West Stow Pods

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ

Everything you need to know before you stay with us. If your question isn't answered below, just drop us an email at [email protected] or give us a call on 07506749499 — we're a small independently-run site, just Olly & Alper. 


📅 Booking & Arrival

What are your check-in and check-out times?

Check-in is from 3pm and check-out is by 10am.

If you'd like a bit more time on either side, we offer an enhanced stay for £20: check-in from 1pm and check-out until 12pm. This is subject to availability, so please request it when booking. Worth it for a two-night break — two extra hours in the morning with coffee on the porch is its own small holiday.

Is there a minimum stay?

Yes, our minimum stay is 2 nights. We don't take Saturday check-ins.

Occasionally we have a single midweek night sandwiched between two bookings — if you spot one in the calendar and want to book it, just ask. We sometimes allow one-night stays in these cases at a slightly higher rate.

How do I book?

Through our website — use the booking calendar on each unit's page. If you have questions before booking, message us on WhatsApp or email us directly. We're a small independently-run site and you'll hear back from us personally.

What's your cancellation policy?

  • At booking: 50% deposit is due
  • 30 days before arrival: the remaining 50% is due
  • If you cancel 30 days or more before arrival: 90% of your paid prepayment is refundable
  • If you cancel within 30 days of arrival: the booking is non-refundable
  • No security deposit is required

That said — we're human. If something genuinely unavoidable happens (serious illness, bereavement, family emergency), please talk to us. We try to be fair with extenuating circumstances.


📍 Getting Here

Where exactly are you?

Our address is West Stow Pods, Ingham Road, West Stow, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 6EX. We're about four miles from Bury St Edmunds town centre.

What should I put in my satnav?

I would strongly recommend using Google Maps, as many satnavs are out of date. Google will bring you right to us.

Use our full postcode IP28 6EX rather than just "West Stow" — some satnavs try to take you to West Stow village rather than our site. If coming from the direction of West Stow village, we're on the left just after Old School House. If coming from Elveden and the A11, take the B1106 through Wordwell, then turn right to West Stow — we'll be on your right.

How far is the nearest train station?

Bury St Edmunds station is about four miles away, roughly a ten-minute taxi ride. Taxis are usually available at the station, but if you'd like to book one in advance we can recommend a local firm.

Is there parking?

Yes, one parking space per unit, in a dedicated car park on site.


🛏️ Your Accommodation

Do I need to bring bedding and towels?

No — bedding and towels are provided in every unit. We provide duvets, duvet covers, pillows, pillowcases, fitted sheets, and bath towels across all units.

This has been our policy since 2025. If you've seen older reviews or third-party listings (Cool Places, Host Unusual, older travel blogs) saying guests need to bring their own, those are out of date — we now provide everything.

What else do I need to bring?

Not much — most things thought of. The one essential is food and drink for your stay, plus charcoal for the BBQ (every unit has one).

Other things guests often find nice to bring:

  • Camping chairs for relaxing outside the pod
  • A head torch for the darker autumn and winter evenings — it gets dark early
  • Boots or wellies if you plan to explore the local woodlands. Our site has sandy soil so rarely gets muddy, but neighbouring trails can

Can I cook a proper meal?

It depends which unit you're in:

  • The four pods (Wulfrun, Aelfred, Boudicca, Eadmund): Inside you have a microwave, toaster, kettle, and fridge. For proper cooking, you use the brick BBQ outside — great for steaks, sausages, burgers, and anything grilled.
  • Woodland Lodge: Has a hob and an airfryer inside (no oven), plus a mobile BBQ outside.
  • Cedar Lodge: Has a full hob and oven inside, plus a mobile BBQ outside.
  • Pod Hollow: Has a full hob and oven inside, plus outdoor cooking.

Every unit has its own BBQ, so al fresco cooking is always an option.

Is there a hot tub or jacuzzi?

No — we don't have hot tubs or jacuzzis at any of our accommodation. We're focused on being a quiet, private woodland retreat, and we've found hot tubs tend to work against that atmosphere. If you're specifically looking for hot tub glamping, we won't be the right fit.

Is Wi-Fi available?

Yes — we recently upgraded the site to gigabit-speed Wi-Fi, shared across all the units. Speed isn't the issue; signal strength through the trees can be.

  • Pod Hollow, Cedar Lodge, and Woodland Lodge: reliable Wi-Fi inside.
  • Eadmund: the best-positioned of the four pods for Wi-Fi — reliable indoor speed if you want to work from a pod.
  • Wulfrun, Aelfred, and Boudicca: still receive signal, but the roof tiles mean it can fluctuate indoors. Good strong signal on the deck outside, though.

Worth knowing if you're planning a working remote stay — the Lodges, Pod Hollow, and Eadmund are the safer bets for uninterrupted video calls.

Is there heating?

Yes — all our accommodation is fully heated and open year-round. The Woodland Lodge and Pod Hollow both have real fireplaces in addition to heating, which makes winter stays particularly cosy.

Is there a TV?

Yes, all units have a digital TV, only Pod Hollow has a DVD player. 

Are the units accessible for people with mobility needs?

Please get in touch to discuss your specific needs — we're a small site and happy to talk through what's workable for you. The site is set in working woodland with uneven ground in places, so we'd rather have a proper conversation than give a generic answer.


🔥 Fires & BBQs


Can we have a fire?

  • Open fires are strictly prohibited, and please don't burn wood from our trees.
  • Every unit has its own BBQ — brick BBQs at the Glamping Pods, mobile BBQs at the Lodges and Pod Hollow.
  • We hire out smokeless fire pits with firewood included — worth adding to your stay for autumn and winter evenings.
  • You can bring your own fire pit as long as it has legs and doesn't sit directly on the woodland floor.

Can we smoke?

No smoking is permitted inside any of the units. Smoking outside is permitted — but please do NOT discard cigarette butts on the woodland floor. This is littering, and a serious fire risk in dry weather. Please use the ashtray provided and dispose of butts properly.


🐾 Dogs & Pets

Are dogs welcome?

Yes — dogs are welcome in all our accommodation.

Is there a fee for dogs?

Yes, there's a £24 pet cleaning fee per stay, which is the same across all our units.

How many dogs can I bring?

We don't have a strict maximum, but we'd suggest three is about as many as is practical in any of the units. If you're thinking of bringing more than three, please get in touch first.

Are there rules about dogs on site?

We ask that dogs are kept on leads around the accommodation out of respect for other guests and local wildlife, and that they don't go on beds or sofas inside the units. Please clean up after them — there are bins around the site.

Is Pod Hollow's garden fence secure for dogs?

Please note: the fence around Pod Hollow's garden is aesthetic only — it is NOT a fully enclosed or secure space. 

Dogs who like to bolt will find a way out. Owners are responsible for keeping their dogs on the property at all times. If your dog is a known escape artist, keep them on a lead.


👨‍👩‍👧 Children & Families

Are you suitable for children?

Absolutely — we're a family-friendly site. Many of our guests bring young children. The woodland is a wonderful place for them to explore, and the site's quiet atmosphere means you won't be keeping other guests awake in the evenings.

Do you provide cots or high chairs?

We have one single travel cot available — please request it when you book, as it's on a first-come basis. Please note that guests need to bring their own bedding for the cot (sheets, blankets).

Is the site safe for children to explore?

The site is private and quiet, but it is working woodland with natural hazards — uneven ground, low branches etc. We'd ask that young children are supervised, particularly near the site entrance and road.


👋 Visitors & Guests

Can I have day visitors?

Our accommodation is for paying guests only, but short day visits from friends or family are fine. We don't allow overnight guests unless they're added to the booking — but if you want to add someone, just ask. We can often be flexible.


🗺️ Things to Do Nearby

What's worth visiting locally?

Lots. The West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village is five minutes away. Bury St Edmunds (four miles) has the Abbey Gardens, a working cathedral, a proper market, and excellent restaurants. Lackford Lakes nature reserve is ten minutes down the road. The King's Forest starts on our doorstep. Cambridge and the North Norfolk coast are both within an hour's drive.

Can you recommend places to eat?

Yes — we keep an up-to-date list of favourite local pubs and restaurants at the site, and you can also read our Best Restaurants and Pubs blog post. Just ask when you arrive and we'll point you towards what's good right now.

What if it rains?

You'll be surprised how much you can do in Suffolk even when the weather's not playing ball. Bury St Edmunds has the cathedral, Moyse's Hall Museum, good pubs, and independent shops. The West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village has a small indoor exhibit. And honestly — there's a lot to be said for staying in your pod with a book, a BBQ lunch, and the rain on the roof.

Is there a shop nearby?

The nearest shops are in Bury St Edmunds for a proper supermarket shop. We recommend picking up food and drink on your way in — it saves a trip once you've settled. There is no shop within walking distance.

Are you open year-round?

Yes — all our accommodation is open 365 days a year and is fully heated. Some guests think autumn and winter stays are the best; the site has a different kind of magic when the leaves are down and the fires are lit.


💬 Still Have Questions?

Just get in touch — we genuinely prefer helping people plan a good stay than sending them a generic booking confirmation.