‘Alice in Wonderland’ superfan creates AirBnB inspired by the classic children’s novel

By Lauren Beavis via SWNS

An "Alice in Wonderland" superfan has created a unique Airbnb - inspired by the children's fantasy novel.

Once a small fisherman's residence, the quirky seaside cottage has been drastically converted into one of Britain's quirkiest holiday homes.

Owner Rachel Allard, 57, said she has just finished a complete revamp of the terraced house and every room has been inspired by an Alice in Wonderland theme.

From chess pieces and clocks to playing cards and Mad Hatter portraits, Rachel has been able to make her vision of Lewis Carroll's fictional wonderland come to life in the last three months.

The mother-of-two said: "Now it's all done I wish I could stay there."

Rachel has owned the property in Torquay, Devon, which can sleep up to six people, since 2006 but has only recently decided to convert it.

The space offers two double rooms with an open-plan lounge, a new bathroom and modern kitchen.

In case the property's interior and décor was not obvious enough, from Alice's adventures featured in cushions, tea party crockery to cupcakes, Rachel confessed she is an Alice In Wonderland super-fan.

This has included attending immersive exhibitions of the wonderland in London to throwing epic-themed parties and making three-dimensional costumes of the novel's characters.

She added: "It's just something about the novel's world that entices me - it's a lot of fun and I've loved it since I was a child."

The home is listed for £200 a night depending on the time of year with booking still available this summer.

Rachel added: "Come down to Babbacombe's rabbit hole where it's beautiful and bright.

"If you want something a little bit out there but still ultra-modern in a fabulous position, look no further - it's the perfect holiday home."

Located right on Babbacombe Downs, the cottage also includes a sunny walled rear courtyard overlooking the coast.

Rachel has been a property landlord for 29 years and up until now has always had long-term tenants in the home.

She added: "I've been wanting to turn this cottage into a holiday letting home for three years now and when Covid hit it only inspired me more.

"With the UK now being a tourist destination hot-spot and our previous tenants moving out at the beginning of the year, I thought it was the perfect time to turn my vision into a reality.

"I decided to gut the entire place out in February - repainting it, inserting a new roof, opening up the kitchen, ripping out the bathroom and whole new floorboards.

"I was there almost every day with the builders, knocking down the wall in the garden with a sledgehammer one day and painting till I couldn't see the next.

"Mostly everything in the property has been upcycled and I've made loads of it".