You can now book ‘historic houses’ on Airbnb

Historic Airbnb Homes — Would you stay here? (Photo: Airbnb)

Looking for a magical place to stay on your next trip? Go historical.

Now that’s made even easier, as Airbnb has launched a “historic homes” category for those looking for unique accommodation.

Cultural tourism accounts for 40% of all tourism worldwide, and there is a growing demand for heritage-related travel.

In the UK, Airbnb bookings for places of historic significance increased by more than 80% in 2021 compared to 2019.

There is also a growing interest in remote rural homes.

Now it’s easier to filter and find a historic home on Airbnb – with nearly 4,000 listed homes in the UK currently listed.

Of the options in the UK, there’s a converted chapel in County Durham and a 12th-century castle in Fife, among many more.

Currently, the feature is available in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain, with more countries to be added soon.

In total, the site is home to just under 20,000 properties of historic value, dating from the 19th century and earlier.

Airbnb’s Amanda Cupples said: “The new category on Airbnb will not only enable travelers from around the world to discover the richness of Britain’s cultural heritage, but it will also open up previously overlooked destinations and help boost tourism and the disseminate its economic benefits in a more equitable manner.’

The most popular destinations in the UK for historic stays in 2022 so far are: