In a remarkable tale of ingenuity and sustainable living, a young family has transformed a discarded double-decker bus into a fully-fledged home and a thriving holiday let business. Marketing executive Jasmin Dennis, 26, her partner Liam Alderdice, 28, a landscape gardener, and Jasmin's seven-year-old son Bertie, have created a unique dwelling that now ranks among Airbnb's most popular UK rentals.
From Derelict Bus to Dream Project
The journey began in 2023 after Jasmin finished her master's degree in sustainable development. Living in a VW campervan with her then three-year-old son to save money, she was searching for an affordable route to homeownership. Her breakthrough came on Facebook Marketplace, where she spotted a disused double-decker listed for £8,000. Moved by Jasmin's vision to create a family home, the seller—whose own conversion plans were halted by his wife's passing—offered it to her for £6,000.
Initial optimism about a quick, three-month refurbishment soon met reality. The bus, used for storage, was in serious disrepair. "I thought I could sort it all out with a saw and a drill!" Jasmin admits. The project evolved into a two-year labour of love, becoming a joint venture after she met Liam six months in. The couple relocated the bus to Liam's parents' farm in Callington, Cornwall, using it and the main house as a base during renovations.
A Sustainable Transformation on a Budget
Driven by Jasmin's background in sustainability, the couple prioritised reclaimed materials. The total cost came to £18,453.20, a fraction of conventional home-building. Major expenses included building materials (£8,730), the initial bus (£6,000), and a wood-fired hot tub (£2,700).
They made the bus habitable by adding insulation and connecting water and electricity from the nearby farmhouse. Walls were lined with Celotex insulation and clad with sanded, varnished reclaimed palette wood. The couple's DIY efforts extended to the exterior: they spent three weeks sanding before respraying it with durable agricultural oxide paint for just £450, saving an estimated £17,550 on a professional job.
Furnishing was an exercise in creative upcycling. The super-king-size bed platform was crafted from old scaffold boards with integrated storage drawers that double as pull-out single beds. A striking spalted beechwood tabletop from a National Trust site sits on iron legs from Liam's father's old sewing table. The star bargain was a bathtub bought on eBay for £3.20, which had to be hoisted through a back window as it wouldn't fit up the stairs.
From Family Home to Thriving Business
After Liam proposed on the bus, the original plan changed. The space, with its low ceilings, became too cramped for the growing family. Rather than sell their beloved project, they launched "The Botanical Bus" on Airbnb in August, named for its natural materials and Jasmin's collection of houseplants.
Strategic additions, like the custom wood-fired hot tub from edenhut.co.uk—positioned over a private borehole for chemical-free water—catered to market demand. The move proved inspired. The bus is now consistently fully booked, attracting couples and families seeking a unique nature retreat. Prices start from £176 per night. "We keep a few weeks free each year so we can stay in it ourselves," says Jasmin. "It's become our little holiday home from home."
Located on private land and registered with a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN), the bus incurs no road tax. This extraordinary conversion demonstrates how vision, sustainability, and hard work can create not just a home, but a successful business venture.
