Luxury cabin-style glamping with a private hot tub in the West Sussex countryside
Luxury cabin-style glamping with a private hot tub in the West Sussex countryside
A secluded nature retreat near Pulborough & the South Downs — uniquely set inside a beautifully converted American bus.
Your own cosy cabin-style hideaway, with a twist
Tucked away in a peaceful meadow at Little Thakeham Farm, Skoolie Stays blends the warm, rustic feel of a woodland cabin with the character of a handcrafted American school bus conversion. Expect timber-lined interiors, soft lighting, a king-size bed and your own wood-fired hot tub beneath the oak tree — all surrounded by wide-open countryside and total tranquillity.
Whether you’re escaping from London, Brighton, Kent, Hampshire or further afield, this is a romantic retreat, a family glamping break, or a digital detox escape with all the comfort you actually want.
Prefer a more traditional log-cabin style retreat, take a look at our other luxury glamping lodge The Vacationist Eco-Cabin, located in East Sussex.
Everything you need for a luxury cabin-style stay
Luxury Glamping with a Hot Tub in a Quiet Meadow
From lazy mornings on the deck to stargazing in the South Downs Dark Sky Reserve, this is glamping with a hot tub done properly — peaceful, cosy and completely off-grid in feel. Handmade furnishings, repurposed materials and panoramic windows create a calming, cabin-like atmosphere in every season.
Here's the Skoolie - click on each pic to see in full!
A big yellow bus your kids (and you!) will never forget
If you’ve ever wanted to stay somewhere that makes grown-ups grin and kids absolutely lose their minds… this is it. The Skoolie is an actual American school bus, shipped all the way from Florida and transformed into a cosy cabin-on-wheels — complete with the original driver’s seat, retro dash and those huge iconic windows.
Inside, you’ll find handcrafted bunks that kids race to claim, a king-size bed for the adults, and loads of quirky touches that make it feel like a little adventure the moment you step on board. Families love it because it’s fun without being chaotic. Couples love it because it’s quirky without being gimmicky. There is so much natural stimulation and peace on the bus and at the site it is also perfect for a screen-free retreat. Both for adults, and those with kids. Everyone loves it because it feels like a story waiting to happen. What’s more, our wonderful glamping bus comes from our own story – all 14000 miles of our US road trip.
This is one of those places your children will talk about for months — and one you’ll secretly be just as excited about.
A peaceful digital detox retreat in West Sussex
If you’re craving time offline, this secluded spot is ideal for a digital detox stay — silence, space, nature and slow living.
This part of West Sussex is already known for its digital-detox atmosphere, with other off-grid-style cabins and unplugged stays nearby. The Skoolie offers the same calming reset, with the added charm of a handcrafted, cabin-style interior, wide countryside views and a private wood-fired hot tub.
Or, are you after a purpose-built cabin for your digital detox? Explore The Vacationist Eco-Cabin in our other private field.
A beautiful lodge for your stay in the country
The Vacationist is an eco-cabin, designed and built on an old agricultural trailer. It is carbon-neutral, giving you the opportunity to experience some of the amazing eco initiatives and products that are available to those keen to reduce their carbon footprint.
Sleeps 4 - Open year round
Find Us in a Quiet Meadow Near Pulborough, Thakeham & Storrington
Nestled beneath the South Downs, the Skoolie sits among farmland, old oaks and wildlife — a peaceful escape from busy life.
Arundel
Amberley
Knepp
Wiston Estate
Stopham Vineyard
Parham Park
The Downs Link
Littlehampton & Worthing beaches
A perfect base for walking, wine tasting, nature watching, and slow weekend retreats.
Skoolie stays in the press
National Trust
'Wild Escapes' featuring Skoolie Stays!
Look out for us in National Trust’s latest release. Skoolie Stays is featured as one of 40 top stays in the UK.
Read more about Skoolie Stays in the press, on tv and in books in our recent article.
What our guests say about us
We work hard to keep the Skoolie Stays bus glamping experience exciting, enchanting, and fresh for all our guests of all ages.
This is just a selection but you can look at them in more depth in our Guest Reviews article or see them directly on our Facebook page or our Google listing and tune in to our social media to follow along!
Location
Nestled in a peaceful meadow beneath the South Downs, our Sussex glamping spot is perfect for escaping city life. Explore ancient woodland, spot wildlife, or walk the South Downs Way right from your door. Nearby villages like Arundel offer castles, cosy pubs, and great food — all just a short drive from London, Kent or Surrey.
accommodation
Skoolie Stays is a solar-powered, off-grid glamping Sussex hideaway set in a converted American school bus. Thoughtfully designed with handmade furniture, cosy touches, and repurposed bus features, it blends comfort and character in a truly quirky glamping experience. Whether you’re after a romantic break or a family adventure, it’s a stay like no other.
things to do
From clifftop walks to vintage tea rooms and local markets, there’s plenty to explore during your glamping break in Sussex. Enjoy coastal paths, open-air museums like Amberley Heritage Centre, and family favourites like Arundel’s Norman castle or the beach at Littlehampton.
The American bus that became a cabin retreat
We brought this genuine yellow school bus back from the US and transformed it by hand into a warm, cosy, cabin-style hideaway. The story is part of the charm — but what guests remember most is the comfort, the calm, and the feeling of stepping into somewhere truly different.
Want a larger deck or a full log-style cabin? Visit our sister property — The Vacationist Eco-Cabin, just over the field.
Ready for your West Sussex escape?
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– SLEEPS 4 – SUSSEX LOCATION – OPEN YEAR-ROUND –