Unique Living
Here we come together with our owners, guests and friends to bring you inspiring blog posts to ensure that you can ‘Live Unique’ all year round, long before and after your own Unique Homestays experiences.
Owner Chronicles
The loveliest spot that man hath found
Blink and you may just think you have arrived at Beatrix Potter’s “Hill Top” at this Lake District farmhouse. Step inside The Tapestry.
More from the Journal
Interiors
The art of escapism
Renowned for her bold design schemes, author, presenter and homeware designer Abigail Ahern encourages us to ‘decorate differently’ when it comes to making a house a home.
Lifestyle
Sun-drenched style
Discover Britain´s most ingeniously designed summer retreats where architecture celebrates heat rather than surrenders to it, from Cornish havens to Dorset sanctuaries.
Owner Chronicles
Au naturale
In one of Cornwall’s leafy corners, an oasis awaits. Mirana comprises two connecting barns whose natural wellness garden encircles like protective stones.
Lifestyle
Seven of the best holiday cottages for summer
When the sun is shining, summer holidays don’t get much better than when on home soil. Here, we round-up seven unique homes with summer availability for you to grab while you can.
Lifestyle
Come on in, the water´s fine
From Somerset´s elegant manors to Cornwall´s coastal retreats, these homes with pools offer idyllic family breaks in heritage properties and modern havens.
Lifestyle
Earth Day 2025: 9 of the UK´s most glorious garden escapes
This Earth Day, we´re leaving the four walls of the office behind and stepping into the great outdoors, to explore some of our glorious gardens.
Owner Chronicles
In unforgotten Cornwall
In a land mostly depicted by golden-sand beaches, we tell the story of Morwell; an idyllic, 400-year-old farmhouse on 50 acres, in the verdant heart of unforgotten Cornwall.
Lifestyle
Here comes the sun: the best wedding venues for spring
Wild coastlines, misty mountains, and secret gardens; spring awakens these extraordinary UK wedding venues, where nature and history entwine in striking settings.
Owner Chronicles
Paradise found in South Devon
Once the unique home of society bachelor Arthur Graham, this luxury manor is now home to the Montgomery family, who welcome guests to take exclusive hire of their extraordinary Devon dwelling.
Lifestyle
Farm and forest
As urbanites seek respite from digital overwhelm, nature´s embrace promises an opportunity to re-ground. Discover country stays that blend heritage with contemporary design.
Lifestyle
Toast a century of Gatsby in these five party homes
This spring marks the 100th anniversary of F. Scott Fitzgerald´s The Great Gatsby, a novel that epitomises the opulence and extravagance of the Jazz Age. What better way to honour this literary milestone than by hosting a soirée in a Gatsby-style setting?
Lifestyle
The Salt Path – and 23 unique homes to stay in on the South West Coast Path
Ahead of The Salt Path film coming to screens next month, we trace in writer Raynor Winn´s footsteps as we explore the South West Coast Path, and the places to stay en route.
Guest Bloggers
Textile tales with Amy Brock Morgan
This Cornish textile artist blends environmental science and traditional craft to create sustainable wall hangings while leading repair workshops to inspire mindful consumption.
Owner Chronicles
Life and soul of the party
Josie and Rob da Bank, founders of Bestival and custodians of colourful estate Carnivàle on the Isle of Wight, give us a much-anticipated ticket inside their family home.
Lifestyle
Heritage and hedonism: The Lost Music Hall
Our latest photoshoot showcases The Lost Music Hall, a luxurious wedding venue embraced by lush greenery and adorned with white florals.
Guest Bloggers
Designer insider: Emma Ainscough
In our latest designer insider, we discover the brains behind the beauty of whimsical cottage Charlotte´s Folly as we speak with interior designer Emma Ainscough.
Lifestyle
Young hearts run free
Easter escapes for all generations, from Cornwall to the Cotswolds – think private cinemas, wild gardens, and pools made for family adventures.
Lifestyle
Eight castle-like homes to book for a Traitors escape
For those in search of castle-like places to stay to live out their own Traitor fantasies, here we round up eight unique homes across the UK where you can.
Lifestyle
The modern couple´s guide to wedding planning
Your complete wedding planning guide: from choosing an extraordinary venue to orchestrating every detail. Create the celebration that reflects who you are.
Lifestyle
Two´s company
Discover enchanting hideaways, from Victorian boathouses to converted chapels: here we round up romantic escapes where hot tubs and cosy fireplaces create a private sanctuary.
Guest Bloggers
Through the lens: Joe Hall
In the first of our through the lens series, content creator Joe Hall takes to the Outer Hebrides, staying at remote cabin Solas on the Isle of Harris.
Lifestyle
A wedding revolution: say "I do" to the trends of 2025
Wedding celebrations are transforming in 2025. Get ready to see authenticity displacing tradition and thoughtfulness replacing excess.
Lifestyle
Wellness journeys
Discover luxury wellness escapes where natural restoration meets architectural beauty. From coastal retreats to woodland havens, these homes were designed for mindful living.
Owner Chronicles
A fairytale of their own: Once upon a time at Charlotte’s Folly
In a land far away, amidst the glorious green acres of the Bradford Estates in Shropshire, resides Charlotte´s Folly; the prettiest-in-pink cottage you ever did see.
Interiors
Unique Homestays´ interior trends for 2025
We set out our interior design trends for 2025—from homes whose touchpoints transport us right back to grandma´s house to the comeback of curated clutter.
Lifestyle
Nature´s theatre: a winter´s tale
Experience Christmas in these spectacular holiday homes, where dramatic cliffs, woodland glades and country estates set the perfect winter stage.
Lifestyle
Far from the madding crowd: eight romantic getaways for New Year
From Cornish clifftops to Cotswolds cottages, these are the UK´s most romantic escapes, many featuring hot tubs under starlit skies.
Lifestyle
Unique travel trends for 2025
From trips incorporating natural spectacles to page and picture-inspired cultural pilgrimages, here we showcase our travel trend predictions for 2025.
Owner Chronicles
On the lake of kings
Walden Lakehouse is a true escape into the wild, nestled on the ´lake of kings´ in Ireland. Here, homeowners Egon and Richard have found their sanctuary.
Travellers' Tales
A fusion of two souls
Chloe and Mathieu reminisce on their wedding at Winterfell in the Lake District.
Lifestyle
Where the magic lives
Discover luxurious winter hideaways across the UK, from snug Cornish cottages to historic Cotswolds retreats. Your perfect rural staycation awaits in these holiday homes.
Lifestyle
Crafting your love story: 2025´s wedding stationery trends
Discover the top wedding stationery trends, from digital innovations and minimalist designs to sustainable choices and 90s-inspired patterns that make for unique invitations.
Lifestyle
Seven celebration homes to book now for New Year´s Eve
It´s hard to believe it´s just two months until we kiss goodbye to 2024. So, with that, we´re looking ahead to the homes to book to mark the occasion.
Lifestyle
Five romantic retreats to start your love story
Transform your proposal into a fairy-tale moment at these properties, where love and luxury intertwine to create the perfect backdrop for your engagement.
Lifestyle
Cotswolds homes to book for a Rivals-inspired romantic break
Jilly Cooper’s iconic 1980s novel Rivals comes to screens this month. So then, how about some romantic Cotswolds homes to remake the scenes in...however you please?
Owner Chronicles
I´m in the garden
Elberta Barn is a living work-of-art. But then, what else would you expect from the home of a former museum curator turned garden designer?
Lifestyle
Bohemian nuptials on the Cornish coast
This new-wave beach house effortlessly sets the scene for a bohemian wedding shoot by the sea.
Lifestyle
The Great British Spa-cation
Put the wrapping paper down and the feet up. This year, the most sought-after winter stays are all about warm water therapy, palatial living, and never missing out on poolside champagne.
Lifestyle
The curator´s edit
A celebration of curiosity, these homes function, in part or whole, as living museums; spaces where objects, however small, form part of their story.
Travellers' Tales
From island to island: a day trip to the Isles of Scilly
In line with our monthly theme of journeys, our latest travellers´ tale is of a day trip over to the Scilly Isles; the UK´s answer to the Seychelles.
Lifestyle
The UK´s best holiday homes with direct beach access
Here, we round-up some of the best UK holiday homes with direct beach access — from Cornwall to Scotland — to book for an off-season seaside stay.
Owner Chronicles
At the beach
The Limit is the type of place that soothes the soul as soon as you step through the door. Here, we uncover its journey from unloved shack to beachside oasis.
Owner Chronicles
Siblings´ sanctuaries
In the heart of County Kerry, Ireland, two siblings have lovingly restored Lost Cottage and Limehouse, creating retreats that blend history, sustainability, and familial bonds.
Lifestyle
The UK´s best long-distance journeys
For those whose bones ache for adventure, but the will for cross-continental travel is slim, look no further than our very own isles; the UK´s best long-distance journeys await.
Lifestyle
Travel the folkways
There was a time when we romanticised travel; singing for coaches, dreaming on locomotives. If you care as much about the journey as the map pin, these are homes to travel the folkways for.
Lifestyle
Meet the architect-designed homes
Here, we celebrate some of our most intentional architect-designed homes; the ones that stand out, sink in, defy gravity, or might as well be brandishing invisibility cloaks.
Lifestyle
Eight of the best luxury cottages to stay in this Christmas
Christmas is a time to create memories of the everlasting kind. From a Cotswolds cottage to a Suffolk manor, here´s our guide to the best homes to book for a festive escape.
Fare
The best UK restaurants serving food from around the world
Join us on a culinary expedition as we uncover the hidden eateries across our fair British Isles who promise empanadas instead of pasties, and tuna sashimi instead of battered cod.
Travellers' Tales
Riverside reverie at Atelier Rose
This travellers´ tale is of a family´s enchanted summer getaway; exploring Eardisland´s Tudor charm, picnicking by the river, and stargazing from a tin bath in the orangery.
Owner Chronicles
Family farmhouse to maximalist manor: five decades at Gulliver’s Hall
In our latest chronicle, we hear all about what it’s been like calling the grand and glamorous Gulliver’s Hall in the Cotswolds home for the past 56 years and counting.
Lifestyle
Walls that talk: the storytelling world of Sian Zeng
Wallpaper designer Sian Zeng blends diverse cultural influences to transform spaces into portals, pushing the boundaries of interior décor via imaginative artistry.
Interiors
Britain´s best cabins to rent
With the season of storm-watching and marshmallow-toasting just around the corner, we uncover some of our favourite coastal and countryside cabins to rent in the UK.
Lifestyle
Could this really be Britain?
These are homes in the nation´s most disorienting destinations; ones that take us far from familiar. You might not need a passport, but you´ll surely do a double-take. Could this really be Britain?
Fare
The foodie’s guide to edible gardens
Come with us to our gardens abundant in fare, where apples weigh down branches and lavender scents the air, from the Cotswolds to the Cambrian Mountains.
Lifestyle
Gothic grandeur meets Welsh wilderness
Our latest editorial shoot unveils romance at Florin, a Victorian wedding venue near Ceredigion, perfect for whimsical ceremonies and grand receptions.
Lifestyle
Britain’s best botanical breaks
Pimm’s at the ready: we’re exploring Britain´s best botanical breaks from the New Forest to Cornwall, offering respite and renewal amid natural beauty.
Lifestyle
Earthly delights: secret garden wedding venues
Vine-strung pergolas, kaleidoscopic wildflower meadows, and disco balls suspended from the trees. These are our favourite wedding venues for al fresco nuptials.
Lifestyle
A guide to Cornwall’s most beautiful gardens
Discover Cornwall´s best gardens, from the iconic Eden Project to hidden sculpture gardens showcasing the county´s natural beauty, rich horticultural heritage, and creative flair.
Lifestyle
The secret gardens
And just like that, it was summer. Now’s the time to visit those homes with rosemary-scented potagers and apple orchard. But best hurry, before the bees and butterflies beat you to it.
Lifestyle
In conversation with an expedition guide
We´re in conversation with Eliza Brown, founder of luxury experiential company RVIVAL, whose aim is to rewild the souls who travel with them. We talk society, survival, and tech saturation.
Fare
The field guide to summer feasting
´Tis the season of golden hour beach picnics, from-the-garden salads, and mint-specked gooseberry fools. Here is our field guide to the best of British summer feasting.
Lifestyle
11 of the best one-day hikes in the UK
Discover the UK´s best one-day hikes, from the Lake District to the Lizard Peninsula. Explore new landscapes, spot rare wildlife, and refuel at local pubs.
Lifestyle
The best beaches in Cornwall
Uncover Cornwall´s best beaches for surfing, swimming, families, and dog walking. Explore iconic spots and trek to hidden enclaves along the 300-mile coastline.
Lifestyle
The summer pilgrimage
This month, we’re waymarking a modern type of summer pilgrimage, made for hikers who still hold a candle for rainfall showers, Champagne lunches, and heated pools in the wildflower garden.
Owner Chronicles
A window to the world
In our latest chronicle, we speak with property owners Katerina and Tim about The Glasshouse; their nature-embracing home on the Teifi Marshes Reserve in Wales.
Owner Chronicles
Unique Homestays owners come together at Cornwall´s Castle Trematonia
Reclined on a floral sun-lounger sipping iced pink cocktails by the pool may sound like a holiday, but here it’s BAU. This May, Unique Homestays owners were invited to Castle Trematonia.
Fare
A taste of the wild: the best places to eat in Britain’s National Parks
Here, we take a tour through some of Britain´s 15 National Parks, reveal the secret hideaways to stay in nearby, and round-up the best places to go for some post-stomp grub.
Lifestyle
The best places to go for wildlife in the UK
Discover the UK´s best wildlife destinations, from red kites in the South Downs to wildcats in the Highlands. Explore nature without flying and find perfect stays nearby.
Lifestyle
Made in Southwold
The Made in Chelsea gang head out of the city for a weekend at Honeystone in Southwold. Step inside this ornate manor, with its own spa and pool, on Suffolk´s bucket-and-spade coast.
Lifestyle
Where was Bridgerton filmed? (and 10 aristocratic homes you can rent)
Step into the flamboyant world of Bridgerton, where ballrooms and regal lawns have captivated folk worldwide. These are ten of the grandest aristocratic homes you can rent in the UK.
Lifestyle
The prettiest villages in Cornwall
In a land where the rugged coastline whispers tales of smugglers and shipwrecks, and the moors hold secrets of ancient legends, Cornwall´s villages stand as beacons of unrivalled beauty.
Owner Chronicles
A life of new heights on a quiet Cornish cliffside
Ukiyo (meaning “floating world” in Japanese) denotes the concept of living in the moment. In our latest owner chronicle, we speak with property owner Simon about how his modernist cliffside hideaway embodies its namesake.
Lifestyle
The big five: safari on home soil
These days, safari extends beyond the deltas and deserts of the Okavango and Kalahari. We’re rounding up our big five: the properties with a front-row seat to all that’s wildlife and wilderness.
Lifestyle
The best events, fairs, and festivals in Cornwall
With our month-by-month guide, discover the best events, fairs, and festivals in Cornwall. From quirky traditions to cultural celebrations, there´s always a party in Cornwall.
Owner Chronicles
An ode to art
Pomona was once the place that one of Britain’s most prolific sculptors called home. Now, reimagined, it sits proudly within his commemorative sculpture park.
Lifestyle
In conversation with Saul Cathcart
We´re in conversation with Saul Cathcart, the Cornish artist whose dramatic, impressionistic, nature-inspired work is on display at Valency Wood; call it a brush with beauty.
Lifestyle
Where to eat and drink in Cornwall
The county has become a food mecca. In our guide to where to eat and drink in Cornwall, we round up the best spots by style and vibe: from beachfront shacks to farm-to-table dining.
Fare
The UK’s best homes with pools (and what to eat poolside)
The summer season is upon us and, with it, those from-the-garden suppers we yearn for. Here, we round-up some of the UK´s best homes with pools, and the al fresco feasts to eat poolside.
Lifestyle
From coast to countryside: 7 UK destinations for May
As spring rejuvenates the British Isles, May emerges as the ideal time for a UK holiday: to road trip around the best pubs in Norfolk, or shop for mid-century furniture in artsy East Sussex?
Lifestyle
A pool of one´s own
On your marks, get set, splash! Since April marks the grand reopening of our piscinas, we´re rounding up where to go for a pool of one´s own, with 19 of Britain´s best homes with private pools.
Fare
The great British food renaissance
From pasties in Cornwall to sticky toffee pudding in the Lakes, here is our culinary roadmap of the UK’s most iconic and nostalgic eats. Let’s call it the great British food renaissance.
Lifestyle
Where to spend spring in the UK
In our latest round-up, we have our heads out of the clouds and firmly in the daffodils. From Hollywood-on-Sea to Stow-in-the-Wold, here´s where to spend spring in the UK.
Guest Bloggers
Bring the outside in: transform your home for spring
As the first signs of spring begin to emerge, we get ready to welcome the new season. Here, flower grower and floral designer Emily from 3acre Blooms shares how to bring a touch of spring to your home.
Owner Chronicles
Like father, like son
In our March chronicle, Henry tells us the tale of his mountain hideaway, Charity; whose old stone walls, and the family memories forged wherein, have lovingly passed from father to son.
Lifestyle
Meet the storybook homes
With turrets and follies, islands and eiderdowns, these are the real-life residences that welcome you to fall down the rabbit hole to a life of fairytale proportions. Meet the storybook homes.
Lifestyle
Finding the family tree
We’re finding the family tree; homes made for the inner child and sitting with sister in the garden. One of life’s great nostalgias is rooted in a falsehood. You can go home again.
Lifestyle
Foraging on the Cornish coast with Simon Greenwood
The coast is a reliable habitat for foragers: winkles, whiting, rock oysters, and rosehip in their tangier-and-tangy hundreds. Here, Simon Greenwood creates a dish to be eaten by candlelight.
Lifestyle
10 places to stay in the UK and Ireland in 2024
From luxury homes on Cornwall´s coast to hot tub hideaways in the Welsh hills, we´re rounding up 10 places to stay in the UK and Ireland in 2024. Think hot pools, saunas, and copper tubs.
Travellers' Tales
A long distance love affair
We had our sights set on an intimate wedding. So, when we discovered The Stack, we knew it fit the brief: small, intimate, and unique, the kind of place you fall in love with at first sight.
Owner Chronicles
Off-grid living in Wales´ Cambrian Mountains
On the hunt for a remote and unspoilt location, James and Raffaella were determined to find a spot where "the wilderness was both the frame and the view": enter Tincture, an off-grid antidote to the everyday.
Interiors
The art of tablescaping
Taking inspiration from the spring florals framing the modern- luxe event barn at Anthology Farm. We delve into the task of making pins a reality with the art of tablescaping.
Fare
Food fables: Ian Ballantyne
January is behind us and, so, the season of that good winter grub resumes. Here, we speak with maker of feasts, fires, and friends Ian Ballantyne about what food means to him.
Fare
Michelin-starred stays for 2024
The results from the 2024 Michelin guide are in — here we round-up the newcomers and seasoned favourites, and the unique homestays conveniently based nearby.
Owner Chronicles
Wine and midwifery
Cocktail bars, homemade pavlova and a camper van set up in the farm fields; we meet Little Inka owners, learn about their home and their favourite spots to dine in Cornwall.
Lifestyle
At-home epicureans
It’s about time we returned to the dinner table, where poppadoms are piled and honey pitchers are passed. To the Tucci´s and Nigella´s of the world, let fly your at-home epicurean.
Lifestyle
Where was Saltburn filmed? (And 8 real-life estates you can rent this summer)
Filmed in Lowick, Northamptonshire, at Drayton House, the façade of Saltburn´s stately backdrop might be locked behind a fortified gateway, but we have the key to places just as bodacious.
Owner Chronicles
The disco donjon
Here lies a castle from storybooks. Yorkshire´s Castle Trinity is a place to escape from the everyday: be that in the form of discos after dark, or rambles through deer-speckled grounds.
Lifestyle
The year of the un-wedding; our wedding trend predictions for 2024
Bright colours, glittering disco balls and floral dresses, this year is set to see tradition make way for personality in the world of weddings. Read our forecast for 2024´s trends.
Interiors
Top interior trends for 2024
Nostalgic homes inspired by grandma’s kitchen rub shoulders with well-journeyed dwellings that embrace the essence of far-flung climes in our 2024 interior trend report.
Lifestyle
Rituals over resolutions
Make 2024 the year to reframe your New Year good-intentions; turn weight-loss to stretching, less chocolate to journaling. Here is your chance to enhance rather than restrict.
