Couple quit their jobs and spend £15k converting school bus into plush 'apartment on wheels'

A couple spent £15,000 transforming an old school bus into a plush "apartment on wheels", and quit their jobs to drive it across Europe.

Eamonn McCaughan and his partner Michelle from Ireland, who are both project managers, spent nine months converting their vintage Mercedes school bus into a comfortable camper before embarking on their journey to Sicily.

After developing a passion for van life during the pandemic, they spotted a 1996 school bus on Facebook Marketplace for £3,000 and seized the opportunity. Earlier this year, the 31-year-olds decided to pause their careers and dedicate all their time to turning their cherished bus into a mobile holiday home.

READ MORE: Dad transforms old 1950s bunker into quirky space - now it's up for auction

They invested £15,000 in renovating the 24-seater primary school bus, equipping it with home comforts such as a full-size kitchen, warm water shower, heaters, and air conditioning. They even installed voice-activated lights and a seven-foot projector screen for Netflix movie nights via Starlink satellite internet.

Eamonn told PA Real Life: "Every time we pass a bus stop, we are tempted to hit the doors and see if anyone gets on.

"It’s an old Mercedes with what’s known as the million-mile engine, it’s slow but it just keeps going, which is the lifestyle that we like."

He added: "It really feels like an apartment on wheels, like you have a kitchen, you have a toilet, a good size wardrobe and a projector screen."

The couple's plans for a summer holiday to Italy in July 2020 were thwarted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Instead, they opted to buy a £900 Ford Transit on Facebook Marketplace and explore closer to home.

"We ended up buying an old van off a builder and just touring around