The Studio Somerset - converted church near Bath

A spacious, open-plan, self-contained, self-catering studio apartment in a beautiful Grade 2 listed country church conversion, tucked away in a quiet, rural setting just 8 miles south of the World Heritage city of Bath. It's a perfect romantic getaway for a couple, or a relaxing space for friends. A unique and peaceful place to stay, and a great base for exploring the beautiful Somerset countryside and the South West. The Studio is in one half of a Grade 2 listed former Victorian church, now artfully transformed into a large and modern, open plan apartment for two. It's quiet and spacious, a perfect space to relax, with everything you need for a comfortable weekend or longer stay. Even though the building is over 170 years old, the conversion gives it a light and airy, modern feel whilst retaining some traditional features of the original church. The space was for many years used as a photographic studio where the owners worked together to create images for magazine features, books and advertising. Furnishings are eclectic and colourful, and much of the modern vintage crockery started life as photographic props. The super-comfortable king-sized bed has pure cotton bed linen. You also have your own separate shower room, complete with towels and eco-friendly toiletries. There's a Smart tv/DVD player/Netflix/Freeview, DAB radio, free wi-fi, plus a selection of books, DVDs, games, and local maps. The well-equipped kitchen has a fridge, freezer, dishwasher, double oven and microwave, and a comfortable dining area. We will welcome you with some basic provisions, including tea and coffee, milk, fruit juice, and a freshly baked treat. Underfloor heating will keep your toes warm, and for more chilly days the wood burner stove makes the apartment extra cosy. Outside is your own secluded, south-facing patio and pretty little country garden for you to enjoy the birdsong and sunshine. We're in a peaceful, semi-rural location just 8 miles south of the beautiful World Heritage City of Bath, and it's a great base for exploring the area. Other distances: Priston Mill 4 miles University of Bath, Claverton 9 miles Frome 9 miles Wells 13 miles Longleat 13 miles Bath & West Showground 13 miles Bristol Airport 15 miles Bruton 17 miles Cheddar 17 miles Stourhead 18 miles Glastonbury 18 miles A visit to the Bath Christmas Market* is not to be missed (24th November - 11th December) and after a busy day's festive shopping the studio is a peaceful haven to come home to! There's a useful information pack in the studio with tips on things to do in the area, including a list of local shops, farm shops, and markets, plus details of local restaurants and good food pubs if you prefer to eat out. The studio is a completely self-contained, ground floor space with main access to your own front door from the driveway where you can park easily, so you can come and go as you please. The back door leads onto a quiet, sunny patio with your own small private garden. We will welcome you on arrival, then it's up to you - we like to give our guests space and privacy so we will leave you undisturbed, but we're just next door and happy to help if needed. The church is on the edge of the small village of Clandown, a former coal-mining community, lying 8 miles south of the Roman city of Bath in North East Somerset, just off the Fosseway and close to the Mendip Hills. It's a quiet and friendly place, and we are in a quiet lane which is a no-through road with very little traffic, so it's peaceful and quiet. If you're interested in the history of the former Somerset coalfield, the award-winning Radstock Museum is well worth a visit, just a mile from the Studio. We are in a rural location, so public transport is limited and it's best to have a car to explore the area. The Park and Ride at Odd Down is just a 10-minute drive away, with buses to Bath centre every 15 minutes, and it's easier and cheaper than parking in the city. It's a 10-minute walk to a bus stop where you can get a bus to Bath or Wells about every 15 minutes. Bath Spa is our nearest main railway station, with regular trains to London, Bristol and the West. Our nearest airport is Bristol International, which is about 30 minutes easy drive by car or taxi. There are a number of cycle paths locally, and we're just 1 mile from Route 24 of the Colliers Way walk and cycle route which runs through 23 miles of beautiful rolling countryside. We have a gentle, geriatric tabby cat, Pixel, who lives in our part of the church, but he is excluded from the studio at all times and is quite shy of strangers. He's terrified of dogs as he's been attacked in the past, so I'm afraid we are unable to accept dogs to stay in the studio. We leave fresh semi-skimmed milk for our guests, but if you would like plant-based milk instead of dairy, please ask. We like to leave a little freshly baked gift for our guests which may contain wheat, nuts or dairy, so if you have any allergies please let us know in advance, for safety reasons.