How to tell a historic cottages story to guests is an essential skill for owners of heritage and characterful homes. Guests who choose old cottages are not looking for generic holiday lets — they want history, atmosphere, charm and a sense of stepping into another time. Telling your cottage’s story brings that experience to life and attracts the right kind of guest: people who appreciate authenticity and look after historic buildings with care.
1. Begin With the Cottage’s Origins
Every historic cottage has a beginning. Sharing when it was built — and why — gives guests an emotional anchor. Even a simple line such as “Built in 1640 as a farm labourer’s cottage” immediately sets the scene. Add any discoveries about former owners, trades, or how the cottage has evolved through the centuries.
County archives, local history societies and parish records can reveal fascinating details. Guests love reading about how the home once worked within village or rural life.
2. Highlight Craftsmanship and Traditional Features
Hand-cut beams, lime plaster, timber frames, brick floors, old fireplaces, handmade doors and wattle-and-daub walls — these are the true treasures of a historic cottage. Your story should point them out and celebrate them. Guests staying in a heritage cottage want more than amenities; they want to know what makes this place special.
Short notes such as “You can still see the carpenter’s marks on the beams” or “This fireplace once served as the cottage’s original cooking hearth” add depth and delight.
3. Share Your Restoration Journey
The story of how you restored or preserved the cottage is just as compelling as its history. Guests appreciate the love and effort that goes into sympathetic conservation — limewash paints, repaired beams, reclaimed materials, or careful work to protect original fabric.
Explain your choices: why lime plaster helps the cottage breathe, why old bricks were reclaimed, how traditional techniques preserve character. This shows that the cottage is cared for, not modernised beyond recognition.
If you want to explore traditional limewash colours or pigments, Ingilby Paints is one of the most knowledgeable suppliers in the country:
👉 Inglby Paints
Read my blog on Lime:
4. Embrace the Quirks — They Make the Cottage Charming
Historic cottages are full of quirks: low doorways, sloping floors, uneven steps, handmade windows or unusual layouts. These are not flaws — they are part of the story. Mention them gently and positively so guests understand and enjoy them.
A guest who knows to expect character will appreciate it; a guest expecting a modern hotel room will not. Storytelling filters in the right audience.
5. Use Warm, Evocative Photography
Photography is one of the most effective storytelling tools. Rather than bright, wide-angle shots, use warm natural light and focus on atmosphere — the glow of a fire, the curve of an old beam, a reading nook, or the soft patina of limewashed walls.
Images that convey mood attract heritage-loving guests far more successfully than standard “estate-agent” photos. They bring the story to life visually.
The BIID has some good tips:
👉 British Institute of Interior Designers
6. Balance Story With Practical Guidance
Guests appreciate transparency. Alongside the story, include honest notes: low beams, narrow stairs, uneven floors, or original fittings. This sets expectations while enhancing authenticity — “these features have been here for centuries.”
Clear, warm communication increases guest satisfaction and reduces misunderstandings or complaints.
7. Storytelling Attracts the Right Guests
Guests drawn to history and character treat cottages with more care. They write more thoughtful reviews, return more frequently, and cause less wear. Good storytelling doesn’t just increase bookings — it improves the quality of those bookings and protects your cottage’s heritage.
If you’d like support shaping your cottage’s story, you may find this helpful:
👉Why Heritage Cottages Choose The Grove Cottages
And if you would like to explore joining our curated collection of historic cottages, visit:
Done properly, restoration doesn’t just prepare a building — it reveals spirit, character and timeless appeal.
I hope that this article helps you understand the importance of how to tell a historic Cottages story to guests
If you’d like to talk to us about your restoration for future holiday letting plans, you’re warmly welcome to get in touch:
Mark loves to talk Cottages, so call him anytime for an informal chat.
