Most of us like to take a souvenir home from our holidays and the Wimpory family from Sussex are no exception. The only thing is they don’t like to do things by halves, so a holiday to them was travelling 14,000 miles through 20 states in a classic American school bus for a year. And that souvenir, well — you’ve probably guessed it. It was a big, yellow, dog-nosed bus that’s now parked up in a private meadow in Thakeham, West Sussex.
The Skoolie Stays bus is, in actual fact, not the same bus that carried the Wimporys on their travels. Getting a bus back to Blighty is a bit more complicated than stuffing it in your suitcase, but a year after their return they’ve managed quite a feat. They harnessed the energy and enthusiasm of their epic holiday so you can have your own; they managed to buy, ship, and transform a former Florida school bus into a cosy and cool place to stay.
The bus is kitted out for a family of four with a king-sized bed and two bunks. There’s a log burner for chilly nights onboard and comfy seating, too, as well as a kitchenette and bathroom. It’s self-contained and stylish with plenty of playful touches from the penny-studded epoxy-resin counter to the self-built folding bunks and original American reg plate on the wall. Perhaps the best thing is it’s still a working bus and while guests can’t drive off in it, the buttons, dials, and levers are fascinating to see. Outside, fold-out stop signs are another reminder of its past but now there’s a deck as well on its view-facing side.
Parked up in a secluded spot on a private farm, surrounded by lush green fields and ancient woodland, the Skoolie Stays bus is a short distance from the beautiful South Downs National Park where hiking and biking offers expansive views of the coast, or you could discover West Sussex's castles, stately homes, heritage sites, vineyards, breweries and picture perfect villages. Or just take a stroll down Strawberry Lane to Thakeham Village, where a 16th Century pub awaits. A very English activity from your all American base.
Sleep in a beautifully-converted, off-grid American school bus with views of the sea.
Perched in a fantastic private rural spot atop the majestic hills of the South Downs, less than a mile from Beachy Head and the start of the South Downs Way, Skoolie Stays is the perfect spot to relax and reconnect with nature.
With easy access to cultural Eastbourne, stunning Seven Sisters Country Park and the gorgeously cosy and historic pubs of nearby local villages, our spot in the South Downs National Park is the perfect balance of quirky escapism, off-grid living and classic Sussex experience.