Topcliffe

Reviewed by Iain 22nd March 2026

Basic but beautiful, great location.

Reviewed by Thomas 8th March 2026

Reviewed by Sarah 25th January 2026

Top life is a lovely cottage. Perfect location right on the coast and ideal for a family with dogs. This was my second visit in 6 months and the decor is looking tired as is the lounge furniture and for a cottage this price this should not be the case. We also had an issue with all the fire alarms going off twice and wasted one day waiting in for tRead morehe electrician. Which makes me feel that maybe a small refund for the disturbance and wasted day should be offered. Hide

Reviewed by Neil 14th January 2026

I'm so glad I didn't bother to read any previous reviews before booking, because when I checked them later I found a lot of unnecessary negativity. I'll therefore concentrate on the main points and get to the minor quibbles later. First of all, the location is superb. The cottage has a completely unobstructed view of the sea (notwithstanding pasRead moresing traffic), is only a half mile walk from The Craster Arms one way, and the glorious sands of Beadnell Bay the other way. You can drive to Seahouses in 5 minutes and Bamburgh in about 10. Topcliffe has enough room for everyone. While sleeping 5 adults, there's seating in the lounge for 6 (maybe 7 if you squeeze in) which is crucial for a seaside holiday in Britain. You can't spend ALL day on the beach. Also the kitchen/dining area is easily big enough for self-catering. It's super to have an enclosed back garden too. We didn't get much use of it in January, but it would be a boon on a summer evening. The house has all the equipment and appliances you could reasonably expect, and the central heating was more than equal to the very chilly January days when we visited. The log burner is nice to have, but it's great that you don't have to rely on it. As others have said, there are lots of tiny snags: old screw holes where the tv used to be, some cracks and scuffs in the paintwork, a wonky shelf over the sink, a wobbly loo roll holder and a fiddly latch on the side gate. These little things make virtually no difference to the suitability of Topliffe as a seaside holiday cottage and, whilst it'd be even more attractive if it had a quick refurb and a lick of paint, you shouldn't let irrelevant details put you off an otherwise good quality accommodation. Hide

Reviewed by Jessica 28th December 2025

Perfect for 5 people and a dog! Beds were huge and comfy and the shower was ace! Kitchen was very well equipped and had lovely little touches with starter packs and a few extras

Reviewed by Karen 7th December 2025

Reviewed by Rosina 6th July 2025

Decor a bit tired in places but overall a lovely cottage, perfect location, my 12 month old pup enjoyed his daily walks on the beach. Amazing having views of the sea from all front facing rooms. Liked the secure garden perfect for Freddie to play in. Appreciated the welcome tray when we arrived after a 10 hour journey. Kitchen has everything you coRead moreuld possibly need and the bed was really comfy. Had a lovely stay at Topcliff, if it wasnt so far away we would definitely stay again. The weather wasnt too great when we were there but location of the property to the beach and sea more than makes up for things. Hide

Reviewed by Christine 25th May 2025

Would not stay here again. House was shabby and needed updating. Garden was a mess. Zip link bed had a big dip/hole in mattress. The house needs a severe update.

Reviewed by Ruby 23rd February 2025

I was a little worried after reading earlier reviews of this property but I need not have worried as it was lovely. It was clean and spacious for a family of 4, well equipped modern kitchen and lovely and warm. Excellent location in front of the sea and great for exploring Bamburgh, Alnwick and the surrounding areas. The welcome tray was helpful toRead moreo as we forgot milk on our arrival and the general store seems to be closed at the moment. Having two bathrooms was helpful and the bedrooms were clean and comfortable with plenty of storage. Overall we had a lovely stay and stay there again. Hide

Reviewed by Alison 17th February 2025

Excellent location but property will benefit from upgrading to ensure it is a comfortable holiday cottage

Reviewed by Graham 29th September 2024

We stayed here 3 years ago and it was a nice, comfortable cottage so used it again. However we wish the latest reviews had been available when we booked this time. There are damp patches on the front and side walls with the main front bedroom being the worse - the room constantly smelt damp and any clothes left in the room picked up the same damp sRead moremell. In our opinion this needs sorting quickly as it is uncomfortable to stay in and does not justify the price we paid. The mattress and broken blind remain as per previous reviews. Unfortunately the condition of the property spoiled what was otherwise an enjoyable week. Hide

Reviewed by Val 19th September 2024

Reviewed by Sarah Elizabeth 8th September 2024

Lovely cottage in a great location, but walls need replastering and repainting.

Reviewed by Julia 1st September 2024

Topcliffe is positioned in a fantastic location on the coast at Beadnell. The kitchen is well appointed and the living room comfortable. It is a good location from which to explore north Northumberland. We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday here, there is lots to do and see in the local area and plenty of sea air.

Reviewed by Elizabeth 4th August 2024

Beautiful location did lots of walking along the amazing coastline.

Reviewed by Eleanor 21st July 2024

The best aspect of this property is its location: a sea view, close the shop and local pub and restaurant. Location cannot be faulted and we have had a very nice 2w stay in Northumberland using this place as a base for daily excursions. We saw puffins, pod of dolphins, visited historical sites, had great walks and even had a few really nice beach dRead moreays. However, I sadly cannot recommend the cottage nor the service we have received. The property appeared to us a little run down with stains on walls present in most rooms and blistering wallpaper in others. There were initially problems with the boiler which got fixed during our stay, but there were also broken blinds which meant that it was difficult to get a good night sleep with sunrise being early in Summer. The latter wasn't fixed and after a few attempts to bring to agency attention, I gave up. The labelling around the house and the manuals for the property have not been reviewed for some time. I am really saddened having to write this as the property has an amazing potential as a holiday let and I wish well to tourism business in this area as it's a very remarkable place having something to offer for almost everyone. There's nothing original nor cottage about this Original Cottage offering. Topcliffe was a semidetached house that clearly has seen better days. I think particularly tourists from outside of the UK may find it very disappointing but perhaps its symptomatic of how unaffordable housing and house maintenance has become in the UK. For comparison, within the last 4 years, I visited Northumberland staying Youth Hostel Association and considering the price tag had a much better experience and received a far more caring service. This is what I would still recommend though I appreciate it may not be appropriate for every family. Hide

Reviewed by Melanie 8th July 2024

We first stayed here in 2017, when the property had recently been refurbished and was in excellent condition. We have visited twice more prior to this visit. We were therefore shocked and disappointed to find the property does not seem to have been redecorated since then, and displays signs of wear and tear through out.We are sorry to say that we Read morecould not recommend the property in this condition, and would seek reassurance that remedial work had been completed before considering booking again. Although the house location is excellent we are seeking alternative accommodation. Hide

Reviewed by Heather 9th June 2024

The house is in an amazing village and location right opposite the beach. The kitchen is well equipped and has a lovely seating area where you can watch the sea which eating your breakfast. The beds and blinds need some upgrades as they were uncomfortable and or broken. Welcome book was also out of date and incorrect.