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Pilot House

From floating havens and towering cranes to woodland domes and underground caverns, we’ve got every type of unusual stay right here. There’s so much to browse, that we’ve divided everything into handy categories to make choosing your favourite that much easier!

A Frame cabin with a deck at the front, surrounded by long grass

A-Frames

Simple yet striking, A-Frame houses are a totally unique holiday experience! With their steep-angled sides, these rustic looking houses in woodland or lakeside settings became highly popular in the mid-20th Century and are now enjoying something of a rebirth.

Outdoor bed with stunning view of green countryside

Alfresco

Ever wondered what it feels like to sleep outside with the sounds of nature and under a blanket of stars to keep you company? Well wonder no more with our range of unique alfresco accommodation to bring the inside out - how very Host Unusual indeed!

The Water Shed Grand Design holiday house in Chichester West Sussex

Architect Designed

Enjoy a holiday in modern or historic architecture with a stay in one of our specially curated architect-designed homes. With stunning settings and locations combined with innovative design, these are swoonworthy rentals with a unique edge.

Peddlers Den, a converted barn and granary in Yorkshire

Barns & Stables

Ever fancied a holiday in a charming and spacious renovated barn or stable, filled with character and light? Our portfolio of unique conversions mix rustic charm with contemporary features, so be sure book your rural break with a difference today.

A row of beach huts at Bournemouth beach

Beach Huts & Houses

Listen to the sounds of the sea and waves as you stay overnight in your very own blissful beach retreat by the sands. At Host Unusual we pride ourselves on finding the most unique and individual beachfront holiday accommodation possible.

"Blackbird" boathouse for two in the water in North Devon

Boats & Boathouses

Take to water and stay onboard a houseboat, converted narrowboat, or a boathouse by the water's edge. Browse our accommodation, ranging from static, moored sailing boats to mobile barges that follow an water-based itinerary tailored to you.

An Eco Bothy in Loch Ken, Scotland

Bothies

These compact huts and cottages are named after mountain refuges in Scotland where farm labourers once rested. Nowadays many bothies are renovated to provide comfortable and quirky accommodation in enviably spectacular settings.

Yellow American School Bus converted into holiday accommodation in the countryside of the South Downs

Buses & Coaches

Book your tickets and climb aboard one of our converted buses or coaches for a holiday that is miles away from your usual escapades. From old double decker buses to space age coaches with luxury sleeping pods, we've gone the distance for you.

A wooden cabin with an outside deck area with a table and chairs in the middle of a forest

Cabins

Step into a cabin hideaway away from busy modern life. Our chosen cool cabins are often hand-crafted or sleek, hip and modern, in idyllic, private settings and some even come with dreamy hot tubs. These are alternative boltholes far removed from the world of average hotels.

A silver Airstream Trailer on a hotel rooftop in Cape Town

Caravans & Airstreams

Embark on a unique and quirky airstream or caravan adventure with Host Unusual. Perfect for lovers of all things retro and kitsch, you'll experience a stay in one of our selected vintage vans or lovingly restored gleaming airstreams - taking 'glamvanning' to the next level.

Koza Cave hotel in Turkey

Caves and Grottoes

Whether it be a restored, ancient basement with centuries-old features or a contemporary stone-hugged dwelling carved into the hills, one thing is for sure: a cave holiday will be like no other holiday - fun, atmospheric, unique and unforgettable.

A building on stilts with a crane at the top next to a body of water with three sailing boats

Cranes

Elevate your holiday potential in an incredible converted crane! Those with a head for heights and a sense of adventure will marvel at the transformation of these lofty gems from their former career in freight transportation into stylish, quirky holiday lets.

Cottage with a turfed roof and wooden panels on the outer walls next to a Loch

Earth & Turf Houses

By cleverly using the earth to insulate and control temperatures on either their roofs, walls or a combination thereof, these beautiful Earth & Turf Houses make for equally beguiling holiday homes! Browse our unique collection of energy efficient shelters here.

Eco Stays

Eco Stays

Designed, built and managed using clever eco-sensitive practices, these eco-friendly retreats minimise their environmental impact as a priority. This means you can relax and enjoy your holiday knowing you are treading lightly.

Two flotels on a river with pampas roofs

Floatels

Water babies prepare to be amazed! Behold our range of floatels and floating accommodation, each offering a truly unique overwater experience; relax in your quirky retreat listening to the sound of water flowing gently by - we can't think of a more serene way to holiday!

Warwick Knight Caravan at The Glamping Orchard

Glamping

Glamping ('glamorous camping') holidays have soared in popularity and variety in recent years both in the UK and worldwide. Why not try something new and exciting? Here you can browse our selection of unique & quirky glamping and luxury camping sites, with options including bell tents, yurts, tipis, geodomes, glamping…

Sacromonte Hotel a glass lodge in Uruguay

Glass Lodges

Stargaze whatever the weather, with our simply breathtaking selection of unique glass lodges and holiday houses. These pure gems come with ceiling-to-floor glass windows or glass roofs allowing daylight and celestial skies to permeate your temporary nest.

View of the central highlands of Guatemala from a hill house at Hobbitenango

Hill & Hole Houses

Experience your own slice of magic with a unique stay in a mystical, fantasy hill hole or house. These enchanting hideaways are an other-worldly retreat from everyday life where you can pretend you are residing in a storybook, even just for a short while.

A historic military base converted into holiday accommodation elevated above Jersey's coastline

Historic Retreats

Play the lead in your very own holiday fable with a stay in one of these incredible historic retreats. Each of our handpicked selection has its own long list of beguiling stories from a bygone era, so check in and immerse yourself in their wonders.

Arctic Fox Igloo in Finland at night with northern lights in sky

Igloos & Ice Hotels

Cool in every sense of the word, book a stay in an igloo or an ice hotel and you'll enjoy abodes constructed entirely out of snow or ice and embark on an incredible and unusual adventure, one that is a world away from your own.

Harlingen Lighthouse at night with a moody sky

Lighthouses

Imagine as the sun sets over the sea, with panoramic views from all angles. Lighthouses and keepers cottages offer access to accommodation in some of the most unusual landmarks, with huge appeal for children and big children alike!

Knoydart Hide in the Scottish Highlands

Lodges

The traditional notion of a lodge is of somewhere in the country or mountains, for shooting or fishing. That may have evolved somewhat, and some holiday lodges today are indeed rather sleek and modern, yet the concept of escaping the usual everyday rush in favour of rural life remains the…

Westland Wessex helicopter converted into holiday accommodation

Military

Attentttttion! All salute this range of exciting and unusual places to stay, all with a military background or connection. Including a diverse range of accommodation from helicopters and underground bunkers to army towers and more, these make ideal breaks for history buffs!

A building with mirrored walls reflecting the grass and hills surrounding it making it appear almost camouflaged

Mirrored

Holidays that reflect you and your insatiable quest for the unique, in every sense: welcome to Host Unusual's exciting range of Mirrored properties, cleverly blending into their environment by offering a complete mirror image of it.

A Land Rover Defender car parked by a beach with a roof tent

Nomadic

If the explorer spirit is strong inside you and you're not suited to staying rooted to one spot, then this range of holidays on the move will appeal! These quirky and adventurous retreats are mobile, so you'll be guaranteed to wake up with a fresh holiday outlook every day.

The front of Manowce historic palace in Police, Poland

Palaces

Feel royally at home in a former ruling residence and grand retreat, with our unique selection of palace accommodation, ideal for your next family or group holiday. Royal role playing is obligatory in your impressive temporary digs, of course!

Refurbished vintage 1965 Boeing 727 Airplane in Puntarenas

Planes & Helicopters

Welcome on board the most unusual in-flight experience - without any need for take-off. Our selection of converted planes and helicopters give you a taste of life in the cockpit in comfortable holiday accommodation that you'll never forget. Fasten your seatbelt!

The Bodmin Jail Hotel in Bodmin, Cornwall

Prisons & Cells

Get locked up for the night in a converted prison or jail cell for a truly memorable and quirky holiday experience. With many original features but the added bonus of home comforts, you certainly won't be planning your escape!

The Island Cornwall with suspension bridge in Newquay

Private Islands & Estates

Retreat to your own exclusive escape and book either an island far from the madding crowds, or an estate where you can enjoy a host of facilities. Be it for a group adventure or short break, these choices will guarantee you blissful privacy and seclusion.

The Old Church House Inn in Torbryan, Devon

Private Pubs & Inns

Become the landlord/lady of your very own private pub, designed with exclusive celebrations in mind. What better way to toast a special occasion than by pulling your own pint or mixing your own bespoke cocktail in a historic pub? Cheers!

A restored railway carriage at Railholiday in Cornwall

Railway Carriages & Stations

You need not be a trainspotter to appreciate the wonder of these converted carriages and station houses. Often positioned next to working steam trains, and some with original carriage seats, treat yourself to a first-class holiday with style and nostalgia.

Handcrafted wooden roundhouse in Somerset farmland

Roundhouses

Circular dwellings with conical rooves were once standard home forms in the Bronze and Iron ages, with some still remaining today. Expect our roundhouses to have unique fairytale settings and a slice of rustic romance to get you in a spin!

A shepherd's hut on a gravelled area in front of a tall oak tree with a table and two chairs outside the front of it and festoon lights decorating the fence behind it

Shepherds Huts

Shepherds Huts cleverly combine the tradition of these former shepherd's dwellings with current innovation and stylish decor. A short break in one of these properties will help to recharge the batteries and provide a romantic setting to unwind in.

Shipping container converted into a holiday cabin in the North York Moors

Shipping Containers

Shipping containers are typically heavy duty steel boxes, and they may be synonymous with freight and shipments, but they also create unique and compact living spaces, so why not also holiday accommodation? Check out these unique spaces and book yourself in for a memorable small space adventure!

8 metal silos

Silos

Nobody can deny the distinctive look and feel of a silo; these tall towers or cylindrical pits were mostly used to store grain, but many now have a new lease of life and have been cleverly converted into quirky accommodation for us all to enjoy - how unique!

A metal and glass cabin next to the sea

Space-Age

For out of this world stays - literally - look no further than our collection of intriguing galactic getaways combine space-age designs with futuristic features for a truly unique holiday experience. To infinity and beyond!

The Forest House, a 17th century thatched house

Thatched

No chocolate-box village in the countryside would be complete without a thatched abode or two, symbolic of the romantic notion of a short break away. Quaint and characterful, they will give you a taste of that quintessential 'country cottage' life.

A large abstract looking sculpture built into grassy banks with circular windows and multicolour outer walls

Themed

Themed accommodation definitely ticks the box for fun factor. Whether it's venturing into the Wild West, the big blue sea or even prison, escape your normal world into a fantasy holiday world.

Tiny Home Borders a small holiday retreat in the Scottish Borders

Tiny Houses

The tiny homes movement has exploded in recent years over in the States, but is also making waves across the pond as people get seduced by the notion of decluttering and downsizing. Check into a compact pad and experience tiny life for yourself.

A treehouse from the ground at Rufus Roost (camping cabins in England)

Treehouses

Browse our collection of treehouses and treetop holiday rentals ranging from luxury glamping getaways to rustic woodland retreats. Stay in a tree cabin and re-enact that childhood dream for an unforgettable holiday in the countryside.

Dry stone hut with a corbelled roof with 5 cone 'spire' shapes

Trulli

There is no mistaking a Trullo (or 'Trulli' in plural); traditional Italian buildings with conical roofs made with Apulian dry stone. Loving restorations of these buildings, some dating back to 14th Century, now offer gorgeous holiday rentals like our selection here.

A WWII operations bunker in Sennen Cornwall

Underground

Subterranea is where it's at with this range of underground accommodation, from bunkers to brochs! Each of these spectacular holiday lets has managed to make use of terrain by working and adapting it to create a special space for you to enjoy.

A room built on water showing you how it looks above the water level and underneath it below the water level

Underwater

Sublime submarine adventures await for budding water babies with these incredible underwater places to stay. Watch shoals of fish and plenty of other marine creatures swim lazily by from your very own private nest-cum-aquarium.

A bedroom inside a windmill with bare brick walls inside, a bed, clothes rail and a full length mirror

Unique Conversions

Enjoy a break in history and transformation with these extraordinary buildings, all of which once had very different former lives. From converted prisons to lifeboat houses, brewery vaults to seed stores, discover some truly fascinating converted gems, ready to holiday in.

Purple grapes on a vine

Vineyard

Oenophiles (wine lovers) rejoice! Keen connaisseurs of the grape can now stay in unique vineyard accommodation situated inside winery grounds, with direct access to locally produced wine. Pop a cork and take a gander at our 'sparkling' selection of properties here.

A duke box next to a dressing table in a bedroom

Vintage & Retro

Take a timewarp trip and enjoy a unique vintage vacation or retro retreat for your next break; from art deco villas to modernist classics, gleaming airstreams to cosy retro caravans and more, everything in this section includes a nostalgic nod to the past!

A converted trailer next to a wooden freestanding hot tub

Wagons, Trucks & Trailers

Symbolising a way of life that almost seems at odds with the modern world, gypsy wagons, vardos and trailers are at once colourful and distinctive. Converted trucks and campers also provide a unique accommodation adventure behind the wheel!

Wildcard!

Our Wildcard contingent are an odd collection of misfits, but that's why we love them! They all share a common trait - a particularly quirky feature or style that makes them difficult to categorise or pigeon hole Get to know and love our Wildcards as much as we do.

The Windmill Suffolk

Windmills & Watermills

These iconic mills with their circular interiors have given up their day job milling grain and water to provide romantic and nostalgic accommodation for people to enjoy. Think panoramic views, stargazing, charm and atmosphere - what's not to love?

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