Houses to rent for 20 people: an organiser’s practical guide

Start with a firm head count

Before you compare houses, agree who is definitely coming, who might join and whether anyone is bringing a baby or a dog. Book for the number staying overnight: day visitors and extra guests need our written agreement in advance.

• The Pictureworks: sleeps 22, 7 bedrooms, up to 21 individual beds, 5.5 bathrooms
• Upton Bourn Lodge: sleeps 23, 6 bedrooms, up to 22 individual beds, 5.5 bathrooms
• Vedalworks: sleeps 24, 7 bedrooms, up to 24 individual beds, 6 bathrooms

These three Little Upton houses in Long Sutton, near Langport, take 20 or more guests. For a slightly smaller group, The Threshing Barn sleeps 18 across three stone barns.

Guests are not the same as beds

“Sleeps 22” tells you how many guests a house takes. It does not tell you how many people can sleep in their own bed. At Little Upton we quote both: the guest number, and the maximum number of individual beds when rooms are set up as singles. Some rooms can be made up as super-kings for couples, which reduces the bed count but not the number of guests the house sleeps.

If your group includes friends who would rather not share, count them first. Then check the bed count for each house before you book, and tell us how you want the rooms made up.

Count the bathrooms, not just the bedrooms

Twenty people getting ready for one dinner is where a house is really tested. Look at the number of bathrooms and how they are arranged: ensuites, shared bathrooms and any downstairs wet room. Vedalworks has six bathrooms across seven bedrooms, including a ground-floor wet room; The Pictureworks and Upton Bourn Lodge each have 5.5.

Make sure everyone fits at one table

A big group weekend usually centres on one long meal. Check that the house has a dining table for your whole group, not just enough sofas. Each of our houses has dining space for the group it sleeps, and Vedalworks also has an outdoor table and outdoor kitchen for warmer evenings.

Plan the food early

Cooking for 20 is a job in itself. Decide which meals you will cook together and which you would rather hand over. Our local suppliers include private chefs and caterers, booked and paid directly with the supplier. Agree dietary needs, timings and cancellation terms before the weekend, and let us know who is visiting the house.

Check what is private and what is seasonal

Every Little Upton house has its own hot tub and sauna. The Pictureworks, Upton Bourn Lodge and Vedalworks also have their own heated outdoor pools, open seasonally rather than all year. Check the pool dates for your stay on each house page before you promise a swim to the group.

Agree the house rules with the group

Share the rules before anyone arrives, so nobody is surprised. Music and celebrating are welcome inside after 10pm; outdoor quiet hours run from 10pm to 8am, and hot tubs close at 10pm. Unauthorised parties and extra visitors are not allowed. The lead guest must be at least 28 unless agreed in advance. If you have event plans, tell us before booking.

Getting 20 people to Somerset

Approximately 2.5 hours from London by car, depending on your starting point and traffic. Check your route for your travel dates.

The nearest railway stations are Yeovil Junction (about 25 minutes by car), Castle Cary (about 20 minutes) and Taunton (about 30 minutes).

Car-share where you can and book station taxis in advance, as large groups can be hard to collect at short notice. Check-in is from 4pm and check-out is by 10am.

Book direct with a live price

Choose your dates and exact guest number on any house page to see live availability and the full accommodation price, including cleaning. Each house is booked separately. Catering, treatments, activities and agreed early check-in or late check-out are paid extras.