British summer is shaping up to be one you’ll want to spend mostly outdoors.
A plush glampsite with pre-pitched tents is the perfect al fresco alternative to a conventional hotel, with comfy beds, proper loos and the chance to convene with nature (without it all feeling too rustic).
Here’s our pick of the best glamping sites to book for the sunshine season.
Pumla, Herefordshire
The stargazing is first-rate at this yurt-cabin hybrid set between the Wye Valley AONB and the Brecon Beacons — but to see it only by night would be to miss out on its fabulous design. From the chic Scandi-style bathroom with a marbled shower to the al fresco dining area fringed in glowing bulbs, owners Emily and Malik clearly have an eye for detail.
Walkers love hikes up the Cat’s Back ridge, while lazier travellers find respite in the deep tin tub or bed overlooking the rolling Herefordshire hills.
From £139, canopyandstars.co.uk
Rest+Wild, Shropshire
Glamping at its chicest. Rest+Wild’s four black clapboard cabins look plucked from a moody Scandi interiors shoot, with rich Farrow & Ball-esque tones on walls, metallic accents and nut-brown woods. Perfectly sized for a coupley weekend away, they invite kicking back and connecting with the Clee Hills. Blissfully, there’s no wifi; the entertainment is watching sheep graze.
From £175, restandwild.co
Wild Luxury, Norfolk
Location, location, location. At these comfy safari-style tents you’ll get epic coastal scenery via a meandering walk through orchard and wetland to a beach nature reserve. But you’ll also get all the culinary comforts of a chichi North Norfolk town, as a goodie-filled farm shop, gourmet fish and chips, and an excellent fishmonger, Gurneys, are all only a few paces away from the canvas. The Lifeboat Inn, an atmospheric old pub for lazy Sundays, is hardly much further.
From £295, wildluxury.co.uk
Malting Farm, Essex
Sleeping up to six people, the eclectic bundle of cabins, lodges and tents at this serene glade is perfect for families. The rustic-chic aesthetic is nailed with tables made from log, rattan-style pendant lights and minimalist wood panelling.
Book it: From £280 for two nights. coolstays.com
Honeydown, Devon
Don’t fancy the usual tent set-up? This collection of unique wooden domes (dubbed “truffles”), scattered across 15 acres of oak woodland, gives you a different kind of experience. Slink into a hammock with a good book, or make a pizza in the designated oven. The Tarka Trail is on hand for cyclists, and there’s a deli and farm shop within walking distance too.
Book it: From £300 for two nights. honeydown.com
Kip Hideaways, Lincolnshire
For family glamping, safari tents are a fabulous option — they allow enough sectioned-off space to give everyone privacy, while also housing the whole brood under one roof. This stay in Lincolnshire does the genre in style with a deep soaking bath and enough sleeping spaces for six. When the family dynamic gets a bit OTT, happily you’re also walking distance to a pub.
Book it: From £188. kiphideaways.com
Moonshine, Cornwall
The romance is dialled up to 11 at this cool shepherd’s hut and Bedouin tent combo in Truro. With the hot tub, pretty kitchen and cosy sheepskin rugs, you and your beau might imagine you’ve decamped to a boutique hotel snuggled in woods. Spa treatments can be ordered to the Bedouin tent.
Book it: From £499 for two nights. sykescottages.co.uk
Oastbrook Estate, East Sussex
They have their priorities right at this Rother Valley spot: each cosy bell tent comes with a wine cooler. And should you run dry on refreshments, no stress — with a vineyard and tasting room on the estate, you can top up. Start your day with a breakfast box of granola and fresh fruit, then head to nearby Bodiam Castle.
Book it: From £133. oastbrook.com
Creekside at The Lazy T, North Yorkshire
Nature’s own sound bath — a babbling stream — sets the scene for relaxation at this stay in the North York Moors National Park. The 5m dome has soaring ceilings and a king-size bed, as well as a spacious indoor-outdoor bathroom overlooking the trees. Bring a good book, kick back and exhale.
Book it: From £282 for two nights. thelazyt.co.uk
Elmley, Kent
Just 40 miles from London in a 3,300-acre National Nature Reserve, Elmley’s seasonal bell tents are the ideal spot for taking in wildlife — from owls to woodpeckers, dragonflies to butterflies. You’ll be immersed in woodland or meadow but definitely not roughing it, with sustainably sourced meals served up in the Kingshill Barn and bathrooms stocked with Verden toiletries. There’s a spa menu with facials from Votary, too.
Book it: From £320 for two nights. elmleynaturereserve.co.uk
Lilypod, Devon
Consider this Britain’s answer to the Maldivian overwater villa: a floating pod on a serene lake in Devon. It comes with plenty of aquatic allure, from the architecturally daring structure to the floating terrace for sundowners and barbecues. Add to it surrounds of blooming wildflowers and dense trees; a skylight above the bed for stargazing; and an onsite vineyard with a bottomless supply of zippy white wine. All you need for the full paradise vibe is a blast of summer sun.
Book it: From £440 for two nights. coolstays.com
Bubble Domes at Finn Lough, County Fermanagh
Get seriously immersed in nature with a stay in these two-person bubble domes, where panoramic views via transparent walls let you enjoy the surrounding forest 24/7. The smallest come with a four-poster bed — perfect for stargazing à deux — Nespresso machine and a small seating area for serene brekkies. Premium domes also feature a free-standing bath, so you can soak while watching birds flutter or forest leaves rustle in the breeze.
Book it: From £250. finnlough.com
Chapterhouse Cathedral View, Somerset
Somerset views don’t get much more iconic than Wells Cathedral — and this cute pod with hot tub and BBQ puts it perfectly into frame. Amble into Wells to explore the restaurants and shops, or book a hot air balloon ride, departing from right outside your door.
Book it: From £375 for two nights. luxurycoastal.co.uk
Trecombe Lakes, Cornwall
Set in woods and clustered around a little lake, this clutch of wooden pods feels truly remote, despite the Google maps coordinates just outside Falmouth. Families book in for evenings toasting marshmallows by firepits or flipping burgers on BBQs, and days in the forest play area, complete with rope swings. For full style points, plump for the larger, sleeker lodges, raised on stilts and furnished with log-fired Swedish soaking tubs.
Book it: From £375. trecombe-lakes.co.uk
