English Cottage Vacation

The cottage was an experience of a lifetime for me. I wanted to visit England for many years now and this was the one worth waiting for. I'd give the hosts an extra Star for their hospitality and everything during my stay was of top notch quality. Beautiful surroundings and pleasant relaxation time at the Cottage made the visit extra special.

My stay at Well Cottage was exceptional. If you want to immerse yourself in the English culture and countryside there is no better place to do it then with Laura and Nathan as your guides. I could lists many things that I enjoyed but especially I enjoyed the Sunday we went to church in the their village, had a roast lamb dinner with mint sauce and vegetables from their garden, sat in their snug, with a fire, with the visiting West Highland terrier, Isla, at my feet. That memory will stay with me always. Another is my visit to Stourhead House and Garden a beautiful landscape garden which is a favorite. Nathan arranged for us to have a guided tour of the garden in a golf cart which was perfect! And later he set up a table and chairs near the garden for us to have a picnic lunch. How glorious it was to sit in this beautiful landscape to eat one of Laura’s delicious gourmet picnics. They are the perfect hosts, pampering is Laura’s forte and Nathan’s timing was perfect while shopping In Shaftesbury when he appeared to help carry packages back to the car. I can’t say enough about my experience there. You really have to experience it yourself to understand how perfect it was.

Nathan and Laura work together to provide an incomparable and memorable week in the English countryside. This all-inclusive vacation feels like a visit with friends who share their charming cottage while acting as your chauffeur/butler and chef/housekeeper. Cottage rooms and gardens are lovely. Laura is a gourmet cook who prepares meals to meet guest preferences (provided in advance), and plates and services them beautifully. Nathan acts as chauffeur to take guides on outings (planned in advance with guest input) and makes the experiences seamless by making reservations and payments in advance. When returning home for lunch is inconvenient, Laura prepares a picnic lunch which Nathan sets up and serves in a beautiful setting. Travel is in a comfortable 8 passenger Mercedes van with Nathan pointing out sights and stopping for photo opportunities. The countryside offers castles, mansions with beautiful gardens, ancient ruins, Stonehenge, and lovely villages. The Jurassic coast is nearby and a power yacht cruise to see this area was a special treat. Pampering of guests even included bringing in two masseuses to provide massages on a quiet afternoon. Our group of six women are still raving about this experience!

What a positively awesome trip to the English countryside!Nathan and Laura, we felt so welcomed at Well Cottage. Your exceptional and unceasing attention to detail was extraordinary. Our richly flavorful and lavishly presented meals were a gastronomic delight – and chatting with Laura while she worked her magic in the kitchen was an enjoyable bonus. Our daily sightseeing adventures with Nathan were thoughtfully customized based on our pre-travel communications, and included a number of experiences that were certainly new to us. Who knew that the Shaftesbury Food Festival could be so much fun?!We can’t think of a prior trip where we’ve felt so richly satisfied and fulfilled with our entire experience. You two are exceptional! For anyone looking for a thoroughly relaxing, restorative and satisfying getaway, this is it!

I can't say enough good things about our stay at the English Cottage Vacations. Truly the most amazing way to experience England! Nathan and Laura are the perfect hosts. The food, cozy environment, and the hospitality were off the charts!!!! They take care of every detail, which eliminates all the stress of travelling abroad. Having your own personal driver and chef along with arrangements being made for each of our day trips made the trip so enjoyable. Nathan and Laura go above and beyond to make sure you experience the best England has to offer. We got to see things that only the locals know about. We didn't have to fight our way through crowds because they know all the secrets! They arrange for private yacht tours, private walking tours, and even the royal treatment at Highclere Castle when we got engaged during our stay. This was my very first time traveling abroad and I fell in love with the cottage, the country side and most of all our hosts Nathan and Laura! I would give them 100 stars, but I guess 5 stars will have to do!

Our family vacation (3 generations) at Well Cottage was fabulous. Well Cottage is a perfect example of a true English thatched cottage. Its location out in the countryside and its gardens invite one to relax after being out exploring. Nathan chauffeurs the Mercedes van expertly around the country lanes.Nathan and Laura pampered us and could not do enough for our relaxation and enjoyment.The gardens planted by Laura and her mother are watered by Nathan, they produce the huge variety of vegetables used by Laura in her culinary arts and to decorate the cottage rooms and tables. Chef Laura is outstanding. Each dinner had a theme with the table settings complimenting the cuisine. The meals were delicious and enjoyed by all our family. Our youngest member (10yrs.) enjoyed all the gourmet cuisine and gave Laura “two thumbs up” on a daily basis. No “kids menu for him”. Also, we ate elaborate picnic lunches with table, chairs and fine china on several days.From pickup, by Nathan, at the airport to final set down this was an exceptional vacation. Nathan and Laura are gracious hosts who deliver on all their promises.We hope to return.

An English Fairytale VacationI am an Anglophile…and an art historian with a focus on English art and architecture. Over the past forty years, I have traveled to England 24 times for both my profession as an academic museum curator and on vacation. England is the place I most love in all the world.In the spring of 2022 I was getting ready to retire from my university professorship when I ran across an advertisement in a magazine I take called Britain. It was for English Cottage Vacation. I was immediately intrigued with the information presented and began an email correspondence with you. I was so very pleased when as a single person I was able to join four other like-minded folks at Well Cottage from June 2 through 10, 2023.I chose the set itinerary because of the unique offerings of private tours and inclusions offered. Even though I had been to Highclere, Bath and Stonehenge before, the private tours provided by you far surpassed my earlier visits. The special guidance from Nathan offered during his marvelous drives around were a real highlight. An evening private tour if Stonehenge walking among the stones was amazing. The walking tour of Bath with an expert guide fulfilled all of my hopes for this visit. I discovered many places I wouldn’t have sought out on my own…this was especially true for the Jurassic Coast and Lulworth Cove.The quaint but luxurious cottage offered the lodging and comfort of a top hotel. The cuisine was beyond comparison and full of delightful and delicious surprises Laura included in all of her delectable creations.This week was truly an exceptional experience and exceeded all my expectations. Being privately ferried to all the sites in a luxurious vehicle, staying in one place without having to uproot every day or so and most of all the marvelous company of Laura and Nathan made this trip the highlight of all my England adventures.I have organized and accompanied tours to England but this experience was far and away the tops! Even the VIP reception at the American Embassy when the exhibition I curated (Victorian Fairy Painting) opened at the Royal Academy in 1997 pales in comparison.Sincerely,Pamela White

I’ve traveled extensively to many places around the world, and my week at Well Cottage was one of the most enjoyable vacations I’ve ever had. Nathan and Laura are the consummate hosts, and from the time Nathan met us at Heathrow until we parted company at the end of the week my every request was met and every expectation for the holiday exceeded.Laura is an exceptional chef. Her cooking is creative, varied, delightfully seasoned and expertly prepared. Check out the sample menu on their website – over the course of our week’s stay we enjoyed many of the breakfast, lunch and dinner entrees and desserts listed, and ALL were delicious!Well Cottage was a wonderfully charming and comfortable home for our week. Centrally located to numerous destinations, it’s an easy drive to Bath, Stonehenge, the Jurassic Coast and the Cotswolds and there are numerous trails and paths for hiking and biking close to the Cottage. And it was wonderful to come home after a day’s adventures to relax in the beautiful back yard and enjoy cocktails.I can’t say enough good things about Nathan and Laura and the experience they offer at Well Cottage. The week was marvelous and I can’t wait to spend another vacation there!

We have always enjoyed our several visits to England, but we never found something as delightful as our experience with Nathan and Laura. Nathan's knowledge of the beautiful Dorset countryside enriched our vacation experience. His answers to our many questions about birds, animals, historic sites, and English history added much to our enjoyment--plus he's a safe driver on narrow country roads. Laura's meals are amazing. Her table decorations, presentation, and variety are exceptional; however, the taste is out of this world. Let's not forget the wine. Laura and Nathan provide excellent choices for lunch and dinner. If you want the best possible English vacation, book a stay at English Cottage Vacation.

While we had visited England before, this was our first visit to Dorset. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience staying at Well Cottage. No detail was overlooked. The cottage is cozy but spacious, and the garden is beautiful and perfect for lounging or birdwatching. Laura is an amazing chef. She was able to create delicious meals with our differing tastes and my dietary restrictions. We did a bespoke package and Nathan organized an itinerary for us that incorporated our planned requests as well as seamlessly incorporating a couple of “oh while we’re here can we” requests. Nathan and Laura are the perfect hosts and are great company. They made sure our vacation was truly memorable.