Wake up before you go go at George Michael's former Oxfordshire home. Now listed on Airbnb as Pool House at Mill Cottage, fans can swim 'Club Tropicana' style in the rock'n'roll heated outdoor pool and then cosy up by the ginormous fireplace, inside.
George Michael bought Mill Cottage in 2001 and lived there for 15 years, speaking warmly about the happiness he found there, until he passed away on Christmas Day, 2016. And while the main cottage was sold in 2020 for £3.8 million, the detached, one-bedroom pool house in the grounds, is available for rent on Airbnb.
Sitting beside the River Thames in the picturesque village of Goring-on-Thames, the pool house can sleep up to four (there's a sofa bed in the open-plan living room). Hidden behind mature trees and hedges, the glass-fronted property has its own separate entrance with exposed beams and a magnificent working fireplace inside. Huge windows fill the property with natural light which is much-needed as the night's draw in and help make the most of the idyllic countryside views.
There's also a compact kitchen, an en-suite bedroom with a queen-size bed with pool views, and a bathroom with a walk-in shower. With exposed timber beams in the open-plan living room you can relax on the comfy sofa and choose a book to curl up by the fire or play one of the many board games provided.
The Airbnb listing doesn’t trade on the property’s famous former owner but calls the pool house 'a unique riverside escape nestled on the Thames where you'll enjoy easy access to riverside cafes and restaurants by foot or boat'.
The main attraction is, of course, the green-tiled heated pool where you can live out your Club Tropicana dreams (complete with blow up flamingo inflatables and 80s shades). Sun loungers, outdoor seating, a picnic table and a barbecue are perfect for spring and summer stays.
It's easy to understand why this lovely corner of Oxfordshire held such a special place in George’s heart. Rather than feeling like a celebrity attraction, the pool house remains what it was always intended to be: a peaceful place in which to swim, relax and enjoy the beauty of the river (while listening to Careless Whisper obvs).
The pool house usually costs from around £500 a night with a two-night minimum night stay but has this week, been reduced to under £300 a night. It closes for winter on November 22 (so you can't celebrate your Last Christmas there) but book now for dates from 9 April as it gets snapped up by fans fast.
