A luxury converted US School Bus alongside the wonderful Sussex South Downs. Created for glamping adventures.
SKOOLIE STAYS
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One King-Size – two murphy folding bunks
The Skoolie has a comfortable king-sized bed and two 6ft bunk beds (slightly narrower than a standard single) that cleverly fold-away to create more space. Curtains are in place to screen off the bunks from the master bedroom and living area.
Firepit and benches
For most of the year you have your own private field!* There is a firepit with oak benches, your own deck perched above it and just loads of space to safely run around in! The bus's sundeck is just a step out, accessed via the master bedroom. It is the perfect place to watch the sun set and then, as night falls, the stars as they fill the sky.
*During May bank holiday weekends and August, the landowner operates a pop up campsite in the adjacent field. The two areas are separated by trees but campers access is at the bottom of your field and their access to the water tap is close to the bus. It should not affect your stay as campers are not permitted to be in front of the bus or close by.
Your own private field
The Skoolie Stays bus is in a field and we recommend you take wellies, especially on wet days. Walking boots and / or trainers are a good idea too - there is lots of wonderful walking in the area.
We have a two-burner gas stove on board with a frying pan, saucepan, milk pan and a Ridge Monkey... A what? A Ridge Monkey is a clam-shaped frying pan that makes toasties, fantastic grilled fish and meat, cooked breakfasts, basically anything!
We have a proper tiled shower with hot water and a special shower-head that keeps up good pressure. Our toilet is a top-of-the-range compost loo from Simploo. If you are scrunching your nose in distaste at the thought of campsite-style long-drops, this is entirely different. Simploo's award-winning toilet is smell-free and simple to use. We have left plenty of detail on board about how it all works and are confident you will be pleasantly surprised.
Check-in is from 2pm and check-out is 11am. If you would like early check-in / late check-out, contact us and we can check availability and quote for any additional costs.
Yes you can! There are lovely pubs, tea-rooms, cafes and restaurants nearby. Check out our local area page for more info.
The bus is fully-insulated with Cumbrian sheep's wool which keeps a lovely ambient temperature inside. We have a log-burning stove and a diesel heater for when the weather is cooler. On hot days, the reflective roof paint stops the bus absorbing the heat from the sun. Just open the hatches and plentiful windows to get a lovely through draft.
Our location in West Sussex is in a private meadow with views across to ancient woodland and the rolling South Downs. You are not overlooked, though a short walk takes you to walking routes into Thakeham. There is plenty of space for kids to play and a firepit in the field. Read more on our accommodation page.
Accessibility is largely dependent on your specific needs. Please note though, our location means the Skoolie is parked on uneven ground and has an uneven access route. There are also steep stairs from the bus door. Once inside, the floor surface is smooth but there are narrow areas. The bed is higher than a standard bed and may require use of a stool. The shower and toilet are ostensibly the same as standard shower and toilet facilities. Please do get in touch if you are concerned about accessibility and we can discuss things in more detail. There is no disabled access.
We are off grid and rely on solar for our energy. We have lots of panels so can comfortably charge all of your devices via usb charging points and a cigarette-style charging point. Please note, we do not have three-pin plugs so you will not be able use high energy items like hairdryers.
Afraid not! You are welcome to sit behind the wheel and take some photos of yourself in the driver's seat, but we are the only ones allowed to drive the bus. If you would like us to drive the bus to an event or festival for you, please get in touch.
Out lovely Skoolie home started life as a school bus in Manatee District, Florida. We actually visited the area in our Skoolie and kayaked with the manatees, it's a beautiful spot. Fact fans, the bit you want to know is that it is a 2001 International School Bus with a 7.6 litre Navistar and a 8T545 transmission.
There is masses to do! Hiking and biking on the Downs is wonderful, but there are also plenty of places to visit inland. Check out our Local Area page for more suggestions.
Sorry, we have a no pets policy and do not allow dogs on the Skoolie Stays bus.
We are unable to cancel or reschedule bookings within 8 weeks of your arrival date. Outside of 8 weeks, we are happy to help you move dates subject to availability. Please note you will need to pay the difference in cost (if there is one) for the new dates. If you still wish to cancel, we will refund your booking minus the non-refundable deposit. Please see our full Terms and Conditions for more details.
We follow the government’s rules. If there is a nationwide or local lockdown, we will allow guests to reschedule their booking. Any payments you have made (whether deposit or full balance) are subject to our standard cancellation policy.
We have a Bluetooth speaker in the bus as well as an acoustic guitar. We do ask that you are respectful to our neighbours and passing hikers, and also that you do not play music outside between 10pm and 8am.
Yes. We have 2400w of solar power and that is more than enough to charge your devices through the USB outlets on board. We've got a USB-C laptop charger too!
Yes, there is a private off-road parking spot just for you. A trolley will be available to help you get your gear across the field to the bus.
From London / the North: Train to Horsham Station then catch the 74A bus from Horsham Station to Storrington. We are just a couple of minutes after Thakeham / Abingworth on the Storrington Road. From Brighton / South Coast: Train to Worthing then catch the 1 bus from Worthing to Midhurst. Stop at Thakeham Road and walk up the Storrington Road. Please note, it is a 15-25 minute walk from the bus stop through Little Thakeham Farm.