Long-gone are the days when you had to lug your own tent and all the paraphernalia to a sodden campsite in a farmer’s field. If you’d rather be a happy glamper than an unhappy camper, there are snug log-burners, private hot tubs and swish digs to choose from. Check out these sites for a spectacular glamping holiday in the UK. Feeling inspired? Grab the latest Glamping Getaways book from Cool Places for a hand-picked selection of 120 of the UK’s top glamping spots.
Set deep in the woods on the Welsh border, Redwood Valley is home to two yurts. Each can sleep up to five people and includes log-burning stoves, barbecue/fire pits and handmade furniture. The glampsite also offers a treetop cabin for a slice of secluded tranquility with views stretching across the valley and the brook.
The site is named after the 164-foot-tall (50m) redwood tree at its centre but there are also ancient oaks as well as a particular focus on biodiversity. There’s even a Scots pine known as a Charlie tree, which was planted in support of Bonnie Prince Charlie during the Jacobite uprising of 1745. Ever so slightly further afield lies the breathtaking Elan Valley and Offa’s Dyke.
Originally used to transport people around Coventry and Birmingham in the 1980s, this old MCW metro bus was saved from the scrap heap by qualified carpenter Adam Collier-Woods. Its renovation featured on George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces TV series and is now parked up in private woodland in the South Downs in East Sussex.
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The bus has three bedrooms upstairs, sleeping up to six guests with a minimum two-night stay. Downstairs includes a fully-fitted kitchen, a toilet/wet-room and a chill-out area where you can stay cosy with the help of the log burner. When you’re not soaking up the blissful countryside surroundings, pass the time with a board game or treat yourself with a dip in the wood-fired hot tub.
There aren't many places in the UK where you can spend the night inside a National Nature Reserve, but at Elmley you’re right there overlooking a protected wetland and marshland landscape. Located on Kent’s Isle of Sheppey, the atmospheric landscape is said to have inspired scenes from Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations.
Smaller groups can choose from shepherd's huts, cabins and bell tents, while larger parties can opt for a cottage or farmhouse. All rooms are light and spacious with splashes of luxury including vintage bathtubs and king-size beds. Regardless of when you visit there’s plenty of wildlife: owls in winter, butterflies in spring, hares in summer and, in the autumn, migrating whimbrels en route to Africa who pause at the reserve.
Switch off the Wi-Fi and connect with nature in one of Quality Unearthed’s two handcrafted luxury yurts, Selene and Boudica. Situated in an organically managed reserve in Glastonbury, each yurt sleeps up to three guests and includes four-poster beds, hand-made wood-burners and private compost toilets. This bohemian-style retreat allows guests to make the most of the great outdoors, with convenient access to nearby historic sights.
Offering wide-sweeping views over the Mendip Hills, guests can pick their way through ancient abbeys or tackle the steep climb up Glastonbury Tor. The yurts are fully insulated too, so after a hard day’s exploring guests can cosy up with a book by LED lamp.
Brockloch Bothy is possibly the ultimate eco glampsite. Just six miles (10km) north of Castle Douglas, this holiday cabin in Dumfries and Galloway also featured on George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces series. The micro timber-framed building is insulated with sheep’s wool and decorated with environmentally friendly paint. We mean it when we say it’s off-grid, but solar panels provide electricity and there’s a charging point for laptops and phones.
Guests sleep easy on Egyptian cotton bed linen, enjoy panoramic views of the countryside around outdoor seating and make the most of the open-plan kitchen/living room. There’s also a treehouse tucked away in the private wood, perfect for a couple’s getaway. Lie back in comfort and watch the passing clouds or twinkling stars through the skylight. Wherever you choose to stay on this 190-acre farm, wildlife abounds with deer, badgers and red squirrels.
Within easy walking distance of Derwent Water, Inside Out Camping occupies a rugged hillside spot and is an ideal base from which to explore the wonders of the Lake District’s Borrowdale. Whether you want to do everything (options include walking, fishing, pub-hopping) or nothing at all, this glampsite offers the perfect respite from routine.
After a busy day spent climbing, canoeing or mountain biking these welcoming yurts beckon you in. Each is decked out with warm Moroccan rugs and you’ll find a chest of games to occupy you until the light fades and the stars come out – look at them in awe through the large central skylight.
Head out on a vehicle-based safari or guided tour with Knepp Wildland Safaris before retiring to your designated glamping spot. Ecologists can guide you around the site, where you might spot wild ponies, cattle and deer as they roam some 3,500 acres of West Sussex countryside.
On the edge of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural beauty lies this compact glampsite. Think double-glazed windows, canopied decking areas and bench seats that convert into double beds. Hill Top Huts offers 12 pods (two of which are wheelchair-accessible) and sleeps between three to five guests.
You wouldn’t ordinarily expect to find a glamping option masquerading as a penthouse suite in a city centre hotel, but then Bristol is hardly a conventional city. Set on an astroturf courtyard, these three replica airstream caravans (or Retro Rockets, if you’d rather) take pride of place on top of the Brooks Guesthouse in central Bristol. Each rocket is fitted with built-in a flatscreen TV along with top-of-the-range eco heating and showering facilities.
Once you’ve finished taking in the cityscape views, explore the rest of the old town of the city. Just around the corner is the award-winning St Nicholas Market, an indoor space filled with independent traders. It’s been running since 1743 so this is a great spot to take in some historic architecture – and amazing street food. If you’re after a spot of urban glamping, look no further than eclectic Bristol.
After an afternoon spent along the dramatic coastline of New Aberdour, walk back to your cabin, pod or tipi at this family-run glampsite in Fraserburgh. The glamping spots each sleep between three to five guests and have their own outdoor decking area. There’s also a firepit which is a good place to catch up with fellow guests as you tuck into a barbecue or listen to the crackling fire.
Surrounded by countryside and close to the beach, a stay at Coastal Cabins Glamping makes the most of its location with on-site and nearby activities available. This award-winning glampsite consists of ten swish wooden cabins perched above the cliffs of Hartland Point. Cabins are beach-themed and sleep two to four glampers with bunk beds and king-size beds. Guests also have full use of the on-site fishing lake.
Simmer with a sundowner in the wild spa hot tub or choose from a range of pamper-friendly spa treatments. The nearby village of Hartland offers three country pubs while a short five-min drive away lies car-free Clovelly Village. It’s a dreamy place to wander the cobbled streets, take in the quaint harbour and pay a visit to the delightful tearooms. Feeling adventurous? Book surfing lessons on one of Devon’s acclaimed beaches; after all, North Devon is the UK's only World Surfing Reserve. Alternatively, head to the Ultimate Adventure Centre to get your adrenaline fix.
A night on a working organic farm is the perfect green getaway, with clear skies for stargazing and cycle-friendly routes into the city centre. Set amid 117 acres, accommodation includes a yurt, two bell tents and a tipi. Each sleeps between three to five guests and comes with a woodburner.
Another transformation courtesy of George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces series, this vintage Warwick Knight caravan dating from the 1950s has been converted into a deluxe family holiday option. While it’s retro on the outside, it’s very much 21st century on the inside, where you’ll find an electric hob-cooker and fridge, not to mention a rooftop garden with sublime views across the Severn Valley.
Lying back and gazing up at the stars is what camping is all about. There’s nothing more perfect for that than a hand-crafted, bespoke-designed shepherd’s hut with a glass ceiling. StarBed Hideaway comprises two unique rustic cabins on wheels set on the fringes of Dartmoor National Park. Each comes with a comfy king-sized bed, deep bathtubs and has been designed with a romantic getaway in mind.
Escape the city – but only just – with a stay on London’s doorstep. Set in 150 acres of private woodland, fields and lakes, Elstree’s Home Farm Glamping is a ten-minute drive from Stanmore/Edgware London Underground stations (Jubilee/Northern lines). Reconnect with nature and go back to basics with a luxury touch at this family-run farm.
The farm’s cosy yurt and bell tents cater for two to five guests each and include comfy double and single beds. During the day there are on-site foraging sessions, yoga brunches and wildlife walks, while by night guests can chill out around their own private barbecues and firepits and watch the sun set. Bliss.
After a day spent wild swimming, bird watching or boating, cosy up in one of The Nest's three luxury lodges (each sleeps up to six guests). This dog-friendly glampsite comes fully equipped with all the mod-cons, including a combined cooker and stove, deep-set sofas and an egg-shaped bathtub (dreamy!). Savour the lakeside views from your own private deck or fire up the barbecue before enjoying an outdoor film or family bonding time around the firepit.
You'll sleep well; each lodge has a king-size master room, twin room and separate king-size cabin bunk. For a small extra charge, The Nest offers homemade hampers to lighten the load including breakfast, barbecue packs and seafood. While there's plenty of outdoor activities to get stuck in with, you can also treat yourself at the in-lodge spa or take a soak in the wood-fired hot tub.
Located in the village of Little Bentley in Essex, this working family farm offers three cabins: Stoats Burrow, Hares Hideaway and Otters Lodge. Sleeping four to six people per unit, you'll be treated to a welcome pack of local-sourced goodies and homemade cake on arrival. There's a rustic Scandi theme inside with a fully equipped kitchen and bathroom (including a roll-top bath), snuggly king-size beds and double bunkbeds and a light, airy living space.
As for things to do, you won't be bored. On the main covered deck outside there's a barbecue (toasted marshmallows, anyone?) while to the side of each cabin is your very own hot tub. On the farm's communal area is a zip wire and nature trail, and you can also hire bikes, paddleboards and fishing equipment. Don't fancy cooking? Tuck into a home-cooked supper which can be pre-arranged on request. There's a two-night minimum stay here, and they also offer cosy bell tents with luxury treehouses coming soon. We can't wait...