It’s almost December, which means it’s almost Christmas, which means it’s time to start thinking about holiday films. I have a usual list that I like to tuck into at this time of year. Die Hard, a plethora of Disney/Pixar creations, Home Alone, and so on.
For a film to be Christmassy, it has to follow a very strict set of instructions, at least in my mind. Being about Christmas is not one of them. It needs to be feelgood, with a happy ending. It needs to be something you can fall asleep while watching, without missing too much of the plot. It needs to be funny. One film that fits all of these criteria, and is one of my favourite Christmas films, is The Holiday. Fun fact: I went to see The Holiday in cinemas when I was 14 years old because my mother made me. Thankfully, I liked it.
The Holiday fits all of the above criteria. It is about as simple a film as you could imagine, and its sweet and funny and, for extra points, is even set at Christmas. The star of the film is not Cameron Diaz, or Jack Black, or Kate Winslet or even Jude Law. It is ‘the cottage’. You know the one.
It would be nice to spend a Christmas at The Holiday cottage. Thatch just so, smoke whisping into the sky from the chimney as snow falls softly all around. I’m not sure if that cottage is real, nor do I remember a recent Christmas where it snowed. But, if I were tempted to make Christmas at The Holiday cottage a reality, you could do a lot worse than Wye Cottage in St Day, Cornwall. It’s for sale with Lillicrap Chilcott for offers in the region of £375,000.
The thatch is correct, the red door is a lovely touch and the windows and chimneys fit the bill. The property offers three bedrooms, a bathroom and two reception rooms. Have a look at some pictures.
I feel it should be illegal for something to look this cosy. Recently restored by its owners (including a rethatching five years ago), the property also comes with about ⅓ of an acre of gardens, which contains three timber garages and a workshop.
On the edge of the village of St Day, there are plenty of amenities within walking distance, which is always handy. But why would you ever want to leave?
Credit: Strutt & Parker
An utterly enchanting neo-Gothic masterpiece in 20 beautiful acres of Wiltshire — and it's even unlisted
Hawking Down House is a glorious country property that's full of potential. Penny Churchill explains more.
-
White sand beaches, smuggler's coves, teeming wildlife and a ruined castle in a Scottish island that's on the market for the first time in almost a centuryJust off the west coast of Scotland lies Shuna Island, a true playground of open spaces, natural beauty, wildlife, beaches and — yes — a castle. And it's looking for a new owner.
-
Can you feel the quiz tonight: Country Life Quiz of the Day, June 17, 2025The Lion King meets rhurbab and custard in today's quiz.
-
White sand beaches, smuggler's coves, teeming wildlife and a ruined castle in a Scottish island that's on the market for the first time in almost a century
Just off the west coast of Scotland lies Shuna Island, a true playground of open spaces, natural beauty, wildlife, beaches and — yes — a castle. And it's looking for a new owner.
-
'One of the 10 most perfect houses in Britain' has come to the market at £9.5 millionPenny Churchill looks at the magical Maperton House.
-
17 outstanding homes for sale across Britain, from under £250k to £6.5 million, as seen in Country LifeSomething for every budget in this week's round up of homes across the country that have come to market via Country Life.
-
An utterly charming island home in Scotland with gardens so beautiful they made the cover of Country LifeAn Cala on the Isle of Seil has a fascinating history that is only enhanced by its amazing setting.
-
Soft tones and a sense of place: A Mayfair duplex that breaks the modern mouldA new designer-led residence at 60 Curzon in Mayfair reminds us that everything new doesn't necessarily have to look it.
-
'The very best North Yorkshire has to offer': The £25 million Kirkham EstateWith 1,103 acres and on the market for the first time in a century, we've got a new frontrunner for the sale of the year.
-
The reality of 20 years of house price rises in Britain, from the places that have had a charmed life to the spots where it's a struggle to move back homeAt first glance the ups and downs of the property market seem to even out over time — but dig in to the numbers and you'll see wild regional variations which paint a very difference picture. Annabel Dixon analyses new research which tells the story.
-
A historic Yorkshire hall, meticulously restored to its former 18th-century magnificenceWomersley Park is a masterpiece and one of Yorkshire's great historic houses. And it could be yours.
