04 Nov Who Fancy’s a Sleepover?
Sick of hotel? Fancy staying somewhere about out there? Check these hot beds out!
Dino Snores at the Natural History Museum, London, UK
London’s Natural History Museum offers the chance to stay the night with the museum’s famous bony dinosaurs. The children’s sleepover includes a torch-lit trail of the Dinosaurs gallery and a live science show, while the grown-up version includes a three-course dinner, science shows, live music, bars, edible insect-tasting, and an all-night monster movie marathon. The next morning there’s breakfast and more entertainment. You can bed down anywhere in Hintze Hall: for the biggest thrill, snuggle up under the shadow of the blue whale skeleton.
Nanuku Levu, Fiji
For the ultimate in tranquillity and romance, why not hire your own private 10-acre Fijian island, Nanuku Levu? With its ancient coconut palms and blindingly white sand, it’s a daydream come to life. You won’t be bothered by the neighbours: there are 15 miles of translucent, pale blue South Pacific between you and the nearest civilisation. The island has one small wooden beach hut and a beachhouse, and your only visitors are likely to be turtles and huge seabirds. Boat transfer is included in the price
A House for Essex, UK
Opened in 2015, the gold-roofed A House for Essex looks as though a piece of Russian architecture from the Red Square crossed with a gingerbread house has been transplanted to the north Essex coast. The house has been co-designed by Essex-raised artist Grayson Perry and the architectural practice FAT to evoke a wayside chapel or folly. Perry has decorated the interior as if it belonged to an everywoman he’s called Julie. Staying here is to be immersed in an imaginary life, and become a part of a work of art. It’s more profound than your average holiday let.
Propeller Island, Berlin, Germany
Where else but Berlin would offer you some of the world’s most mind-boggling beds? Propeller Island is the pseudonym used by German audio-visual artist Lars Stroschen, and one of his most popular projects is the Propeller Island City Lodge. Choose to sleep in a coffin, in the ‘upside-down’ room that messes with your perception, or have a snooze in a suspended bed. Plump for a room with electric wallpaper, a padded cell, or crank down an illuminated barrier to split a double bed into two. These choices are just the start, so take your pick for one of the weirder nights of your life.
Elqui Domos, Elqui Valley, Chile
All is well in a world where you have a wide choice of geodesic domes in which to spend the night. One of the most spectacular options is the Elqui Domos in Chile’s Elqui Valley, famous for its star-spangled skies. There are seven geodesic canvas domes, each with removable roofs so that you can stargaze from beneath the duvet. If you can’t make it to Chile, there are versions of these futuristic tents from Spain to South Wales.
