future.
Kind regards,
Shoaib
Customer Care & Resolution Team
Sykes Holiday Cottages
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