In this article, I take a deep dive into the UK house sitting scene and identify the top UK house sits available right now. The UK is a hotbed for house sitting opportunities. We are increasingly encouraging friends and family to get involved.
Second behind the USA for the number of house sits, the UK regularly boats over 3000 listings on Trusted Housesitters. Globally THS has close to 9000 listings, there is a world of opportunities just waiting for applicants.
But today it is all about my home country – the UK. So let’s discuss why you should consider house sitting for fantastic UK weekend stays. I’ll also be taking a close look at some of the amazing listings accepting applicants right now.
Why Use House Sitting for a UK Stay
I haven’t lived in the UK for almost 3 years but lots of my friends and family still live there. Therefore, I know how expensive things are and the financial strains that are being placed upon hard-working people. House sitting is not ‘free travel’ but it presents a much more affordable option with many advanced benefits.
Traveling abroad is becoming an increasing burden for many too. The stresses of most UK airports, long journeys with little ones, and the costs involved mean lots of people I know are opting for staycations. And so they should! The UK has many fantastic destinations, and the average week abroad last year cost over £4,500. It’s no surprise people are re-assessing their holiday options.
Holidays are important, I am the biggest advocate of travel as the answer to most of life’s problems and ailments! I’m all about helping people travel more, and house sitting anywhere presents a great opportunity to do just that.
UK House Sitting: Top Benefits
Better Accommodation
Staying in a home as opposed to a hotel room or an apartment offers a far greater level of comfort. Many of the homes that Hannah and I have taken care of have been incredible. A lot of them have been without a doubt beyond what we could ever afford as holiday accommodation.
A house sitting listing will highlight everything about your potential future accommodation before applying. Hosts will fill their listing with as many photos and as much info as they can. You can and should ask questions if there are additional things you’d like to know.
Homes often come with full kitchens, gardens, multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, and little home comforts, like a comfy sofa where you can get cozy and watch a film, which you will not get in most hotels or some apartments.
Better Locations
Don’t compromise on your location and spend half your holiday traveling in and out of your ideal destination. House sitting offers an amazing opportunity to secure great homes in areas you want to visit.
For example, you will no longer have to weigh up staying ‘close-ish’ to the beach, or ‘near enough’ to London. Many house sits are regularly available on the beach and in London.
Enhanced Experience
From meeting new people and making friends with owners and neighbors to taking care of adorable pets, house sitting in the UK presents an enhanced holiday experience.
Staying in a ‘lived-in’ house during your vacation is a different vibe from booking somewhere soulless. It’s the feeling of living in a home as opposed to simply passing through. I feel a sense of pride in the homes we care for, this is especially true with longer house sits. As proud homeowners ourselves we enjoy being responsible for the homes of other people.
I write this article a week before we head to two lovely house sitting assignments in Adelaide, Australia. For 2 months we have been in an Airbnb apartment in Bali, Indonesia. It has been incredible and the apartment is perfectly comfortable but we can’t wait to have a proper kitchen and a living room with a comfy sofa again!
Repeat Stays
The possibility of repeat stays at the same house sitting location is a distinct possibility. Through house sitting you will get to know the hosts during the application stage and throughout the stay. As a result, Hannah and I have remained friends and in contact with many of our previous hosts. Subsequently, we have open invites for a lot of return visits.
We recently convinced Hannah’s mum, Jen, and her husband Kelvin to sign up as Trusted Housesitters. Having recently moved from Kelvin’s stomping ground of Norfolk to Jen’s hometown of Peterborough about 2 hours away, they saw house sitting as a means of regularly returning to Norfolk for weekend trips.
Having just completed their second sit on the Norfolk coast steps from the beach, they were offered a return sit. I believe hosts will opt for convenience and familiarity with their sitters ahead of starting a new application process. It’s not always feasible but repeat sits are a distinct possibility with UK house sitting.
Family-Friendly Stays
Not all listings will be open to family stays, but many are. I often see UK house sitting listings that specify families are welcome or encouraged to apply. Many are even open to you bringing your own pet too, though this should always be discussed ahead of time.
Homes are often much better prepared for young children, especially if they have or have had kids living there. As a big kid myself, it was fantastic arriving at our placement in Bath and seeing a PS4! They even had a den where I could play to my heart’s content without annoying Hannah.
Homes are often filled with games, streaming services, and a reliable internet connection. I’ve found they also have a level of general security far greater than hotel or apartment stays. The addition of a pet is a great chance for kids to take part in daily pet care too. It’s an excellent test if they’ve been demanding one of their own.
Financial Savings
House sitting comes with responsibilities and a duty of care that hotels and Airbnb stays don’t. As such it should never be viewed as free accommodation or a carefree holiday. However, the savings to be made using house sitting are substantial.
A Trusted Housesitter membership starts at £99/year ($129) and by signing up with our discount code BEACHES25 you’ll save 25%. That’s £75 for a year of unlimited house sitting possibilities. If you only use it to secure one night away you’re quids in! In fact, if you don’t secure a house sit within your first 5 applications, Trusted Housesitters will refund you no questions asked.
Learn all about Trusted Housesitters by reading my previous blog – Everything You Need to Know About Trusted Housesitters
Top UK Weekend Stays Right Now
It is time to delve into the THS listings and identify some of the top UK house sits waiting for applicants. All of these are active listings at the time of writing and I can’t guarantee they will still be accepting applicants when you read this. However, these are a snapshot of what’s currently available and are meant as motivational examples of UK house sits.
Top UK City Stays
London
2 Night Summer Escape in Central London. Currently, there is a pet owner looking for a house sitter for a couple of nights in the heart of London, 2 streets away from Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. All you need to do it take care of one elderly cat who requires nothing more than a little fuss and regular feedings.
Tube links are walkable in all directions as is the River Thames and Tower Bridge. I shudder to think what renting this charming and well-kept doctor’s home would cost for 2 nights.
Bath
Large Family Home Walkable to Bath High Street. I’ve also spotted a lovely family home adjacent to a park, with a large garden, and great access to central Bath. It’s the perfect spot for families who want to be close enough to Bath’s attractions but just far enough out to avoid the noisy nightlife.
This Bath host is a regular THS user with short stays available across the summer. They need a reliable house sitter to take good care of two well-behaved young cats. You’ll need to feed them twice a day and give them plenty of love when you’re at home.
Cardiff
2-Year-Old Greyhound Needs Walking Buddies. There is a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom mid-terrace home in central Cardiff looking for reliable people to take good care of their lovely home and young dog. If you’re up for 3 short walks a day and some general puppy love across a weekend then this is the sit for you.
The lovely home is well-kept and finished in a comfortable and homely style. It’s walkable to many of Cardiff’s central attractions and serviced by great public transport links. The suburban area means the busy Cardiff nightlife is close but not too close.
Top UK Beach Stays
Hove
3-story Townhouse 10-mins Walk From the Beach. Imagine taking daily strolls on the beach in Hove on England’s south coast. The quaint town next door to Brighton is a popular British holiday retreat and this immaculate home is an enticing proposition for a weekend beach escape.
You need to take care of one lovely 6-year-old dog who requires two walks, a couple of feeds, and as much love as you have to give. This home is also minutes from Brighton train station and a 10-minute drive from the beautiful South Downs.
Lowestoft
Holiday Lodge 3-mins from Kessingland Beach. Any closer to the beach and you might end up in the surf! This 1-year-old holiday home situated in the popular seaside resort of Lowestoft is looking for a house sitter for 2 nights in August, the perfect time to visit England’s southeast coast.
One indoor cat comes as part of the deal but with no routine other than to feed twice a day and entice him to take his medicine with a treat, a weekend chilling by the beach beckons!
Braunton
Village Home 5-mins From The Beach. A couple living in the lovely west coast village of Braunton, North Devon are looking for sitters to take care of their home and collie cross dog for two nights in August. Their large recently renovated home is in a fabulous location, has a huge garden for playing fetch with the dog, and lots of stunning walks from the doorstep.
This part of the England has exceptional beaches and breathtaking countryside in every direction. There are village pubs and cafes to enjoy as well as larger supermarkets and amenities within walking distance.
Top UK Hiking Escapes
Glossop
Peak District Cottage. Lovely walks and hills to challenge even the fittest of hikers are available straight out of the front door of this lovely Peak District cottage. There is also a theatre, brewery, great pubs, and restaurants close by in Glossop.
This regular THS listing comes with a well-behaved dog that needs 2 walks a day but she is happy to accompany you on your walks into the hills. It’s the perfect home for exploring the northwestern Peak District.
Sedbergh
Large House in the Heart of Howgill Fells. With easy access by car to the wonders of the Lake District, Howgill Fells offers plenty of excellent hiking opportunities in its own right. There is a fantastic farmhouse listing on THS that needs a house sitter. It comes with a master bedroom and a separate twin room, perfect for families.
The listing includes caring for one cat that has its own timed feeding device and a digital tracker! You will need to give her plenty of fuss and slip her some medication twice a day via some handy treats.
Kendal
Southern Lake District Stay With 1 Adorable Cat. Get the famous 555 bus from just outside this lovely village home and travel across the Lake District to Keswick. The wonderful village of Kendal has tons of English charm and is a hub for walkers, hikers, climbers, and adventure seekers.
The listing comes with one very friendly and easygoing cat who needs the occasional belly rub and feeding twice a day.
Cultural Retreats
Salisbury
Cathedral City, Stonehenge, and Two Cute Pups. In the medieval city of Salisbury, owners of a grade 2 listed three-bedroom, two-bathroom home, fully restored to a high standard are looking for reliable sitters to care for their home and two dogs for a week in August.
The house also comes with convenient links to the wonderful Salisbury Cathedral and the world-famous Stonehenge site.
Canterbury
End of Summer Historic Canterbury Stay. A house sit that could feature in any of the categories of this article, a lovely home in the historic city of Canterbury seeks reliable sitters for a late August long weekend stay.
The home has easy access to England’s southern beaches, all of Canterbury’s historic city charm, and some amazing English countryside. It’s an ideal location for walking and the loveable dog in need of temporary new friends needs a few short walks every day.
Liverpool
City Stay with Direct Access to Docklands and Beatles Tour. A comfortable city suburb home in Liverpool needs a summer sitter for one loveable cat. The main job will be to encourage the house cat to take his medication twice a day with the lure of some tasty treats.
The home has direct and convenient access to all of Liverpool’s excellent attractions. The famous Docklands area and various Beatles sites including The Cavern are all minutes away.
Start House Sitting in the UK
These are just a few examples of the thousands of listings Trusted Housesitters currently has for the UK. Sign up for a free account and start searching for yourself. It’s quick and easy, it just requires an email address.
Once you find a few sits that look appealing, you’ll need to become a paying member to apply. But remember to use our exclusive referral code BEACHES25 at checkout and a year’s worth of house sits will cost you less than one night in an average hotel. Click here to get started house sitting today.
Conclusion
I hope this article has given you an idea of the many fantastic opportunities that sites like Trusted Housesitters can present. With the summer holidays just around the corner, now is the perfect time to get signed up and start applying for those fantastic UK escapes.
Getting started is straightforward, quick, and easy. Learn more about becoming a proficient house sitter by reading my previous article – How to Become A Successful Housesitter. If you have any questions about the house sitting process always feel free to get in touch.
*Owners consent given to show property and pets
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FAQs
Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about house sitting in the UK
Are there paid house sitting jobs in the UK?
No, usually there are no paid house sitting jobs in the UK. The benefit of using sites like Trusted Housesitters comes from a mutually beneficial exchange whereby the house sitter gets to stay in a lovely home and have an enhanced experience, while the homeowner has the comfort of a reliable sitter taking care of things.
I’m sure people do pay for house sitting in the UK, but not through any of the platforms we use.
Is long-term house sitting possible in the UK?
Long-term house sitting in the UK is absolutely possible. There are many listings currently available all across the UK looking for long term house sitters. Read all about long term house sitting in Hannah’s previous article – Long Term House Sitting – How to Make the most of Your Free Time
Are there UK house sitting jobs without pets?
Yes, there are occasionally house sitting jobs in the UK without pets involved. Although these are less common they do feature on sites like Trusted Housesitters from time to time. There are however hundreds of sits regularly available with minimal cat, bird, rabbit, lizard, and fish care.