Group Holiday Houses by Feature

A private hot tub is the most requested single feature for group holiday houses — and it is consistently the amenity that generates the best memories. For hen parties and birthday weekends in particular, the combination of a hot tub, a good outdoor seating area and a well-equipped kitchen for shared meals is the standard everyone is working towards.

Hot tubs at group houses are almost always available year-round. The experience is arguably better in autumn and winter — soaking in 38°C water on a cold evening is a different proposition from a summer afternoon dip. Before booking, confirm the hot tub capacity (some seat 4–6, others 10+), whether there is an extra charge, and the house rules around glass near the tub.

For groups where a hot tub is non-negotiable, search for it specifically rather than hoping it is available. Properties with confirmed hot tubs book significantly earlier than equivalent properties without — particularly for peak summer weekends, Easter, Christmas and New Year.

A private cinema room in a group holiday house is most valuable on rainy days, late evenings and as a complement to a games room — giving the group a way to wind down without needing to leave the property. For hen parties, family reunions and celebration weekends where the group spends significant time in the house, it adds a clear quality-of-stay improvement.

Cinema room specifications vary considerably. The best configurations have large projection screens or 75"+ displays, surround sound, comfortable seating for the whole group and blackout capability. Some cinema rooms are purpose-built in dedicated spaces; others are well-equipped living rooms. Check individual property listings for exact specifications.

Currently, Stretton House in Derbyshire is our confirmed cinema room property — it also has a games room, sleeping 38 guests across 15 bedrooms, which makes it the strongest combination of premium features at scale currently on the site.

A group house near the beach or seafront changes the rhythm of a stay in a way that rural properties cannot replicate. Morning walks to the sea, fish and chips at the pier, a spontaneous evening on the front — these are the experiences that make coastal group breaks memorable.

Currently our confirmed coastal properties are both in Worthing, West Sussex — a seaside town on the South Coast with easy rail connections to London (about 70 minutes) and a good range of independent restaurants and pubs. Highfield House (sleeps 10, 5 bedrooms) is positioned near the seafront and suits groups who want a south coast base within easy reach of Brighton. Heene Terrace (sleeps 10) is a beach townhouse with a particularly close position to the sea.

For properties with direct beach access or sea views in Cornwall and Devon, see the beach access feature page for the full current list — our inventory in those areas changes as new properties are added.

Finding a large group house that genuinely welcomes dogs — rather than grudgingly tolerating them in the kitchen — requires checking more carefully than the group size or features. Dog-friendly policies vary: some owners welcome multiple dogs; others allow one or two with an additional deposit.

Our confirmed dog-friendly properties are Highfield House and Heene Terrace, both in Worthing, West Sussex. Worthing is a good coastal base for dogs — the seafront and nearby countryside give plenty of walking options. Always confirm the current dog policy directly with the owner before booking, as arrangements can change between stays.