Modern Studio to Rent in the Black Lodge, Epping Forest

The black lodge is the newest building at Willows, and the studio inside it is the one unit that surprises people. Where the rest of the park is properly rustic — grass, gravel, cabins in a field — the lodge is a clean, contemporary, well-insulated building, and the studio has the feel of a new-build flat that happens to look out onto a meadow with horses in it.

It's an open-plan arrangement: sleeping, living and kitchen in one well-proportioned space, with good light and modern finishes throughout. It's warm, it's quiet, and it's easy to live in. Outside, as with everything here, you have your own private area to sit in.

One important thing, stated plainly: the studio does not have its own bathroom. You share the site's communal mains toilet and shower block with other guests. We know that reads oddly against the price and the finish of the building, and we would far rather say it here than have you discover it at a viewing. If you want modern finishes and a private shower room, look at the modern one-bed in the same lodge at £1,500–£1,600 pcm.

£1,400 pcm covers everything but your food and your phone: all utility bills, one car parking space, use of the mains toilet and shower block and the laundry, and your own private outside area. Nothing is metered separately.

The facilities block has mains flushing toilets, power showers in wet-room style cubicles, and hot and cold sinks. Bring your own toilet paper. There is no WiFi on the site, so mobile data it is — the studio's a good place to work from with a 4G connection, but there's no fixed line.

No open or wood fires anywhere on the park; charcoal BBQs only. Cats are welcome, dogs at the owner's discretion. Bank transfer in advance, photo ID on move-in, and viewings strictly by appointment on 07816 847541.