Our tale begins as all the best festive ones do; with a light chill carried on the breeze and windows aglow. Somewhere in Los Angeles, Amanda Woods is scrolling through quaint English cottages, dreaming of the kind of winter love story only found at the end of a country lane. In Chicago, Kevin McAllister indulges in free reign over a certain Georgian mansion, and high above Whoville – where Christmas cheer oozes from every gingerbread-style house – the Grinch broods in his mountain cave.
With the countdown on, we look to the best Christmas and New Year's escapes inspired by these familiar festive favourites from our screens.
The Holiday
Beyond its star-studded cast (Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Jack Black) and its iconic winter portrayal of the frazzled Englishwoman, The Holiday gives us the fantasy embodiment of seasonal hibernation.
For those craving a little cottagecore nostalgia of their own this season, The Fable in Cornwall, Tincture in Wales and Inkwell Cottage in the Cotswolds house exactly this kind of restorative magic. These from-yesteryear boltholes are made for the simple pleasures that remedy busy lives: stoking the fire, curling up by candlelight and letting their folky magic work quietly on the weary soul. If so inclined, all that's left is to wait for a serendipitous knock-at-the-door romance.
For Nancy Meyers-worthy interiors where bold colours reign, The Tapestry in the Lake District is a kaleidoscopic take on the English country dream. Here, clawfoot baths invite indulgent, Amanda Woods-style soaks before stiletto-free strolls to the owners’ charming hamlet pub; scenes lifted straight from the script.
Home Alone
Though Home Alone may be best remembered for its rambunctious chaos and iconic comedy, it’s the stately Georgian residence itself – soaring high ceilings, polished staircases simply made for tobogganing and windows bordered with Christmas lights – that became the true star of the 90s cult classic. Its opulence is integral to the plot.
If you dream of children running wild through endless corridors, and of games rooms and grounds vast enough to lose yourself in, Ariabelle in West Sussex captures this Christmas spirit. Its sweeping tree-lined drive, indoor heated pool and 60 acres of enchanting South Downs woodland – combined with ten spacious bedrooms – ensure even the largest clans have room for elaborate schemes, treasure hunts and feasts around the grandest of tables.
In a blend of 21st-century modernity and Georgian savoir-faire, Honeystone in Suffolk is a festive playground for the whole family. As the young’uns embark on their make-believe soirées, the grown-ups can gather by velvet curtains, putting the world to rights over coupes of celebratory Champagne.
The Grinch
Every Who down in Whoville likes Christmas a lot – so much so that from a mountain-top perch, in a stone cave, the Grinch’s heart learns to beat three sizes bigger. The story reminds us that Christmas magic comes in many forms: whether your comfort lies in the communal warmth of feasts and song, or the quietude of a more secluded winter retreat.
For those drawn to Whoville's storybook charm, Hansa, tucked within Shropshire parkland, radiates fairytale whimsy. Its gingerbread façade and twisting motifs are as joyful as Seuss’s fanciful scenery, with puffing chimney beckoning cosy nights eating Who Pudding.
For those more drawn to the Grinch's cave-carved hideout, Morse in West Cornwall shares in its secretness. Camouflaged as a grass-covered bunker, its design-led interior – where raw materials and a sculptural fireplace meet collectible furnishings – offers sweet isolation for those who prefer quieter contemplation to crowds and carolling.
Feeling inspired? Book your Christmas or New Year's escape.
