Sleeping in a Hobbit Hole | A Review of West Stow Pods, Suffolk
(My stay was complimentary but all opinions are my own. Thanks to Debbie for taking the photos of me! This post also includes affiliate links.)
I’ve always quite fancied being a hobbit. They have a pretty good life when you consider all of the eating, drinking and general tomfoolery they take part in, not to mention the cosy, spherical dwellings that they curl up in every night in sleepy Hobbiton. So, imagine the joy that I felt when I discovered I could stay in a real life Hobbit Hole in Suffolk, just mere hours away from my flat in London. Overflowing with excitement, I couldn’t wait to finally fulfil my dream of living like a hobbit, even if it was just for a night.
"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit… it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.”
- The Hobbit, Chapter 1
Introducing Pod Hollow
Based in Bury St Edmunds, West Stow Pods is a glamping site that boasts 3 different types of accommodation, nestled in a wooded area of the Suffolk countryside. Their Hobbit inspired dwelling, however, is clearly the star attraction; not only does it look fantastic from the outside (that circular door!), but it’s also armed with two double bedrooms, a fully fitted kitchen and bathroom, as well as a cosy lounge area. It comes with absolutely everything you need apart from your own personal belongings, is fully heated, and fitted with wifi, so don’t worry about having to forgo any of your home comforts.
For me, it were the little details that really made my stay memorable. We had so much fun with the dressing up clothes hung up at the entrance to the pod and spent a lot of time taking photos of us posing as Gandalf! The space is also filled with a number of Tolkien themed books and games, as well as some that aren’t remotely LOTR themed but are just a load of fun. Who Is It?, I’m looking at you.
Naturally we spent our one evening in the pod hunkered down in the sitting area, wrapped up in soft Middle Earth themed blankets on the sofa, reading our books and watching some trash TV. I’d brought with me a book that had been on my reading list for absolutely ages, The Language of Kindness by Christie Watson - a medical memoir that follows Christie’s nursing career in the NHS. It was a beautiful read full of interesting information about her vocation that ultimately answered one key question: what it means for one human being to care for another.
Things to do
My top recommendation would be to explore the local area by foot and take lots of leisurely walks through the beautiful Suffolk countryside. Shortly after arriving at the Pod, Debbie and I meandered down Ingham Road towards Culford School for a stroll by the lake and through the surrounding fields. It was truly picturesque and is something that you definitely need to do during your own visit.
As we were staying for just the one night we had very limited time to get to know the area, however, there are a number of different things to do if you’re staying for a longer break. To further geek out about Middle Earth and to bask in some Lord of the Rings knowledge, visit Arnor Heritage for a tour around the local area from a knowledgable guide.
You also have the very lovely town of Bury St Edmunds on your doorstep, which houses its own cathedral (the only one in Suffolk), a number of independent boutiques and cafes, beautiful open spaces such as the Abbey Gardens and other historic buildings such as the Abbey Ruins. It’s definitely a location that deserves a day out!
Just because you have your own kitchen that doesn’t mean you need to cook for yourself every mealtime; if you’re feeling peckish there are lots of different gastropubs and cafes nearby for you to choose from. I’m imagining taking a break from a long Sunday walk through the countryside for a delicious pub lunch!
How to get there
It should take around 2 hours to drive to Bury St Edmunds from London, depending on where in the city you’re coming from, but I decided to take the train from King’s Cross which took the same length of time. After arriving in town we hopped in a taxi just outside the station, which costs about £10 each way.
If you want to prebook, we were recommended the local taxi company A1 Cars.
Pricing
Stays at Pod Hollow begin from £150 a night for two adults, but you could easily sleep four people in the two double bedrooms.
An alternative would be to spend one or two nights in Pod Hollow and then move into one of their other accommodations for the remainder of your stay, both of which are slightly cheaper. The MegaPods sleep 2 people and start at £65 a night, while the Lodges cost either £65 or £85 a night for 2 adults. Each of these have different facilities so do check the website beforehand to make sure that you pack everything you need.
For more information about their accommodation and pricing, check out the West Stow Pods website.
Final Thoughts…
As you can see, I had a wonderful stay at West Stow Pods and can highly recommend Pod Hollow as a perfect bookish countryside retreat. Fans of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit will absolutely adore the detail that has gone into the accommodation - I was completely enchanted! Do bear in mind however that this is a glamping site, so be prepared to see a few creepy crawlies around and make sure to bring lots of warm clothes to keep you feeling snuggly before you turn the heating on.
Do let me know if you have the chance to visit yourself as I’d love to hear all about your experience!
To see more behind the scenes photos that didn’t make it onto this blog post, check out my Instagram account here and tap the Hobbit Hole highlight.