I went to the UK's 1970s themed AirBnb – and it was full of incredible throwbacks

Perched on a Dralon chair, with my acrylic pink kaftan draped artfully around me, I sit back and sip a well-deserved Babycham. It’s been a busy week but I’ve got Saturday Night Fever LP on the record player and a few copies of She magazine at my side.

And as I sink my feet into the garish, swirling carpet, the worries of the modern world suddenly feel very far away indeed. It might sound like a crazy, fever dream but believe me, this experience is very real. Forget jetting off to yet another stunning beach, checking out some of Britain’s historic sites or relaxing in a picturesque European city, I’ve decided to go one further and travel back in time for my spring holiday.

Thanks to a quirky new Airbnb experience, I’ve packed my Abigail’s Party frock, spritzed on some Charlie and come on holiday to relive my Seventies childhood.

I’m spending the weekend at The Retro Bungalow – a meticulously restored holiday home, deep in the Lancashire countryside.

Owned by Melissa and Nigel Peter, it’s been designed to shamelessly celebrate an era many of us remember fondly.

The couple came up with the idea after inheriting the single-storey property from Nigel’s late dad.

“Parts of it had never really changed,” says Melissa, 58. “It has been so well-kept, it was like a time capsule. We realised it could be something really special. Somewhere people could come to enjoy their memories or just have fun – so much of the design is back in at the moment.

“Instead of tearing everything out, we went the other way and started finding more things to put in.” The pair, who also run a plant nursery and education centre near their home in Hoghton, Lancs, spent 18 months searching for everything from psychedelic curtains and mind-bendingly patterned bed linen to historic books, jigsaws and furniture – even a new wash basin to match the rest of the original avocado-hued bathroom suite.

They debuted their funky efforts via Instagram a few weeks ago and found themselves inundated with inquiries before they’d even opened, from people keen to embrace the retro spirit.

Before they do, I’ve been given the honour of being the first guest to spend a night here. And it doesn’t disappoint.

From the minute I walk through the door and into the hallway, complete with its telephone table – guests are encouraged to dump their mobiles here – and vibrant artwork, I’m transported back to another world: one I remember with a fond smile. Our passion for the past seems here to stay – with forecasters naming nostalgia as a key trend for 2024. And it isn’t just the Seventies getting us going; there are holiday lets offering the chance to step back into the Thirties, Sixties and Eighties.

Streaming giants Spotify say retro playlists are one of their most popular functions, ­with blast from the past artists like Rick Astley selling out big arenas on his current feelgood tour.

But back to The Retro Bungalow. I was born in 1973 and grew up in a semi in Salford, where it seemed like everyone I knew had the same, jazzy interior style. The decade might have been a turbulent one for adults but for me as a carefree kid, it felt great: innocent, colourful and vividly memorable. My childhood was a fun one – full ­
of friends, family and get-togethers – all played out against that same distinctive ­Seventies backdrop.

Oranges, mustard, green, pink and as much pattern as possible seemed to be the order of the day, along with plenty of teak, plastic and plush carpet. It might be known as the decade that taste forgot, but for me it was a time when I didn’t have a care in the world.

Now, as I walk into the bungalow, being surrounded by so many of the sights and sounds of that time is overwhelmingly nostalgic in a way that feels safe and upbeat. Let’s face it, the world doesn’t feel particularly secure right now so escaping to the past for a night or two feels like a relaxing option – a perfect way to escape from it all. As I start to explore, the house triggers memory after warm memory.

My 2024 outfit – black polo neck and leggings – feels a bit too dull here so I start as I mean to go on, helping myself to an Afghan jacket and a pair of gold shoes (there is a wardrobe full of gorgeous outfits visitors can use) before wandering about, snapping photos to show friends.

In the lounge, I’m spoilt for choice: there’s a TV in a wooden cabinet (complete with plenty of old telly choices to enjoy), and occasional tables strewn with books, magazines and games. I lift up the lid of the giant record player and stick on a Bee Gees LP, marvelling at a G Plan wall unit full of ­coloured glassware and topped with trailing spider plants. At tea time (it’s 1978 in my head, which means I’m eating early) I waft into the kitchen and consider putting the enamelled fondue set through its paces.

The cupboards are the kind of 1970s treasure trove that would make Margo Leadbetter gasp, jammed full of period pieces, including a hen-shaped egg holder, bright Tupperware and patterned tableware.

Sitting at the Formica table with my instant coffee, I’m half expecting my Grandma to walk in, smoking a cigarette and asking if I want another limeade with my crinkle-cut chips (yes, obviously). When night falls, I draw the colourful curtains across the ­bevelled ‘front room’ window and get ready for bed. There are two big bedrooms here and I opt for the one with the teasmaid and flower-patterned curtains.

After brushing my teeth in the green glow of the bathroom, slathering on some Oil of Ulay – as it was then known – for good measure, I grab a couple of annuals from the bookshelf to read as I drop off.

The Brownie Annual seems so familiar I think I must have actually owned this exact edition, then I move on to the racier Oh Boy, which I’ve never seen before but promises “Your Kind of Guys – hundreds of ‘em” which sounds like a laugh.

When morning comes (after a cuppa from the Goblin teasmade, naturally) I can’t resist having a ride on the Chopper bike perched up against the conservatory wall before heading off to explore the Lancashire countryside that surrounds us (not something my Seventies self would have relished).

I head home feeling restored and refreshed – my head filled with comforting sights, sounds and memories.

Thanks to this cool house it seems like time travel really IS possible and not only that, it’s good for the soul.

• Visit retrobungalow.co.uk for more details and bookings