Thanks to the wonderful team at Host Unusual for featuring Warksburn Old Church on their home page for October 2025. It brings the Style & Sustainability of our globally unique Passivhaus church conversion to the attention of their discerning audience, and it also showcases our great Autumn Offers.

Click the icon to view our listing on Host Unusual, or you can head straight over to our Special Offers page to check out the latest deals.

Host Unusual is an exceptional resource if you’re looking to find somewhere out of the ordinary for your next holiday. As they put it themselves: “Host Unusual is an eclectic accommodation showcase, creatively bringing under one roof the most extraordinary places to stay in the UK and around the world. The concept was born of a mix of frustration and enthusiasm; we wanted to prescribe a much needed antidote to the ordinary in a world flooded with formulaic hotels and holiday lets.”

Experience Northumberland’s Dark Skies at Warksburn Old Church

As the autumn deepens and the nights stretch out, a spectacular natural show begins in Northumberland. The fading light brings with it the most pristine, velvet-black skies in England – perfect for stargazing on clear nights. Warksburn Old Church, on the boundary of the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, is officially Dark Skies Friendly, making it an ideal luxury base for stargazers and romantics alike.

Enjoy your around the statement ceramic and glass dining table, then step out into your private garden, to be instantly met by the humbling, glittering theatre of the Milky Way. You don’t need to travel far; the natural above the fields around Wark give Warksburn Old Church a front-row seat to the cosmos.

For those wishing to explore further into deep space, you have world-class facilities right on your doorstep. Just a short drive away is the renowned Kielder Observatory, offering a comprehensive programme of events under some of the darkest skies in Europe. Closer still, you could visit Battlesteads Observatory, which is literally next door in Wark, providing a genuinely convenient and expert stargazing experience.

And if the Northumbrian sky decides not to play ball? No problem. You can settle in for a cosy night in, enjoy the UHD infotainment system, pour a glass of wine, and luxuriate in the profound peace and quiet inside one of the best insulated building in the UK.

The best part? No matter how long you spend outside marveling at the constellations, you can be guaranteed the warmest welcome back. Although the crisp autumn air can be chilly, the moment you step back across the threshold into Warksburn Old Church, you are enveloped in the serene, gentle warmth of a truly sustainable home.

This three-bedroom, Net Zero conversion is Passivhaus certified, meaning the internal climate is guaranteed to be comfortable and draught-free, regardless of the temperature outside. You can hang up your coat and immediately feel cosy, knowing that your luxury holiday is also one of the world’s most eco-friendly.

Book your autumn or winter break at Warksburn Old Church via our Booking Page, and don’t forget to check our latest Deals Page for special offers. Discover the perfect blend of natural spectacle, Net Zero living, and five-star luxury.

We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded the prestigious Superhost status for our listing on Airbnb. This new accolade celebrates the consistently high standards of service and hospitality we provide, affirming our dedication to delivering a seamless, luxury experience for every guest.

Elevating the Guest Experience

The Superhost designation is not easily earned; it requires meeting and maintaining strict criteria based on guest feedback, including consistently high ratings, excellent response times to enquiries, and never cancelling guest reservations. For guests of Warksburn Old Church, this status provides extra assurance, reinforcing their confidence in booking a stay of exceptional quality at the world’s only Passivhaus-certified church-to-home conversion.

Recognition for Both Property and Host

Achieving Superhost status is the perfect complement to the property’s existing top-tier accolades. Warksburn Old Church is already recognised on Airbnb for its exquisite interiors and high-end amenities by featuring in both the exclusive Luxe and Design categories. To be designated a Superhost means the recognition now extends beyond the magnificent Net Zero building – which holds Passivhaus certification and the Green Tourism Gold award – to the five-star service provided by the hosts themselves.

Top Class Hospitality

Our hospitality is driven by the same commitment to quality which inspired us to create this extraordinary property. A three-bedroom, six-guest luxury holiday rental equipped with everything for a perfect stay, including individually designed en-suite bathrooms, a high-end kitchen, and a private garden, which is also one of the most energy efficient buildings in the UK. We strive to ensure that every detail contributes to a genuinely memorable experience when you stay with us, surrounded by the history and natural beauty of rural Northumberland, close to Hadrian’s Wall, Hexham, Corbridge, Kielder Forest & Water, the International Dark Skies Park and Northumberland National Park.

Book Your Top-Rated Stay

If you are seeking a luxury holiday rental that blends heritage architecture with modern, Passivhaus-certified sustainability, and is backed by a proven track record of outstanding service, we invite you to book your stay on Airbnb here.

Forget the Forecast: Experience the Warmest Winter Holiday in Britain

The mercury is dropping, the nights are drawing in, and that familiar dread is creeping in: the winter energy bill. We all know the drill – layer up, brave the chill indoors, and wince every time the central heating kicks on. But what if there was another way? A way to truly embrace winter, snug and warm, without breaking the bank?

Imagine stepping into a home where the warmth isn’t a battle against the elements, but a constant, gentle embrace. A place where you can walk around in shirtsleeves in January, not because you’ve cranked the thermostat to eleven, but because the house itself is designed to be incredibly warm and efficient.

This isn’t a futuristic fantasy; it’s the reality of a Passivhaus, and you can experience it at Warksburn Old Church in beautiful rural Northumberland, where a stunning contemporary renovation of an 1875 Victorian church blends cutting-edge Net Zero technology, with exquisite interior design and respectful conservation of the building’s exceptional heritage features.

Low energy luxury

“Passivhaus” (or “Passive House”) is the most rigorous standard for ultra-low energy buildings, meaning they require little to no energy for heating. Think exceptional insulation, airtight construction, and a clever heat recovery ventilation system.

The upshot? A luxury holiday rental that stays wonderfully warm in winter with minimal energy input. Enjoy your break near Hadrian’s Wall and the International Dark Skies Park without worrying about energy consumption. Warksburn Old Church is the world’s only Passivhaus-certified church-to-home conversion, demonstrating a unique blend of heritage and Net Zero performance. It is a certified EnerPHit Retrofit and holds a Green Tourism Gold award, plus you get an added ‘eco-bonus’: there’s complimentary EV charging for the duration of your stay.

Compare the cost of heating

If you stayed at home, in a typical large-to-medium UK home, for a typical winter month, and ran the heating to maintain a comfortable temperature for your family, you would be faced with a substantial bill of at least £200, and often far higher, just to heat the place.

When you stay at Warksburn Old Church, by contrast, you’ll be living in a Net Zero property that actually functions a small-scale power station. The building has a negative annual energy cost of around minus £500 per year: it makes more money from exporting power generated by its onsite renewables and stored in its batteries than it pays to import power from the grid. So, during the month of your stay, you’ll be experiencing an ultra-efficient building that’s actually making money on energy , as opposed to costing hundreds of pounds. And all the energy you’ll be using during your stay comes from zero carbon generation, so you’ll contributing to the several tonnes of CO2 savings WOC delivers every year.

‘Test drive’ life in a low energy home

So, why shiver your way through another winter when you could be snug, saving money, and gaining inspiration for a warmer, more sustainable future? Why not experience the luxury (and not to mention the warmth), of an entire month in a Passivhaus-certified, Airbnb Luxe holiday home. Perhaps most importantly, you’ll experience first hand how ultra low carbon living can be achieved, and perhaps be inspired to upgrade the energy efficiency of your own home. Think of it as a an opportunity to ‘try before you buy’, if you like.

If you want to know more, why not watch the TV documentary showing how this remarkable place was built: Series 2, Episode 3 Derelict Rescue. And whilst you’re here, Alan and Anne, the owners would be happy to give you a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of the building to explain all the tech, and to share the practical insights and ‘tips and tricks’ they learned when delivering this award-winning project.

Picture here: A beautiful interior shot of Warksburn Old Church, dressed for Christmas, perhaps with luxurious textiles, warm lighting and decorations.

Winter Warmth Offers: Your Passivhaus Experience

This January, book a long-term stay at Warksburn Old Church – one of the most energy-efficient buildings in Britain – and experience the Passivhaus standard first-hand. As an incidental benefit, you can keep your heating at home turned down to frost-protection level, saving you money while you enjoy your luxury break.

All long-term stays attract an additional 10% discount off the base price if you pay in full at the time of booking, making your reservation on a non-refundable, non-cancellable basis.

Two Weeks of Winter Warmth (January 5th – 18th)

• Dates: Check In 5th January, Check Out 18th January 2026
• Pricing: Was £3,705, NOW £2,995
• Book Now: Book 2 Weeks of Warmth

Two Weeks of Winter Warmth (January 19th – 31st)

• Dates: Check In 19th January, Check Out 31st January 2026
• Pricing: Was £3,705, NOW £2,995
• Book Now: Book 2 Weeks of Warmth

Four Weeks of Winter Warmth (January 5th – 31st)

• Dates: Check In 5th January, Check Out 31st January 2026
• Pricing: Was £7,410, NOW £5,495
• Book Now: Book 4 Weeks of Warmth

We were delighted to welcome our local MP, Joe Morris, Member of Parliament for Hexham, for a fact-finding visit to Warksburn Old Church today, 24 September 2025.

Joe was interested in exploring how the energy saving technologies pioneered here, during the world’s first Passivhaus-certified church conversion, can be more broadly applied in UK housing to slash both energy bills and carbon emissions.

As we discussed during Joe’s visit, if it’s possible to turn a cold, damp and draughty Victorian building into one of the most energy efficient buildings in the UK, it’s going to be much easier to deliver new build housing to a similar standard. Warksburn Old Church, with its negative annual energy bill and 100% green power, proves that that ‘Zero Energy Cost, Zero Energy Carbon (“2ZEC”) housing is a buildable reality.  

Following Joe’s visit we look forward to sharing best practice with others in Westminster and Whitehall developing policy around some of the biggest challenges of the Net Zero Transition, including the decarbonisation of domestic heating, combining smart energy tariffs with local storage, and radical updating of building standards.

Thanks to Olivia Sheed for her great article about Warksburn Old Church on the ‘Chronicle Live’ website and its associated social media channels. Entitled, “this unique Northumberland holiday home isn’t what it seems at first glance,” the article goes on to explain that the property is “like nothing you’ve ever seen before, with luxury at an affordable price.”

The article links readers who might be interested in booking a stay direct to our Airbnb listing, where Warksburn Old Church appears in the extremely rare, and highly demanding, “Airbnb Luxe” category which features only “Extraordinary homes, vetted for quality.”

In fact, at the time of writing this post, in mid-August 2025, using the ‘Luxe’ filter to perform a search on the Airbnb platform (which lists over 8.2 million properties worldwide) returns only 82 Luxe properties in the whole of England and Wales, with Warksburn Old Church being the only Airbnb Luxe property in all of Northumberland. Follow this link to find out more about Airbnb Luxe: a truly stunning collection of amazing places to stay, in which we’re exceptionally proud to feature.

Outstanding guest feedback is key requirement, not only for our listing in the Luxe and Guest Favourite categories on Airbnb, but also in every aspect of our business. So we’re delighted with the fantastic reviews which guests have left for us. Why not check out our guest reviews on Airbnb here. Our particular favourites include:

• Wow wow wow what can you say about Anne and Alan’s fantastic holiday let. Not to sure if there are enough superlatives in the dictionary to describe the workmanship and detail that has been put into this property.
• What a fantastic place to stay! A truly memorable building if you’re looking for somewhere special to holiday to.
• What a wonderful place, absolutely immaculate. Every detail had been thought through which made our stay so easy and enjoyable.

Guests booking direct on our website have left 100% 5-star reviews, which can been found here. We look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful corner of rural Northumberland to experience Warksburn Old church for yourself.

You can book on Airbnb here.

Or book direct here.

A big thank you to Chayley, Tabitha and Chris for their thoughtful and eloquent report on their recent stay at Warksburn Old Church. It was great for Anne and I to be able to discuss the Passivhaus fundamentals of the building in depth with such an expert group. And we’re really happy to learn they and their partners enjoyed their stay.

As Chayley puts it, “being able to visit Passivhaus projects is an important way for would-be clients and selfbuilders to see and feel the benefits of Passivhaus firsthand […] For those considering a Passivhaus selfbuild, holiday accommodation, like Warksburn Old Church, offers a brilliant chance to experience Passivhaus comfort, efficiency, peacefulness, and air quality firsthand.”

If you’d like to experience a unique combination of luxury and low carbon living in a heritage building rebuilt to Passivhaus standards, you can book a stay here.