Start With the Sleeping Arrangements

Before you fall for the sea view in the photographs, work out who sleeps where. Cottage listings often advertise a “sleeps eight” that relies on a sofa bed in the lounge and a bunk squeezed into a box room — fine for a group of friends, miserable for a family with a toddler who needs a dark, quiet room by seven o’clock.

Ask the owner for a floor plan or a photo of every bedroom. It is a perfectly reasonable request. Then check the following:

• Bed sizes. A small double is four foot wide and will not comfortably take two adults. Bunk beds are brilliant for children, but confirm the top bunk has a guard rail.
• Travel cots. Many cottages list one, so confirm it is actually provided, is not stored damp in a shed, and that there is floor space to put it up beside your bed.
• Bedroom layout. Younger children usually want to be within earshot; teenagers very much do not. Bedrooms at opposite ends of the building can save a holiday.
• Bathrooms. One bathroom for six people means a queue at half past seven. A ground-floor loo is worth its weight in gold.
• Blackout. Coastal cottages often have huge windows and thin curtains. In July that means sunrise at half four, so ask whether blackout blinds are fitted.

Safety Checks Worth Making Before You Book

Older coastal cottages are full of character, and character often means steep stairs, low beams and a garden that ends in a drop. None of that should put you off — but it is far better to ask now than to discover it on arrival with a toddler on your hip.

• Stair gates. Ask whether they are fitted at the top and bottom, and whether they are pressure-fit or screw-fit. A pressure gate on an uneven stone staircase is not much use.
• Water. Ponds, streams, wells, water butts and hot tubs all need thought. Hot tubs are generally unsuitable for children under five.
• Heights. Balconies, mezzanine floors and low-silled windows that open wide deserve a specific question.
• Heat. Wood burners and open fires should have guards — ask if they are provided.
• Roads and parking. A quiet-looking lane can also be a rat run. Check whether parking is off-road, how many cars it takes, and whether you must cross a road to reach the beach path.

Location: More Than a Sea View

“Five minutes from the beach” can mean five minutes on the flat, five minutes by car, or a steep scramble down a cliff path with a buggy and a cool bag. Pin this down before you commit, because location shapes the whole rhythm of the week.

• The beach itself. Sand or shingle? Shingle is hard work with a pushchair. Is there lifeguard cover in the summer months, and does the beach shrink at high tide?
• The walk. Ask about steps, stiles and gates — and whether the path is lit for evening strolls.
• Everyday essentials. Nearest shop, bakery, pharmacy, cashpoint and playground. If you are self-catering, how far is a decent supermarket?
• Wet-weather options. A swimming pool, museum, cinema or soft play centre within half an hour can rescue a rainy Tuesday.
• Eating out. A pub with a garden and a sensible children’s menu within walking distance is a genuine holiday luxury.

Outdoor Space That Actually Works

For families, a garden is not a bonus — it is somewhere to burn off the last hour of energy before bath time, and somewhere you can sit with a mug of tea while they do it.

• A boundary that works. An enclosed garden with a gate that latches is the gold standard. Ask what the boundary actually is: a wall, a hedge, a fence, or a hopeful line of lavender.
• A lawn. Space for a football or a kite makes a real difference on a long summer evening.
• Wetsuit space. A rotary dryer or outdoor rack for damp suits and towels is genuinely important on the coast.
• An outdoor tap or hose. Essential for sandy feet, muddy wellies and dogs.
• Storage and shade. Somewhere dry for bodyboards and buckets, plus a table that seats everyone and a bit of shade for the smallest members of the family.

Inside the Cottage: Kitchens, Laundry and Rainy Days

The coast is glorious, but it also rains. A cottage that works well on a wet afternoon is worth more than one with a prettier view.

• Laundry. A washing machine is close to essential with young children, and a tumble dryer is a bonus in a damp coastal climate.
• Kitchen kit. Check the fridge and freezer size and whether there is a dishwasher. An under-counter fridge for a family of five in August is a test of character.
• Equipment for little ones. Highchair with a harness, step stools, plastic plates and cups if you would rather travel light.
• Wet afternoons. Board games, books, a decent television and honest WiFi. “Superfast” means different things in different villages, so ask.
• Costs and comfort. Ask whether heating, electricity and logs are included. A boot room or utility for wet coats and sandy shoes keeps the rest of the cottage pleasant.

Reading Reviews and Asking the Right Questions

Reviews are your best unpaid research. Read the last twelve months rather than the top handful, and look for patterns rather than one-off grumbles. “Our three-year-old loved the garden” tells you more than a general five stars. A three-star review often contains the most useful detail: road noise, a firm mattress, a shower that runs cold. Check how the owner replies, too — a calm, helpful response to criticism is a good sign.

Then ask directly: “We have a two-year-old and a five-year-old. Is the garden secure, and are stair gates fitted?” A clear answer within a day is worth a great deal. Confirm what is included — linen, towels, cleaning, heating — along with arrival times, changeover days, deposit and cancellation terms.

Do that groundwork and you will arrive to a cottage that fits your family rather than one you have to spend the first evening adapting to. The best seaside holidays are the ones where the practicalities quietly take care of themselves, leaving you free to get the buckets and spades out.