Unique Living
Here we come together with our owners, guests and friends to bring you inspiring journal entries to ensure that you can ‘Live Unique’ all year round, long before and after your own Unique Homestays experiences.
Owner Chronicles
Of light and air | Saxon, The Cotswolds
Saxon is a place of decadence: of endless wings, four posters, and honeyed walls that seem eternally kissed by sunshine. And one that has watched history unfold for over a thousand years.
More from the Journal
Lifestyle
The best escapes in the UK for Easter
Longer days, open doors, the slight hint of warmth. With the Easter holidays around the corner, discover luxury retreats in the UK for family adventures.
Lifestyle
Footsteps through folklore
Many of our homes are immersed in settings shaped as much by story as by stone. Here, we take a journey through landscapes embedded with myth, memory and folklore, inviting travellers to draw inspiration and walk, quite literally, in the footsteps of legend.
Lifestyle
Homes for every kind of romance
Whether you´re drawn to wild landscapes, thoughtful design or the simple pleasure of staying put, these luxury retreats are made for different ways of being together.
Weddings
Wedding trends for 2026
In 2026, couples are rejecting cultural expectations and traditional constraints in favour of celebrations that are unmistakably theirs. What connects the most compelling weddings is a shared philosophy: every choice is a deliberate reflection of the couple’s personalities, tastes and values.
Owner Chronicles
Family first | Coswarth manor, Cornwall
Here, Unique Homestays´ founder Sarah Stanley invites us into her countryside Cornish manor, revealing how personal experience has been key to shaping both her business and home.
Lifestyle
The best homes for a wellness retreat
Wellness has shed its rigid definitions, becoming something more soulful and eclectic. These retreats across our wild Isles invite you to cultivate what makes you feel most alive, most held, most connected.
Interiors
Interior design trends for 2026: emerging ideas and influences
From past era furniture comebacks to expression through objets d´art, here is our list of predictions influencing the look and feel of our homes this year.
Guest Bloggers
Reflections on 2025: putting people first
As we transition into 2026, Unique Homestays founder and director Sarah Stanley reflects on a year that saw a deepening intent – and an emphasis on hospitality as an intrinsically human exchange.
Lifestyle
Unique Homestays turns 25 | A quarter century of extraordinary escapes
We take a closer look at 25 years of Unique Homestays. A quarter-century adventure combing our brilliant British Isles in search of the most extraordinary rental homes.
Weddings
The best UK honeymoon destinations for 2026
The time to book your getaway together has arrived, but where to go? Here, discover five of the most romantic cottages in the British Isles where honeymooners can ease into married life together.
Owner Chronicles
To become anew | Windfall, Herefordshire
This former Herefordshire cider mill – now reimagined as an idyllic countryside bolthole – has been named in homage to a term that denotes the cycle of life and regeneration, Windfall.
Lifestyle
8 luxury travel trends shaping 2026
2026 is set to see the super-wealthy swap caviar for hen’s eggs they’ve collected themselves. Whether grounding on a stately farmstay, a niche new hobby or unplugging in a stone cabin, the common trending thread is reconnection with something more elemental.
Lifestyle
The land of salt and stars
Winter may be a time of retreat, when we instinctively slow down. But it´s also a time of alchemy. Explore the British Isles, and within them, homes to reflect and recuperate in.
Fare
Recipe: Frangipane mince pies
One of my favourite festive treats is a frangipane mince pie. To me, they perfectly encapsulate the indulgence of Christmas. Here is our secret family recipe.
Weddings
The most romantic cottages in the UK for a winter proposal
For a winter proposal where the question (and the answer) can feel infinitely more intimate, discover five romantic cottages – from Cornwall to the Cotswolds – where the opportunities to propose are as endless as they are romantic.
Weddings
Inside the fairytale | Weddings at Scarlet Hall, Cheshire
Scarlet Hall in Cheshire is one of the UK´s most magical country house wedding venues. Here, we talk with owners Chris and Gail about what this special celebration home means to them.
Owner Chronicles
At the end of the earth | Silva, Scotland
At Silva, clocks are discarded and the order of the day is manned by Mother Nature herself. Here, you feel as though you’re at the end of the earth.
Guest Bloggers
In conversation with: Dr Darren Clarke, Charleston
We sit down with Dr Darren Clarke, Head of Collections and Research at Charleston, to explore the stories behind this remarkable house and the artists who made it their canvas.
Lifestyle
Disconnect to reconnect
Escape to Britain´s wildest winter retreats where luxury meets solitude. Discover hidden sanctuaries where stargazing, hot tubs and the precious gift of absence await.
Weddings
Five locations for a winter wedding wonderland
Summer weddings are all well and good, but for a celebration less ordinary, winter offers couples a kind of magic no other season can match.
Lifestyle
Eight holiday homes inspired by Christmas films
With the countdown on, we look to the best Christmas and New Year´s escapes inspired by festive film classics – from The Holiday to Home Alone.
Fare
In conversation with: Paul Ainsworth
The season of indulgence, here we chat with celebrated chef Paul Ainsworth about how travel has shaped his craft, and his journey into growing an empire of Cornish restaurants.
Owner Chronicles
A lesson in restoration | Drift Farmhouse, Ireland
This farmhouse, deep in Ireland’s wilderness, has been carefully treasured within the King family for over 160 years. Now posing as Ireland´s newest luxury wellness destination.
Lifestyle
New Year´s Eve 2025 | Eight of the best homes to celebrate in
However you choose to spend New Year’s Eve, our homes are made for merrymaking. Here, we round up eight of the best celebration homes with availability to book for NYE.
Lifestyle
Seven 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 seven unique homes across the UK where you can.
Lifestyle
Field to fork homestays
Discover enchanting retreats where garden-to-table living thrives, offering seasonal meals in settings where culinary magic meets harvest bounty.
Weddings
In bloom: a wedding editorial at Scarlet Hall
To celebrate spring, we organised an editorial shoot at a recent Scarlet Hall weddings open day - exploring the intersection between modern elegance, timeless beauty and romantic charm.
Weddings
Discover your wedding style
Our latest journal is taking a step back in time to fond flickers of nostalgia, to uncover your wedding venue.
Guest Bloggers
The cure for anything is salt water
Cornish seascape artist Claudia Corbridge shares how she turned her love and need for the ocean into a rewarding career.
Interiors
Decking the halls
We explore the way festive styling transcends baubles and tinsel to become an expression of ourselves and the traditions we hold dear.
Owner Chronicles
The power of connection | Redmere Hall, Wiltshire
Redmere Hall in Wiltshire is a place whose inspiration and design are rooted in togetherness. An ode to the power of connection.
Weddings
Five romantic retreats for a first wedding anniversary
It might only be one year in, but a first wedding anniversary is still a significant milestone. Celebrate accordingly with an escape to one of these romantic hideaways.
Lifestyle
A cultural immersion
From a South Downs retreat inspired by Soviet science fiction, to a mid-century artist´s clifftop home in Cornwall, cultural treasures come as standard with these escapes.
Owner Chronicles
Best of both worlds | Morse and Holanen, Mousehole
West Cornwall is fast earning its place as the county’s most “it” destination. Here, we learn of its appeal from two-time property owners Nick and Tim.
Lifestyle
Tread softly
Discover eco-conscious retreats where luxury meets sustainability, from starlit Kerry to the shores of Cornwall, each blending thoughtful design with natural splendour.
Guest Bloggers
Designer insider: Tess Newall
In our latest Designer Insider, we delve into the creative world of Tess Newall, where spaces come alive through her captivating murals.
Weddings
Five of the UK’s best summer wedding venues with private pools
For a wedding with a little something extra, this selection of luxury venues and their pools means a dip – intimate or otherwise – is always on the cards.
Owner Chronicles
On top of the tower | Found Tower, Suffolk
Here, we speak to owner Jonathan about what it’s like calling one of the world’s remaining Martello Towers, Found Tower in Suffolk, “home.”
Lifestyle
Five stays worthy of Jane Austen’s literary imagination
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the beloved novelist´s birth. If you´re in the mood for an Austen-inspired escape, these retreats should provide ample inspiration.
Lifestyle
Unique Homestays x Out of the Valley
Unique Homestays launches a wilderness sauna series in collaboration with Devon-based sauna craftsfolk, Out of the Valley.
Lifestyle
Holidays by design
From concrete monoliths in Norfolk to copper-clad Cornwall retreats, these architect-designed spaces are where design innovation meets dramatic landscape.
Weddings
The most romantic minimoon destinations in the UK
The best part, arguably, of the wedding-planning process has arrived: deciding on your getaway. The obvious choice is to travel long haul – these homes may persuade you otherwise.
Owner Chronicles
The loveliest spot that man hath found | The Tapestry, Lake District
Blink and you may just think you have arrived at Beatrix Potter’s “Hill Top” at this Lake District farmhouse. Step inside The Tapestry.
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 | Mirana, Cornwall
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 | Morwell, 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.
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 explore the South West Coast Path, and the best places to stay directly 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 | Carnivàle, Isle of Wight
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.
Weddings
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.
Weddings
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.
Weddings
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.
Weddings
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 | Charlotte´s Folly, Shropshire
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.
Weddings
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.
Owner Chronicles
Celestial living in the Welsh mountains
Divine timing came into play when owner Ceri and her husband were seeking a mountain hideaway in the Beacons. Here, we hear the magical story of their celestial Welsh home.
Weddings
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.
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
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.
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.
Weddings
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.
