Quirky stays for every kind of traveller
These are places that feel like someone had a clear vision and followed it through. A mirrored house that disappears into its landscape. A converted aircraft fuselage set in open countryside. A futuristic pod with curved walls and panoramic glass. A townhouse that feels more like an art installation than a holiday rental.
Quirky stays aren’t about ticking a novelty box. They’re about originality. And that originality works for all kinds of travellers – from couples looking for something out of the ordinary to families who want a story to tell, to solo travellers seeking fresh perspective.
Romantic escapes with a twist
That might mean stepping into a restored 1960s airplane reimagined as a sleek retreat for two. Or staying in a dramatic glass cube suspended over a hillside, where sunsets become a shared ritual. Perhaps it’s a bold architectural hideaway clad entirely in blackened timber, its sharp lines softened by candlelight inside.
Romantic quirky stays tend to share a few defining traits:
- Unexpected structures – aircraft, cranes, boats reworked beyond recognition, sculptural modern builds.
- Immersive design – circular beds beneath domed ceilings, mirrored walls reflecting the landscape, retractable roofs for stargazing.
- Playful or dramatic features – slides between floors, hidden doors, statement bathtubs positioned for the view.
The difference lies in impact. These aren’t simply cosy places to stay; they’re spaces that shape the mood of the entire break. You cook differently in a space that feels like a film set. You linger longer in a copper tub set in the centre of a room with wraparound glass. You talk about the building itself as much as what you did that day.
For anniversaries, proposals or spontaneous weekends away, a striking setting elevates the experience. It feels deliberate. Personal. Unrepeatable.
Family-friendly quirky adventures
Quirky family stays might include a full-sized pirate ship grounded in a meadow, complete with rope bridges and porthole windows. Or a brightly painted railway carriage transformed into a vibrant family base. Perhaps it’s a cluster of technicolour geodesic domes that glow softly at night, feeling more like a small sci-fi village than a holiday park.
The key is that the quirk is immersive – not decorative.
For families, that often means:
- Interactive spaces – climbing nets, lookout platforms, slides, ladders and split-level layouts.
- Bold themes carried through properly – not just nautical cushions, but a stay that genuinely feels ship-like; not just retro prints, but a fully restored vintage bus with original details intact.
- Layouts that feel adventurous – mezzanine pods, curved corridors, unexpected transitions between spaces.
These are the kinds of places where the accommodation becomes part of the play. Where bedtime in a capsule bunk feels like boarding a spaceship. Where breakfast at a long reclaimed table inside a converted industrial unit feels like dining in a creative studio.
For parents, the joy is in seeing children completely absorbed by their surroundings. For everyone, it turns the trip into something more than a change of scenery. It becomes an experience in itself.
Adults-only and design-led oddities
Adults-only quirky stays often lean into this territory. Think angular concrete structures emerging from hillsides. Mirrored cabins that blur the boundary between building and landscape. Circular homes with central courtyards open to the sky. Floating structures with clean, futuristic lines.
Here, the individuality lies in the design language:
- Striking silhouettes that stand out against their backdrop.
- Material contrasts – steel and glass against raw earth, polished resin floors beneath exposed rafters.
- Spatial drama – double-height voids, suspended staircases, curved walls that guide you through the space.
These properties feel curated and cohesive. Every element has been considered. Lighting is deliberate. Furniture is sculptural. Even negative space feels intentional.
For grown-up getaways, this kind of quirk creates a different pace. Mornings unfold slowly in architectural kitchens. Afternoons are spent reading in window seats carved into thick walls. Evenings revolve around statement fireplaces or rooftop terraces.
The building itself becomes part of the conversation. Not in a loud way, but in a quietly confident one. It’s not just somewhere to sleep; it’s somewhere to experience.
Solo stays that inspire creativity
A sculptural tiny home perched on stilts above a wild landscape. A cylindrical tower conversion with wraparound views. A retro-futuristic pod with curved interiors and cleverly hidden storage. These are spaces that disrupt routine thinking.
For solo travellers, quirky stays offer:
- A shift in perspective – unusual geometry, light patterns and layouts subtly change how you move and think.
- Contained, intentional design – compact but cleverly executed spaces that feel like inhabiting an idea.
- A sense of separation – whether elevated, floating or tucked into unexpected corners of the countryside.
There’s clarity in staying somewhere that feels distinct from everyday architecture. You become more aware of your surroundings. The way light tracks across an angled wall. The acoustics inside a circular room. The view framed precisely by a vast pane of glass.
Writers, designers, photographers – or anyone simply craving a reset – often find that these environments help sharpen focus. The unfamiliar becomes energising rather than distracting.
And because the stay itself is so singular, time spent there feels intentional. You’re not just filling days. You’re inhabiting a concept.
Why quirky stays work
They also reflect individuality – often the vision of an owner, architect or designer who chose to do something different. That personality comes through in the details: the way space is used, the way materials are combined, the way light is prioritised.
For travellers, that individuality translates into:
- Memorability – you don’t confuse a mirrored cube with anywhere else you’ve stayed.
- Emotional impact – bold design, immersive themes or architectural drama create a stronger sense of occasion.
- Storytelling – these are the places you describe in detail long after the trip ends.
Importantly, quirk and quality go hand in hand. The most striking stays balance originality with comfort. Clever insulation within unusual structures. Smart heating in expansive glass spaces. Bathrooms that feel luxurious rather than makeshift. The design might be daring, but the experience is considered.
Ultimately, quirky stays appeal because they celebrate difference. They challenge the idea that travel accommodation should blend in or play it safe. Instead, they invite you to inhabit something imaginative – whether that’s for romance, family adventure, creative solitude or simply the joy of experiencing somewhere entirely unlike home.
For every kind of traveller, there’s a version of quirky that fits. Not just unusual for the sake of it, but bold, distinctive and thoughtfully executed.
And once you’ve stayed somewhere truly striking, it’s hard to go back to ordinary.
A truly quirky stay goes beyond surface-level novelty. It has a strong, cohesive concept — whether architectural, thematic or design-led — that shapes the entire experience. The structure, layout and interiors all work together to create something distinctive and memorable.
Not necessarily. While many quirky stays feature striking structures — like converted aircraft or sculptural modern builds — others stand out through bold interiors, immersive themes or imaginative use of space. It’s the overall vision that defines them.
Yes. The best quirky stays combine originality with quality. Expect proper beds, well-designed bathrooms, effective heating and thoughtfully equipped kitchens — all within a setting that feels creatively different.
Absolutely. Many quirky properties are ideal for couples, offering privacy, dramatic design features and memorable spaces that elevate anniversaries, proposals or spontaneous weekends away.
Many quirky stays are designed with families in mind. Immersive themes, playful layouts and interactive spaces can make the accommodation part of the adventure, while still offering practical amenities for parents.
Yes. Some quirky properties are adults-only, often focusing on architectural design, calm atmospheres and striking aesthetics that lend themselves to slower, more refined breaks.
Quirky stays can be ideal for solo trips. Distinctive design and unusual layouts often provide a refreshing change of perspective, making them well suited to creative retreats or restorative escapes.
Not at all. While some are set in dramatic natural landscapes, others are located in towns or cities. Quirkiness is about design and originality, not just location.
Prices vary widely depending on size, location and design. While some architecturally ambitious properties sit at the luxury end, there are also accessible options that offer originality without premium pricing.
A quirky stay adds character and individuality to your trip. Instead of blending into the background, the accommodation becomes part of the story — creating a stronger sense of occasion and memories that last well beyond the break itself.