What's provided in a National Trust holiday cottage?
Find out more about what you can expect to find in a National Trust holiday cottage, so you can pack all the things you need and leave the rest at home. If your accommodation differs from the general information below, you'll find details of this under 'More information' on the cottage's webpage, and in your booking confirmation.
What's provided in bunkhouses and bothies?
In bunkhouses, we provide basic kitchen equipment and mattresses (no bedding or linen). Bothies are stone buildings for indoor camping with little or nothing provided inside. Be sure to jump to the relevant section if you're staying in a bunkhouse or bothy.
Holiday cottage inventory
Inside a National Trust cottage, you'll find the things you need to make your holiday easy and enjoyable. Take a look at the lists below, which include the things you can expect to find in your cottage.
- A welcome tray with enough tea bags, filter coffee, sugar and UHT milk* for your first drink, along with some National Trust cookies
- A map of the local area
- A radio
- Some games, DVDs (where there's a DVD player) and a selection of books
- A hairdryer
- A washing basket and clothes airer, cottages with private gardens also have a washing line and pegs
- An iron and ironing board
*Visit the FAQs to find out how using UHT milk in recyclable glass bottles results in a lower carbon impact and less wastage.
Our kitchens are well stocked with enough items for the number of guests plus two day guests, and include all the things below as well as some other bits and pieces:
- A kettle and toaster
- A cafetiere and tea pot
- Mugs, cups and saucers
- Cutlery, plates and bowls
- Glass tumblers and a water jug
- Wine glasses and champagne flutes
- A selection of knives and boards
- A selection of utensils including spoons, a turner, a potato masher, a ladle and tongs
- A selection of saucepans and a frying pan
- A selection of ovenware dishes, including a dish with a lid
- A baking tray, roasting pan and 12-bun tin
- Scales, a measuring jug and a mixing bowl
- A cooling rack and storage tins
- Jugs, a juicer, a colander and a sieve
- A grater, whisk, scissors, can opener and a corkscrew
- An oven cloth and tea towel
- Handwash
- Washing-up liquid and a cloth or sponge, dishwasher tablets (one per day plus a couple more)
- Environmentally-friendly anti bacterial spray and a cloth
- Bedding and linen
- Towels - one bath towel and one hand towel for each person
- Handwash
- Towels - one bath towel and one hand towel for each person (found in the bedroom on arrival), and a bathmat for each bathroom
- Two toilet rolls for each toilet - you'll need to bring some too
- Toilet cleaner
The fire will be laid for your arrival, with a few spare logs, firelighters and a box of matches - enough for your first evening. You'll need more seasoned logs and firelighters if you'd like to use the woodburner or fireplace for the rest of your holiday, and in some cottages you can order them from us. You'll see this option when you book your cottage online, or if you've already booked, you can call us on 0344 800 2070 to place an order. In cottages where this service isn't available, please bring what you need or source locally.
In some cottages, we can provide a pop-up travel cot with a removable base. We don't provide additional mattresses for travel cots, or bedding and linen. You can add a travel cot, high chair and nursery fireguard to your booking when you book your cottage online, or if you've already booked, you can call us on 0344 800 2070 to request one.
If a travel cot isn't available at the cottage, you'll see this on the webpage or in your booking confirmation. This means the cottage is too small for a travel cot or unsuitable for babies and toddlers.
- A torch - many cottages are in dark areas so you'll need a torch for coming and going when it's dark
- Waterproof mattress protector if travelling with young children, and any bedding required for a travel cot
- Extra toilet paper, toiletries like shower gel and shampoo
- Salt and pepper, oil and condiments
- If you'd like to bake, you'll need cake tins and any other special equipment you need like an electric mixer and a piping bag
- If you'd like to prepare a meal that requires special equipment or anything not listed above, like a rolling pin or food processor, you'll need to bring that with you
- All the things you need for your dog, including a dog bed and a towel
Bunkhouses
Bunkhouses provide simple, self-catering accommodation for large groups.
- They have equipped kitchens, with the basic items you need to prepare, cook and serve food, like knives, pans, cutlery, plates and glasses. They have kettles and toasters.
- The bunk beds in bunkhouses have mattresses but no bedding or linen is usually provided.
- Check the webpage for your bunkhouse and your booking confirmation carefully. Here you will find details of the things that are and are not provided, including bedding/linen, items in the toilets and shower rooms, and logs for the woodburner.
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In some bunkhouses, we can provide a pop-up travel cot with a removable base. We don't provide additional mattresses for travel cots, or bedding and linen. You can add a travel cot, high chair and nursery fireguard to your booking when you book your bunkhouse online, or if you've already booked, you can call us on 0344 800 2070 to request one. If a travel cot isn't available at the bunkhouse, you'll see this on the webpage or in your booking confirmation. This means the bunkhouse is unsuitable for babies and toddlers.
- A torch - many bunkhouses are in dark areas so you'll need a torch for coming and going when it's dark
- Sleeping bags/duvets, pillows and linen (unless otherwise stated)
- Waterproof mattress protector if travelling with young children, and any bedding required for a travel cot
- Towels
- Toilet paper and toiletries like shower gel and shampoo
- Logs, firelighters and matches, if there's a woodburner or fireplace
- Salt and pepper, oil and condiments
- If you'd like to bake, you'll need cake tins and any other special equipment you need like an electric mixer and a piping bag
- If you'd like to prepare a meal that requires special equipment or anything not listed above, like a rolling pin or food processor, you'll need to bring that with you
- All the things you need for your dog, including a dog bed and a towel
Bothies
Bothies are brick or stone structures that offer a simple, 'camping with walls' experience. Some have sleeping platforms. Nothing else is provided.
St Mark's Bothy on Brownsea Island is quite different and offers more, which you can read about on its webpage.
You'll need to bring everything you need to camp, other than your tent, when you stay in a bothy. Remember your torch. If there's a woodburner, you'll need to bring logs, firelighters and matches.
A small selection of the cottages in our care...
Cladium, at the Wicken Fen Nature Reserve, Cambridgeshire
Sleeps four, welcomes two dogs