Guide to Glamping UK: Posh Camping in England, Scotland & Wales

Glamping in North America and other parts of the world is just beginning to catch on in a big way. However, glamping UK (aka posh camping, glam camping, glamorous camping) has been a popular choice for a close-to-home holiday for decades. 

There are a few reasons for this. First of all the English, Scottish and Welsh countryside is renowned for its natural beauty, perfect for glamping. 

Secondly, unlike North America where wide-open spaces are the norm, it’s not as easy to just pack up the car with camping gear and set off to find yourself a remote spot to camp. 

Thirdly, the climate in the UK leans towards wetter and cooler temperatures making traditional tent camping less enjoyable outside of summer. 

Finally, the UK has a much longer history which includes farming, shepherding and a gypsy culture; all of which have inspired many of the glamping sites in the UK you see today.

This has all contributed to a wide array of UK glamping sites from the more traditional canvas walled tents or bell tents to the historic shepherd huts and gypsy caravans to the more modern glamping pods and geo domes. Plus there are unique and quirky glamping options like treehouses, hobbit holes, yurts, boats and even castles.

With thousands of glamping spots in the UK coming in all shapes, sizes and prices we can’t possibly list them all in one post. This guide will give you a good overview of the best areas in the UK for posh camping and glamping along with suggestions for some of the larger glampsites in each region. You will also finds links to other articles which go into more detail and offer specific recommendations for glamping in the UK.

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Glamping in England

England is divided into 9 regions. Each region has its own unique character and charm as well as top sights and attractions. But we’re here to talk about glamping UK. So, let’s get going. 

North East England Glamping

England’s North East region has some of the most beautiful coastline and the most castles in the country as well as Roman ruins. Highlights include Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland Coastal Route and Alnwick Castle.

Counties in the North East are Northumberland, Durham, Tyne and Wear. Glamping can be found throughout the North East of England but glampsites in Northumberland County are the most abundant.

Huts in the Hills offers luxury shepherd’s huts in the heart of Northumberland with countryside walks on your doorstep and close to all the castles and coastline that the region is famous for. Each hut has everything you need for a romantic getaway including outdoor antique French baths.

For a fabulous family glamping break in the countryside, Feather Down Northumberland Farm is a great choice. They have large, luxury canvas tents with a kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms and a living area. Enjoy the beautiful nature, wildlife and farm animals as well as nearby castles and beaches.

North West England Glamping

North West England is home to the famous cities of Liverpool and Manchester but it also has its share of stunning natural beauty. The Lake District is gorgeous and the Northern Pennines and Forest of Bowland.

Counties of North West England are Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire and Greater Manchester. There’s an abundance of glamping sites in this region but Cumbria arguably has the best selection.

The award-winning Park Cliffe holiday park in the heart of the Lake District has a bit of everything. The scenery is nothing short of stunning and the accommodation options include caravans, shepherd’s huts, glamping pods and self-catering cottages.

For summer only glamping in the Lake District National Park consider Camp Eden. This pop-up glamping site is on the grounds of the Lowther Estate so you’ll be glamping in the shadow of the castle ruins. Accommodations include bell tents and luxurious Arabian Bedouin tents. There are also lots of great glamping pods in the Lake District to choose from.

Glamping in Yorkshire

The largest county in England, Yorkshire is also one of the most popular areas for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Naturally, this makes it a prime region for Yorkshire glamping, especially near the Yorkshire Dales and the Peak District.

Swaledale Yurts in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales is an award-winning glamping holiday park. The yurts are large and luxurious with their own private bathroom and the grounds have lots of amenities including a community kitchen and a hot tub for private bookings.

For a Wild West-themed glamping site just 3 miles from the beach Pinewood Park is a great option. This premier Yorkshire glamping site has a ton of different glamping accommodations including tipis, wagons and rustic cabins. Some have their own private hot tub.

Jollydays Glamping in North Yorkshire has perfected a luxurious woodland escape for families and groups. You’ll be immersed in healing nature without giving up any creature comforts. On-site is the Northwood Kitchen and Bar, the Tea Tent and the Log Store and Shop. Choose from the stunningly gorgeous Woodland Bothies or the luxurious but rustic Woodcutter Huts.

East Midlands Glamping

The East Midlands is home to some of the most beautiful countryside in England. This region is full of dales, hills, national forests and cute villages. People go to enjoy the beaches along the coast of Lincolnshire or walk and cycle through the stunning Peak District and Derbyshire Dales.

Counties of the East Midlands are Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Rutland and parts of Lincolnshire. Glampsites can be found throughout all the counties of the East Midlands.

Lantern and Larks in Rutland features large, 3-bedroom glamping tents with a kitchen and private bathroom. Exton Estate Glamping site sits on 500 hectares within the 18th-century Exton Park. 

Peak View Shepherds Huts are located on the edge of the Peak District National Park making it a perfect spot for exploring this incredibly scenic area. The luxury shepherd’s huts are a perfect romantic getaway and some even have private wood fire heated Eco Hot Tubs.

If you’re looking for a seaside glamping experience Mablethorpe Ready Camp in Lincolnshire is a good option. Large safari glamping tents sleep up to 6 just steps from a sandy beach.

See More Glamping in the Peak District

Glamping in the West Midlands

Known for industrial cities like Birmingham, the West Midlands may not be the first area that comes to mind when you think glamping. But there are actually lots of glampsites in the West Midlands of England.

Counties in the West Midlands are Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire. Glamping can be found throughout the region.

Ockeridge Rural Retreats in Worcestershire offers several luxury camping shepherd’s huts as well as a cabin and a cottage. For a romantic glamping getaway go for the Luxury Ashwood Shepherd’s Hut which has a handmade English roll top copper bathtub at the foot of the bed.

Redwood Valley Woodland Cabin & Yurts near the Welsh border has been named one of Britain’s top luxury glampsites. They have two secluded yurts and a treetop cabin all set in a beautiful wooded valley with spectacular views of the natural surroundings.

At the foot of the Malvern Hills is the unique glamping Malvern Holiday Park. Here they have a choice of several shepherd’s huts, two caravans and a 2 bedroom lodge and a cottage.

South East England Glamping

The South East of England is the most populated area of the country. It is known for popular beach towns like Brighton and Bournemouth and the beautiful countryside of the New Forest plus South and North Downs. Plus historic cathedrals, palaces and Oxford University.

Counties in South East include are East Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Kent, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. Glamping sites can be found in every county and there are quite a few options of the Isle of Wight.

Tom’s Eco Lodges sit on the popular Tapnell Farm on the Isle of Wight. The Farm Park is a family favorite with lots of fun activities for the kids. Glamping accommodations include Safari Tents, Wood Cabins, Modulogs and Eco Pods with stunning sea views.

If you want to go glamping near Brighton, Experience Freedom has basic camping pods and luxury glamping pods with sweeping views of South Downs and Sussex countryside.

Luna Domes shares the property with Hoath House in West Kent. The unique location along with some incredible luxury geodesic glamping domes. These Kent glamping sites is the ultimate combination of luxury and nature.

See also: Glamping in New Forest and Glamping in Brighton or Isle of Man Glamping

South West England Glamping

With a gorgeous coastline and iconic countryside, it’s no wonder the South West of England is one of the most popular regions for holidaying Brits. After all, this area contains the Cotswolds, the Jurassic Coast and many spectacular beaches.

Counties in South West England are Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. Glampsites are all over this region but Devon, Somerset and Cornwall have an abundance of luxury camping.

Acorn Camping and Glamping is located within a Cornwall Wildlife Site so you know you will be surrounded by nature and wildlife. These Cornwall Glamping accommodations include Hobbit Huts, the romantic Snook and Flora Tents.

In Devon, you can stay at Midleydown Luxury Glamping in one of their spacious safari tents. These luxurious glamping tents are fitted with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen, living area, dining area and a large deck with a hot tub.

For the ultimate luxury glamping experience in Somerset look no further than The Shepherd’s Hut Retreat.

See Also: Glamping in Forest of Dean and Glamping in the Cotswolds

Glamping in the East of England

East of England (aka East Anglia) is the flattest of the regions and has lovely waterways and a pretty coastline. The area is popular for walking, cycling, fishing and punting. Highlights of this region include the college town of Cambridge and the gorgeous Norfolk Broads.

The counties of East of England are Essex, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire. There are plenty of options for glamping in East Anglia, many of them are located in beautiful Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. Following is just a little sampling.

Glamping in Norfolk doesn’t get much better than the fabulous Bradmoor Woods which is a 10-acre wooded site perfect for groups. Glamping options are varied and include birdhouses, a silo and railway carriages. Wild With Nature is another large glamping site in Norfolk with shepherd huts, yurts and bell tents, a lovely communal kitchen, wood fire pizza oven and firepits.

Tucked In the lovely scenic countryside of Suffolk near charming Bury St Edmonds is West Stow Pods. Here you can stay in MegaPods, Woodland Lodges or even the Hobbit-inspired Pod Hollow. There’s also Secret Meadows which is owned by a wildlife charity and has Lodge Tents, Gypsy Caravans, a Hobbit Box and even a 2-story Luxury Safari Tent.

See also: Where to Stay for Glamping in Essex

London & Greater London

There are thousands of reasons to visit London City and Greater London but understandably glamping isn’t one of them. However, if you’re in London and are yearning for a nature break there is plenty of parks, gardens and green spaces to enjoy. 

With more than 2500 acres of land, Richmond Park is the largest park in Greater London. One of the highlights is the hundreds of free-roaming deer. Bushy Park, Regent’s Park, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are just a few of the other beautiful green spaces to enjoy in London.

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Glamping in Wales

With an abundance of mountains, hills, valleys, coastline, castles, villages and far less population than England, Wales is perfect for glamping.

North Wales Glamping

Full of gorgeous and diverse natural wonders, North Wales is heaven for the nature lover and outdoors adventurer. From a stunning rugged coastline packed with lovely beaches to Snowdonia National Park with its snow-capped peaks, there’s so much nature to explore in this tiny region.

Glamping in North Wales tends to be a little more basic but that is part of the charm of this part of the UK. If you want to explore Snowdonia National Park there are dozens of basic glamping pods and other glamping types to choose from. At Adventure Parc Snowdonia you can enjoy many indoor and outdoor activities by day and sleep in a comfortable pod by night. 

Glamping with an onsite brewery? Yes, there is such a thing at Snowdonia Parc Real Ale Brewpub & Campsite. Snowdonia & Coast Glamping sits conveniently between the Snowdon Mountain range and the coast and has year-round Wigwam Pods.

Let’s Glamp Retro in West Wales has three posh camping pods each with a different retro theme. Choose from ’60s themed “Beatles” pod, ‘70s themed “Queen” pod or ‘80s themed “Madonna” pod.

See also: Yurt Glamping in North Wales

Glamping South Wales

South Wales has some of the most beautiful natural scenery in the country. Full of valleys, beaches plus coastal and countryside walks it’s a perfect area to go glamping. Must-sees are the wildly gorgeous Brecon Beacons National Park, the stunning Glamorgan Coast and the lovely Wye Valley.

There is some really unique glamping in South Wales to choose from. Castle Knights offers a variety of quirky glamping on the Usk Castle grounds. Choose from Tom’s Barrell, The Dragonette, Glyndwyr Fort and more.

Celtic Woodland Holidays has glamping pods and a treehouse in a woodland park in the beautiful Wye Valley. Then there’s Seven Hills Hideaway on the edge of Brecon Beacons with luxurious canvas lodges that sleep up to 6 and have everything you need for a great posh camping experience.

See also: Glamping in Brecon Beacons

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Glamping in Scotland

Scotland is the ultimate nature and adventure lovers dream. Here you can climb the famous Scottish Highlands, search for the Loch Ness Monster, breathe in the scent of heather on the moors, walk along secluded beaches and visit historic sites and castles. Oh and go glamping in Scotland!

Scottish Highlands Glamping

Mountainous and ruggedly beautiful the Scottish Highlands are sparsely populated but much visited. This natural playground is home to the legendary Loch Ness, the magical Isle of Skye and the Cairngorms National Park to name just a few wonders.

For a spectacular beach glamping holiday take a look at NC500 Pods overlooking Achmelvich Bay. These luxury glamping pods are just steps for a white sand beach and wonderful coastal and countryside walks.

Loch Ness Glamping offers a variety of posh camping options including their glamping eco-pod Armadillas and the family/group size Stables. With a backdrop of the Great Glen and the surrounding scenery of Glenurquhart, it’s a gorgeous spot to explore the Scottish Highlands.

On the Isle of Skye Wigwam Holidays have several glamping pod sites scattered all over the island. Another option on this lovely island is Dunvegan Camping Pods which offers year-round cozy pods with kitchen and bathroom.

Scottish Lowlands Glamping

The Scottish Lowlands are essentially the region south of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Its natural beauty consists of rolling hills, gentle valleys, iconic moorland and picturesque coastline. Scattered throughout the countryside are many historical castles and abbeys.

Gorsebank Glamping offers a range of quirky cabin and pod accommodations in Dumfries and Galloway on a small farm with picturesque meadows, woodland and pastures. Options include luxury converted containers, posh pods with hot tubs and boutique bothy glamping barns.

Queensland Holiday Park in South Ayrshire sits on the edge of Galloway Forest offering a wide range of glamping sites. Choose from caravans, camping pods or glamping pods with a hot tub. A great location with lots of amenities makes this a great place for a family glamping holiday in the Scottish Lowlands.

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