Latest news with #busconversion
The Sun
29-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
We bought old school bus on eBay & transformed it into family travel wagon – it has bunk beds, fridge & washing machine
A FAMILY have hit the road after buying and transforming an old school bus bought on eBay. Travelling with their two daughters, a couple from Newcastle have swapped their restaurant business for life on the go. 8 8 8 Lotti Harrison, 29, and Ty Burns, 37, sold the business to snap up a £25k classic American school bus on eBay. Having always dreamed of travelling in a van, Ty spotted the 11-metre long school bus listing in August 2024. The couple knew they had to go for it and Ty renovated the bus by himself for the next six months. They fitted their new family travel wagon with bunk beds, a full-sized fridge, washing machine and king-sized bed. It's even kitted out with noise-proof acoustic panelling to help with noise levels as well as underfloor heating, air-con and a log burner. Speaking to Chronicle Live, Lotti said: "It's very fancy, it's a luxury bus - we haven't scrimped on this. "We wanted it to be as comfortable for us and the girls as possible." They then sold their restaurant business and ended the tenancy for their four-bed, three-storey town house. The couple kept essentials and sentimental items but sold off the majority of their furniture and possessions with Lotti saying "it felt so good to get rid of stuff." They then set off on their travels last month for Belgium before making their way through Luxembourg, France and Italy. How to use ChatGPT for home & garden renovations without spending a penny - see how good it looks before you even start Their next stops are Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia before they travel through Albania, Montenegro and Serbia. The route back to the UK will see them pass through Greece, Italy and France. They hope to use their savings to fund their travels for a year before deciding whether to continue upon their return. Although not without its challenges, highlights so far have included Disneyland Paris and cycling around Lake Annecy in France. 8 8 Lotti said: "We've never been that 9 to 5 vibe - but ever since having the girls we realised how quickly time goes. "We wanted to spend as much time now together as a family and watch them grow up. "Sending them to a nursery didn't seem right to us. "If we didn't do it now, we'd probably never do it." The couple always dreamed of travelling and even bought a bus they saw on the side of the road for £500 six years ago. But their plans were put on hold after realising the bus was "knackered". 8 8 Lotti added: "Since having the girls the reality was a bit more tricky." But Ty then spotted the school bus on eBay and the couple decided to go for it. Their two daughters are loving life on the road, according to Lotti. She said: "The girls have taken to it so well. "Waking up in a different place is so exciting for them." They also love that they can stay in a place if they fancy or move on if the weather is "rubbish". There have been fans along the way too with everyone "in awe" and "beeping their horns". Lotti said: "We can't go anywhere without being papped". The mum of two also hopes to inspire others to travel and encourages others to get out of their "comfort zone". She said: "There's a whole world out there." Lotti and Ty aren't the only ones to have their home on the road either. Earlier this year a couple bought a double-decker bus on eBay to transform it into a flat on wheels after being unable to afford a house. Eventually, the bus will come complete with underfloor heating, a full-sized bedroom and lounge. 8
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
I turned a London bus into a 'beautiful' two-bedroom apartment - this is why I'm selling it for a bargain price
A DIY expert has transformed a red London bus into a 'beautiful' two-bedroom apartment - and it's up for sale for less than £50k. Dan Atkins, 45, from Sunbury-on-Thames, founded Buses4Homeless in 2020 after he discovered that one of his friends had become homeless and was sleeping in a coach's luggage compartment. He wanted to help those in similar situations and so started transforming a selection of London's red double-deckers into homeless shelters, which provide spaces to sleep, cook, eat, relax, and search for jobs. Dan, a father-of-one, then took on a new challenge - and has converted a double-decker into a two-bedroom family home. The 1998 diesel bus features a master bedroom, a kids' bunkbed room, a designer kitchen, a luxury bathroom, and a stylish living area. It also boasts a 32-inch smart TV, a breakfast bar, and an engine bay converted into a large, lit storage space. Dan said he believes it's 'one of the most beautiful buses that has ever been renovated' and as a result is selling it for just shy of £50,000. All the money will go towards his charity - so he can help more people escape homelessness. Dan said that the engine was professionally removed, making it a fully static build – ideal for permanent placement in a holiday park, private land, or glamping site. He thinks it could be a unique family retreat, a stylish home office setup - or even the ultimate Airbnb. He said: 'It's definitely a step up from what we've built in the past. I think it's one of the most beautiful buses that's ever been renovated. 'Our buses usually house around eight to 12 people and function as homeless shelters. 'But with this one - we've made it into what is essentially a two-bedroom apartment and [we] are looking to sell it to raise money for our charity, which was once Buses4Homeless but is now Solutions4Living. 'That way, we can support even more people.' Dan continued: 'It's amazing what you can do once you've stripped the inside out. Now, I look around it and everything is stunning. 'It was wonderful showing the bus to my little boy Rocco. He loved it - and didn't want to leave when we had to go home. I think it will be a hit with kids.' Dan started his charity when he found out that his friend was sleeping in the luggage compartment of a coach. The renovation, which Dan hopes will raise money for charity, also comes with a stylish living area He said: 'We went out that day and bought him a bus and converted it into a home. That's where the ethos began.' Since then, Dan has converted several more buses into homeless shelters - and helped various people escape homelessness. He said: 'An important part of what we do is that we hire people who are homeless - or often people who have just left prison - to help us convert these buses. 'This latest bus has taken us over six months and one of the people who has been critical to the project is Roy Nagle, who recently got out of prison.' Discussing Roy's impact on the project, Dan said, 'He has just been incredible. I can't make that clear enough. 'Seeing what this kind of thing does for people is amazing. It really does change lives. It just makes my heart sing.' Dan, who lives with his wife Tatiana, 43, and son Rocco, one, said there has already been a lot of interest in the bus. He said: 'We've had a lot of interest from buyers already. There have been a couple offers too - but nothing we've accepted yet. The bus is up for sale on eBay for less than £50,000- and Dan said it's already received plenty of interest Over 900 people had viewed details of the renovated bus on eBay in the past 24 hours of writing 'We've also had people seeing the bus and commissioning us to do buses for other projects - so that's great too. 'We just want to find the right buyer for this bus so we can sell it for the right price and keep helping people as best we can.' The converted bus is currently on sale on eBay for £49,995. It's proven to be a hit on the site, with over 900 people viewing the bus in the last 24 hours of writing. The description reads, 'This is not just a bus – it's a luxury living experience like no other. 'Lovingly crafted into a stunning two-bedroom home, this double decker bus is now a high-end static dwelling, offering unbeatable charm and comfort. 'Whether you're looking for a unique family retreat, a stylish home office setup, or the ultimate Airbnb or short-let business opportunity, this iconic build delivers on every front.' 'From top to bottom, every inch of this bus has been meticulously designed and finished to a luxury standard. 'It's more than just a home – it's a unique destination with incredible earning potential as a turnkey Airbnb or short-let business.'
