Newly Added

New to Host Unusual: The World’s First Passivhaus Church Conversion, Whole-Hire Country Pubs, Scenic Gems with Stargazing Hot Tubs, and More!

17 October 2024

Rather excitingly, our newest retreats at Host Unusual include a world-first – a jaw-dropping Net Zero conversion of a 19th century church. Set close to Hadrian’s Wall in rural Northumberland, the sumptuous three-bedroom retreat is particularly ideal for eco-conscious travellers who crave high-end luxury.

You could also choose to catch a bus for a first-class Devon break – complete with stylish retro interiors and a private garden that boasts a hot tub with bubbles and colour-changing lights! Or how about bedding down in a glorious Art Deco seaside folly that looks wistfully out to St. Ouen’s Bay, in Jersey’s vast, scenic National Park?

But if you’ve got a group of your favourite people in tow, you can’t beat a raucous pub lock-in for endless laughter and memory-making. Just choose your ideal style and destination for sublime whole-inn hire: the Peak District (temptingly close to Alton Towers!), Swansea’s beautiful Celtic Trail, or a fun Hertfordshire pub with a private garden and a ‘secret’ door.

Travelling further afield? Unwind to spectacular sea-and-mountain views from a remote Sicilian reef with its own private bathing cove, or luxuriate in an architect-designed Croatian coastal retreat, with a Mediterranean garden and a shimmering pool.

In short: if you’re ready to be charmed and captivated by some of the world’s most unusual places to stay, look no further!

Author: Nina Jervis-Green
Main image: Warksburn Old Church | Northumberland

Warksburn Old Church

Wark, Northumberland, England
A globally-unique and ultra-luxurious Net Zero conversion of a 19th century church, in beautiful rural Northumberland close to Hadrian’s Wall and Kielder Water.
Bedrooms: 3
Sleeps: 6
From
£250/night

Barge Aground

St.Ouen's Bay, Jersey, Channel Islands
A unique Jersey seaside folly, rich in art deco style and captivating history, dog-friendly and boasting direct access to the vast, scenic beach in St. Ouen’s Bay.
Bedrooms: 2
Sleeps: 6
From
£218.40 /nt

Hous Viridis

Todmorden, West Yorkshire , England
An imaginative and luxurious retreat with a hot tub and al fresco kitchen, beautifully elevated on a 10-acre smallholding with spectacular, far-reaching views of rural Yorkshire.
Bedrooms: 3
Sleeps: 8
From
£500 / night

Orchard Cottage

Swimbridge, Devon, England
A chocolate-box Grade II-listed cottage with a thatched roof and a garden hot tub, pet-friendly and beautifully secluded in an ancient Devon village that’s close to the coast.
Bedrooms: 5
Sleeps: 10
From
£249 / night

Seaside Villa Capo Zafferano

Capo Zafferano, Sicily, Italy
A breath-taking, architect-designed family retreat secluded on an remote Sicilian reef that thrives with natural beauty, with a private bathing cove and spectacular sea-and-mountain views close to Palermo.
Bedrooms: 4
Sleeps: 8
From
£2,200 /week

The View at Shoreline

Folkestone, Kent, England
A luxurious, light-filled beach retreat on the boardwalk at Folkestone seafront, complete with a private patio and panoramic sea views all the way to the French coastline.
Bedrooms: 2
Sleeps: 4
From
£700 /2 nts

The Old Water Tank

Liss, Hampshire, England
A creatively restored unique retreat with enormous windows and a dedicated cinema space, petfriendly and set within the South Downs National Park.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 4
From
£120 / night

Blue Monkey Cornwall

Kingsand, Cornwall, England
A sumptuous, dog-friendly coastal cottage for whole-family escapes, steeped in fascinating history and beautifully set just 25 metres from the sea.
Bedrooms: 5
Sleeps: 10
From
£999 / week

Nine Olives Hvar

Stari Grad, Hvar, Croatia
An architect-designed Croatian coastal retreat with sea-view roof terraces, a Mediterranean garden and a shimmering pool, set close to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Stari Grad.
Bedrooms: 5
Sleeps: 10
From
£300 / night

The Lakeside Viewing Gallery

Sonning Eye, Oxfordshire, England
A centuries-old thatched retreat with a mesmerising mix of original features and modern luxuries, surrounded by serene open water and lush woodland in Sonning Eye.
Bedrooms: 4
Sleeps: 12
From
£700 / night

Carriage 101

Batchmere, West Sussex, England
An expertly-restored ambulance carriage from World War Two, complete with vintage-style décor and an al fresco bathtub, peacefully secluded in lush West Sussex countryside that’s close to the coast.
Bedrooms: 2
Sleeps: 6
From
£90 / night

The Floating Terrarium

Hackney, London, England
A wow-factor, off-grid garden sanctuary in the form of a wide beam barge, rich in eco-friendly luxury and gloriously secluded on a glistening canal in uber-cool Hackney.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£180 / night

Henrietta at Eden Valley Glamping

Armathwaite, Cumbria, England
All aboard a nostalgic Art Deco-styled replica railway carriage with first-class facilities, peacefully secluded in a sheep-dotted Cumbrian field where life is slow, simple, and beautiful.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£100 /night

The Bonnie Wee Bothy

East Linton, East Lothian, Scotland
A ridiculously cosy off-grid couples’ retreat with an al fresco bathtub, pet-friendly and beautifully secluded on an eco-friendly farm in rural East Lothian, close to the scenic John Muir Way.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£135-£165 /nt

Marram Cottage, Beadnell

Chathill, Northumberland, England
A laid-back and lovely Northumberland beach retreat, with a relaxing sun room and a dune-sheltered garden that boasts direct access to the beautiful Beadnell Bay.
Bedrooms: 3
Sleeps: 6
From
£130 - £200/nt

Treetops Hideouts

Richmond, North Yorkshire, England
A hand-built treehouse and a sumptuous cottage, both with private hot tubs and peacefully secluded amongst flourishing nature at the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales.
Bedrooms: 1 per unit
Sleeps: 2
From
£175/nt

Chert

Ventnor, Isle Of Wight, England
Welcome to Chert; a groovy, light-filled 70s-inspired retreat, complete with a record player, funky-chic interiors and incredible sea views on the Isle of Wight’s laid-back southern coast.
Bedrooms: 2
Sleeps: 4
From
£454 (3 nts)

The Ynys Arms

Pontardawe, Glamorgan, Wales
Hold an epic lock-in at your very own private country pub, family and dog-friendly and peacefully secluded close to Swansea’s best-loved attractions.
Bedrooms: 8
Sleeps: 26
From
£980 / night

Crown Inn, Woolhope

Woolhope, near Ledbury, Herefordshire, England
An exclusive, dog-friendly retreat for laid-back group breaks, complete with a games room and private garden, connected by a ‘secret’ door to a family-run pub in rural Herefordshire.
Bedrooms: 8
Sleeps: 16
From
£2419 / week

Kymin Round House

Monmouth, Monmouthshire, Wales
A miniature Georgian ‘castle-for-two’, surrounded by walking trails and beautifully set at the top of a hill, with windows that showcase the spectacular Wye Valley from all directions
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£450 (3 nts)

The Green Man

Leek, Staffordshire, England
Raise a toast to a memorable stay in an exclusive country pub for large-group breaks, beautifully situated at the foot of the Peak District National Park close to Alton Towers.
Bedrooms: 13
Sleeps: 34
From
£2383 / night

Latest
Posts

Swipe left
to find out more

Unusual Retreats Inspired by Unputdownable ‘Cosy Crime’ Stories

“Cosy crime” is a genre that refers to those compelling tales of eccentric, eminently likeable amateur detectives. They’re called upon...
Lights Camera Glamping main photo

New to Host Unusual: an immersive ‘film set’ experience, a Starman shrine, fine wine-tasting in a Portuguese mill - and more

If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to live inside a film set, or browse the archives of...

Take a Bow… Presenting Our Charmingly Unusual, Award-Winning Retreats of 2024!

Here’s a question: what does “award-winning” really mean, in the ferociously competitive world of hospitality? We think it acknowledges the...
Baby friendly holidays

Our Favourite Baby-Friendly Stays – As Described By Their Owners!

Why not cover all the bases with “child-friendly stays”, you may ask? Well, as every parent knows, travelling with a...

The UK’s Best Viewing Hotspots for the Northern Lights

Witnessing the Northern Lights is a serious bucket-list item: one that used to require expensive trips to the coldest, darkest...