More and more people are choosing to take their holidays in the UK these days and that’s understandable because despite being a relatively small island there is so much to see and do and such a staggering amount of diversity, from the vibrant cities of London, Manchester, Liverpool and Bristol, to the varied scenery of the mountainous Lake District, the rolling Yorkshire Dales, the golden sands of Devon and the tucked away coves of Cornwall.

Here’s the scenario: you and your buddies, say up to 18 of you, want to go away for a few days for a good catch up; you were all at uni together and since then you’ve all grown up, got careers, husbands, children, mortgages, etc. You haven't seen each other for a few years so there's heaps to talk about, and of course you want to have a laugh reminiscing. But you also want to stay somewhere where there’s enough to keep you all entertained – a swimming pool, or a hot tub, a games room, spa facilities, things like that.

Book a Group Stays winter short break for your large group and you know you’re in for a treat! There’s something about getting away in the winter that makes it all very special – the summer holidays are long gone, even October half term seems a distant memory, and if it’s a mid-week stay, just knowing that you’d normally be at work makes you savour a few days away even more.

There’s a strong trend for big family holidays these days, an opportunity to get together with friends and their children or for multi-generational large group stays. Our big holiday houses and cottages sleep 8-30 people and are perfect for either – for a get away for a few younger families or for a week or weekend celebrating a special occasion with brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins and grandparents. We’ve got all the facilities you need to keep people of all ages entertained, and as most of our amazing properties are dog friendly you can even bring the family pooch.

So many people have dogs these days and we all know how quickly they become part of the family, so naturally, when you go away on holiday leaving them behind with relatives or in kennels can be quite a wrench. With Group Stays you don’t have to worry about that because most of our large group self-catering accommodation is dog friendly, so you can pack all your pet pooch’s favourite things and bring him along too. And what a tremendous time you’ll all have together; we think it’s safe to say that little tail just won’t stop wagging!

Wow, it’s baking hot out there and has been for weeks; if you’re something of a sun worshipper that’s great and we shouldn’t grumble, but for some it’s a little too much. That’s the English weather for you – unpredictable! Things tend to get a bit more steady after August; we can still rely on some sunshine and decent temperatures, but it’s a little cooler and more manageable, which is one reason why September breaks make sense.

Large group holidays are so much fun! It doesn’t matter if it’s a big family holiday, a break with friends, a corporate stay, or a celebration, if you find the perfect property it’s all fun, fun fun! We have large group holiday accommodation for 8-30 people, so dip in, have a browse; you’ll find cottages, lodges, rambling farmhouses, converted barns, and beautiful country houses, most of them set in glorious countryside in Somerset, Devon, Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire, Wiltshire and France. Think peace and quiet, open air – that’s a good starting point.

Pick a large group holiday home with an indoor swimming pool and you know you're onto a winner. It doesn't matter what the weather's up to, everyone will be happy splashing about inside, young and old alike. And the beauty is that if the old sun decides to pop his head out, as most of our pool halls have big bi-fold doors, all you have to do is pull 'em back and let the summer in' bring it on! And don't think that such a luxury means expensive, because it doesn't - when you split the cost between all members of your party it works out at less than the price of a decent hotel per person; great value, great fun.

If you're looking for an amazing large group holiday cottage with a hot tub, read on, read on, read on! At Group Stays we're proud of our fantastic selection of self catering accommodation for big groups; we've got stunning barn conversions, gorgeous old farmhouses, luxury timber clad lodges, impressive country houses, and charming cottages. Most of our properties are set amidst beautiful undulating countryside with wide open fields, wooded hillsides, and the most picturesque valleys. This is the stuff that dream holidays are made of.

Large group holidays are such fun; let’s face it, getting together with a bunch of your favourite people, catching up, relaxing and enjoying a few days or even a whole week away is manna for the soul, so get organised, pack away your worries and head down to Somerset to make some wonderful memories.