Self Catering Accommodation
on the North Yorkshire Coast in England
Betwixt Staithes and Saltburn, perfect for visiting Whitby, Runswick Bay, Robin Hood’s Bay etc
The 2 bedroom plus roof garden English Bookshop Holiday. You can sometimes stay without running the bookshop whether is the whole flat or just a room - please email if interested in that option or a longer let. Note the flat/shop are not family friendly owing to many delicate items and fragile glass at low levels. - and there are lots of stairs. Wifi is basic and not guaranteed.
We are within the North York Moors National Park too so as well as enjoying wide open heather filled landscapes, stunning coastal path (walk the Cleveland Way) and star gazing, you can explore by steam the North Yorkshire Moors Heritage Railway with stations done up in various eras made famous by various films or visit charming English villages and towns such as Hutton-le-Hole which is the prettiest I have ever visited! We're accessible by public transport as are many places nearby to visit including Saltburn, Staithes, Runswick Bay, Sandsend and Whitby.
More about where to visit is here
Scroll to the end of holiday pages to see photos of the accommodation or see full set on AirBnB listing. Contact us direct for cheaper long stays as those dates are sometimes blocked out in calendar.
Amenities Summary
Welcome to my quirky comfortable home with beautiful peaceful sun trap roof garden in a characterful building with first lease dating back to 1694 but rebuilt since - we think 1870. You will find bed linen, towels, shower gel, shampoo, toilet paper, cereals, tea, coffee, oil, salt and pepper provided. Small supermarket across the street is open daily 7am to 10pm and plenty of cafes locally plus takeaways and a restaurant very close by too.
Woods with waterfalls just behind and longer walk to breathtaking Cattersty Sands beach or the stunning coastal path with sculptures to discover whether you walk to Saltburn or Staithes.
Personalised Retreats
We are considering offering these. Details to follow if wanting to share with Mart to do a reading or writing retreat.
Who Should Come
The three storey accommodation which is also a cherished home with a lot of breakable glass and wool carpet you cannot use stain remover on, is not suitable for any pets or unruly children or people who have difficulty with stairs. Sorry. All guests are responsible for their own visa to visit the UK if necessary. Events and selling own goods need Marta/s approval in advance. It's not a huge retail space. By the way is great for solo travellers too being a friendly town with a few walking groups to join each week, plus this flat feels like a hug.
I am so excited for you to see more of this wonderful place that so many new Loftus residents visited as holidaymakers and fell in love with.
See introductory prices below as summer 2026 we started accepting guests.
Discounts for:
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One person running the bookshop i.e. you pay £15pn extra for each person staying.
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15% off staying 4 days or longer - the longer you stay the better the discount gets and if you run the bookshop part time staying for 28 days is 40%. Please email if interested in 28 day stay.. Stay as long as possible because the area has so many interesting places to see, the locals are friendly, eating out is cheaper than most UK places and the cake is award winning!
ACCOMMODATION PRICE
Our Introductory Prices for 2026
Note not family friendly. Not suited to people with mobility issues or who need very good wifi.
1) The ENGLISH BOOKSHOP HOLIDAY - a Wigtown style borrow the bookshop holiday (read more) in 2 bedroom flat above with roof garden for 1-4 people available year round. No sharing the flat - is your private abode plus bookshop. Minimum stay is 3 nights and bigger the discount for longer the stay, which is sensible as the area is gorgeous and waiting for you to explore it. Max stay is 28 days but you can go stay elsewhere and then do another stay. Price (exc peak dates) from one person is £90 per night, £120 Fri/Sat night (these are special first year prices and in 2027 will be £150/£175)and £15 for each extra person, plus £65 fee every booking. Extra dates listed below.
Availability pattern to ensure Thurs n Sat 10-1pm core shop openings are covered is min 3 night stay starting on a Fri to Mon or Tues OR Mon/Tues checking out Fri.
4 days gives 15% discount, 7 days 20%, 2 weeks 25%, 3 weeks 33% and 28 days 40%.
No direct bookings - all through Airbnb. We pay 18.6% host commission to Airbnb.
Cannot change obligatory shop opening time but can be open much more - so nice to read in sunny garden and come down when sensor alerts you to a customer. We suggest we promote some days/times you are open for sure and the rest play by ear so when you have had enough you can shut up shop without disappointing anyone - and go on a lovely walk or visit one of the many tourist attractions or just retire to read or watch world go by from the window seat over the market place or pen your own novel.
Available year round. Please enquire via email if you want to stay further into the future, do a long stay in the future, are interested in room only sharing flat with someone else in the future or any question not answered in FAQs or on Airbnb listing which we ask you to read in full.
DATES AVAILABLE BUT APPEAR BLOCKED ON AIRBNB
Here are some nights which are actually available for booking but not seen on my airbnb listing due to new rules of checkin/out days to ensure Thurs n Sat is open 10-1pm:
Nights available of flat plus running bookshop but not via Airbnb listing, so please contact me to book.
Sun 6/7/8/9 September 2/3/4 nights RESERVED NOW
Fri 25/26/27 Septemeber for 2/3 nights but note Sunday self help book reading and share event is on 10:45 to 13:45 in the conservatory and if raining 2-3pm qigong and meditation in the shop also on Sunday 27th - you can join in free with either.
Mon 5/6/7/8 October 3/4 nights (can be booked on Airbnb)
Sat 31 October 2/3 nights
Sat 7 Nov 3/4 nights RESERVED NOW
Wed 18 Nov 2 nights
Flat only is from one person £108 Fri/Sat night, £80 the Sunday nights listed above and £15 for each extra person, plus £45 fee.
OR
Whole flat to yourself with option of running bookshop alongside Marta if you wish to at any time during these pre-Christmas weekends or by yourself if snow stops her getting there ;-). Book via airbnb here airbnb.com/h/booksellersboudoir
Fri 27/28/29 Nov
Fri 4/5/6 Dec
Fri 11/12/13 Dec
Fri 18/19 Dec
THEN
2027 flat and bookshop rental
Sat 17/18/19/20 April for 3/4 nights
Sun 25/26/27 April 3 nights
More dates available in normal pattern in normal place airbnb.com/h/englishbookshopholiday.
GETTING HERE
Nearest train station with a bus connection to outside our door is Saltburn-by-the-Sea. Free car park near by. International visitors can fly to London or Edinburgh and do the long train ride. Nearest airports are Teesside, Newcastle and Leeds Bradford. Although Teesside is closer for taxi transfer, Newcastle is at end of Metro train line so better if using public transport. European neighbours might drive over via ferry from Amsterdam to Newcastle or Rotterdam to Hull.
More info at
https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/plan-your-visit/getting-to-and-around-the-north-york-moors
