Lauren Le Page
Prior to joining Unique Homestays in 2018, Lauren was a freelance travel journalist. Now, when not writing content for the website, she can be found camping or hiking across Dartmoor with her young family.
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.
More by Lauren
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
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.
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
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.
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.
Owner Chronicles
A safe port on Cornwall´s north coast
Built into the sand dunes on Porthtowan beach, Monterey offers front row thrills for storm watching twinned with tranquility and peace. We speak with the owners to find out more.
Lifestyle
The Journeyman
Compelled to move, inspired to taste and destined to travel; the human instinct to be in motion is so ingrained within us, that it´s no wonder the journey so often exceeds the destination.
Interiors
From 17th century farmhouse to modern masterpiece; a look inside The Dancer´s Room
We speak with owner, Nick, who tells us of The Dancer´s Room´s transformation to a townhouse-under-thatch, along with all the reasons he loves his Oxfordshire escape.
Interiors
Unique Homestays partners with Bert & May at Suki
We speak to founder of artisan, luxury tile company, Bert & May, deep-diving into the brand´s history, ideology and curated collection of one-of-a-kind tiles.
Lifestyle
Scavenger hunts
This month we celebrate the scavengers amongst us; the genius craftmanship that turns tumbled trees into grand dining tables and repurposed sea relics into pieces of art at luxury self-catering homes around the nation.
Owner Chronicles
A family affair at The Sculptor´s Gardens
A topiary pyramid avenue, crooked timber beams and secret gardens dotted with flowers; we speak to owner Alex to find out what he loves so much about his property.
Lifestyle
Folkloric influence
Free-spirited and with creative craftsmanship at their core, this month´s hand-picked collection of homes embrace the folklore aesthetic and all it represents.
Lifestyle
The Unique Homestays guide to large country homes to rent in the UK
Reunions, celebrations, anniversaries or just because, get the whole gang together in a country house for the weekend, or week, this autumn.
Owner Chronicles
A new life for the Barnes family at Anthology Farm
The idea of renovating a house while running a 500-acre farm and raising young children would make many people want to run for the hills. But not this family.
Lifestyle
Buildings built to move us
Touching on the subject of neuroarchitecture in design, this month we explore eight homestays which stir the soul. Relaxation, creativity and pure escapism; nothing is left uncovered at these purposeful properties.
Lifestyle
The Unique Homestays guide to the Cotswolds
Palaces, through-hikes and fine-dining en masse, the Cotswolds offers a staycation destination the whole family can enjoy.
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
Rooms in bloom
Walled gardens, wild valleys and pergolas tangled in ivy; this month we showcase some of our finest homes with gardens.
Lifestyle
A love letter to summer
The longest day of the year and the largest music event in the country have marked the beginning of summer with heatwaves, sea swims and glitter.
Owner Chronicles
Gothic flamboyance on the Welsh coast
A true family affair, hosts Ffion and her father Meirion go to the ends of the earth to ensure guests have an extraordinary stay at their fairytale manor on the remote West Wales coast.
Lifestyle
The wedding edit
Country manors, romantic boltholes and rustic barns; this month we showcase our exclusive-use wedding venues, with some honeymoon inspiration thrown in for good measure.
Lifestyle
The Unique Homestays guide to family travel in the UK
With half term and the summer holidays galloping towards us, this month´s edition of the Unique Homestays travel guide puts children at the forefront of travel plans.
Lifestyle
Stay in the homes of artists and aristocrats
Behind the doors of Britain’s most unique and luxurious homes lie untold stories. Come and discover them for yourself...
Lifestyle
Enchanted cottages from the pages of fairytales
Delve into the land of fairytales with a stay in an enchanted cottage, hidden in some of the UK´s wildest corners.
Lifestyle
A love letter to spring
Spring. A welcome reminder that once given the time to rest, beauty comes forth with quiet confidence, bringing with it hope, peace and joy.
Lifestyle
The Unique Homestays guide to Sussex
Vineyards, galleries, festivals and one of the country’s most esteemed opera houses, here’s our pick of the best in East and West Sussex’s green and pleasant lands.
Lifestyle
Lavish homes for grand gatherings
As restrictions ease and the UK opens up, it´s time to plan our grandest of gatherings yet; think late nights sipping wine, children playing hide and seek and Champagne towers.
Lifestyle
Where to go for cold water therapy
We invite you to run far from the concrete jungles which sprawl across our land to dip your toes in Britain´s effervescent shores, trickling streams and cascading waterfalls.
Lifestyle
2022 travel trends
Indulgent reunion parties and retreats in the wild, idle breaks by the sea and a newfound love for a world that has been out of reach for the past 18 months, 2022 sets to see the world of travel beam with enthusiasm.
Lifestyle
Best UK staycations for 2022
With adventures galore spread far and wide across the United Kingdom, we showcase some of best luxury self-catering homes for the coming year.
Owner Chronicles
At home with Sarah
This month, the last of our 20th year in business, we bring our focus back to our roots and talk with Unique Homestays founder Sarah Stanley.
Lifestyle
A maximalist Christmas
Christmas 2021. It deserves our full attention. Attention to detail, to experience and to one another. After last year’s quieter affair, this December it seems only right to throw out all the stops for your festive escape.
Lifestyle
The cosy club
This month we bring you some of our cosiest homes and cottages for autumn, where curling up by roaring fires after a gentle ramble to the nearest pub for lunch is a large enough expedition.
Lifestyle
Britain, but make it Wonderland
Today we introduce Britain in Wonderland; a story of our homes, their owners and the guests who reside in them. We invite all who step through our doors to let go of their usual guise, to dig into imagination and to shrug the veil of the status quo from their shoulders.
Lifestyle
The Great British summer holiday
With the staycation trend settling in for the long-haul, it’s time to rally the troops and secure your dates for summer 2022.
Lifestyle
Luxury homes with swimming pools
Dive into pure relaxation and out of the ordinary with our pick of luxury holiday homes with swimming pools, both inside and out, near the sea and deep within England´s bucolic countryside.
Lifestyle
Hedonistic Hideouts
Offering liberation from routines, vibrancy to everyday and the opportunity to step out of life as we know it, these hedonistic homes are all about having a mighty good time.
Lifestyle
The English Garden
Our gardens and windowsills are a sort of sanctuary. Here, we invite you to kick off your shoes to wander through some of the finest English garden escapes on our portfolio.
Lifestyle
A life led simply
If there’s anything we’ve learnt from the past 12 months, it’s that the answer to a happy life lies within its uncomplicated moments. This month we shine a light on minimalist living and humble, honest homes.
Lifestyle
Nomadic Instinct
As humans, we were born to roam; to follow the seasons and to chase the hunt, to be in motion with the sun, to pack up camp and drift when the full moon glows upon the earth.
Owner Chronicles
A look inside the self-designed family home, Cadence, of architect Adam Richards
Taking inspiration from the stories which have made up his life, walking through the silky, reinforced concrete halls of Adam Richard´s unique home takes guests on a global, and often other-wordly, exploration.
Lifestyle
The alchemy of architecture
Homes which ride the wave of trends and lifestyle throughout the ages are homes which embody the spirit of the alchemist.
Lifestyle
The tonic to a post pandemic world: treat yourself to a wellness break
More than ever before, the need to look after ourselves is paramount. After 12 months of straying not much further than our gardens or nearby parks, of parenting and working around the clock with no relief, it really is time for some well deserved ‘me time’.
Lifestyle
Less is more: introducing our Limited Edition Collection
Reflecting on the past year brought to mind our Limited Edition Collection of properties. These homes have a small but mighty range of availability and can only be hired for a few weeks per year, offering the perfect antidote to this rather unusual year.
Lifestyle
Cabin hideouts: the best luxury cabins in the UK & Ireland
There´s something soothing about taking up residence between walls made of timber, where the wild views and scent of the forest floor combine with mankind. This month we shine a light on the cosiest luxury cabins across the UK & Ireland.
Lifestyle
Dark sky dreaming
Discover our nation’s Dark Sky Reserves where the skies are so big and stars so bright you could almost reach out, pluck one from the black and put it in your pocket for later.
Lifestyle
Britain´s Best Journeys
There is more to this island nation than one could ever imagine, if only you would take a moment to look beyond the well-trodden and explore further than where the guidebooks lead. We explore the country’s greatest journeys, by foot, rail, car and water.
Lifestyle
Indulge in a Digital Detox
Counter those days hunched over a keyboard in one of our remotest homes across the United Kingdom, where the WiFi is often weak at best and soul-lifting escapes in nature are guaranteed.
Interiors
Haute Bohemian
The bohemians of the 70s channelled freedom and hope into their interiors and, following a revival on the catwalk last year, the era is making a firm come-back in high-end homeware. No avocado bathroom suites here though; think soft curves, lustrous velvets and big on botanicals.
Lifestyle
Brave Travel
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”
Fare
Great British vineyards
With almost 600 vineyards spreading across our green and pleasant lands, oenophiles no longer need to travel to France or Argentina to wander through vines to sip zingy fizzes or rich reds.
Lifestyle
Wild Escapes
With such inspiring landscapes spanning the length and breadth of the United Kingdom and a planet in the depths of a climate emergency, we ask one very important question; is international travel really a necessity?
Interiors
Modern Feminine
This year we’re seeing fresh feminine hues and soft fabrics bring a touch of woman to our homes; where once there was grey is now emblazoned with floral prints, where there was navy is now pastel in shade.
Lifestyle
Get Outside in Dartmoor National Park
South West England’s largest expanse of wilderness hides a treasure trove of lush valleys, ancient woodlands and secret wild-swimming pools hidden beneath the watchful eye of electric blue dragonflies. Captivating and addictive, Dartmoor National Park will drag you back again and again.
Lifestyle
Luxury Homes for the Cheltenham Race Festival
Hat wearing, Champagne drinking and gripping horse races, the Cheltenham Festival has become one of the most prestigious events in any socialite’s calendar. Top it all off with a cherry on top of an already rather decadent cake with a luxury homestay just a short distance away.
Lifestyle
6 Wedding Trends to Inspire in 2019
Weddings are always exciting, but with 2019’s trends promising an explosion of colour and personalisation, the coming year is set to blow the wedding experience right out of the water.
Lifestyle
Unconventional Love
Love deserves more than a wilting bunch of flowers picked up from the train station in a rush on the way home from work; it deserves sipping the finest red wine by glowing candlelight followed by long lie ins under thick French linens.
Lifestyle
Make 2019 a Year to Remember
Here we list our favourite boltholes which really pack some punch with personality, where long hikes and daring adventures are expected and the opportunity to really live is presented. The perfect beginning to 2019!
Lifestyle
Hideaway in the Highlands This Winter
With the last of mainland Britain’s great wilderness crammed into its rather compact territory, Scotland harbours a landscape which remains loyal to its ancient, spectacular and turbulent past.
Travellers' Tales
Embracing Autumn at Maberly
We arrived at Maberly when the first threats of an autumn storm were beginning to lick at the fallen leaves. Hurrying inside before the rain began to fall, we were immediately enveloped in the house’s charm and glamorous intimacy.
Owner Chronicles
Unique Homestays Autumn Get Together
We gathered together with Unique Home Stays’ friends and owners for an evening of delicious morsels and sweet tipples to celebrate the end of the season at rock´n´roll country home, Pearl´s Place.
Lifestyle
Luxury Homes for a Christmas Break
From large homes which can accommodate the whole family and the Christmas feasts that go along with them to small, romantic boltholes far from the hustle of bad traffic and small-talk, we’ve got a luxury home stay to suit every flavour this Christmas.
Lifestyle
Gather Together this October Half Term
In a season where spiced lattes, welly boots and mum´s roast dinner reigns above all else, gather the brood in one of our large family-friendly self-catering homes this October half term.
Lifestyle
English Country Escapes
Embodying all that is English about England, the counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset offer a myriad of opportunities to experience pretty village culture, long hikes in the hills, cider drinking and of course, Glastonbury Festival.
Travellers' Tales
A Midweek Home from Home at the Limit
Peeking out between the wild rhubarb, The Limit’s approach alone gives a sense of wonder, the feeling of being alone, finally, in this busy world of ours. The greatest part? Here there was no sound other than the birds, the sea, the wind whispering across the dunes.
Lifestyle
Wales, Where all that Glitters is Gold
A culture deeply rooted in folklore and fiction, a mountainous landscape dominated by greys and greens and a language which fiercely distinguishes this Celtic nation from any other; Wales packs more beauty and personality into its compact mass of land than it would seem possible.
Lifestyle
Discover Poldark’s Cornwall
Handsome looks, dramatic lives and sweeping Cornish vistas; Poldark certainly knows how to showcase the best of Cornwall. Run away for a Cornish break to colourful moorland and turquoise waters hidden in secret, hard-to-get-to coves.
Lifestyle
Exploring Cornwall’s Hidden Corner
Often overlooked by the masses, and all the better for it, Whitsand Bay and its four miles of gorgeous golden beaches and huge cliffs spread across the southeastern coast of Cornwall.
Lifestyle
A Hundred Thousand Welcomes to Ireland
Run away to the Emerald Isle where giant cliffs fall from the sky to the sea, clouds sit heavy in mountain valleys and colourful villages dot the landscape.
Lifestyle
Family Escapes for May Half Term Breaks
With May half term and the promise of sun just around the corner, it´s time to kick off those shoes and recline into a week of downtime. Read on to discover a collection of beautiful, exceptional escapes available for all the family.
