- Frome
Marston Park
Calling all artists, creatives, and general lovers of the good things in life — there's a glamping place in Somerset that has your name written all over it. On the private estate at Marston Park, framed by dappled woodland, this resort-style set-up unfolds its charms as you make your way to the landscaped lake at the centre of it all. 'A playground for creativity with grown-up food and drink', is how the estate bill it. Its a sort of posh Glasto with a bit of Ibiza chill thrown in.
A beautifully conceived, rustic-chic, lakeside glamping site, Marston Park is home to bell tents and a unique, UFO-like glamping pod. In keeping with the grand feel of it all, the bell tents are actually called 'Canvas Studios' and 'Suites', and scatter the northern shore of the lake. They're gorgeously glam affairs, set up for not doing very much except lounging about in a moody, creative kind of way. And we really do mean creative. Each tent has a writing desk, easel, acoustic guitar, and art materials provided, so you have no excuse for not knocking off a tune or making a start on that novel.
You're certainly not expected to cook — there are no kitchen facilities — instead you can hang about lakeside until it's time to waddle over to the southern shore where there's a waterside terrace sheltered by a stretch tent with food and drinks served out of a converted horsebox kitchen and bar. On weekend nights the bar is made cooler still, with the addition of DJs who play until closing. There are performance, and exhibition spaces, too, and even the private bathroom facilities are worth a special mention, located in shepherd's hut-style cabins spread about the site.
The most striking accommodation is the spaceship-esque pod. It's an authentic, 1960s', Scandi space-age Futuro pod: a design masterpiece by the Finnish architect Matti Suuronen first conceived as a ski chalet. There are only a handful in the world and several are in art galleries and museums. Here at Marston Park it offers a different kind of experience again – a true pop-culture icon that's kitted out for self-contained overnight stays with its own toilet and shower just outside.
Marston Park is not just a glamping site; it's an events venue, workshop space and members' club too. There are regular yoga and meditation sessions at weekends and occasional workshops in pottery and willow weaving that glampers are welcome to book in for. And while the northern side of the lake is reserved for glampers only, the rest is a shared space with that Ibiza-chill vibe. For that reason, those seeking a truly peaceful stay or those with younger kids might want to book in for a weekday stay when there's less going on. But weekday or weekend stay, one thing's for sure: Marston Park is less a base for visiting the surrounding area, beautiful as it is, and more about the site itself. Now, finish that novel, give us a tune and chill.
Location
Hosted by Marston P.
Joined in May 2022On site there are yoga, meditation and fitness sessions and occasional creative workshops including willow weaving and pottery (get in touch with Marston Park directly to find out about these). There's a hot tub and refreshing wild pool (book in advance at an extra cost) and pedaloes to hire on the lake. The wooded grounds are lovely to stroll in too. For a longer walk, you could walk to the vibrant town of Frome (01373 465757), three miles away. By car it's a ten-minute drive. It's packed with independent shops, bars, cafes, and restaurants. Twenty minutes' drive the other way is charming Bruton, home to fashion designers, filmmakers, and musos. To get the measure of it, check out what's on at the Hauser & Wirth art gallery (01749 814060), run by the art world's biggest power couple (they sold their London home to the Beckhams). Otherwise, the closest attractions are the safari park at Longleat and the amazing National Trust gardens at Stourhead (01747 841152).