Hidden Gems Holiday Lets: Your Guide to the Perfect UK Staycation (and What to Do When You Get There)

When it comes to UK getaways, it’s not just about where you go - it’s about where you stay.

Hidden Gems Holiday Lets offers a collection of handpicked properties across the Forest of Dean, Westbury-on-Severn, Cheltenham and even Marbella, each designed to give you space, comfort, and a genuinely enjoyable base for your time away.

From cosy apartments for couples to large barns sleeping up to 15 guests, these properties are built around real stays - family time, celebrations, and switching off properly.

Here’s how to make the most of them this summer.

A Stay That Actually Fits Your Trip

One of the biggest strengths of Hidden Gems is flexibility.

You’re not locked into one type of stay - you can choose based on how you want to spend your time:

• Large group stays (like Ardens Farm and the barns) for birthdays, reunions, or weekends with friends

• Smaller, relaxed properties for couples or quieter breaks

• Countryside locations with space, views, and proper downtime

• Easy access to towns and attractions when you want to get out

Whether it’s a long weekend or a full week, the setup works around you — not the other way round.

Stay in the Countryside, Explore Everything Around You

Most of the UK properties are based around the Forest of Dean and Gloucestershire, which is exactly where you want to be for a summer stay.

🌳 Forest of Dean: On Your Doorstep

Staying here means you’ve got instant access to:

• Woodland walks and cycling routes

• Wildlife and nature trails

• River activities and open space

It’s one of those places where you don’t need a strict plan — just get outside and go.And with properties like Ardens Farm sitting just a few miles away, it couldn’t be easier.

Mix Slower Days with Proper Days Out

A good stay isn’t packed solid - it’s balanced.

Here’s how guests typically use their time:

🚶‍♀️ Easy, Local Days

• Walk straight from your door

• Coffee in a local village

• BBQs and evenings outside

• Hot tub, fire on, no plans

🚗 Explore a Bit Further

Within an hour, you’ve got:

• Cheltenham (shops, food, festivals)

• Gloucester (cathedral, docks, culture)

• The Cotswolds villages

• The Welsh borders

That’s the sweet spot — you’re rural, but not cut off.

Designed for Real Life (Not Just a Nice Photo)

A lot of holiday lets look good online but don’t quite work when you’re there.

Hidden Gems properties are clearly built around how people actually stay:

• Enough space for everyone to spread out

• Kitchens that work for group meals

• Outdoor areas you’ll actually use

• Parking, access, and practical layouts

Ardens Farm, for example, sleeps 12 across multiple floors with open fires, entertaining space, and a garden with a hot tub - ideal for group stays that don’t feel cramped.

That same thinking runs across the rest of the portfolio.

Perfect for Every Type of Summer Stay

What you’ll notice quickly is this isn’t a “one type of guest” setup.

Hidden Gems works for:

• Families – space, outdoor areas, things to do nearby

• Groups of friends – social spaces, multiple bedrooms, good locations

• Couples – quieter properties for switching off

• Work retreats – enough room to mix downtime with productivity

It’s flexible, which is exactly what most people want now.

Why Hidden Gems Holiday Lets Works

There’s a lot of choice out there, but Hidden Gems gets a few key things right:

• Locations that give you options

• Properties that actually function for groups or families

• A mix of stay styles, not just one offering

• A proper balance of explore vs switch off

And that’s what turns a short break into something that actually feels like a break.

Book Your Summer Stay

If you’re planning a UK staycation this summer, don’t just pick somewhere that looks good in photos.

Pick somewhere that works for how you want to spend your time.

Hidden Gems Holiday Lets gives you the base - the rest is up to you.