If you’re a fan of the Nancy Meyers classic The Holiday — the cozy English-village love story starring Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz — then this vacation idea is going to make your heart skip. There is an actual cottage inspired by Rosehill Cottage, the beloved stone hideaway where Iris retreats from her chaotic life in London. And yes…you can stay there.
I can’t tell you how much joy this brings me. The Holiday is one of my all-time favorite movies. Not just during Christmas, but truly anytime I want to unwind into something sweet, nostalgic, and hopeful. And the dedication behind recreating the cottage — taking nearly a year to bring the movie’s famous setting to life in Georgia — makes this more than a vacation spot; it’s a dream brought into reality.
Why I LOVE the Idea of Staying Here
When I was younger, my girlfriends and I used to pick movies that featured charming, unique towns. Places with personality, great food, and some local experiences. Then we’d plan a trip around visiting all the filming spots.
It was our way of turning storytelling into travel. Still to this day, I get excited when a movie sparks a new getaway idea.
So when I discovered that there is an actual stone cottage modeled after the one Iris lives in during The Holiday, my movie-loving heart lit up. The stone walls, the winding garden path, the fireplace, the cozy English-style interiors — it’s everything you’d imagine a perfect winter retreat to be.
And although winters in this area are milder with minimal snow or ice, the season still brings its own kind of magic. Think cozy wine tastings, charming festivals, and Christmas markets that make the experience feel wonderfully festive without the chill.
This isn’t just a place to stay. It’s an experience.
A Cottage Built for Movie Lovers
Home designer Lucy Small spent nearly a year creating The Holiday Cottage as a full-on replica. It truly looks like stepping into a scene from the film:
• The warm, lived-in English charm
• The rustic beams and stone exterior
• A kitchen that looks like Iris could walk in at any moment
• A bedroom straight out of a storybook
• A fireplace-perfect living room made for winter escapes
It’s no wonder fans of the movie fly from all over just to stay here. It taps into the same feeling the movie gives us — a world where you can slow down, escape your routine, and reconnect with what matters.
A Fun Twist: The Movie’s HomeExchange Plot Was Based on a REAL Site
One of my favorite parts of The Holiday is how Iris and Amanda find each other and swap houses through a home exchange website. What many people don’t realize is that this wasn’t fictional.
HomeExchange has existed long before the movie was ever filmed.
How cool is that?
It means you can actually do what the characters did. Swap homes with someone in another country, experience their town like a local, and create your own version of the film’s plot.
Even if staying at The Holiday Cottage isn’t on your list this year, HomeExchange offers thousands of locations around the world. Think of it as a movie-inspired adventure waiting to happen.
Would You Stay Here?
If The Holiday is one of your favorite movies too, this cottage might just be the perfect escape. And if you’ve ever done a movie-inspired trip or a home exchange adventure, I’d love to hear your story — leave a comment or email me!