1/61
Alton
Smithy Bank Cottage - with free parking!
4.4About this space
This stylish cottage in a scenic setting has space for up to 9 guests with 2 double bedrooms, a bunk bedroom and a double sofa bed in the living room.
With a welcoming fully-equipped kitchen and dining area, a cosy living room with a woodburner and feel-good outdoor space Smithy Bank Cottage is ideal for family holidays and longer contractor stays.
It’s 3 minutes from Alton Towers and 22 min from the Peak District National Park with Wifi, TV and private parking for up to 3 cars!
The space
This spacious cottage in the lovely village of Alton is near a variety of popular pubs, attractions, restaurants and country walks. With three comfortable bedrooms plus a double sofa bed there’s space for up to 9 guests, making it ideal for families, groups of friends and contractors. As well as free private parking for 3 cars there’s free on-street parking.
The relaxing living room has a cosy fireplace, free Wifi, Netflix TV, board games and seating which converts into a double sofa bed – a great space to relax after a day’s adventures.
There’s a spacious dining area next to the kitchen, which is equipped with a dishwasher, fridge, freezer, microwave, oven and hob, kettle and toaster.
Two bedrooms have double beds, the third has bunk beds and there’s clothes storage and a stylish full bathroom with a spa vibe.
Outside you’ll find a patio and a relaxing seating area with a sunshade.
Guest access
Free private parking for up to 3 cars and free street parking
Outdoor patio
Pets are welcome
Long term stays are allowed
Neighbourhood
Where you’ll be
Alton, England, United Kingdom
Alton, England, United Kingdom
Country Retreat
8 Guests
3 Bedrooms
1 Bathroom
Midweek £129/nt
·
Weekend £189/nt
Cleaning included · Select dates for exact price
Minimum stay: 1 night
Check-in after 16:00 · Check-out before 10:00
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GUESTS
PETS
No extra guest fees — the price is the same for any party size up to 8 guests. Please include everyone staying; bookings cannot exceed this maximum.
Accommodation £0.00
Discount £0.00
Cleaning fee £0.00
Total £0.00
Pets welcome (max 2)
No smoking
No parties
Free cancellation up to 10 days before arrival.
Please note: a deposit or damage waiver will be required prior to arrival.
FEATURES
BED LAYOUT
Sleeps 8
3 bedrooms
4 beds
Bedroom 1
1× Double Bed
Bedroom 2
1× Double Bed
Bedroom 3
1× Bunk Bed
Living Area
1× Sofa Bed
32 verified reviews
All reviews from verified guests
10.0/10
10.0/10
Positive: We had a fantastic stay! The house was exceptionally clean, very spacious, and incredibly comfortable. Everything was well organized, and it was clear that a lot of thought and attention had been put into every detail. It truly felt like a home away from home. We especially appreciated how tidy and well-equipped the house was, making our stay relaxing and enjoyable. We would definitely love to stay here again and highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area. Thank you for such a wonderful experience! 😊
3.0/5
The house is described as a four bedroom, its 3 plus the living room. We were a party of 8 and with only one bathroom mornings were challenging. The house was clean, tidy and in good repair the only thing we noticed was a problem with ants.
10.0/10
Very happy with the cottage and location
Positive: Lovely village and great location for Alton Towers
Negative: Very comfortable
Positive: Lovely village and great location for Alton Towers
Negative: Very comfortable
5.0/5
Lovely place. A quick drive to Alton Towers (the main purpose of our visit) and not far from the Peak District. The communication was excellent and the hosts very responsive to my queries. The beds were super comfortable and the sheets smelled divine. highly recommended.
7.0/10
Positive: Parking, comfy house aa advertised
Negative: Wish they had white towels and an Electric Iron. Were the only things.
Negative: Wish they had white towels and an Electric Iron. Were the only things.
9.0/10
Comfortable and well equipped house near Alton Towers
Positive: Lovely and comfortable house in Alton. Communication with the owners was great and everything we needed was there. Was great for a stay over after a long hot day at Alton Towers
Positive: Lovely and comfortable house in Alton. Communication with the owners was great and everything we needed was there. Was great for a stay over after a long hot day at Alton Towers
10.0/10
Great fun with everything you need at your finger tips!
Positive: Had everything we needed, everything worked Great, right down to sharp knifes for cooking! Great bathroom and shower. Amazing shop next door for all needs, and two pubs with grub within 200 yards. 5 mins drive to Alton Towers, yet your staying in a beautiful English village.
Positive: Had everything we needed, everything worked Great, right down to sharp knifes for cooking! Great bathroom and shower. Amazing shop next door for all needs, and two pubs with grub within 200 yards. 5 mins drive to Alton Towers, yet your staying in a beautiful English village.
5.0/5
Comfortable spacious house in Alton village, perfectly placed for a trip to Alton Towers or just exploring the local area.
9.0/10
Great place to stay and extremely handy for Alton Towers
Positive: Handy location for Alton Towers . 5 minutes drive
Property clean and cosy.
Close to local shop.
Negative: Parking.
Positive: Handy location for Alton Towers . 5 minutes drive
Property clean and cosy.
Close to local shop.
Negative: Parking.
10.0/10
We had a great stay, perfect place if you’re going to Alton towers
Positive: The location was perfect, house was spacious and cosy. Nice garden area, log burner nice touch. Nice patio and lots of parking space.
Negative: More fire lighters would have been good.
Positive: The location was perfect, house was spacious and cosy. Nice garden area, log burner nice touch. Nice patio and lots of parking space.
Negative: More fire lighters would have been good.
5.0/5
Lovely cottage, great location for anyone visiting Alton Towers, a quick 5 minute drive and you are parked up ready to go!
5.0/5
We had an excellent stay with a family of 2 adults and 2 children. Very convenient for our trip to Alton Towers only 5 mins away. Property was clean and spacious and would return in the future and recommend. Thank you!
10.0/10
Amazing, could have easily stayed longer
Positive: Spotless, well maintained and absolutely everything you need and more
Negative: Parking
Positive: Spotless, well maintained and absolutely everything you need and more
Negative: Parking
5.0/5
Everything perfect other than the post code/ Google maps taking us to the wrong address.
5.0/5
Ideal place to stay for families. Was the perfect stop for our visit to Alton Towers. Homely and relaxing!
3.0/5
Nice well presented property let down with cheap beds and linen sofas shame
5.0/5
A truly delightful stay. This cosy 3-bedroom cottage is warm, homely, and spotlessly clean, with real character, the cosy fire a winner. Everything you need to feel comfortable instantly. The hosts were super helpful, they couldn’t do enough for us. The local shop nearby is really well-stocked.
Ideally located, with three friendly pubs just a short 3–8 minute walk away, and great food nearby. We ate at The Star at Cotton for pub grub, The Duncombe Arms for a brilliant Sunday roast (amazing), The Bridge House Restaurant (Thai), all a quick drive.
You’re 6 minutes from Alton Towers, but just as close to some truly stunning walking spots in the area, including The Stepping Stones in Ilam and the Hall. Ramblers Retreat is also nearby and perfect for scenic walks and a relaxed bite to eat. The whole area is steeped in history and natural beauty.
Perfect for walkers or theme park lovers alike, this is a sweet, cosy stay in a truly beautiful area. We had a fantastic weekend and will return!
Ideally located, with three friendly pubs just a short 3–8 minute walk away, and great food nearby. We ate at The Star at Cotton for pub grub, The Duncombe Arms for a brilliant Sunday roast (amazing), The Bridge House Restaurant (Thai), all a quick drive.
You’re 6 minutes from Alton Towers, but just as close to some truly stunning walking spots in the area, including The Stepping Stones in Ilam and the Hall. Ramblers Retreat is also nearby and perfect for scenic walks and a relaxed bite to eat. The whole area is steeped in history and natural beauty.
Perfect for walkers or theme park lovers alike, this is a sweet, cosy stay in a truly beautiful area. We had a fantastic weekend and will return!
3.0/5
The house was as described with everything for a comfortable 2 night stay. There aren’t 3 parking spaces available, the neighbours have their own designated spaces, as one of them informed us. All the neighbours were friendly and helpful. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to use the kitchen as it was covered in ants. They were also in the dining room and lounge but only on the floor. On the surface it was clean but honestly could do with a deep clean. I felt because of these things it was overpriced. However, I needed pet friendly accommodation near the Catholic youth retreat with reliable WiFi for 2 nights and it was fit for this purpose.
3.0/5
The location of this property is great - especially if visiting Alton towers! I don't think it would take much for it to be a fab property but as it stands we definitely wouldn't be back.
the double beds in this property are awful - they are very small, I slept in the bunk bed as me & my husband couldn't comfortably stay in the double. My sister and nephew slept in the other small double but as my nephew is only 4 years old sharing with him wasn't so bad as he's tiny !
the oven doesn't work - the grill and hob are fine.
there's no frying pan or cheese grater and the cups in the kitchen are mainly plastic ones (except the wine glasses)
the light bulbs in the kitchen that need replacing (mentioned in previous review) still haven't been sorted
the shower head is broken - I managed to wedge it up with a bit of cardboard but that's not really ideal ?
ants in the kitchen were a bit of a nuisance too.
Overall we just wouldn't rate it and I wouldn't say it's worth what we paid!
the double beds in this property are awful - they are very small, I slept in the bunk bed as me & my husband couldn't comfortably stay in the double. My sister and nephew slept in the other small double but as my nephew is only 4 years old sharing with him wasn't so bad as he's tiny !
the oven doesn't work - the grill and hob are fine.
there's no frying pan or cheese grater and the cups in the kitchen are mainly plastic ones (except the wine glasses)
the light bulbs in the kitchen that need replacing (mentioned in previous review) still haven't been sorted
the shower head is broken - I managed to wedge it up with a bit of cardboard but that's not really ideal ?
ants in the kitchen were a bit of a nuisance too.
Overall we just wouldn't rate it and I wouldn't say it's worth what we paid!
5.0/5
Lovely wee spot to stay! perfect for families.
4.0/5
A nice and comfortable accomodation in a good location to Alton Towers.
4.0/5
We had a lovely stay for a couple of nights whilst visiting Alton towers and the surrounding area.
There were a few little issues like the bath leaking but the shower was fine. We reported a few minor things and hopefully they'll be fixed. fyi you can only park 1 car outside but not an issue as only came in 1 car.
It was nice and warm with comfy beds and cosy living room. Nice and quiet and waking distance to 3 pubs and shop right next door. Only 3 does food... the Talbot was great food and the bulls head does food but important to book. We managed to get a delivery from just eat as well.
A lovely stay. Thanks!
There were a few little issues like the bath leaking but the shower was fine. We reported a few minor things and hopefully they'll be fixed. fyi you can only park 1 car outside but not an issue as only came in 1 car.
It was nice and warm with comfy beds and cosy living room. Nice and quiet and waking distance to 3 pubs and shop right next door. Only 3 does food... the Talbot was great food and the bulls head does food but important to book. We managed to get a delivery from just eat as well.
A lovely stay. Thanks!
4.0/5
The cottage was very nice and cosy. It was clean and fit for purpose. As a negative it had Ants in ghe kitchen and the mattress es ciuld be more firm.
5.0/5
Absolutely amazing. 5 Stars. Great Location. We stayed here with 2 adults and 3 teenagers and plenty of space. Super Cosy Cottage. Felt like home for the 2 nights!
2.0/5
While the location is great, the listing was significantly misrepresented. The original exterior photo used for our booking was an AI-edited image showing walls and lights that don't exist; the host has since updated this photo to reflect the actual property following our complaint. The interior photos also appear digitally altered to show a different layout/kitchen which are still showing inaccurate.
We booked 'Double Beds' but received 'Small Doubles' (measured), which are tight for couples. The '3-car parking' is impossible because the driveway is actively used by locals/neighbors, leaving no room for the advertised number of vehicles. We also found mould in the bathroom. We had to involve Airbnb Senior Management to resolve these discrepancies. Potential guests should verify current photos and bed sizes before booking.
We booked 'Double Beds' but received 'Small Doubles' (measured), which are tight for couples. The '3-car parking' is impossible because the driveway is actively used by locals/neighbors, leaving no room for the advertised number of vehicles. We also found mould in the bathroom. We had to involve Airbnb Senior Management to resolve these discrepancies. Potential guests should verify current photos and bed sizes before booking.
5.0/5
A great stay. Thankyou :)
4.0/5
Very convenient for Alton towers! Quite basic furnishings and a couple of maintenance issues we hope will be fixed for the next guests, but overall very happy
4.0/5
Great place to stay, local to Alton Towers. Lovely space, would stay again!
5.0/5
Booked for two employees who are working in the area. They said the house was spot on and felt comfortable here. They would recommend to anyone needing to stay in the area :)
4.0/5
It’s was a fabulous little cottage for our 1 night stay. The only noticeable things that stood out was that 2 of the bulbs in the kitchen light didn’t work. 1 lamp in the lounge couldn’t not be plugged unless moved to an alternative spot. However we were very happy and comfortable at the accommodation. This is a fantastic place to stay when visiting Alton Towers. The Bulls Head pub is just yards from the accommodation and being allowed to drop our bags off half an hour early so we could nip to the pub was very kind of the host. Would highly recommend.
What’s nearby
Hand-picked local spots around Smithy Bank Cottage - with free parking! — tap a pin for details.
Explore the area around Smithy Bank Cottage - with free parking!
Alton and the surrounding Staffordshire countryside provide a fantastic base for exploring thrilling adventures and peaceful escapes. Just minutes from Smithy Bank Cottage, world-class excitement awaits at Alton Towers Resort, while a short drive takes you to the historic Churnet Valley Railway. Enjoy local dining options or venture further afield – Uttoxeter offers convenient amenities nearby.
Sam’s local picks
Just wanted to share a few of my favourite local spots! Dimmingsdale is absolutely gorgeous for a walk – only 1.2 miles away and perfect for stretching your legs, while JCB World (3.1 miles) is brilliant if you’re into engineering or have little ones with you. For something a bit different, Peak Wildlife Park is about 6.9 miles out and has loads of animals; plus all three have free parking which is always a bonus!
Dimmingsdale
spectacular scenery, haven for wildlife and ramblers with scenic cycle paths and the award-winning Ramblers Retreat tearoom, five mts
JCB World
factory tour and museum celebrating the world famous diggers plus waterfowl lakes, 8 mts
Peak Wildlife Park
walkthroughs for close encounters, alpacas, meerkats, giant rabbits! 13 mts
Peak Wildlife Park lets you get close to exotic animals, including big cats and primates.
Photo by Peak Wildlife Park
Uttoxeter Racecourse, 17 mts
Uttoxeter Station connects you to rail services across the Midlands.
Photo by Ivan Brosnan
Trentham Gardens
award-winning gardens, shopping village, fairies! 33 mts, 14.9 miles. Trentham Monkey Forest, where you can walk among the monkeys, is a 5-min drive.
Thor's Cave
Stone Age Airb&b, natural cavern with stunning views, 28 mts, 13.8 miles. Nearby is the Neolithic burial site Long Row
Thor's Cave features a dramatic natural cave with panoramic views from its hilltop location.
Photo by kevin mills
Thor’s Cave
Stone Age Airb&b, natural cavern with stunning views, 28 mts, 13.8 miles. Nearby is the Neolithic burial site Long Row
Where to eat & drink
Guests staying here will find convenient options for food and drink close by; Ramblers Retreat, approximately 0.9 miles away, is perfect for coffee and homemade cakes. For a more substantial meal, The Wayfarer, around a 35-minute drive from the property, serves refined British cuisine.
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Ramblers Retreat Ramblers Retreat offers a cosy spot for coffee and delicious homemade cakes. Photo by Dani Jones -
The Wayfarer The Wayfarer serves refined British cuisine in a charming village gastropub setting. Photo by The Wayfarer -
The Lazy Trout The Lazy Trout is known for its riverside location and traditional pub fare. Photo by Paul Gascoyne
Things to do
Guests staying here are perfectly positioned for a range of activities, with Alton Towers just 0.7 miles away offering exhilarating rides. For water-based fun, Alton Towers Waterpark is a short drive of approximately 5 minutes at 0.9 miles. A slightly further journey of around 10 minutes (4.3 miles) brings you to Churnet Valley Railway for scenic steam train experiences.
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Alton Towers Alton Towers thrills with iconic rollercoasters like Nemesis and Wicker Man. Photo by Sergio Gutiérrez -
Alton Towers Waterpark Alton Towers Waterpark offers exhilarating slides and family-friendly water fun. Photo by michael seng -
Churnet Valley Railway (Kingsley and Froghall Station) Churnet Valley Railway provides scenic steam train rides through the Staffordshire countryside. Photo by Churnet Valley Railway - (Kingsley and Froghall,Station) -
National Trust - Ilam Park Ilam Park boasts picturesque riverside walks and stunning views of Bunbury Hall. Photo by Jane -
National Trust - The Children's Country House at Sudbury The Children’s Country House at Sudbury recreates Victorian family life for immersive learning. Photo by Ainsley S -
Galactica Galactica is a unique, flying rollercoaster offering intense twists and turns. Photo by Jarekthroughthelens -
CBeebies Land Hotel CBeebies Land Hotel immerses young children in the world of their favourite TV shows. Photo by Stacey Bell -
Carsington Water Visitor Centre Carsington Water Visitor Centre provides watersports, birdwatching, and scenic cycling trails. Photo by Carsington Water Visitor Centre
Getting there & essentials
Guests staying here benefit from free on-site parking, and can reach Uttoxeter train station in around 15 minutes by car; a Tesco Superstore is also approximately 15 minutes’ drive away.
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Tesco Superstore Tesco Superstore provides convenient grocery shopping with a wide range of products. Photo by Vonkie (Vonkie) -
Well Pharmacy Branch of the Well pharmacy chain on Enterprise Way, Stoke-on-Trent, for prescriptions and everyday medicines. Photo by Well Pharmacy
Travel Fox Guides
Things to do in Alton Towers
Local attractions, walks, family days out and insider tips for your stay.
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Negative: Shower cubicle on the small side. Had to turn shower off now and again to let water drain away as basin filled up quickly.