Entire home

The French House Cottage

Cottage with kitchen, a short walk to Riverwalk

Photo gallery for The French House Cottage

Room
Dining
Interior
Exterior detail
Exterior

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Internet access
  • Air-conditioning
  • Washing machine
  • Refrigerator
  • Onsite parking available
  • Bathtub

Explore the area

View map
Wilmington, NC
  • Place, Bellamy Mansion Museum
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Place, Riverwalk
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Airport, Wilmington, NC (ILM-Wilmington Intl.)
    ‪7 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area

About this property

The French House Cottage

Historic cottage circa 1850. Originally was the kitchen of the french house bed and breakfast. 2 bedroom home with full bath. Claw foot tub that also has overhead shower. Full kitchen. A front porch with swing is great for late afternoon relaxing. Wireless internet,cable tv.
A favorite of film actors & writers. 4 blocks from cape fear river, located in the heart of the historic district. Walking distance to all the great restaurants and bars, antique shops and a beautiful stroll on the river walk.

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House Rules

Check in after 3:30 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No Unauthorized guests, must check in with owner before bringing more than guest count that is listed on reservation. We kindly appreciate this.
Children under age of 6 no charge. * no parties, or cook outs.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 762403vb
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Wilmington

Located in Wilmington Historic District, a neighbourhood in Wilmington, this cottage is near theme parks and by the sea. Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Children's Museum of Wilmington and Cape Fear Museum. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College or Legion Stadium. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking, power boating and sailing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling.
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Map
Wilmington, NC

Getting around

  • Wilmington, NC (ILM-Wilmington Intl.) - 11 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Hidden Grounds Coffee - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Slice of Life - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Savorez - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪The Fork 'N' Cork - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Tavern Law - ‬6 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is The French House Cottage pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at The French House Cottage?

As of 10 October 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The French House Cottage on 27 October 2026 start from NZ$1,196, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

What time is check-in at The French House Cottage?

Check-in begins at 3:30 PM.

What time is check-out at The French House Cottage?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The French House Cottage located?

Located in Wilmington Historic District, this cottage is within a 10-minute walk of Bellamy Mansion Museum and Riverwalk. Latimer House and Burgwin-Wright House are also within 5 minutes.

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 30 out of 35 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 35 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 35 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 35 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 35 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

French House vacay

We ended up staying at the French house due to renovations on this cottage property. Same owners who were absolutely lovely hosts. Beautiful accommodations, close to downtown and Riverfront. A wonderful girls trip. Thank you Janice and Portia
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Place Great Host

Perfectly suited to our family of 4. (5yo + NB). Close to downtown on a perfectly shaded and nestled street away from noise, but walking distance to all of downtown. The hosts made sure we had everything we needed and were a pleasure to deal with . We will be renting the French Cottage again for SURE. Highly recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful home in such great location!

This was a perfect home for a weekend getaway! We loved the history and story that this home told and the hosts were incredibly kind all weekend long, providing great insights and tips of things to see and do! We definitely will be staying here again in the future.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing experience of warmth and charm!

The French House is a beautifully appointed and charming cottage. Owners Portia and Janice are delightfully welcoming, continually attentive, and generous souls, who exude warmth and kindness. The property, along with its owners, exceeded my expectations. Truly, all who have the honor of meeting them, and staying within the walls of the French House, are blessed.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent stay

Beautiful cottage in the historic district of Wilmington nc. Everything within walking distance, and a short drive to Wrightsville beach. Portia could not have been more helpful with recommendations of attractions and eateries. Wonderful stay, enjoyed it.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place to stay and a great location in the best part of town.

The house was cute, clean, safe, everything worked, and it was in a great part of town. The managers of the property were very attentive, friendly and ensured a great experience. We would definitely stay here again on our next trip.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2019
Verified review

8/10 Good

Quaint & charming

The French Cottage was an ideal rental for 2 people. The bedrooms had comfortable, firm beds, the small kitchen was well appointed, and the location couldn’t have been beat! I agree with other reviewers that the shower would be tricky for tall individuals as the ceiling in the restroom slopes and is at its shortest directly above the shower. If we ever return to Wilmington, we would definitely stay here again. Thank you, Portia & Janice!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Wonderful, quaint, rustic, near historic riverwalk

The cottage is very much as it appears in the photos-- a quaint, historic cottage. Not a right angle or a level surface in the place, and that is absolutely part of its charm. Bed was very comfortable, nice linens, lots of historic touches here and there. The neighborhood is lively and nice, and only about 5 mins from the riverwalk. Our host, Janice, went way out of her way to make us feel welcome and help us find local restaurants and a venue for New Year's Eve. Highly recommended!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Amazing cozy cottage

Really loved our stay at this amazing cozy cottage. Great location, so well cared for and very comfortable.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2018
Verified review

8/10 Good

Cozy French House

Surprised my wife with a stay in this cozy, little cottage. She absolutely loved it. I believe she noted in the guest book that it was something right out of Pintrest. Portia was a great host, never got to meet her, but we communicated via text and she let us know about different restaurants and events going on in the historical area. Hope to stay there again in future visits. David & Renee
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Small quaint cottage walking distance to downtown

Overall really enjoyed my stay here. I rented this for my wedding - my maid of honor and myself stayed here the night before the wedding and my new husband and I stayed my wedding night. Management was nice enough to let me place my wedding cupcakes and flowers inside the house before it had been cleaned for our check-in, which was much appreciated. The only thing I would say is to be aware that this is an old and tiny house. For instance, I am 5 ft 1 in tall and the shower head was maybe an inch above my head. I wouldn't want to shower there if I were a regular sized person. I also would have liked more communication in terms of specific check out instructions (bedding, trash, etc) as I like to follow the rules and couldn't find them in my VRBO info or anywhere in the house. Overall very happy with my stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Great historic cottage/relaxing time...

This was a great little cottage in the historic district, close to all downtown venues, relaxing quiet neighborhood. We had a great time. Thanks so much to the wonderful owners.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Unique Experience

Everything was very clean and uniquely decorated. I loved the easy access to all the historical sites. Janet was very accommodating and helpful. We had access to the washer and dryer in the next door property.
Stayed 11 nights in Oct 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Quintessential cottage! Everything was perfect from soup to nuts. Loved this place. Will return!

Scale of 1-10: 100
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Perfect location!

We enjoyed leisurely walks aling the river, visiting great shops, many restaurant choices and an historic home tour. We’ll be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Perfect location, nice amenities, very accommodating owner :)

Would stay again! Quaint, quiet, and quintessential cottage.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

We loved this little cottage! We stayed for our 25th anniversary and would go back again.

We stayed at the French House Cottage for our 25th anniversary. It was a wonderful long weekend. The owners put in the extra effort to make us feel welcome. Coffee, bagels, fresh fruit and water in the frig were just a few of the things that they provided for our stay. The house was as advertised. I appreciate that the pictures and description online were exactly what we found. We walked to the riverfront for exploring and dinner one night. The next day we were within a 20 min ride to Wrightsville Beach where we spent the day. Coming back to the cottage after a day at the beach was a luxury. It was much nicer than any hotel room we could have rented and I loved it was private. Parking wasn't a problem as we had access to the drive beside the house. My favorite memory was sitting on the porch with my husband in the evening and hearing the horse drawn carriage tour come down Dock St. It made us feel like we were taken back a few hundred years. We would definitely recommend it for a romantic get-away. It would also be great for a ladies' weekend or a quiet place to stay for conferences, work etc. Unfortunately if you want a family get away you may want a larger home. It sleeps 4 but it is a small dwelling. The kitchen is functional however tiny and cooking in it is difficult. To say that though doesn't prevent us from wanting to return.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2018
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Overnight stay at the French House Cottage

While the French House Cottage looked charming on site, it was misleading and overpriced. The rooms was terribly small and uncomfortable and having unexpected maintenance before check out didn't help
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

More convenient than expected

Loved my stay here; it was clean, was walking distance to downtown and very private. We had everything we needed. Some tips: buy whole bean coffe from java dog and brew the best cup of coffee you'll ever have and stop by "The Peppered Cupcake" for some awesome snacking. Will be coming back for sure!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Excellent.

Great location easy access to the riverfront.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Delightful,cozy retreat!

Janice is an excellent host, the epitome of Southern hospitality. The historic French House cottage was the perfect getaway for us. We will definitely be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018
Verified review

8/10 Good

Quaint historic property in downtown historic district

150+ year old property is situated in a quiet downtown neighborhood near shopping, restaurants and nightlight. Short walk to Cape Fear River waterfront. Comfortable, but the bathroom is challenging for tall individuals. The owner is delightful and readily helpful.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Wonderful getaway cottage!

My husband booked this cottage as a birthday weekend getaway in Downtown Wilmington, and it was perfect! So cute, with an amazing location just a few blocks from all restaurants, shops, and the riverfront. Even being so close to everything, it was so quiet and peaceful, and our hosts could not have been more accommodating. I am already planning our next trip!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Charming Historic Cottage

We loved this little cottage! We were in Wilmington for a wedding and this was a delightful get-away for the weekend. Nestled in a tree-lined neighborhood, with its own off-street parking, this was a perfect location for walking just four blocks into the heart of historic downtown Wilmington. The cottage is clean, quiet and features small and thoughtful touches that celebrate its historical charm. Janice is lovely and kindly shared information about historic house and garden resources.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Quaint downtown cottage

This was the perfect place to stay for a little getaway. It is only a couple blocks from the shops and restaurants downtown, yet is quiet and peaceful. Janice and Portia are wonderful hosts. I will return!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2018

About the host

Hosted by Janice Thomas, Portia Thomas

Host profile image

Languages:

English, Spanish
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