Last updated on January 12, 2024
Last week I introduced our new Special Places series. I’ve added lots of our old reviews to the group, but this is the first official brand new addition. It’s called The Siphon and I found it when searching for a place to stay for Steve and I plus three friends on our trip to Cornwall.
I could barely believe it when I found it – a converted train carriage perfect for five and at a reasonable price. It must be one of the most unique places to stay in Cornwall. We booked it right away.
Here are some photos of the carriage. It has one double room, a single room, and a twin room, plus a big lounge/kitchen area. The toilet and shower are outside, which is wonderfully refreshing, especially when you return to the lovely heated lounge.
I also especially enjoyed hearing the sound of the stream at night as we drifted off to sleep – it feel like a wonderful return to nature. There’s also a fire pit just down from the carriage with BBQ equipment and seats. Your neighbours are horses and chickens.
See more special places to stay in our guide to the best Airbnbs in Cornwall and the best of Airbnb UK and the best Cornwall lodges with hot tubs. If you like this carriage , you might also like this yurt near Bude and this cute cottage near Port Isaac.
And we’ve since written a guide to all the best things to do in Cornwall with kids.
The owners have another train carriage on site which they also plan to convert. The Siphon is just a few minutes from St Austell and the sea, and is an wonderfully unusual place to stay in Cornwall. I failed to bring a charger for my phone when we visited so these photos are from Airbnb. Isn’t it wonderful?!
Useful info about the Siphon
We booked The Siphon through AirBnB. It’s less than five minutes from St.Austell train station which has trains direct to London (it takes 4 hours). It was around 15 minutes from the Lost Gardens of Heligan and is surrounded by cute country pubs and villages. You would definitely need to hire a car to get around.
While we were staying at The Siphon we went to see Dead Dog in a Suitcase, a Kneehigh Production at the Asylum Theatre in The Lost Gardens of Heligan. It was one of the best plays I’ve ever seen and I highly recommend going to see a play at The Asylum is something is showing when you visit. I hear that everything they do is brilliant.
Photos by AirBnB.
More UK travel guides
We have loads of UK travel guides. And oodles of tips for London and Bristol – where we lived/live now. Here are some of the highlights…
UK road trips: Best UK road trips | Best Scotland road trips
UK destination guides: Bristol | Isle of Mull | Frome | Liverpool | London | York
UK family travel guides: Birmingham with kids |Bristol with kids| Cornwall with kids | London with toddlers | Edinburgh with kids | Manchester with kids | Best UK family Christmas breaks | Travelling with a baby
And if you’re looking for somewhere special to stay in the UK, we have loads of UK Airbnb and hotel guides for destinations from the Lake District to Devon. See all our UK guides.
thats super awesome! what a cool place. great series idea
Wow, it looks amazing, I’d love to stay in a place like this one that has been reused in a such creative way, with a very unique design. I love it! 🙂
Yes, we were really impressed. I’ve never seen one like it. Loved it!
it looks gorgeous!
It is, and even nicer in real life!
Woooooooooooooooooooooow:-D! That is amazing;-D! Congratulations for your great ideas:-D! Cool place and very creative;-D! I live in Coro (Venezuela) and both are welcome here:-D!
The train carriage is amazing. I wish there was one such In India! Cornwall is away from India, and I would need to save tough to make it there. But after reading your article, it would be worth going there at least to stay in the train carriage! Cheers!!
It is an awesome place! Hope you make it there one day 🙂