When people first discover English Cottage Vacation, one of the questions we’re often asked is: “Do we really need a private chauffeur?”
The answer isn’t simply about not having to drive.
It’s about everything that comes with it.
Imagine arriving in England and never having to worry about hiring a car, driving on unfamiliar roads, finding parking, navigating country lanes or working out where to go next.
Instead, every morning you simply enjoy a leisurely breakfast while Nathan prepares the vehicle for the day ahead.
Throughout your stay, he’s much more than your private chauffeur. He’s your guide, local expert, photographer, concierge, problem solver and often the person who knows exactly where to stop for the most spectacular view that isn’t in any guidebook.
Fancy stopping because you’ve spotted a beautiful thatched cottage? No problem.
See a field full of newborn lambs? We’ll pull over.
Found the perfect country pub? Let’s stay a little longer.
Want to change the plan halfway through the day? That’s absolutely fine.
There’s no rushing back to a hire car before the parking expires, no worrying about who will drive after enjoying a glass of wine with lunch, and no stress navigating busy city centres like Bath or Oxford. Having a dedicated private chauffeur magically takes all the stress out of your vacation.
Perhaps one of the greatest luxuries of all is simply looking out of the window.
Instead of concentrating on the road, you can admire rolling hills, ancient villages, castle ruins and spectacular countryside together, chatting about England as you travel.
It’s often these journeys between destinations that become some of our guests’ favourite memories.
For us, luxury isn’t about limousines or red carpets.
It’s about removing the stress, adding flexibility, and giving you the freedom to simply enjoy England.
And that’s exactly what Nathan helps make possible every single day.
English Cottage Vacation host and private chauffeur Nathan with guests on the Jurassic Coast
But don’t take it from us! Here’s just a tiny selection of the scores and scores of 5 star reviews mentioning Nathan’s unrivalled private chauffeur service:
“Just the right amount of touring. Nathan, you are a great driver, guide and host… Thank you for making my 70th birthday trip beautiful memory I will treasure always.” – Sharron
“Imagine that you are wealthy enough to have your own chauffeur to take you anywhere you would like to go… Nathan was waiting for us when we came out of security at Heathrow airport. He drove us to Well Cottage and had a picnic lunch, with champagne on the way. We could have stopped at Stonehenge on the way…
“Each day Nathan took us on a trip to a place we wanted to visit: Highclere Castle where Downton Abbey is filmed, Wells with a professionally guided tour of the city and cathedral, Jurassic Coast (Nathan dropped us off on the coastal trail and picked us up at the end of our walk in Lulworth), Corfe Castle and a ride on a train pulled by the historic and famous Flying Scotsman steam engine.
“Each day was a relaxing day: we woke up and had breakfast at our time, Nathan took us out on that day’s trip (our choice of the trip from many suggestions from Nathan and Laura), picnic lunch during the day, return in mid to late afternoon to a light snack and a drink of our choice, a chance to relax, then the dinner that we had selected from the many options offered by Laura…
“On the last day Nathan drove us to Heathrow airport. Near the end of this vacation we decided this was so wonderful that we signed up for another vacation at Well Cottage” – tmaier69
“Nathan is a knowledgeable, thoughtful tour guide who loves where he lives and enjoys sharing it with others.” – June K
“Nathan’s skills as a guide are very good. I’d been to two of the towns before and learned so much more than my first trip. It was a trip that will be hard to beat!” – Donna D
“Nathan, our host and guide, has an amazing knack for avoiding the crowds. We visited popular destinations like Corfe Castle, Durdle Door, and the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Museum, yet it never felt hectic or rushed. Every day’s itinerary was thoughtfully planned, balancing big sights with quiet corners.
“A highlight for me was the Castletown D-Day Centre—an interactive, hands-on WWII museum where I got to sit in a jeep, hold a rifle, and even operate an anti-aircraft gun. It was both moving and fun… If you’re looking for a luxurious, personalized, and utterly unique English countryside experience—without needing to dress up or drive yourself around—this is it. We felt pampered, relaxed, and completely taken care of. Already dreaming of our next visit!” – LarDFW
“Everything is provided. I was picked up, driven to Well Cottage, taken care of all week, and dropped off at the end of my stay. ‘Taken care of’ meant fabulous food, being driven on great tour days, comfortable accommodations, a gorgeous setting, and a completely worry-free vacation. What could be better? There was plenty of opportunity to walk as well as be driven (important to me), and plenty of time to relax as well. A great balance.” – Soulesa
“Nathan toured us around the countryside and made special accommodations for the less mobile folks… We will be talking about this trip for the rest of our lives.” – Katy
“Our first impression was the charm and welcoming smile of Nathan when he arrived in London to collect us at the hotel. Nathan immediately went into tour advisor mode and narrated the points of interest that London is known for.
“We loved hearing Nathan’s depiction of the beautiful countryside, and his excitement to show us a new area to explore each day, from the quaint hamlet he and Laura live in, to the villages, towns and cities that have their own charm and uniqueness. When Nathan isn’t driving, he puts on a few more hats—waiter, bartender, gardener, etc., and occasionally shows his skills at unique napkin folding designs.” – Tony and Donna N
“The VIP sunset inner circle tour of Stonehenge is a once in a lifetime experience. From small country lanes to Motorways, Nathan navigated us each day with precision as we were provided ample opportunities to explore independently and join in guided tours each day.” – Kathy and Jerry K
“Nathan picked us up at Heathrow and drove us to the cottage, which was about a two-hour drive. It was a great way to get an introduction to the area… All of our daily trips were fun and interesting. My wife and I enjoy walking and working out and each of the locations we saw allowed us to get plenty of steps in seeing the sights each day.
“The evening before each trip, Nathan would give us a summary of what we’d be doing the next day and give us background information about the location. Then he would continue to give us information as he was driving us to that day’s locations. Nathan’s vehicle was the most comfortable one in which I’d ever travelled. In addition to Nathan, there were five adults in the van and we had more than adequate space. The van would have held at least two more adults comfortably. He’s also a great driver so we could sit back and relax on our daily trips.
“We’d arrive at our morning location and would have an hour or two to walk around the area and/or do a tour of a particular castle, building or specific area. Nathan would let us know where we’d meet him mid-day. When it would get to be lunchtime, Nathan would find an area outdoors for us to eat. He’d set up and table and chairs and we’d have a lunch that Laura had prepared for us including snacks and drinks. He was obviously very familiar with each of the locations we were touring and the areas he’d find for us to have lunch were really relaxing and comfortable.
“After lunch we’d be on to our next location to visit for the day. After we toured what was on the schedule for the afternoon, Nathan would drive us back to the cottage and we’d have a couple of hours to relax, have a drink and snacks before dinner was served… Then the next day, we’d do go on another excursion and do it all over again… Our only disappointment was that we had to leave after a week. I would have been fine doing another week of daily excursions!” – Dan Satriana
“From the time Nathan picks you up at the airport until he drops you off again, you are expected to do nothing but relax, sightsee and eat…
“Nathan has an abundance of knowledge pertaining specifically to the excursion of the day…lots of tidbits you would not hear from a tour guide. He is very patient and drives with great care.
“There really aren’t enough words to describe the experience of this all inclusive vacation.” – Kathy B
Guests enjoying one of Laura’s famous picnics in the people carrier with private chauffeur Nathan
