Features

Cheers for Ten Years! Celebrating Host Unusual’s Very First UK and International Retreat Listings

9 June 2026

If you stepped into a time machine and set it for June 2016, you’d find our founders Dawn and Alex working hard on an innovative idea: creating a hand-picked directory of unusual places to stay.

There’s just one issue with an idea like that. You need a ready supply of unusual places to stay, and their owners willing to take a chance on an as-yet-unproven site!

Luckily, the lovely owners Dawn and Alex approached back then were happy to take that chance. Keen to spread our reach further – because the world is packed with unique retreats begging to be discovered and enjoyed – we featured our very first international property in 2017.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Now, Host Unusual is 10 years old and thriving. Success has taken a lot of dedication and hard work, but most importantly, it’s also taken the kind support of our incredible property owners.

So, as a tribute to those who were there from the start, here’s a rundown of our first 10 Host Unusual listings – both in the UK and across the globe. We couldn’t have made it to 10 years without them, so we’re clinking glasses in a toast to each one!

Author: Nina Jervis-Green
Main image: One of Host Unusual’s first ever listings – Elmley Nature Reserve Shepherd’s Huts, Kent

10 of our first UK listings

Hermanus Roundhouses

Winterton-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England

Charming Norfolk roundhouses with thatched roofs providing self-catering accommodation next to the beach at Winterton-on-Sea, Norfolk.

Bedrooms: 1-2 per unit

Sleeps: 2-4 per unit

From

£250 (2 night)

Sound of Harris - The Other House

Isle of Harris, Scotland

Deluxe self-catering accommodation on the Isle of Harris with panoramic coastal views and mid-century interior design.

Bedrooms: 1 per property

Sleeps: 2 per property

From

£739/3 nights

Hoe Grange Holidays

Matlock, Derbyshire, England

Eco-friendly, accessible, self-catering log cabins, camping pods and a gypsy caravan on a working farm in the Peak District.

Bedrooms: Varies

Sleeps: Varies

From

£180 /2 nts

Elmley Nature Reserve Shepherds Huts

Sheerness, Kent, England

Eclectic accommodation and seasonally-inspired dining on a National Nature Reserve in Kent, with an abundance of wildlife right on your doorstep.

Bedrooms: Varies

Sleeps: Varies

From

£120 / night

A Little Bit of Rough

Nr Uppingham, Rutland, England

Luxury, eco-friendly camping experience set in 20 acres of private woodland in a secret location in Rutland.

Bedrooms: 2

Sleeps: 6 per lodge

From

£164/nt

West Lexham Treehouses and Glamping

Nr. Kings Lynn, Norfolk, England

Discover the natural magic of West Lexham, an enchanting holistic eco-retreat venue rich in nature, offering fairytale treehouses, bell tents, wild swimming, and a range of wellness workshops.

Bedrooms: Varies

Sleeps: 2-6 per unit

From

£100 / night

Belle Tout Lighthouse B&B

Beachy Head, East Sussex, England

A historic Lighthouse B&B perched on the white cliffs of Beachy Head, with show-stopping panoramic views and many original features.

Bedrooms: 6

Sleeps: 2 per room

From

£155 / night

The Control Tower B&B

Walsingham, Norfolk, England

A restored Control Tower B&B bursting with history, period art deco features and furnishings on a former North Norfolk airfield.

Bedrooms: 4

Sleeps: 2 per room

From

£150 / night

Aylsham Windmill

Aylsham, Norfolk, England

A luxury holiday home for six in a former working flourmill, built in 1826 and modernised to welcome guests to enjoy Norfolk's many attractions.

Bedrooms: 3

Sleeps: 6

From

£552 / week.

Vista Point

East Preston, Sussex, England

Listed beachside holiday home, designed by architect Patrick Gwynne, located on quiet estate in East Preston, West Sussex.

Bedrooms: 5

Sleeps: 9

From

£1000 (4 nts)

10 of our first International listings

A Terra

São Teotonio, Alentejo, Portugal

Secluded Portuguese eco-glamping, set beside a sparkling lake in the refreshing ‘slow lane' of life.

Bedrooms: Varies

Sleeps: Varies (2-4 per tent)

From

£115 (2 nights)

Keemala

Kamala, Phuket, Thailand

Escape to paradise at Keemala - a tropical wonderland of magical pool villas, spa indulgences, gastronomic experiences and a total immersion in Thai culture.

Bedrooms: 1 or 2 per villa

Sleeps: 2 or 4 per villa

From

£360 / night

Hidden Treehouse Resort

Bad Zwischenahn, Lower Saxony, Germany

A gorgeously green German glamping site, where fairytale forest living has been given a five-star upgrade.

Bedrooms: 1 per treehouse

Sleeps: 4 per treehouse

From

£235 / night

El Caracol

Lledó, Aragón, Spain

A cutting-edge Spanish mountain holiday home and swimmers' paradise, nestled within a Mediterranean pine forest and surrounded by unspoilt villages.

Bedrooms: 3

Sleeps: 8

From

£230 / night

The Black Castle

Coolbaun, Tipperary, Ireland

Travel back through time with an ‘over-knight' stay for two in a majestically authentic 16th century Gaelic castle.

Bedrooms: 1

Sleeps: 2

From

£274 / night

Manshausen

Manshausen, Leinesfjord, Steigen, Norway

Start your Nordic adventure story on this breathtaking island resort, where the sea and the mountains combine in a spectacular backdrop for relaxation, contemplation and activity alike.

Bedrooms: 2 per cabin

Sleeps: 4

From

£459 /night

Finca de Arrieta Yurts

Arrieta, Lanzarote, Spain

Luxury Lanzarote eco-yurt accommodation set within a friendly family-run finca, where nothing is too much trouble!

Bedrooms: Varies

Sleeps:

From

£840 / week

Tainaron Blue

Mani, Peloponnese, Greece

Experience elaborate architectural design in a piece of history at Tainaron blue - a fabulous hotel in a converted Tower of Mani set by azure shores on the southernmost tip of mainland Greece.

Bedrooms: 4

Sleeps:

From

£200 / night

Attrap'Rêves

Allauch, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

Attrap'Rêves is an incredible, unusual and romantic retreat in the French countryside, which will certainly have you and your loved one bubbling over with excitement...

Bedrooms: Studio

Sleeps:

From

£133 / night