Camping's still one of the cheapest ways to get away — whether it’s a quick break, school holiday trip or a night under the stars. I’ve picked ten UK camping options for 2026, from family parks to wild Highland pitches and a few standout glamping spots. Below you’ll find key dates, typical price ranges, booking links and practical tips so families can choose a site and plan when to book — I pulled details from operators’ sites where possible.

Key dates for 2026

Plan around school holidays and bank holidays — they make the busiest weekends. Early May Bank Holiday: 4 May 2026. Spring Bank Holiday: 25 May 2026. Summer Bank Holiday (England & Wales): 31 August 2026. School summer holidays run broadly from late July to early September; half-terms fall in mid-February, late May and late October. Try to reserve peak weeks months in advance — I usually book family caravan breaks 6–9 months out and aim for 3–6 months for less popular dates.

Quick-reference summary:

  • Best for families: Parkdean Resorts / Haven — full facilities, kids’ clubs.
  • Best glamping: Forest Holidays and Canopy & Stars — cabins and unique stays.
  • Best wild camping: Scottish Highlands & Isles — legal and free in many places.
  • Best on a budget: Camping and Caravanning Club, council campsites and Certified Locations.
  • As a rough guide: expect touring pitches from about £20–£60 a night, basic glamping pods from around £90 up to a few hundred, and family caravans that can hit several hundred to over a thousand for a peak-week.

Ranked picks — 1 to 10

1. Parkdean Resorts / Haven (Best for families)

Key features: Large coastal parks across England, Wales and Scotland with children's clubs, pools, entertainment, on-site shops and pitches for tents, tourers and static caravans.

Pros: Full facilities reduce packing stress; organised activities for kids; accessible for car travel.

Cons: Busy in school holidays; less of a ‘wild’ feel; extra costs for entertainment and parking in some parks.

Who it’s best for: Families with young children who want guaranteed facilities and short drives from home.

Pricing: Touring pitches typically £20–£60/night depending on pitch type and season. Weeklong caravan holidays in peak July–August commonly range £400–£1,200. Book via Parkdean Resorts (https://www.parkdeanresorts.co.uk) or Haven (https://www.haven.com).

2. Forest Holidays (Best for deluxe glamping)

Key features: Timber cabins and lodges sited in forests — examples include Sherwood, Grizedale and Galloway. Private hot tubs, kitchens and secure on-site trails.

Pros: Comfortable pods and cabins with good facilities; excellent for couples and families who want nature without DIY camping.

Cons: Pricey at peak times; limited on-site pitch options for traditional tents.

Who it’s best for: Couples and families who want hotel comforts in the woods.

Pricing: Weeknight cabins often start from around £129/night low season; weekend and peak rates can reach £250–£399/night depending on cabin size and hot tub options. Book at https://www.forestholidays.co.uk.

3. Canopy & Stars (Best for quirky glamping)

Key features: A curated collection of unique stays — treehouses, shepherd’s huts, yurts and converted barns across the UK.

Pros: Highly curated, often private sites with character; good for special occasions.

Cons: Variable facilities; can be remote; price varies widely by property.

Who it’s best for: Couples and small families wanting a memorable, design-led stay.

Pricing: Typical rates range £120–£400/night depending on property size, location and season. Book through https://www.canopyandstars.co.uk.

4. Camping and Caravanning Club sites (Best network for stay variety)

Key features: Hundreds of member and open-access sites across the UK, from basic grass pitches to serviced touring areas.

Pros: Reliable standards, good for caravans and motorhomes; member discounts; many CLs (Certified Locations) offer cheaper short stays.

Cons: Membership required for lowest rates; some sites are very basic.

Who it’s best for: Touring caravanners, families who camp frequently and want consistent quality.

Pricing: Member grass pitches often £12–£30/night; non-member rates higher. Annual membership fees apply — check https://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk.

5. Huttopia UK (Best for simple safari-tent glamping)

Key features: Safari tents and timber cabins with communal facilities and natural sites (notably New Forest and Sherwood).

Mastheads

Pros: Comfortable canvas living with central facilities; good for families wanting hands-off tent style without pitching a canvas.

Cons: Shared facilities in some parks; popularity means early booking required for holidays.

Who it’s best for: Families who want a compromise between camping and a cabin stay.

Pricing: Safari tents and cabins typically from £70–£200/night depending on size and season. Book at https://www.huttopia.co.uk.

6. Haggerston Castle Camping & Glamping Park (Northumberland)

Key features: Castle backdrop, woodland play, beaches 15 minutes away and a mix of touring pitches and glamping pods.

Pros: Strong family focus, lots of on-site entertainment and short drives to castles and coast.

Cons: Very popular school-holiday park — expect crowds and queues.

Who it’s best for: Families who want a coastal-base with organised activities.

Pricing: Touring pitches usually £25–£50/night; glamping pods and lodges from £80–£250/night depending on size and dates. Book at https://www.haggerstoncastle.com.

7. Scottish Highlands & Isles (Best for wild camping)

Key features: Vast, often free wild camping opportunities under Scotland’s Land Reform Act (2003), from Isle of Skye bothies and Glen Affric pitches to Cairngorms mountain spots.

Pros: Solitude, no fees in many places, incomparable scenery and night skies.

Cons: Weather can be severe; some areas (Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park) have local byelaws or permit regimes; leave-no-trace discipline essential.

Who it’s best for: Experienced campers and families used to roughing it; those who want remote nights under the stars.

Pricing: Wild camping in many Scottish places is free where allowed; bothies are free but managed by Mountain Bothies Association — donations encouraged. For formal campsites in the Highlands expect £10–£30/night. Guidance at https://www.visitscotland.com and Scottish Government camping guidance pages.

8. National Trust campsites and farm stays

Key features: Campsites on National Trust land that place pitches beside historic houses, beaches and countryside trusts.

Pros: Often quiet, well-sited and close to walking routes and heritage sites.

Cons: Limited number of pitches; many require online booking well ahead.

Who it’s best for: Families who combine camping with walks and National Trust visits.

Pricing: Typical pitches range £15–£40/night; glamping units higher. See https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk for site-specific details and booking links.

9. YHA campsite fields and youth hostels with camping

Look, key features: Simple camping fields attached to hostel facilities — showers, kitchens and cafes in many locations.

Pros: Good for walkers and families on a budget; easy access to trailheads and long-distance routes.

Cons: Not all YHAs provide pitches; facilities vary by hostel.

Who it’s best for: Budget-conscious families and hiking groups.

Pricing: Expect £8–£25/person/night depending on hostel and facilities. Book at https://www.yha.org.uk.

10. Certified Locations & council-run campsites (Best budget and short-stay)

Key features: Small CL sites, parish-run or council sites that often offer cheap overnight stays and basic facilities.

Pros: Very good value; many coastal councils offer simple pitches under £20/night.

Cons: Limited facilities; booking windows can be short.

That said, who it’s best for: Couples, touring drivers and families who don’t need animation or pools.

Pricing: From as little as £8–£25/night in many council and CL sites. Local authority pages list sites and booking info — search council campsite pages for up-to-date availability.

Prices and booking: practical examples for 2026

Expect weekend mid-summer 2026 rates to be the high end of the ranges above. Typical booking behaviour in 2026: touring pitches spike to £40–£60/night in July–August; popular glamping pods start around £120/night midweek and reach £200–£400/night on bank-holiday weekends. Many operators offer refundable and flexible rates — check the operator’s official site for the park’s cancellation policy before you book.

Practical tips & insider recommendations

Pack layers — summer nights in the Highlands can still drop near freezing. Take a small first-aid kit, a roll-out mat and a battery lantern. Bring a dedicated stove if you plan wild camping; open fires are banned in many places. Phone signal can be patchy — download maps or buy an OS map for remote areas. Arrive early on bank-holiday Mondays if you want a choice of pitches. For glamping, check whether linen and towels are provided; many sites charge extra.

For families: pick a park with on-site toilets and laundry if you want low-stress breaks. For wild camping with kids choose sheltered glens within 15–30 minutes’ walk of a road so you can leave if weather turns. But for dog owners: check each park’s pet policy — many glampsites welcome one or two dogs but restrict them in cabins with soft furnishings.

Booking links and official sites: always book through the official park or operator site (links above) to get the clearest terms on cancellations and on-site rules. For Scottish wild-camping rules and any restricted areas consult VisitScotland and the Scottish Government guidance pages before you go.

Budget options

Council-run sites, Caravan Club CLs and some YHA fields are the cheapest way to camp. Look for last-minute offers off-peak — midweek May and September are the cheapest weeks and often least busy. If you own a tent and want free or near-free options, wild camping in permitted Scottish locations or using informal farm-camping pitches (donation or small fee) keeps costs low.

How we chose these sites

The ranking balances three factors: suitability for families (safety and facilities), quality of glamping or wild experience (comfort vs wilderness) and value (price ranges for 2026). Operator reputation, geographic spread and accessibility from major cities were also considered — the list includes national networks (Parkdean, Camping & Caravanning Club), curated collections (Canopy & Stars), large-scale holiday parks and areas where wild camping remains a standout draw (Scottish Highlands).

Related Articles

Pick your type of trip first. Want activities, pools and kids’ clubs? Choose Parkdean or a major holiday park and book 3–6 months ahead. Want comfort in nature? Forest Holidays or a Canopy & Stars property gets you a private cabin without the tent hassle. Want true wilderness? Scotland remains the place for free or low-cost wild camping — but read the local byelaws and go prepared. For tight budgets, council sites and Camping & Caravanning Club CLs keep costs down. Whichever you choose, 2026 still rewards early booking, sensible kit and a flexible schedule — arrive prepared and the weather becomes part of the story, not the spoiler.

This article was created with AI assistance.