The travel industry has exploded in recent years and holiday-goers are always searching for the next cool place to stay. But have you ever considered a stay in a shipping container? Don’t worry, you won’t be huddled on the floor wrapped in a sleeping bag in a cold metal box. Shipping container conversions are the latest trend and interior designers around the world are converting cargo carriers into luxury homes and holiday rentals. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, many travellers in 2022 have opted for staycations instead of travelling abroad. Therefore, now is the perfect time to book one of these incredible shipping container stays in the UK & Ireland, and see for yourself how fabulous the glamtainer trend is.
Want to book a shipping container stay in Ireland? Skip straight to the Ireland section here.
UK Shipping Container Stays
The Huxham Hideaway
Poltimore, Devon
The Huxham Hideaway has revolutionised the idea of container glamping, creating a truly luxury shipping container holiday experience on the Devon-Exeter border. The container has been converted to the highest standard, featuring bespoke 150 year old pine panelling along with Portuguese tiles and rose gold stainless steel furnishings. Complete with a fully fitted kitchen, a double bedroom and a flawless en-suite bathroom, the holiday home has everything you need for a secluded stay in the countryside. Visit in winter and fire up the wood burner for an ultra cosy stay, or come along in summer to enjoy the outdoor terrace and BBQ area overlooking the meadow.
Price per night: £187
Pet friendly? Yes.
Make a booking here.
The Container at the Lake
Bodmin, Cornwall
The Container at the Lake is well and truly off-grid and offers guests complete tranquility in the Cornish moors. Perched on the shores of a beautiful lake, the shipping container home is kitted out with a full kitchen, double bed, toilet, shower and wood burner. Most importantly, everything is powered by solar panels so that you can enjoy a piping hot shower after a wild swim in the lake. As well as having full use of the private jetty, you can pay £75 to hire a rowing boat for the duration of your stay. Bodmin Moor is an area of outstanding natural beauty and I can guarantee you’ll be pretty amazed by your surroundings. In fact, in 2017 the Moor was awarded International Dark Sky Status because of the exceptional quality of the night sky and the ability to see the milky way on cloudless nights.
Price per night: £130
Pet friendly? No.
Make a booking here.
The Cargo Cabin
Cilcain, North Wales
The Cargo Cabin is undoubtedly one of the most luxurious converted containers on this list. After retiring as a heavy duty shipping container a few years back, the Cargo Cabin was lovingly refurbished into a high-end holiday unit complete with beautiful furniture, an en-suite bathroom and a sleek kitchen. Found on a farm in rural North Wales, expect to open the curtains to meadows and wildflowers, as well as a friendly hello from the farm’s resident cows & sheep. Despite the luxury interior, it’s the sparkling outdoor bath with an integrated wooden rack for champagne flutes that has visitors coming back again and again. Pour in a big dollop of the complementary lavender bubble bath and sip on a glass of Moët on your private terrace for ultimate relaxation.
Price per night: £122
Pet friendly? No.
Make a booking here.
Chill Out Shipping Container
Dolphinton, Scotland
The Chill Out Shipping Container has a funky retro interior despite being found in the middle of a nature reserve on the Scottish Borders. The small space has been designed perfectly to include a comfy double bed, an en-suite with a shower, a kitchenette and an epic ‘chill out’ area with reclining chairs to enjoy the view from the floor to ceiling windows. Through these doors, you’ll find a south-facing terrace crafted from reclaimed timber, perfect for al fresco dining in the summer months or a cup of coffee on a chilly autumn morning. Although nestled in a blissfully serene location, the Chill Out Container is actually only twenty miles from Edinburgh. One thing’s for sure, we can definitely understand why the owners call it their ‘Wee Sanctuary’.
Price per night: £65
Pet friendly? No.
Make a booking here.
GlamNess Luxury Containers
Inverness, Scottish Highlands
Located just 10 minutes from the shores of Loch Ness, this collection of recycled shipping containers in Inverness ticks all of the boxes for accommodation and location. Set within 5 acres of beautiful Scottish countryside, the containers are all fitted out with a double bed, en-suite bathroom, kitchenette, sofa and TV. Even better, they all have a small private terrace with garden views. The GlamNess lodge is all about peaceful tranquility. Therefore, the shipping container campsite offers adults-only accommodation.
Price per night: £150
Pet friendly? No.
Make a booking here.
The CargoPod
St Osyth, Essex
A converted shipping container with a private log fired hot tub? Don’t mind if I do. Located on a farm in the Essex countryside, the CargoPod channels rustic chic with beech wood panelling and bright furniture. The space comprises a separate double bedroom, a small kitchen & dining area, a shower room with a toilet and a double sofa bed that can sleep two children. Obviously, the best thing about the CargoPod is the private hot tub. It’s only available at an additional cost, but it’s so worth it for a glass of bubbly underneath the stars.
Price per night: £65 (Sun-Thurs) or £90 (Fri-Sat)
Pet friendly? Yes, up to two dogs are allowed.
Make a booking here.
Shakas House
St Ives, Cornwall
Shakas House is a converted shipping container with all of the quirks you would expect from such a cool holiday rental, including an indoor hammock covered in fairy lights and a vintage wood burner. The container boasts an open plan living space with a fully integrated kitchen and comfy sofa. In the bathroom, you’ll find a bath instead of a shower to make your trip that little bit more relaxing. The outdoor deck is perfect for admiring the surrounding nature and enjoying a glass of wine at sunset.
Price per night: £140
Pet friendly? Yes.
Make a booking here.
The Tin Tent
Helston, Cornwall
The Tin Tent or ‘Rusty’ is one of the only family-friendly shipping container stays in the country, thanks to the nifty installation of a double platform bed with two singles underneath. The rustic living area features a wood-fired range which can be used to toast marshmallows in the evening, keeping the space cosy and warm. Also, there’s a double shower with hot water, a toilet and a kitchen. The container is found on a blissfully car-free meadow, meaning you’ll need to a take a short walk with your luggage in a wheelbarrow to reach your holiday home (but this is all part of the fun in my opinion). For an adventure-filled container holiday with the kids that’s just a short drive from the beach, there’s no better choice than The Tin Tent.
Price per night: £105
Pet friendly? Yes, dogs are welcome for an extra £30 per booking.
Make a booking here.
Ty Cwch Boathouse
Llwyndafydd, Wales
Ty Cwch Boathouse is not one but six shipping containers stacked together to create container holiday accommodation for up to 12 people. You can hire out the whole space or just book one pod and share the facilities with other guests. The upper level is made up of three sleeping containers with 2x bunk beds in each. On the lower level, you’ll find a kitchen container, a living container and loads of comfy outdoor seating. It’s not called the boathouse for nothing, Ty Cwch is literally metres from a beautiful little cove that’s perfect for kayaking, diving or swimming.
Price per night: £120
Pet friendly? Dogs are allowed for exclusive group bookings.
Make a booking here.
Shipping Container Stays in Ireland
Frank the Shipping Container
West Donegal, Ireland
Frank the Shipping Container really is the crème-de-la-crème of shipping container holiday accommodation. Previously used to carry JCB cargo, Frank has now embarked upon a new life on his very own small coastal lake. Overlooking Traighenna Bay on Donegal’s Wild Atlantic Way, Frank has been converted beautifully and the finish on this container is truly out of this world. Inside, you’ll find a separate double bedroom, a fully fitted kitchen, a dining table and a comfy sofa for snuggling up in the evening. Most importantly, the decking that juts out over the lake is the perfect spot for your morning coffee or sunset beverage. Frank is mere miles from some of Europe’s cleanest beaches and several quaint little towns dotted along this wonderful stretch of Irish coastline.
Price per night: £120
Pet friendly? Yes.
Make a booking here.
The Surf Shack
Ballycastle, Northern Ireland
The Surf Shack aims to provide an eco-tourism oasis on the Causeway Coast and the results are pretty remarkable. Complete with reclaimed wood cladding and vintage surfboards lining the walls, the upcycled shipping container is the perfect mixture of countryside and coast given its location on farmland just minutes away from the Giant’s Causeway. Inside, you’ll find fairy lights and rustic fittings dotted around the spacious studio complete with a double bed, a kitchenette and a cosy living area. The bathroom is located in an adjoining outhouse but features plenty of hot water and fluffy clean towels. A log burning stove & a mini hot tub make The Surf Shack an ideal location for a secluded winter getaway, whilst the outdoor wash down area is great for washing off the sand after a summer’s day on the beach.
Price per night: £214
Pet friendly? No.
Make a booking here.
The Beach House Shipping Container
County Louth, Ireland
This is arguably the best placed shipping container rental in the whole of the UK and Ireland. Set on 40 acres of private estate and right on the beach, you’ll have the perfect mixture of countryside and coast on your doorstep. The beach house container is newly renovated and features a gorgeous industrial style kitchen, a wood burner, a hot tub and a spacious wooden deck just metres from the sea. The container sleeps two on a sofa bed in the open plan living area and there is a private bathroom too. With floor to ceiling windows throughout, you could marvel at the ocean from the comfort of your cosy container for hours on end.
Price per night: £270
Pet friendly? Yes.
Make a booking here.
The Shipping Container
Bellewstown, Ireland
The interior of The Shipping Container in Bellewstown is reminiscent of a luxury town house and it really feels like home. It features a gorgeous fully fitted kitchen with sparkling white tiles and sleek grey cabinets, as well as a butler sink and a breakfast bar with high stools. In the living area you’ll find a wood burner and a large sofa covered in soft throws and cushions, whilst the bedroom boasts fitted wardrobes and views of the countryside. The modern bathroom has a brand new shower, toilet and sink area – you’ll even find a washing machine and dryer tucked away inside a cupboard. The container is found on a quiet patch of countryside in a sleepy village, yet it’s only 30 minutes from Dublin Airport.
Price per night: £70
Pet friendly? No.
Make a booking here.
