From secluded cabins in the woods to waterfront retreats, here are some of the comfiest cabins in the UK to book for a cosy rural escape this autumn with prices starting £110 a night
Adam Henson has launched two cabins for the public to stay in at his farm
s, Christian Abbott and Liam Ryder Digital Production Editor
14:37, 19 Sep 2025Updated 14:44, 19 Sep 2025
Fans of BBC Countryfile presenter Adam Henson have a unique chance to spend the night at his farm park in the Cotswolds. The celebrity, who lives at the much-loved 650-hectare Cotswold Farm Park with his wife Charlie, has unveiled two new luxury cabins for guests.
These additions enhance the existing accommodation options, which include hot tub cabins and snug lodges. Situated approximately five miles from the tourist hotspot of Bourton-on-the-Water, the farm park now provides more choices for those considering an overnight stay to fully enjoy all it has to offer. Each cabin can house four guests and bookings are open from now until October 31.
Reservations for the new Ash and Oak cabins are priced at £195 per night. Ash Cabin boasts two double beds, while Oak Cabin features one double bed and a bunk bed with two singles.
The star can often be seen roaming around the park(Image: PAUL NICHOLLS TRINITY MIRROR)
An exclusive offer from Cotswold Farm Park Holidays might make the proposition even more appealing. A discount of 25 per cent will be applied to all new bookings made before September 30, according to Birmingham Live.
To avail of the savings, bookers need to use the code AUTUMNESCAPE. Included in the cost of the stay is free entry to the farm park. These opulent cabins come fully kitted out to accommodate either a group of four or a family, featuring bathrooms with rainfall showers, basins, toilets, and electric towel warmers.
The living space is complete with a dining area, tv, and sofa, while the kitchen boasts a fridge, toaster, kettle, two-ring electric hob, oven, and coffee maker. The accommodation is perfect for a break in the picturesque Cotswolds.
There are plenty of accommodation options to choose from, including the Sunset Lodges (pictured)(Image: PAUL NICHOLLS TRINITY MIRROR)
This move comes on the heels of the 59-year-old celebrity’s announcement earlier this year about his departure from his Cotswolds farm. Adam divulged that he and Charlie had opted to shift to a nearby bungalow after taking over the farm established by his father, Joe, in 1971.
It appears that Adam’s children have decided against following in their father’s farming footsteps, leading the TV star to transition away from the beloved family homestead in Gloucestershire.
In conversation with the Express about the legacy of the Cotswolds farm, he commented: “My dad was ahead of his time by opening a farm for people to come and visit, bottle-feed a lamb or hold a chick.”
Despite Adam’s deep-seated love for wildlife, which stems from his childhood, it seems this passion hasn’t been inherited by his children, as the presenter acknowledges that the agricultural lifestyle hasn’t enthralled his offspring. He elaborated: “Sure, they can lamb a sheep and drive a tractor, but my daughter lives in Perth as an events organiser and my son is a financial advisor in Leeds.”
Cruise passengers have been warned to check certain items in their cabins before they start settling into their holiday – and it will only take a few minutes
(Image: Getty Images)
When you board a cruise, it’s natural to want to ditch your bags and head straight to the pool or buffet, and get the holiday started as soon as possible.
However, insiders have suggested that before you head out, you should get settled in your cabin properly. That includes doing a quick sweep of the “high traffic areas” which previous passengers may have been touching, which may not fall into the crew’s list of deep cleaning priorities.
Unpacking your bags, getting your bearings and joining the safety drills before the ship sails are all on most people’s radars already, but according to industry experts, there are approximately seven items that you may want to sanitise before you can truly settle in.
When sharing their advice on the first things to do when you board a cruise, the team at Cruise Critic explained: “We’re not suggesting that your cabin steward isn’t doing a proper job at cleaning your room. But a little extra precaution never hurt anyone, and it will just take a few minutes to sanitise (or re-sanitise) certain areas of your cabin.”
There are a few checks to make before you can settle into your cabin (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The seven “high-traffic areas” in your cabin which you may want to check are the “doorknob, deadbolt, TV remote, light switches, bathroom faucets, thermostat, safe keypad”, as well as other items you think might have been picked up a lot by previous passengers. (We know, it’s not nice to think someone else has been in the room before you but of course that’s the reality!). The experts added: “If you want to go the extra mile, rewash the bar glasses if your cabin has them.”
Before the ship sails off, you may also want to check your phone, or you may end up facing some hefty bills when you get home. In fact, there’s a costly mistake which quite a lot of passengers make with their phones onboard the ship.
You may not be getting any signal at sea, but that doesn’t mean that data roaming charges won’t apply. Most people assume that because they are unable to connect to the internet unless they opt for a cruise line’s Wi-Fi package, then their phone won’t be incurring data charges. However, even at sea your phone may intermittently connect to maritime networks and satellites – and you’ll be hit with the fees that come alongside this.
Opting for a Wi-Fi package can be an easy way to avoid these types of costs, but of course these can be quite expensive. If you’re sticking to a budget or you’re quite happy to ditch your social media feeds and emails for a few days, then one of the easiest ways to avoid the potentially high costs is to switch off data roaming, or at least put your phone on airplane mode.
Want to join our cruise community?Sign up to Anchors Awayfor a weekly dose of cruise news, sneak peeks inside ships and travel tips we think you’ll love.
A luxury train journey vowing to ‘showcase the very best of modern England and Wales’ has hit a major snag following a last-minute cancellation, despite passengers forking out thousands on a ticket
The stunning train journey showcases the very best of modern England and Wales(Image: Getty Images)
The country’s most luxurious new train which idles past rolling countryside and golden beaches has hit a major snag – for the second time this month. There’s no denying the UK’s railways are in dire need of significant reform. Riddled with hefty delays and last-minute cancellations – most Brits have endured the commute from hell thanks to unreliable trains and overcrowded carriages.
When you’re forking out a staggering £11,000 for a double cabin, you would expect a much better, more efficient, service. However, the acclaimed Belmond has axed its inaugural run of its newest fleet, the Britannic Explorer, once again.
The Britannic Explorer has been branded one of the poshest trains in the world(Image: Belmond)
Featuring an onboard spa, a world-class menu curated by a Michelin-star chef, and sleek rooms that look like they belong in a five-star hotel – the Britannic Explorer is the epitome of elegance. Earlier this year, the sleeper train unveiled it will be taking passengers on an incredible three-night journey to Wales via the west of England and the iconic Cotswolds.
Not only do guests get to marvel at stunning stretches of coastline, lush mountain ranges and unspoilt countryside – they can also partake in excursions such as hikes in the Welsh national parks, clay pigeon shooting and a trip to a luxury boozer.
The unique experience, does however come with an insane price tag – with a double cabin costing £11,000.
Hopping on board isn’t cheap, with double cabins priced at £11,000(Image: Belmond)
“Highlights on the Wales route include a picnic-style lunch featuring delights like rarebit and leek tart,” the company said. “Each dining experience onboard will reflect the landscape outside the train’s windows, using the freshest local ingredients to create an immersive culinary journey that celebrates the diverse flavours and stories of England and Wales.”
The boujee train was due to depart from London Victoria at 3.45pm on Monday, July 21 – but passengers were informed the night before that the journey had been suddenly cancelled. This follows a similar decision to cancel a three-night trip to Cornwall earlier this month (July 4).
The train has been cancelled twice this month(Image: Belmond)
Speaking to the Mirror, a Belmond spokesperson said the ‘difficult decision’ to postpone the inaugural journey of the Britannic Explorer was not ‘taken lightly’. “During the routine pre-trip protocol checks over the weekend, we encountered unforeseen technical issues related to the door mechanism,” they said.
“Despite the dedicated efforts of our engineering team, the issue could not be resolved in time, and as a result, we had to make the difficult decision to cancel the trip. As always, guest welfare and reliability of our train operations remain paramount.”
Belmond confirmed that that every affected guest was offered a full refund, along with a complimentary future journey aboard the Britannic Explorer in 2025 or 2026. “In addition, we are covering any related expenses incurred as a result of the cancellation,” the spokesperson added. “Our team worked closely with each guest to arrange immediate alternative accommodation where needed.”
Do you have a story to share? Email us at [email protected] for a chance to be featured.
The infamous ‘Poop Cruise’ – where passengers were left stranded without any power and had to poo in bags – made global headlines back in 2013 as the chaos unfolded
Kendall Jenkins kisses the ground after stepping off the Carnival ship Triumph at the Alabama Cruise terminal(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Netflix documentary series Trainwreck explores some of the most bizarre, jaw-dropping, and at times downright revolting events in recent history. One particularly unforgettable episode focuses on a maritime disaster that made global headlines: the infamous “Poop Cruise”.
In February 2013, the Carnival Triumph cruise ship set sail from Galveston, Texas, with more than 4,000 passengers and crew onboard, bound for a leisurely four-day Caribbean getaway. But the holiday quickly unravelled into chaos.
On the third day, a fire erupted in the aft engine room. Though the blaze was quickly extinguished and no injuries were reported, it critically damaged the ship’s main power systems. The Triumph was left drifting in the Gulf of Mexico without propulsion, or basic functioning utilities.
Passengers laying on mattresses on the third deck of the ship (Image: AFP/Getty Images)
With the power out, vital systems failed, including air conditioning, refrigeration, and most importantly, the sewage and sanitation infrastructure. What followed was a nightmare.
Toilets stopped working. Raw sewage began leaking into hallways and cabins, filling the ship with a stench described by passengers as unbearable. Many were forced to relieve themselves in plastic bags and red biohazard bags, as bathrooms became unusable.
With the air conditioning offline, temperatures inside soared, making the interior suffocatingly hot and humid. Dozens of passengers chose to sleep on open decks just to escape the heat and foul odours.
Food quickly became scarce. Without refrigeration, the crew did what they could, serving cold sandwiches and sparse meals often consisting of little more than bread and vegetables. Water was rationed, and tensions steadily rose.
Although communication with the outside world was limited, word of the ship’s grim conditions quickly spread. Images of the stranded vessel and its desperate passengers went viral, drawing international media attention.
Images from the stranded vessel went viral(Image: SWNS)
After five gruelling days, the Carnival Triumph was finally towed to port in Mobile, Alabama, bringing an end to the ordeal, but not to the controversy.
In the aftermath, investigations uncovered troubling details. CNN obtained documents showing only four of the ship’s six generators were functioning before departure, and that Carnival had prior knowledge of both fire hazards and fuel line issues. Records revealed nine separate fuel line incidents in just two years, raising serious questions about the company’s maintenance practices and safety protocols.
As lawsuits mounted and scrutiny of the cruise industry intensified, Carnival found itself in damage control.
Then-President and CEO Gerry Cahill issued a public apology, saying: “I want to again apologise to our guests and their friends and families. The situation on board was difficult and we are very sorry for what has happened. We pride ourselves on providing our guests with a great vacation experience and clearly we failed in this case.”
Kimberly Townsend, a 54-year-old mother of two and grandmother of three, was among 31 passengers who sued Carnival, holding the company accountable for what they describe as a disastrous voyage.
The cruise liner eventually docked in Alabama (Image: Getty Images)
In her testimony, Townsend gave a vivid and emotional account of the harrowing days spent aboard the disabled ship stranded in the Gulf of Mexico. She described terrified passengers crowding the decks, worried for their safety, while foul-smelling toilets overflowed into hallways. There was no power, near-total darkness, long waits for limited water, and a severe lack of food.
Townsend recalled finally managing to reach her mother by phone once the crippled ship was towed into Mobile, Alabama – arriving days late from what was meant to be a dream vacation. She told the court she had begged her mother to come get her right away. As she recounted the moment, her voice faltered, she looked down, and began to sob in the witness chair.
She was one of several passengers from the Carnival Triumph who took the stand, some breaking down in tears, as they spoke about the ordeal and the emotional toll that still lingers a year later.
Passengers slept outside to escape the smell (Image: SWNS)
“I did not get physically injured. I got mentally injured,” testified Jean Cripps, a 74-year-old grandmother who suffers from Parkinson’s disease. She went on the cruise with her husband, Alton, who has diabetes and a hurt leg that forced him to retire disabled. The elderly couple was on the cruise as a present from their son, David, and grandson, Easton, who went with them.
“It never ends, the whole experience never ends,” testified Cripps. “It’s over and over again. We had two good days,” she said, referring to the first days of the cruise.
“But that’s not what I think about. I think about the smell, the stench and the bad things. All the memories come flooding back, and I can’t stop them.”
Among the worst memories, Cripps testified, was the fear that the ship, which listed severely after the fire, would actually turn over and sink.
“It was a horrible experience,” testified Michelle Key, 48, who went on the cruise with her mother, Fleda Key, 68. “I walked through water and faeces and urine, no telling what else,” she testified. “We would slip and slide through greasy, gross, slippery muck,” she said, adding “it was very difficult” for her mother.
Fleda Key described having terrible diarrhoea on numerous occasions and having difficulty finding any toilets that were not overflowing.
“There was lots of urine and faeces all the way up to the rim of every one,” she said, explaining she “choked away the smell”. Like many of the witnesses, she testified that she lived for days in total fear that they might not finish the voyage alive. “I was fearful, downright afraid and scared,” said Fleda.
