Outhouse transformed into Christmas grotto – and you can spend the night

Small business owner Suzi still has nights available to book in December for last minute Christmas shoppers

A small business owner has transformed her London outhouse into a festive garden grotto that’s perfect for a Christmas getaway.

Suzi Warren, who lives in Camden, has decked the halls of the garden cabin with fake snow, Christmas trees, baubles and even a ceramic nativity scene.

The eccentric yuletide accommodation is just a 20 minute walk from Kings Cross, Granary Square and Camden market – ideal for those looking to do some last minute Christmas shopping in the city.

And right across the garden in her flat, Suzi will be acting as a real-life Santa, packing up Christmas orders from her small business, Twisted Twee.

The grotto sleeps two adults and a small child, with a double bed and small raised sleeping platform in the roof.

Suzi said: “Access to the grotto is through the flat, where the toilet and kitchen facilities are. But that’s no bad thing as it is full of curiosities and quirky finds. The grotto is separated from the flat by a little garden so you will have privacy.

“I may well be pottering about in the flat as I have a small studio at the front where I prepare Christmas orders from my online shop. People are very welcome to use any amenities within the flat.”

The business owner, and mum to daughter, Betty, founded her online boutique 15 years ago, and enjoys ‘creating odd things’.

She joked: “I love to tell stories, make films, create odd things to happen and do stuff that makes people spit their tea out – in a good way.

“I’m happiest in a car boot fair or charity shop, round a campfire, watching a film, writing a script or investigating a back street. But not all at the same time.”

And this quirkiness and unconventionality certainly extends to the unusually decorated grotto, which looks as though Buddy the Elf might have spotted it while walking through the candy mountains.

Suzi added: “This Christmas Grotto is within a 20 minute walk from both Kings Cross with it’s elegant eateries, shops and exciting weekly events in Granary Square, and also Camden Town’s famous markets, shops, restaurants and nightlife.

“It is also near beautiful Regents Park and the canals and there are bus links just 10 feet away that go directly into the centre of London town.”

There’s still plenty of availability for overnight stays at Suzi’s garden grotto throughout December, priced at £70 per night for the entire place.

One person, who stayed in Suzi’s flat – also listed on Airbnb – loved the vintage feel and getting to meet her menagerie of animals.

They wrote: “Suzi’s place is great, there are so many wonderful things to look at in her vintage collection. We sat outside in the garden for the afternoon and enjoyed bathing Vanilla the tortoise and stroking the cat, Jimmy Bongo.

“The location is great for walking to Camden or Kings Cross and there’s a very useful Sainsbury’s local just around the corner, and a convenience shop right next door.”

Another added: “Suzi’s place was amazingly quirky with everything completely vintage in her flat. We struggled to leave to explore Camden as there was so much to see inside. Flat spacious and my son slept happily in the summerhouse.”