Glamping with kids – a family guide to luxury camping

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Is glamping on your holiday wish list? Excellent choice! We love a spot of luxury camping and have been to lots of campsites with yurts, shepherds huts, safari tents and pods in the South West of England. In this post I’m sharing my top advice for glamping with kids including recommended glamping sites for families, what to ask when you book and, importantly, what to pack!

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Top UK sites for glamping with kids

UK glamping sites come in all shapes and sizes with some more geared up for families than others. Then there’s sites that are very much back to basics and offer a solid roof but not a lot in terms of camping equipment.

You may be after a certain kind of glamping experience – quiet and basic or full on luxurious. Just like when you book a hotel, it’s important to do your research and find somewhere that meets your requirements.

Here’s some things to consider when you are looking at the glamping accommodation available:

• Does the website say they welcome families? It may sound obvious, but lots of sites are geared towards romantic breaks for couples.
• Will you have your own bathroom or do you need to walk somewhere else for the toilet and showers?
• Are there kitchen facilities like a stove, oven and fridge? Do you have to share these or are they in your accommodation?
• Will there be power points for your own electricals like phone chargers?
• If you are glamping with a toddler or baby, do they offer high chairs, cot beds and children’s cutlery?
• Do they have activities for families like a nature trail, games in a communal area or story telling around a fire pit?
• Is there an onsite shop and how close are other shops?
• What is there to do in the local area?

Different types of glamping accommodation

Glamping comes in all shapes and sizes – we haven’t stayed in two types of accommodation that have been the same.

Here’s some of the options that fall under the luxury camping category:

• Yurts – think camping round houses, often with log burning stoves so may be not great when you have crawling babies or toddlers
• Glamping pods – often dome shaped and futuristic looking accommodation
• Shepherds huts – think of a mini caravan, although we have seen a huge one that came with its own roll top bath and bunk bed room for the kids
• Safari tents – these are fun for families and can have all the mod cons including a bathroom
• Teepees – these can be as simple as a pre-pitched tent, taking the hassle out of arriving at your campsite.

Tried and tested family glamping sites

If you are looking for family-friendly glamping sites in South West England here are some we can personally recommend (click on the link for full details and a review):

• Safari Tent Glamping at Western Meadows in Cornwall – a small private site in Launceston with fire pit and large open field. Tents come with a bathroom and there’s a farm park across the road.
• Glamping pods at Oakdown Holiday Park in Devon – a small commercial site in East Devon with pods and shepherds huts. There’s a cafe, kids playground and onsite shop.
• Safari Tent Glamping at Crealy Meadows in Devon – safari tents and glamping tents in a campsite with a family theme park right next door. There’s a kids playground, club house and activities onsite.
• Glamping in yurts at Blackdown in Devon – a small yurt glamping side in the Blackdowns AONB with bat walks and a large open field. There’s a communal barn for cooking and socialising.
• Shepherds hut glamping at Strawfields in Devon – an independent campsite on the North Devon coast with dog-friendly accommodation and pizza cooking nights.
• Yurt glamping at Caalm Camp in Dorset – Mongolian yurts with private bathrooms and shared kitchen and communal area. There’s a play ground and pool table in the barn.
• Glamping pods at Croft Farm Water Park in Gloucestershire – pods with beds and a small fridge on the edge of a water sports lake. There’s a club house and cafe.
• Glamping pods at Stonehenge Campsite in Wiltshire – pods with beds and a small fridge in an independent campsite close to Stonehenge. You can book breakfast to be brought to your pod.

Our top glamping tips

Make the most of your glamping holiday by following these tips for booking and planning your stay:

• Do some research about days out and family attractions close to your glamping site. While you will have a leak proof roof over you, it’s never fun to be stuck in a small space for your whole holiday if the great British weather fails you.
• If you need a travel cot or other baby and toddler equipment ask where the campsite can supply these things before you try to cram them all in your car. Many family-friendly glamping sites are geared up for this kind of request.
• Find out whether you can drive up to your glamping accommodation to unpack or whether you need to park up separately. Are wheel barrows available to get your gear to your tent or pod?
• Glamping has become a trendy holiday choice in recent years. If you are looking for a quiet site or somewhere that you can guarantee there won’t be large groups partying into the small hours check your site’s booking policies.
• When you book, check what else comes with your glamping accommodation. This will vary from site to site.

That final tip brings me onto what I recommend packing for glamping with kids.

What to pack when glamping with kids

One of the fun things about glamping is that no two sites are the same. And the same can be said for the equipment and facilities that are available. This will have an impact on what you need to pack, so as I’ve already recommended check with your accommodation before you travel.

As a starting point I’d always recommend checking whether bedding is provided, what kitchen facilities are included and whether you will have your own bathroom.

You MAY need:

• sleeping bags and pillows
• towels
• kitchen utensils
• a cool box
• camping chairs
• a barbecue.

You WILL need:

• toiletaries
• waterproofs
• Wellington boots or walking shoes
• a first aid kit
• your own cleaning gear.

Here’s my full glamping packing list.

Things to do when glamping with kids

Glamping holidays are all about appreciating the great outdoors. Here’s some tips for things to do during your family glamping holiday:

• Stargazing – we’ve seen some amazing astronomical displays while camping
• Welly walks – here’s some things to find a on a walk to keep even young kids entertained
• Toast marshmallows
• Bird watch – the RSPB has a bird watching guide and sheet you can download.
• Pack these camping games.

More family camping checklists

If you are planning a trip in caravan, motorhome or camper van then you might also like to check out these other camping packing lists:

• Family camping checklist
• What to pack in your camper van
• Packing list for a mobile home holiday
• Caravan equipment checklist

More camping blog posts

Here’s some more caravan and camping blog posts you might enjoy:

• Our essential guide to camping with kids
• 10 tips for camping like a pro
• Our full guide to caravanning with kids
• Caravan beds for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers
• What to pack for caravan holidays with babies
• Essentials for caravanning with a toddler
• What’s the difference between a caravan and camper van?
• Why get a camping trailer?
• Top tips for buying a camper van
• What to pack for a camper van holiday.

Have you been glamping with kids or do you have any questions about it. Please get in touch or comment below.

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